Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paling Chaplaan Chadukudu

From Kadavulin Kuzhandhai · 1960

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singers
K. Jamunarani, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Kadavulin Kuzhandhai1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu[Playful rhythmic game chant] Sadugudu gudu gudu!
Paaya poraen vazhi vidu vazhi viduI am going to pounce, make way, make way!
Sadugudu malaiyila rendaanaiOn Sadugudu mountain, there were two elephants,
Thavari vizhunthathu oru yaanaiOne elephant slipped and fell!
Sadugudu malaiyila rendaanaiOn Sadugudu mountain, there were two elephants,
Thavari vizhunthathu oru yaanaiOne elephant slipped and fell!
Oru yaanai oru yaanai oru yaanaiOne elephant, one elephant, one elephant,
Oru yaanai oru yaanai oru yaanaiOne elephant, one elephant, one elephant,
Oru yaanai oru yaanai oru yaanaiOne elephant, one elephant, one elephant!
Female
Chellapillai pattaappuThe title of a spoiled child,
Chellaakkaasu veeraappuThe arrogance of a worthless coin,
Chellapillai pattaappuThe title of a spoiled child,
Chellaakkaasu veeraappuThe arrogance of a worthless coin,
Female
Solla ponaa pollaappuIf you speak about it, it brings trouble,
Suttaak kariyum maththaappu maththaappuEven burnt charcoal acts like a sparkler!
Solla ponaa pollaappuIf you speak about it, it brings trouble,
Suttaak kariyum maththaappu maththaappuEven burnt charcoal acts like a sparkler!
Maththaappu maththaappu maththaappu maththaappuSparkler, sparkler, sparkler, sparkler!
Female
Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu[Playful rhythmic game chant] Sadugudu gudu gudu!
Female
Vaalu kondai ponnammaaPonnamma with a ponytail like a tail,
Vakkanaikkaari chinnammaaChinnamma who speaks with clever pretension,
Vaalu kondai ponnammaaPonnamma with a ponytail like a tail,
Vakkanaikkaari chinnammaaChinnamma who speaks with clever pretension,
Female
Yaezhakkuzhali kannammaaKannamma with a sweet voice like a flute,
Emanum ivalum onnammaaShe and the Lord of Death are one and the same!
Yaezhakkuzhali kannammaaKannamma with a sweet voice like a flute,
Emanum ivalum onnammaaShe and the Lord of Death are one and the same!
Onnammaa onnammaa onnammaaOne and the same, one and the same, one and the same,
Onnammaa onnammaa onnammaaOne and the same, one and the same, one and the same!
Female
Naalu kalai vetti nattu vacha theevattiA torch built by cutting four bamboo shoots,
Oolai karuppatti ongappanukku thuppattiPalm jaggery wrapped in leaves, a waist-cloth for your father!
Thuppatti thuppatti thuppatti thuppattiWaist-cloth, waist-cloth, waist-cloth, waist-cloth,
Thuppatti thuppatti thuppatti thuppattiWaist-cloth, waist-cloth, waist-cloth, waist-cloth!
Female
Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu[Playful rhythmic game chant] Sadugudu gudu gudu!
Vaanaththai villaa valaichchiduvaa ivaShe will bend the sky into a bow,
Manalai kayiraa thirichchiduvaaShe will twist sand into a rope,
Yaanai kudhirai puliyellaamElephants, horses, and tigers altogether,
Cholai thalaippil mudinthiduvaalShe can tie them all up in the fold of her saree!
Mudinthiduvaal mudinthiduvaal mudinthiduvaalShe will tie them up, tie them up, tie them up,
Mudinthiduvaal mudinthiduvaal mudinthiduvaalShe will tie them up, tie them up, tie them up!
Female
Ellaanth therinjavan arivaali iyi iyiThe one who knows everything is wise, iyi iyi,
Iyi iyi iyi iyi iyi iyiIyi iyi iyi iyi iyi iyi!
Female
Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu[Playful rhythmic game chant] Sadugudu gudu gudu!
Female
Edhukkum anjaan palasaali wow wowThe one who fears nothing is strong, wow wow,
Wow wow wow wow wow wowWow wow wow wow wow wow!
Female
Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu[Playful rhythmic game chant] Sadugudu gudu gudu!
Kollaiyadippavan peruchaaliThe one who loots is a greedy bandicoot rat,
Peruchaali peruchaali peruchaaliBandicoot, bandicoot, bandicoot,
Peruchaali peruchaali peruchaaliBandicoot, bandicoot, bandicoot!
Konangi seivaan komaali komaaliThe clown makes funny antics, clown, clown,
Komaali komaali komaali komaaliClown, clown, clown, clown,
Komaali komaali komaali komaaliClown, clown, clown, clown!
Female
Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu[Playful rhythmic game chant] Sadugudu gudu gudu!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paling saplaan sadugudu gudu gudu from the 1960 movie Kadavulin Kuzhandhai is a lively, folk-inspired game song filled with rhythmic play, traditional rhymes, and humorous commentary. Set to the energetic beat of traditional Kabaddi (Sadugudu) game calls, the song playfully teases and exaggerates a woman's fiery nature—comparing her to the Lord of Death (Yaman) and hyperbolically claiming she can bend the sky into a bow or twist sand into rope. Through witty couplets written by K. D. Santhanam and set to music by G. Ramanathan, the song also offers sharp folk wisdom, likening corrupt looters to bandicoot rats and pretenders to worthless coins or burnt charcoal acting as fireworks. Dual vocalists K. Jamuna Rani and A. G. Ratnamala deliver a spirited duet that captures the vibrant storytelling style of mid-20th-century Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis/rhythm)

Oru yaanai oru yaanai oru yaanai

Words like 'Oru yaanai' and 'Komaali' are repeated multiple times continuously to match the rhythmic tempo of traditional children's games and folk chants.

Emonai (Second-letter Assonance / Rhyme)

Chellapillai pattaappu / Chellaakkaasu veeraappu

The second consonant 'll' (llu) is repeated across adjacent lines (Chellapillai / Chellaakkaasu), giving a musical cadence.

Uyarchchi Navitchi Aani (Hyperbole)

Vaanaththai villaa valaichchiduvaa iva / Manalai kayiraa thirichchiduvaa

Extravagant exaggeration is used for comedic effect, claiming she can bend the sky into a bow and spin sand into rope.

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Kollaiyadippavan peruchaali

Directly metaphorizing a corrupt or thieving person as a 'peruchaali' (bandicoot rat).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kadavulin Kuzhandhai (1960) featured music by veteran composer G. Ramanathan, known for blending classic Carnatic structures with lively Tamil folk idioms. This track prominently uses traditional Tamil street game refrains ('Sadugudu' - the original Tamil name for Kabaddi) and features popular playback singers K. Jamuna Rani and A. G. Ratnamala.

Keep listening

More from Kadavulin Kuzhandhai