- Lyricist
- K. D. Santhanam
- Singers
- K. Jamunarani, A. G. Rathnamala
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Kadavulin Kuzhandhai
- Movie release year
- 1960
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Dec 2024
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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.
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