Salangai Satham
From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- En Uyir Kannamma1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Salanga satham kelu | Listen to the sound of ankle bells |
| Naan marudha jillaa aalu | I am a person from Madurai district |
| Salanga satham kelu | Listen to the sound of ankle bells |
| Naan marudha jillaa aalu | I am a person from Madurai district |
| Chera naattu… sevapparisi… | Red rice of the Chera kingdom... |
| Chera naattu sevapparisi | Red rice of the Chera kingdom |
| Naan idichaa thoolu | If I pound it, it turns to fine powder! |
| Paattu paadi oralidippadhu | Singing songs while pounding grain in a mortar |
| Paattan kaala vazhakkam | Is a tradition from my grandfather's time |
| Em paattan kaala vazhakkam | Is a tradition from my grandfather's time |
| Ada kuninju nimindhu kuthadi kuthadi | Hey, bend down and stand up, pound away! |
| Ennadi onakku sonakkam | Why are you so hesitant, girl? |
| Female | |
| Paattu paadi ari idikkum | Oh man from Madurai district who pounds rice |
| Madhura jillaakkaaraa | While singing songs! |
| Nindae paattu kondee sambaavari | With your song, the Samba variety |
| Nellum podiyugillaa | Paddy doesn't even crush into powder! |
| Nellu kuthi ari idichu | By husking paddy and pounding rice |
| Thazhambu veena kaiyil | On hands that have developed calluses |
| Idhu nalla polae vela cheidhu | By working hard like this |
| Karuthu konda meiyi | The body has grown strong and darkened |
| Onninonnu thammil innu | Today, competing with one another |
| Malsarichu nokkoo | Look and challenge each other! |
| Nee onnidichu randidichu | Pounding once, pounding twice |
| Thalarnidaadhae nokkoo | Make sure you do not tire out! |
| Female | |
| Maavidippadhu | Pounding flour |
| Manjalaraippadhu | Grinding turmeric |
| Pombalainga vela | Is the work of women |
| Aa so aa so | Aa so aa so |
| Potti ittaa jeyichidumae | If there is a contest, even a wrapped saree |
| Vettiya thaan saela | Will surely come out victorious! |
| Aa so aa so | Aa so aa so |
| Maaraappa thaan varinju katti | Tying the saree pallu firmly around the waist |
| Joraaga thaan poda | Step forward with great gusto! |
| Aa so aa so | Aa so aa so |
| Kai valaiyosai kalakalannu | As the sound of hand bangles tinkles merrily |
| Sangeetham thaan paada | Sing a song of music |
| Aa so aa so aa so aa so | Aa so aa so aa so aa so |
சலங்கச் சத்தம் கேளு
நான் மருத ஜில்லா ஆளு
சலங்கச் சத்தம் கேளு
நான் மருத ஜில்லா ஆளு
சேர நாட்டு......செவப்பரிசி.....
சேர நாட்டு செவப்பரிசி
நான் இடிச்சா தூளு
பாட்டுப் பாடி ஒரலிடிப்பது
பாட்டன் கால வழக்கம்
எம் பாட்டன் கால வழக்கம்
அட குனிஞ்சு நிமிந்து குத்தடி குத்தடி
என்னடி ஒனக்குச் சொணக்கம்
Listen to the sound of ankle bells
I am a person from Madurai district
Listen to the sound of ankle bells
I am a person from Madurai district
Red rice of the Chera kingdom...
Red rice of the Chera kingdom
If I pound it, it turns to fine powder!
Singing songs while pounding grain in a mortar
Is a tradition from my grandfather's time
Is a tradition from my grandfather's time
Hey, bend down and stand up, pound away!
Why are you so hesitant, girl?
பாட்டுப் பாடி அரி இடிக்கும்
மதுர ஜில்லாக்காரா
நின்டே பாட்டு கொண்டீ சம்பாவரி
நெல்லும் பொடியுகில்லா
நெல்லு குத்தி அரி இடிச்சு
தழம்பு வீண கையில்
இது நல்ல போலே வேல செய்து
கருத்து கொண்ட மெய்யி
ஒன்னினொன்னு தம்மில் இன்னு
மல்சரிச்சு நோக்கூ
நீ ஒன்னிடுச்சு ரெண்டிடிச்சு
தளர்னிடாதே நோக்கூ
Oh man from Madurai district who pounds rice
While singing songs!
With your song, the Samba variety
Paddy doesn't even crush into powder!
By husking paddy and pounding rice
On hands that have developed calluses
By working hard like this
The body has grown strong and darkened
Today, competing with one another
Look and challenge each other!
Pounding once, pounding twice
Make sure you do not tire out!
மாவிடிப்பது மஞ்சளரைப்பது
பொம்பளைங்க வேலை
ஆ சோ ஆ சோ
போட்டி இட்டா ஜெயிச்சிடுமே
வேட்டியத்தான் சேலை
ஆ சோ ஆ சோ
மாராப்பத்தான் வரிஞ்சு கட்டி
ஜோராகத்தான் போட
ஆ சோ ஆ சோ
கை வளையோசை கலகலன்னு
சங்கீதம்தான் பாட
ஆ சோ ஆ சோ ஆ சோ ஆ சோ
Pounding flour
Grinding turmeric
Is the work of women
Aa so aa so
If there is a contest, even a wrapped saree
Will surely come out victorious!
Aa so aa so
Tying the saree pallu firmly around the waist
Step forward with great gusto!
Aa so aa so
As the sound of hand bangles tinkles merrily
Sing a song of music
Aa so aa so aa so aa so
Salanga satham kelu
Listen to the sound of ankle bells
Naan marudha jillaa aalu
I am a person from Madurai district
Salanga satham kelu
Listen to the sound of ankle bells
Naan marudha jillaa aalu
I am a person from Madurai district
Chera naattu… sevapparisi…
Red rice of the Chera kingdom...
Chera naattu sevapparisi
Red rice of the Chera kingdom
Naan idichaa thoolu
If I pound it, it turns to fine powder!
Paattu paadi oralidippadhu
Singing songs while pounding grain in a mortar
Paattan kaala vazhakkam
Is a tradition from my grandfather's time
Em paattan kaala vazhakkam
Is a tradition from my grandfather's time
Ada kuninju nimindhu kuthadi kuthadi
Hey, bend down and stand up, pound away!
Ennadi onakku sonakkam
Why are you so hesitant, girl?
Paattu paadi ari idikkum
Oh man from Madurai district who pounds rice
Madhura jillaakkaaraa
While singing songs!
Nindae paattu kondee sambaavari
With your song, the Samba variety
Nellum podiyugillaa
Paddy doesn't even crush into powder!
Nellu kuthi ari idichu
By husking paddy and pounding rice
Thazhambu veena kaiyil
On hands that have developed calluses
Idhu nalla polae vela cheidhu
By working hard like this
Karuthu konda meiyi
The body has grown strong and darkened
Onninonnu thammil innu
Today, competing with one another
Malsarichu nokkoo
Look and challenge each other!
Nee onnidichu randidichu
Pounding once, pounding twice
Thalarnidaadhae nokkoo
Make sure you do not tire out!
Maavidippadhu
Pounding flour
Manjalaraippadhu
Grinding turmeric
Pombalainga vela
Is the work of women
Aa so aa so
Aa so aa so
Potti ittaa jeyichidumae
If there is a contest, even a wrapped saree
Vettiya thaan saela
Will surely come out victorious!
Aa so aa so
Aa so aa so
Maaraappa thaan varinju katti
Tying the saree pallu firmly around the waist
Joraaga thaan poda
Step forward with great gusto!
Aa so aa so
Aa so aa so
Kai valaiyosai kalakalannu
As the sound of hand bangles tinkles merrily
Sangeetham thaan paada
Sing a song of music
Aa so aa so aa so aa so
Aa so aa so aa so aa so
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk song features a spirited dialogue and rhythmic work song (Vallai Pattu) set around the traditional activity of pounding rice and grain using a mortar and pestle. The male protagonist boasts of his strength from Madurai, claiming his tradition of singing while working turns even tough red rice into fine powder. The female response playfully challenges his claim, emphasizing the endurance, calloused hands, and physical vigor required for farm labor, as well as the spirit of healthy competition between workers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Ada kuninju nimindhu kuthadi kuthadi / Ennadi onakku sonakkam”
The second letter 'n' (ன) rhymes in 'kuninju' and 'sonakkam'.
Monaikkal (Alliteration)
“Salanga satham kelu”
Repetition of the 'S' sound in 'Salanga satham'.
Onomatopoeia (Erettai Kilavi)
“Kai valaiyosai kalakalannu”
'Kalakalannu' mimics the cheerful tinkling sound of bangles.
Folk Refrain (Aasiriya Asai)
“Aa so aa so”
'Aa so' acts as a rhythmic folk chant (thematic vocal rhythm used during manual labor).
Did you know?
Trivia
This track draws from traditional Tamil folk musical forms like 'Vallai Pattu' (grain-pounding songs), which feature rhythmic chanting ('Aa so') to maintain momentum and reduce fatigue during heavy manual field labor.
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