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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sundelikkum Sundelikkum

From Kaithi Kannayiram · 1960

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
M. S. Rajeswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaithi Kannayiram
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
15 Sept 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sundelikkum sundelikkum
Thirumanamaam
Iravil chola thattai pallaakkilae
Oorvalamaam
Sundelikkum sundelikkum
Thirumanamaam
Iravil chola thattai pallaakkilae
Oorvalamaam
Nondik kaalu nandu
Ponnu naattiyamaam
Norai thavalai melathaala
Vaaththiyamaam
Nondik kaalu nandu
Ponnu naattiyamaam
Norai thavalai melathaala
Vaaththiyamaam
Thondaiyillaa kottaanum
Suthiya vittu paadichchaam
Thondaiyillaa kottaanum
Suthiya vittu paadichchaam
Kann simitti minminiyum
Kaantha light-u pottuchchaam
Kann simitti minminiyum
Kaantha light-u pottuchchaam
Sundelikkum sundelikkum
Thirumanamaam
Iravil chola thattai pallaakkilae
Oorvalamaam
Nanjai vayal saeru angae santhanamaam
Naththaang koottu thanneerae panneeraam
Nanjai vayal saeru angae santhanamaam
Naththaang koottu thanneerae panneeraam
Punjai kaattu kuruvi thazhai
Pottu kolla veththalaiyaam
Punjai kaattu kuruvi thazhai
Pottu kolla veththalaiyaam
Vanthiruntha kumbalukku
Soru mattum paththalaiyaam
Vanthiruntha kumbalukku
Soru mattum paththalaiyaam
Sundelikkum sundelikkum
Thirumanamaam
Iravil chola thattai pallaakkilae
Oorvalamaam
Sundelikkum sundelikkum
Thirumanamaam
Iravil chola thattai pallaakkilae
Oorvalamaam
Between two little mice,
there is a wedding!
At night, in a cornstalk palanquin,
they go on a procession!
Between two little mice,
there is a wedding!
At night, in a cornstalk palanquin,
they go on a procession!
A lame-legged crab
girl performs a dance!
A croaking frog beats the drums
and plays the music!
A lame-legged crab
girl performs a dance!
A croaking frog beats the drums
and plays the music!
A hoarse old owl
sang completely out of tune!
A hoarse old owl
sang completely out of tune!
Blinking its eyes, a firefly
lit up like a bright lamp!
Blinking its eyes, a firefly
lit up like a bright lamp!
Between two little mice,
there is a wedding!
At night, in a cornstalk palanquin,
they go on a procession!
The mud from the wetland fields is their sandalwood paste,
and the water in a snail's shell is their rosewater!
The mud from the wetland fields is their sandalwood paste,
and the water in a snail's shell is their rosewater!
Wild screwpine leaves from the drylands
are the betel leaves they chew!
Wild screwpine leaves from the drylands
are the betel leaves they chew!
Yet for the huge crowd that gathered,
there was not enough rice to eat!
Yet for the huge crowd that gathered,
there was not enough rice to eat!
Between two little mice,
there is a wedding!
At night, in a cornstalk palanquin,
they go on a procession!
Between two little mice,
there is a wedding!
At night, in a cornstalk palanquin,
they go on a procession!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This delightful children's song paints a whimsical image of a wedding ceremony in the animal kingdom, specifically between two little mice. Nature and field creatures playfully mimic traditional human wedding rituals. The mice ride a cornstalk palanquin, a limping crab dances, a frog provides music, a throat-less owl sings in high pitch, and fireflies light up the night like lamps.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Maanida Maimakkal)

“Sundelikkum sundelikkum Thirumanamaam”

Field animals and insects (mice, crabs, frogs, owls, fireflies) are given human attributes and participation in traditional wedding customs.

Imagery and Metaphor (Uvamaatru / Metaphorical substitute)

“Nanjai vayal saeru angae santhanamaam”

Natural field elements are metaphorically converted into wedding items: mud acts as sandalwood paste, snail-shell water acts as rosewater, and plant leaves serve as betel leaves.

Rhyme / Ethukai (Second-letter harmony)

“Nanjai vayal saeru... / Punjai kaattu kuruvi...”

Tamil poetic structure utilizing matching second consonants across contrasting lines (e.g., Nanjai vs Punjai).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1960 movie 'Kaithi Kannayiram', this iconic song was sung by M. S. Rajeswari, famous for her unique vocal timbre perfect for children's songs in Tamil cinema. The lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi.

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