- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- K. S. Chithra, Chorus
- Music directors
- K. V. Mahadevan, Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Selvam
- Movie release year
- 1966
- Lyrics added on
- 9 Dec 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaanae thandha thandhaana
Thaanae thandha thandhaana
Thandhaa nanaa thandhaa nanaa thaanaa
Thaanae thandha thandhaana
Thaanae thandha thandhaana
Thandhaa nanaa thandhaa nanaa
Thandhana thandhana
Thana thana thana thana thana thananaa
Thaai kulamae thaai kulamae
Kulava podungadi
Lulululu lulululu
Thaamara poongodiya pola
Kulungi aadungadi
That thatthat thakadhimi thom
Thaai kulamae thaai kulamae
Kulava podungadi
Lulululu lulululu
Thaamara poongodiya pola
Kulungi aadungadi
That thatthat thakadhimi thom
Kakkiruttu pochudhunnu
Kummi kottunga
Kakkiruttu pochudhunnu
Kummi kottunga
Kaalam namma kaalamunnu
Melam thattunga
Veeram ulla aalu ingae
Vandhirukkaan paaru
Nadukkam ellaam theerndhu
Thala nimirndhu nikkum ooru
Veeram ulla aalu ingae
Vandhirukkaan paaru
Nadukkam ellaam theerndhu
Thala nimirndhu nikkum ooru
Thaai kulamae thaai kulamae
Kulava podungadi
Thaamara poongodiya pola
Kulungi aadungadi
Vanna kiliyaai pala pen irundhum
Oorukkulla
Kanni kazhiya paakkala
Konjum kumarikkoru kattazhagan
Maalai ittu
Kottum muzhakkam kekkala
Oor muzhukka achappattu
Or idathil kattuppattu
Oomaigal polae kidakka
Poo mudichu pottu vaikka
Poovaiyarkku kaaval nirkka
Sooraadhi sooran irukka
Naam kanda aan singam
Paer solli seer solli
Paadattum kaattu kuyilae
Naal nalla naal endru
Aattangal paattangal
Podattum patchi mayilae
Nammai pidicha acha peigal
Indru odip pochu
Nenja kavalai theerndhadhu
Innum edharkku verum artham atra
Vetti pechu
Ullam anaithum saerndhadhae
Veesugindra vaasathodu
Maalai ondru katti podu
Vaangattum maaman kazhuthu
Podhumammaa patta paadu
Ponadhammaa thunba kaedu
Paadungal nandri uraithu
Mangammaa thangammaa
Aaratthi nee suthi podammaa
Dhrushti kazhikka
Veerammaa thaenammaa
Per solli poo alli thoovammaa
Mannan nadakka
{Thaai kulamae thaai kulamae
Kulava podungadi
Lulululu lulululu
Thaamara poongodiya pola
Kulungi aadungadi
That thatthat thakadhimi thom} (2)
Kakkiruttu pochudhunnu
Kummi kottunga
Kakkiruttu pochudhunnu
Kummi kottunga
Kaalam namma kaalamunnu
Melam thattunga
Veeram ulla aalu ingae
Vandhirukkaan paaru
Nadukkam ellaam theerndhu
Thala nimirndhu nikkum ooru
Veeram ulla aalu ingae
Vandhirukkaan paaru
Nadukkam ellaam theerndhu
Thala nimirndhu nikkum ooru
Thaai kulamae thaai kulamae
Kulava podungadi
Thaamara poongodiya pola
Kulungi aadungadi
Thaane thantha thanthaana
Thaane thantha thanthaana
Thantha nana thantha nana thaana
Thaane thantha thanthaana
Thaane thantha thanthaana
Thantha nana thantha nana thaana
Thaane thantha thanthaana
Thana thana thana thana thana thanana
O mothers, dear mothers!
Let out your joyful ululations!
Lulululu lulululu!
Like blooming flower vines,
Sway and dance!
Dhat thaththat thagadhimi thom!
O mothers, dear mothers!
Let out your joyful ululations!
Lulululu lulululu!
Like blooming flower vines,
Sway and dance!
Dhat thaththat thagadhimi thom!
Because the pitch darkness is gone,
Clap your hands in Kummi (folk clapping dance)!
Because the pitch darkness is gone,
Clap your hands in Kummi (folk clapping dance)!
Proclaim that this time belongs to us,
And beat the drums!
A truly brave man has arrived here,
Just look at him!
With all our trembling fear gone,
Our village stands with head held high!
A truly brave man has arrived here,
Just look at him!
With all our trembling fear gone,
Our village stands with head held high!
O mothers, dear mothers!
Let out your joyful ululations!
Like blooming flower vines,
Sway and dance!
Like colorful parrots,
Though there were many young women in this village,
We never saw a single wedding happen.
A handsome youth placing a garland
Around a sweet young maiden's neck,
And the loud beat of wedding drums was never heard.
The whole village lived in fear,
Trapped and confined in one place,
Lying helpless like mute people.
To adorn them with festive flowers,
And to stand as a shield for the women,
The bravest hero of all is here!
For this mighty lion of a man we have found,
Calling out his name and singing his praises,
Let the wild cuckoo sing!
Declaring today to be an auspicious day,
With lively dances and joyful songs,
Let the peacock dance!
The demons of fear that possessed us
Have fled away today!
The worries of our hearts are gone.
Why do we still need meaningless,
Useless idle talk?
All our hearts have united as one!
With a sweet wafting fragrance,
Weave a flower garland and place it
Around our dear hero's neck!
Enough of all the suffering we endured,
The dark forest of sorrow has vanished!
Sing your songs offering heartfelt thanks!
Mangamma! Thangamma!
Circle the aarathi (auspicious welcome plate) around him,
To ward off the evil eye!
Veeramma! Thenamma!
Chant his name and shower handfuls of flowers,
As our king walks forward!
O mothers, dear mothers!
Let out your joyful ululations!
Lulululu lulululu!
Like blooming flower vines,
Sway and dance!
Dhat thaththat thagadhimi thom!
Because the pitch darkness is gone,
Clap your hands in Kummi (folk clapping dance)!
Because the pitch darkness is gone,
Clap your hands in Kummi (folk clapping dance)!
Proclaim that this time belongs to us,
And beat the drums!
A truly brave man has arrived here,
Just look at him!
With all our trembling fear gone,
Our village stands with head held high!
A truly brave man has arrived here,
Just look at him!
With all our trembling fear gone,
Our village stands with head held high!
O mothers, dear mothers!
Let out your joyful ululations!
Like blooming flower vines,
Sway and dance!
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This energetic Tamil folk celebration song from 'Selvam' (1966) expresses joyous relief and village triumph. The women of the village are called upon to perform traditional ululation ('Kulavai') and clap hands in the Kummi dance form to celebrate the arrival of a valiant protector who has freed the community from long-standing oppression, fear, and sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Thaamara poongodiya pola”
Compares the grace and movement of dancing women to a swaying lotus vine.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Kakkiruttu pochudhunnu”
Uses pitch darkness ('Kakkiruttu') as a metaphor for tyranny and fear, and 'Aan singam' (male lion) for the brave protagonist.
Oli-kkurippu (Onomatopoeia)
“Lulululu lulululu”
Incorporates folk phonetic sound representations of traditional ululation and rhythmic dance beats.
Moonaay (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Thaai kulamae thaai kulamae”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines creating folk musicality.
Did you know?
Trivia
Selvam (1966) starred Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya. The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics penned by Vaali, highlighting traditional Tamil folk music forms like Kummi and Kulavai.
Keep listening
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Neeye Sollu Enge1972
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From the same album
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