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Lyrics & meaning

Thaipoosa Kavadi Aattam

From Thulli Odum Pulliman · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thulli Odum Pulliman1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Thanga mayil murugan munnaeIn front of Lord Murugan on his golden peacock
Kondaattam kondaattamIt is a grand celebration, a celebration!
Thanga mayil murugan munnaeIn front of Lord Murugan on his golden peacock
Kondaattam kondaattamIt is a grand celebration, a celebration!
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Male
Mai poosum kannirendumBoth your kohl-lined eyes
Parakkm vandaattamFlit around like fluttering bumblebees
Malar kondu pora pennaeO maiden carrying flowers
Paruva panthaattamYour youthful bounce is like playing with a ball
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Male
Muruganukku rendu pakkam deviyoLord Murugan has goddesses on both his sides
Intha azhagan mattum thunaiyillaatha paaviyoIs this handsome man alone, a poor sinner without a companion?
Muruganukku rendu pakkam deviyoLord Murugan has goddesses on both his sides
Intha azhagan mattum thunaiyillaatha paaviyoIs this handsome man alone, a poor sinner without a companion?
Male
Manathu vaiththu deviyaaga aaviyoWill you open your heart and become my goddess?
Manathu vaiththu deviyaaga aaviyoWill you open your heart and become my goddess?
Illae marupiravi varattumendru poviyo…Or will you walk away, telling me to wait for the next birth?
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Thanga mayil murugan munnaeIn front of Lord Murugan on his golden peacock
Kondaattam kondaattamIt is a grand celebration, a celebration!
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Male
Kaamadevan ranuvaththil oruththiyoAre you a soldier in the army of Kama, the god of love?
Enthan mamanaarin nilaththil vantha paruththiyoOr are you soft cotton grown on my father-in-law's land?
Kaamadevan ranuvaththil oruththiyoAre you a soldier in the army of Kama, the god of love?
Enthan mamanaarin nilaththil vantha paruththiyoOr are you soft cotton grown on my father-in-law's land?
Male
Senthaamaraiyil neithu vaiththa vannamoAre you a vibrant color woven from a red lotus?
Senthaamaraiyil neithu vaiththa vannamoAre you a vibrant color woven from a red lotus?
Andru thamayanthikku thoodhu pona annamo ennamo…Or are you the swan that went as a messenger to Damayanthi back then?
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Thanga mayil murugan munnaeIn front of Lord Murugan on his golden peacock
Kondaattam kondaattamIt is a grand celebration, a celebration!
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Male
Paalirukkum kudamesuththa paingkiliyoO sweet parrot carrying a pot filled with milk!
Un paalirukkum merugu nalla azhagadiyoIs the glow on your milk-soft skin such radiant beauty?
Paalirukkum kudamesuththa paingkiliyoO sweet parrot carrying a pot filled with milk!
Un paalirukkum merugu nalla azhagadiyoIs the glow on your milk-soft skin such radiant beauty?
Male
Velirukkum vizhiyin kadhal valamadiyoIs the love in your spear-like eyes a true treasure?
Velirukkum vizhiyin kadhal valamadiyoIs the love in your spear-like eyes a true treasure?
Kai veleduththa murugan koyil kulamadiyoAre you the holy temple pond of Lord Murugan who holds the spear?
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival
Thanga mayil murugan munnaeIn front of Lord Murugan on his golden peacock
Kondaattam kondaattamIt is a grand celebration, a celebration!
Male
Thaippoosa kaavadi aattamThe Kaavadi dance during the Thaipusam festival

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Set against the backdrop of the vibrant Thaipusam festival celebrations in front of Lord Murugan, 'Thaippoosa Kaavadi Aattam' is a playful, romantic devotional-style song. The protagonist addresses his beloved who is participating in the festival procession, comparing her grace and beauty to divine and poetic entities.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamānā (Simile / Comparison)

Mai poosum kannirendum / Parakkm vandaattam

Compares the maiden's kohl-lined eyes to bees ('Parakkm vandaattam') and her demeanor to a parrot ('paingkiliyo').

Alliteration (Moonaai / Etukai)

Thaippoosa kaavadi aattam / Thanga mayil murugan munnae

Rhythmic repetition of sounds such as 'Thaippoosa kaavadi aattam' and 'Thanga mayil murugan munnae' creates a lively folk dance cadence.

Mythological Allusion

Andru thamayanthikku thoodhu pona annamo ennamo…

Refers to the epic story of Nala-Damayanthi ('Andru thamayanthikku thoodhu pona annamo') to elevate the romantic expression.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed in a folk style reminiscent of traditional Kavadi Chindu tunes used during Lord Murugan festivals. Sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, known for his resonant voice, it blends devotional festive atmosphere with romantic folk cinema motifs popular in early 1970s Tamil cinema.

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