♫ Tanglish lyrics	↻ English translation
Male
Thalaiyatti pesurappo	When talking while nodding the head,
Thandatti kaadhazhagu	The thandatti adds beauty to the ear.
Thandatti potta pulla	The girl wearing the thandatti,
Veerapaandi therazhagu	Is as beautiful as the temple chariot of Veerapandi.
Male
Viludhaadum kili pola	Like a parrot swinging from banyan roots,
Kaadhodu adhu thongum	It hangs down alongside the ear.
Thandatti kadhaiyakelu	Listen to the story of the thandatti,
Thennattu nilamengum	Echoing across the southern land.
Male
Porandhappo kaadhukuthi	Having ears pierced right when born,
Pottuvitta thandatti	The thandatti that was put on,
Porandhappo kaadhukuthi	Having ears pierced right when born,
Pottuvitta thandatti	The thandatti that was put on,
Male
Vaazhkai kadasi varai	Until the very end of life,
Kooda varum kaikatti	It stays along like a guiding hand,
Vaazhkai kadasi varai	Until the very end of life,
Kooda varum kaikatti	It stays along like a guiding hand.
Male
Kazhuthu neenda pombaalaikku	For a woman with a long neck,
Kaathilaadum thandatti	The thandatti sways in the wind.
Aalu konjam kuttaiyinna	If the person is a bit short in height,
Tholathottum thandatti	The thandatti even touches her shoulders.
Male
Aatta matta vithukooda	Even by selling off goats and cattle,
Vaangi thandha thandatti	They bought and gifted the thandatti.
Appam aatha pola than	Just like one's own mother and father,
Koodairukkum thandatti	The thandatti stays by her side forever.
Male
Tharathula osandha naga	Look at the ornament so superior in quality,
Thandattithaan paaru	Indeed, look closely at the thandatti!
Oru sirppam pola thandattiya	The artisan who crafted this thandatti like a sculpture,
Senjavan thaan yaaru	Who on earth was he?
Male
Ettuthikkum thamukkuadikkum	Look at this gold that beat drums across all eight directions,
Thangatha nee paaru	Look closely at this precious gold!
Ada erumbhu suthi pakkanuna	Hey, if ants are to surround and look at it,
Vaanganundaa caaru	You need to buy sweet syrup, my friend!
Male
Kaadhu valatha pombalaikku	For the woman who stretched her earlobes,
Kannupadum azhagirukkum	There is an eye-catching beauty.
Kasalavu valatha kaadhil	In ears stretched wide to the size of a coin,
Nela parkka edam irukkum	There is room enough to view the moon!
Male
Pilla perum kastam pola	Just like the pain of giving birth to a child,
Kaadhu rendu valakkanumae	Both ears must be stretched with painstaking patience.
Thandatti thaan potta ponna	The woman who wears the thandatti,
Saamiyathaan madhikkanumae	Must be respected just like a deity.
Male
Kaadu kara velaiyilum	Even during grueling work in the wild fields,
Karuthidadha thandatti	The thandatti never loses its dark golden shine.
Kaasu dhuttu illanaalum	Even if there is no money or wealth left,
Kazhatidadha thandatti	The thandatti is never taken off.
Male
Tiruchy madhura thaeni ellam	In Tiruchy, Madurai, and Theni,
Veettukkoru thandatti	There is a thandatti in every single home.
Thirumbugira dhisai ellam	In whichever direction you turn,
Thiriyuminga thandatti	The thandatti wanders around here.
Male
Andha kaalam atha mava	In those days, when the cousin girl
Thandatti thaan potta	Wore the thandatti,
Oru maargamaaga aambalainga	Men would stand in peculiar ways,
Nippayangalae kootta	Gathering in crowds to admire.
Male
Moolikkadhu pombalaiyum	Even a woman with torn earlobes
Thandatti than ketta	Demanded to wear a thandatti.
Adha moodivechu maraikkama	Without keeping it hidden or hushed,
Paadurenae patta	I sing this song openly!
Male
Aiyanaaru arasan maaru	Like Lord Ayyanar and ancient kings,
Ivalugalukum neenda kaadhu	These women too have elongated earlobes.
Aambalaigalukkum azhagirukkum	It gave a handsome look even to men
Thandattiya potta podhu	When they wore the thandatti in olden days.
Male
Kaathu karuppu andaathu	Evil spirits and dark forces will not approach,
Karuppanodu pera sonna	When you utter the name of Karuppan,
Thattiyandhaan vandhurumae	Courage will automatically arrive,
Thandattiya pottu ninna	If one stands tall wearing the thandatti!
Male
Katta meesai karanukkum	Even to a man with a thick handlebar mustache,
Pottiyindha thandatti	This thandatti acts as a fierce match.
Kaara veettukkari kaadhil	In the ears of the mistress of the tiled house,
Thooliyaadum thandatti	The thandatti swings like a cradle.
Appan veettu seedhanama	Brought along as dowry from her father's home,
Aninji varum thandatti	The thandatti is worn with pride.
Oramjaaram ninnakka kooda	Even if she stands far off in the corner,
Ooru pakkum thandatti	The whole village turns to look at the thandatti.

Lyrics & meaning

Song interpretation

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Trivia

More from Thandatti