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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Kudam Eduthu

From Irandil Ondru · 1988

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Irandil Ondru1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………....
Male
Haei thanga kudam eduththu ponnugalaeHey girls carrying golden pots,
Thanni edukka pogum kannigalaeYoung maidens going to fetch water,
Aaththang karaiyilae aavi irukkuthaamThey say there is a ghost on the riverbank,
Kanni ponnungala thedi irukkuthaamIt is apparently searching for young maidens.
Chorus :Aaththang karaiyilae aavi irukkuthaamChorus: They say there is a ghost on the riverbank,
Kanni ponnungala thedi irukkuthaamIt is apparently searching for young maidens.
Male
Konjam paaththu ponga paaththu ponga chittugalaaGo carefully, go carefully, little birds,
Naanga kooda vanthaa aabaththilla mottugalaaIf we accompany you, there is no danger, young buds!
Male
Thanga kudam eduththu ponnugalaeGirls carrying golden pots,
Thanni edukka pogum kannigalae haeiYoung maidens going to fetch water, hey!
Male
Kadhalula thoththu pona aavi onnuA ghost that lost in love,
Mogaththula aaththu pakkam suththi varuthaamIs said to be roaming near the river in lust.
Kadhalula thoththu pona aavi onnuA ghost that lost in love,
Mogaththula aaththu pakkam suththi varuthaamIs said to be roaming near the river in lust.
Male
Thannanthaniyaaga neenga pogaatheengaDo not go all alone,
Aavikitta maattikkittu vaadaatheengaDo not get caught by the ghost and suffer.
Thannanthaniyaaga neenga pogaatheengaDo not go all alone,
Aavikitta maattikkittu vaadaatheengaDo not get caught by the ghost and suffer.
Male
Pogaathae pogaathaeDo not go, do not go,
Chorus :Aaththu pakkam pogaathaeChorus: Do not go near the river!
Male :Thaedaathae thaedaathaeMale: Do not look, do not look,
Chorus :Aabaththa nee thaedaathaeChorus: Do not seek danger!
Male
Pogaathae pogaathaeDo not go, do not go,
Chorus :Aaththu pakkam pogaathaeChorus: Do not go near the river!
Male :Thaedaathae thaedaathaeMale: Do not look, do not look,
Chorus :Aabaththa nee thaedaathaeChorus: Do not seek danger!
Male
Ada karukaru karukaru karuvena poodhamAh, a pitch-black monster,
Angae undu pogaataheIs right there, so do not go!
Male
Thanga kudam eduththu ponnugalaeGirls carrying golden pots,
Thanni edukka pogum kannigalae haeiYoung maidens going to fetch water, hey!
Male
Kalyaanaththa panniputtuAfter getting married,
Shanthi mukoorththam mudiyaamaBefore completing the wedding night,
Kulikkumpothu seththu pona aavi onnuA ghost of one who died while bathing,
Kanni ponnu yaaraavathuHoping some young maiden,
Vara maattaangalaannu kaajila kaaththitturukkuthuWould come along, waits there in lust.
Male
Appo kanni ponnu poovaayiThen a maiden named Poovayi,
Thanni edukka thaniyaagaTo fetch water all alone,
Saayang kaalam aaththu pakkam poyirukkaaWent near the river in the evening.
Kaaththiruntha kaala paiyanThe waiting young fellow,
Kanni ponna kanda pothuWhen he saw the maiden,
Chorus : Kanda pothuChorus: When he saw her,
Male :Avvalavuthaan orae adi ammaMale: That was it, one blow, Oh my!
Male
Pakkaththula naanga vanthaa paavam illaIf we come alongside you, it is no sin,
Akkam pakkam aavi varum payamum illaThere will be no fear of ghosts around.
Pakkaththula naanga vanthaa paavam illaIf we come alongside you, it is no sin,
Akkam pakkam aavi varum payamum illaThere will be no fear of ghosts around.
Male
Enga thunai ungalukku kaaval varumOur company will act as your protection,
Eppavumae achcham indri vaazhvu tharumIt will grant you a life forever free of fear.
Enga thunai ungalukku kaaval varumOur company will act as your protection,
Eppavumae achcham indri vaazhvu tharumIt will grant you a life forever free of fear.
Male
Ponnammaa poovammaa kelammaa paarammaaGolden girl, flower-like girl, listen and look,
Aalaana ponnammaa em pecha nee kelammaaGrown-up maiden, listen to my words.
Male
Ponnammaa poovammaaGolden girl, flower-like girl,
Chorus :Kelammaa paarammaaChorus: Listen and look,
Male :Aalaana ponnammaaMale: Grown-up maiden,
Chorus :Em pecha nee kelammaaChorus: Listen to my words.
Male
Ada ponnammaa poovammaa kelammaa paarammaaHey golden girl, flower-like girl, listen and look,
Chorus :Aalaana ponnammaa em pecha nee kelammaaChorus: Grown-up maiden, listen to my words.
Male
Thalathala thalathala thalavena ponnuFair, plump, beautiful girl,
Enna vittu pogaathaeDo not leave me and go.
Male
Thanga kudam eduththu ponnugalaeGirls carrying golden pots,
Thanni edukka pogum kannigalaeYoung maidens going to fetch water,
Aaththang karaiyilae aavi irukkuthaamThey say there is a ghost on the riverbank,
Kanni ponnungala thedi irukkuthaamIt is apparently searching for young maidens.
Male
Konjam paaththu ponga paaththu ponga chittugalaaGo carefully, go carefully, little birds,
Naanga kooda vanthaa aabaththilla mottugalaa….haei haeiIf we accompany you, there is no danger, young buds... hey hey!
Chorus
Thanga kudam eduththu ponnugalaeGirls carrying golden pots,
Male :HaeiMale: Hey!
Chorus :Thanni edukka pogum kannigalae haeiChorus: Young maidens going to fetch water, hey!
Male :AahaanMale: Aha!
Chorus
Thanga kudam eduththu ponnugalaeGirls carrying golden pots,
Male :Haei haeiMale: Hey hey!
Chorus :Thanni edukka pogum kannigalaeChorus: Young maidens going to fetch water!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful folk song sung by Malaysia Vasudevan with music by Ilaiyaraaja warning village women against going alone to the riverbank. The male protagonist uses urban folk tales about a lustful ghost lingering near the water to spook the maidens, offering his own company as a protective shield.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyme)

Thanga kudam eduththu / Thanni edukka pogum

Matching second consonant 'ng' in 'thanga' and 'thanni' establishes rhythmic flow.

Metaphor

Konjam paaththu ponga paaththu ponga chittugalaa / Naanga kooda vanthaa aabaththilla mottugalaa

Addressing young women as 'chittugalaa' (little birds) and 'mottugalaa' (flower buds) to convey softness and innocence.

Onomatopoeia / Anaphora

Ada karukaru karukaru karuvena poodham

Repetition of descriptive sounds like 'karukaru' (deep black) and 'thalathala' (radiant/soft skin) to heighten imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja in a lively, upbeat Tamil rural folk style, showcasing Malaysia Vasudevan's signature theatrical voice modulation.

Keep listening

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