- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari, P. Susheela
- Music director
- T. R. Pappa
- Movie name
- Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 1 Sept 2021
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haaa…aaaa…aaa…
Thanjavur bommaiyai paaradi adiyathae
Saanji nikkira azhagai paaradi
Thanjavur bommaiyai paaradi adiyathae
Saanji nikkira azhagai paaradi
Anjaaru color sattai
Adhil yaanai kudhirai oottai
Chorus :Haa…aaa…
Female :Anjaaru color sattai
Adhil yaanai kudhirai oottai
Pudhu panjaangam pol varusha maasam
Padhinjirukkira joru adhisiyampaaru
Thanjavur bommaiyai paaradi adiyathae
Saanji nikkira azhagai paaradi
Adi vaalu kondaikaari
Nee vambhu sandaikkaari
Kari …aaa…kaari…kaari
Adi vaalu kondaikaari
Nee vambhu sandaikkaari
Nee vambhu sandaikkaari
Un vaayai adakki pesuthmbhi
Ooruthaan polladhu udambhu thaangadhu
Hahaan
Un vaayai adakki pesuthmbhi
Ooruthaan polladhu udambhu thaangadhu
Thanjavur bommaiyai paaradi adiyathae
Saanji nikkira azhagai paaradi
Thanjavur bommaiyai paaradi adiyathae
Saanji nikkira azhagai paaradi
Vambu illukirathum
Haa…aaa…
Vaai sandai poduvadhum
Pombalaikkae kooda porandha gunam
Thambi pombalaikkae kooda porandha gunam
Jambama pesuradhum
Savadaal adikradhum
Aambalaikkae podhuva amaindha gunam
Podhuva amaindha gunam
Theriyaadha solla theriyadhaa
Ungal seidhiyai innum sollavaa
Kaelikku idam allava
Sonnalae kaelikku idam allavaa
Hoo ..oo..oo..ooo
Theriyaadha solla theriyadhaa
Ungal seidhiyai innum sollavaa
Kaelikku idam allava
Sonnalae kaelikku idam allavaa
Ullathil kurumbhaai sirithiduvaar
Unmaiyai udhattil maraithiduvaar
Ullathil kurumbhaai sirithiduvaar
Unmaiyai udhattil maraithiduvaar
Kallathai kalaiyaai valarthiduvaar
Kallathai kalaiyaai valarthiduvaar
Kadai kannalae kalagam vilaithiduvaar
Theriyaadha solla theriyadhaa
Ungal seidhiyai innum sollavaa
Kaelikku idam allava
Sonnalae kaelikku idam allavaa
Oorukku needhi uraithiduvaar
Oorukku needhi uraithiduvaar
Than veetukkull pennai adaithiduvaar
Chorus :Aaa…aaa….
Female :Oorukku needhi uraithiduvaar
Than veetukkull pennai adaithiduvaar
Korikkai nirai vera kuzhaindhuvaar
Korikkai nirai vera kuzhaindhuvaar
Than kaariyam mudindha pinn maranthiduvaar
Theriyaadha solla theriyadhaa
Ungal seidhiyai innum sollavaa
Kaelikku idam allava
Sonnalae kaelikku idam allavaa
Anbudanae muzhumanadhodu pennai
Nambinaal koduppaal thiruvodu
Anbudanae muzhumanadhodu pennai
Nambinaal koduppaal thiruvodu
Nambinaal koduppaal thiruvodu
Nambiya sagunthalai patta paadu
Nambiya sagunthalai patta paadu
Indha naadarindhadhallavoo vetka kedu
Theriyaadha solla theriyadhaa
Ungal seidhiyai innum sollavaa
Kaelikku idam allava
Sonnalae kaelikku idam allavaa
Ha... aah... aah...
Look at the Thanjavur doll, girl!
Look at how beautifully it sways and stands!
Look at the Thanjavur doll, girl!
Look at how beautifully it sways and stands!
In a dress with five or six colours,
patterned with running elephants and horses!
Chorus: Ha... aah...
Female: In a dress with five or six colours,
patterned with running elephants and horses!
Like a new almanac marking the year and month,
look at the wonder of its splendid prints!
Look at the Thanjavur doll, girl!
Look at how beautifully it sways and stands!
Hey girl with the playful hair bun,
you are always looking for a fight!
Hey girl... aah... girl, girl!
Hey girl with the playful hair bun,
you are always looking for a fight!
You are always looking for a fight!
Watch your mouth and speak carefully, young man!
This town is wicked, your body won't take the beating!
Hahaan!
Watch your mouth and speak carefully, young man!
This town is wicked, your body won't take the beating!
Look at the Thanjavur doll, girl!
Look at how beautifully it sways and stands!
Look at the Thanjavur doll, girl!
Look at how beautifully it sways and stands!
Stirring up trouble,
Ha... aah...
and picking verbal fights—
are traits women are born with!
Brother, traits women are born with!
Talking with grand arrogance,
and boasting endlessly—
are traits naturally found in men!
Traits naturally found in men!
Don't you know? Or do you not know what to say?
Shall I tell you more of what you do?
Wouldn't it just invite ridicule?
If I say it, wouldn't it invite ridicule?
Hoo... oo... oo... oooo!
Don't you know? Or do you not know what to say?
Shall I tell you more of what you do?
Wouldn't it just invite ridicule?
If I say it, wouldn't it invite ridicule?
They laugh with mischief in their hearts,
while hiding the truth behind their lips!
They laugh with mischief in their hearts,
while hiding the truth behind their lips!
They cultivate deceit into a fine art,
they cultivate deceit into a fine art,
and stir up trouble with just a sidelong glance!
Don't you know? Or do you not know what to say?
Shall I tell you more of what you do?
Wouldn't it just invite ridicule?
If I say it, wouldn't it invite ridicule?
They preach righteousness to the whole town,
they preach righteousness to the whole town,
yet lock women up inside their own homes!
Chorus: Aah... aah...
Female: They preach righteousness to the whole town,
yet lock women up inside their own homes!
They will act sweet until their desires are met,
they will act sweet until their desires are met,
but once their purpose is served, they forget you!
Don't you know? Or do you not know what to say?
Shall I tell you more of what you do?
Wouldn't it just invite ridicule?
If I say it, wouldn't it invite ridicule?
If with love and a whole heart,
you trust a woman, she'll leave you with a beggar's bowl!
If with love and a whole heart,
you trust a woman, she'll leave you with a beggar's bowl!
If you trust her, she'll leave you with a beggar's bowl!
Look at all the suffering Shakuntala endured by trusting a man,
look at all the suffering Shakuntala endured by trusting a man!
Isn't that disgraceful story known to the whole land?
Don't you know? Or do you not know what to say?
Shall I tell you more of what you do?
Wouldn't it just invite ridicule?
If I say it, wouldn't it invite ridicule?
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful yet sharp-witted duet from the 1959 Tamil film 'Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali' serves as a lighthearted banter between genders, which seamlessly transitions into social satire. Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi uses the famous oscillating Thanjavur doll as a metaphor for human hypocrisy and shifting stances. The song contrasts stereotyped female traits like quarrelsomeness with male flaws like arrogance, deceit, and false morality. As the song progresses, the female speaker takes a strong stance against patriarchal hypocrisy, calling out men who preach morality to society while oppressing women at home. She brings up the classic mythological story of Shakuntala to show how women who offer wholehearted love and trust are often betrayed and reduced to hardship, making a poignant commentary on gender dynamics.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Eduthukkaattu
“Pudhu panjaangam pol varusha maasam”
Compares something detailed and structured to a new panjaangam (astrological almanac).
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kallathai kalaiyaai valarthiduvaar / Kadai kannalae kalagam vilaithiduvaar”
Rhyming of the second letter 'll' across consecutive lines (Kallathai / Kadai).
Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippeedhu)
“Nambiya sagunthalai patta paadu”
References the mythological story of Shakuntala and Dushyanta to highlight male betrayal and female suffering.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the famed rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi, this song is renowned for blending traditional folk motifs—such as the iconic Thanjavur head-shaking doll—with progressive reformist themes regarding women's rights and male hypocrisy.
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From the same album
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Thaai Magalukku Kattiya Thaali
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