Thanni Kudam
From Kalyana Kacheri · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kalyana Kacheri1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thanni kudam thooki vandha | The girl who came carrying a pot of water |
| Samanja ponnu | The young girl who has come of age |
| Aththai magan suthi vara | As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her |
| Amanaja ponnu | The well-suited, charming girl |
| Male | |
| Ettu mela ettu vechu poga | Walking step by step, taking each stride |
| Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga | As her heart aches trapped in her small saree |
| Male | |
| Thanni kudam thooki vandha | The girl who came carrying a pot of water |
| Samanja ponnu | The young girl who has come of age |
| Aththai magan suthi vara | As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her |
| Amanaja ponnu | The well-suited, charming girl |
| Male | |
| Yenadi kodathula | Why, inside your water pot |
| En usiru thalumbudhu | My very soul sloshes and overflows? |
| Kaaladi kolusu en | The anklet at your feet |
| Per solli azhaikkuthu | Calls out my name! |
| Male | |
| Ennidam yenadi vambhu | Why are you picking a fight with me? |
| Thaavani pottadhu thappu | Is it a mistake that you wore a half-saree? |
| Ennidam yenadi vambhu | Why are you picking a fight with me? |
| Thaavani pottadhu thappu | Is it a mistake that you wore a half-saree? |
| Male | |
| Konangulam orathula | At the edge of the Konangulam pond |
| Kuththavechu kokku nikkum | A crane stands crouching down |
| Kondai vecha kenda meenu | The carp fish with a tuft |
| Kaalukkulla vandhu sikkum | Gets caught under the feet |
| Meenae meendum thoondil podum | Oh fish, cast the hook once again! |
| Male | |
| Thanni kudam thooki vandha | The girl who came carrying a pot of water |
| Samanja ponnu | The young girl who has come of age |
| Aththai magan suthi vara | As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her |
| Amanaja ponnu | The well-suited, charming girl |
| Male | |
| Ettu mela ettu vechu poga | Walking step by step, taking each stride |
| Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga | As her heart aches trapped in her small saree |
| Male | |
| Thanni kudam thooki vandha | The girl who came carrying a pot of water |
| Samanja ponnu | The young girl who has come of age |
| Aththai magan suthi vara | As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her |
| Amanaja ponnu | The well-suited, charming girl |
| Male | |
| Kaalukkum kaadhukkum | Was it for her feet, ears, |
| Kannukkumaa aasa vechen | And eyes that I desired her? |
| Uravukkum gunathukkum | For her bond, her good character, |
| Usirukkum aasa vechen | And her very life, I desired her! |
| Male | |
| Paarvaiyil seri sollu pennae | Say yes with your glance, oh girl |
| Pazhakathil vasapadum pinnae | Everything will yield with closeness later |
| Paarvaiyil seri sollu pennae | Say yes with your glance, oh girl |
| Pazhakathil vasapadum pinnae | Everything will yield with closeness later |
| Male | |
| Nerangaalam paarpathillai | Passion does not look for time or hour |
| Vetkathukku vetkam illai | Even modesty feels no shame |
| Vaaikka karaan thoppukulla | Inside the grove near the water canal |
| Vanthu vidu chinna pulla | Come along, little girl |
| Lesa paaru yaarum illa | Look gently around, no one is here |
| Male | |
| Thanni kudam thooki vandha | The girl who came carrying a pot of water |
| Samanja ponnu | The young girl who has come of age |
| Aththai magan suthi vara | As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her |
| Amanaja ponnu | The well-suited, charming girl |
| Male | |
| Ettu mela ettu vechu poga | Walking step by step, taking each stride |
| Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga | As her heart aches trapped in her small saree |
| Male | |
| Thanni kudam thooki vandha | The girl who came carrying a pot of water |
| Samanja ponnu | The young girl who has come of age |
| Aththai magan suthi vara | As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her |
| Amanaja ponnu | The well-suited, charming girl |
தண்ணீ குடம் தூக்கி வந்தா
சமஞ்ச பொண்ணு
அத்தை மகன் சுத்தி வரை
அமைஞ்ச பொண்ணு
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
The young girl who has come of age
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
The well-suited, charming girl
எட்டு மேல
எட்டு வச்சு போக
சித்தாடையில்
சிக்கி மனம் நோக
Walking step by step, taking each stride
As her heart aches trapped in her small saree
தண்ணீ குடம் தூக்கி வந்தா
சமஞ்ச பொண்ணு
அத்தை மகன் சுத்தி வரை
அமைஞ்ச பொண்ணு....
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
The young girl who has come of age
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
The well-suited, charming girl
ஏனடி கொடத்துல
என் உசிரு தளும்புது
காலடி கொழுசுல
பேர் சொல்லி அழைக்குது
Why, inside your water pot
My very soul sloshes and overflows?
The anklet at your feet
Calls out my name!
என்னிடம் ஏனடி வம்பு
தாவணி போட்டது தப்பு
என்னிடம் ஏனடி வம்பு
தாவணி போட்டது தப்பு
Why are you picking a fight with me?
Is it a mistake that you wore a half-saree?
Why are you picking a fight with me?
Is it a mistake that you wore a half-saree?
கோணாங்குளம் கரை ஓரத்தில
குத்தைவச்சு கொக்கு நிக்கும்
கொண்டை வச்ச கெண்டை மீனு
காலுக்குள்ள வந்து சிக்கும்
மீனே மீண்டும் தூண்டில் போடும்
At the edge of the Konangulam pond
A crane stands crouching down
The carp fish with a tuft
Gets caught under the feet
Oh fish, cast the hook once again!
தண்ணீ குடம் தூக்கி வந்தா
சமஞ்ச பொண்ணு
அத்தை மகன் சுத்தி வரை
அமைஞ்ச பொண்ணு
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
The young girl who has come of age
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
The well-suited, charming girl
எட்டு மேல
எட்டு வச்சு போக
சித்தாடையில்
சிக்கி மனம் நோக
Walking step by step, taking each stride
As her heart aches trapped in her small saree
தண்ணீ குடம் தூக்கி வந்தா
சமஞ்ச பொண்ணு
அத்தை மகன் சுத்தி வரை
அமைஞ்ச பொண்ணு
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
The young girl who has come of age
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
The well-suited, charming girl
காலுக்கும் காதுக்கும்
கண்ணுக்குமா ஆசை வச்சேன்
உறவுக்கும் குணத்துக்கும்
உசிருக்கும் ஆசை வச்சேன்
Was it for her feet, ears,
And eyes that I desired her?
For her bond, her good character,
And her very life, I desired her!
பார்வையில் சரி சொல்லு பெண்ணே
பழக்கத்தில் வசப்படும் பின்னே
பார்வையில் சரி சொல்லு பெண்ணே
பழக்கத்தில் வசப்படும் பின்னே
Say yes with your glance, oh girl
Everything will yield with closeness later
Say yes with your glance, oh girl
Everything will yield with closeness later
நேரங்காலம் பார்பதில்லை
வெட்கத்துக்கு வெட்கம் இல்லை
வாய்க்கா கரை தோப்புக்குள்ள
வந்து விடு சின்னபுள்ள
லேசா பாரு யாரும் இல்லை
Passion does not look for time or hour
Even modesty feels no shame
Inside the grove near the water canal
Come along, little girl
Look gently around, no one is here
தண்ணீ குடம் தூக்கி வந்தா
சமஞ்ச பொண்ணு
அத்தை மகன் சுத்தி வரை
அமைஞ்ச பொண்ணு
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
The young girl who has come of age
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
The well-suited, charming girl
எட்டு மேல
எட்டு வச்சு போக
சித்தாடையில்
சிக்கி மனம் நோக
Walking step by step, taking each stride
As her heart aches trapped in her small saree
தண்ணீ குடம் தூக்கி வந்தா
சமஞ்ச பொண்ணு
அத்தை மகன் சுத்தி வரை
அமைஞ்ச பொண்ணு....
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
The young girl who has come of age
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
The well-suited, charming girl
Thanni kudam thooki vandha
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
Samanja ponnu
The young girl who has come of age
Aththai magan suthi vara
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
Amanaja ponnu
The well-suited, charming girl
Ettu mela ettu vechu poga
Walking step by step, taking each stride
Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga
As her heart aches trapped in her small saree
Thanni kudam thooki vandha
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
Samanja ponnu
The young girl who has come of age
Aththai magan suthi vara
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
Amanaja ponnu
The well-suited, charming girl
Yenadi kodathula
Why, inside your water pot
En usiru thalumbudhu
My very soul sloshes and overflows?
Kaaladi kolusu en
The anklet at your feet
Per solli azhaikkuthu
Calls out my name!
Ennidam yenadi vambhu
Why are you picking a fight with me?
Thaavani pottadhu thappu
Is it a mistake that you wore a half-saree?
Ennidam yenadi vambhu
Why are you picking a fight with me?
Thaavani pottadhu thappu
Is it a mistake that you wore a half-saree?
Konangulam orathula
At the edge of the Konangulam pond
Kuththavechu kokku nikkum
A crane stands crouching down
Kondai vecha kenda meenu
The carp fish with a tuft
Kaalukkulla vandhu sikkum
Gets caught under the feet
Meenae meendum thoondil podum
Oh fish, cast the hook once again!
Thanni kudam thooki vandha
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
Samanja ponnu
The young girl who has come of age
Aththai magan suthi vara
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
Amanaja ponnu
The well-suited, charming girl
Ettu mela ettu vechu poga
Walking step by step, taking each stride
Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga
As her heart aches trapped in her small saree
Thanni kudam thooki vandha
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
Samanja ponnu
The young girl who has come of age
Aththai magan suthi vara
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
Amanaja ponnu
The well-suited, charming girl
Kaalukkum kaadhukkum
Was it for her feet, ears,
Kannukkumaa aasa vechen
And eyes that I desired her?
Uravukkum gunathukkum
For her bond, her good character,
Usirukkum aasa vechen
And her very life, I desired her!
Paarvaiyil seri sollu pennae
Say yes with your glance, oh girl
Pazhakathil vasapadum pinnae
Everything will yield with closeness later
Paarvaiyil seri sollu pennae
Say yes with your glance, oh girl
Pazhakathil vasapadum pinnae
Everything will yield with closeness later
Nerangaalam paarpathillai
Passion does not look for time or hour
Vetkathukku vetkam illai
Even modesty feels no shame
Vaaikka karaan thoppukulla
Inside the grove near the water canal
Vanthu vidu chinna pulla
Come along, little girl
Lesa paaru yaarum illa
Look gently around, no one is here
Thanni kudam thooki vandha
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
Samanja ponnu
The young girl who has come of age
Aththai magan suthi vara
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
Amanaja ponnu
The well-suited, charming girl
Ettu mela ettu vechu poga
Walking step by step, taking each stride
Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga
As her heart aches trapped in her small saree
Thanni kudam thooki vandha
The girl who came carrying a pot of water
Samanja ponnu
The young girl who has come of age
Aththai magan suthi vara
As her paternal aunt's son lingers around her
Amanaja ponnu
The well-suited, charming girl
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thanni Kudam Thooki Vandha from Kalyana Kacheri (1987) is a vibrant, folk-inspired romantic song capturing the playful courtship between a young village man and his cousin (aththai magan and samanja ponnu). As the young woman walks home carrying a pot of water, her admirer gently teases her, declaring that his soul sloshes like the water inside her pot and that her anklets chime his name with every step. Using evocative rural imagery—like cranes watching for fish near village ponds and quiet meetings in canal groves—the lyrics express deep affection that transcends simple physical attraction, emphasizing respect for her nature and spirit. Written by Gangai Amaran, the track paints a nostalgic picture of rural romance and innocent banter.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Kaaladi kolusu en Per solli azhaikkuthu”
The speaker endows the girl's anklets with human speech, describing them as calling out his name.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Yenadi kodathula En usiru thalumbudhu”
The hero's soul sloshing with emotion is metaphorically compared to water sloshing in the pot.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kondai vecha kenda meenu Kaalukkulla vandhu sikkum”
Repetition of the initial 'Ko' sound creates a rhythmic cadence typical of Tamil folk poetry.
Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ettu mela ettu vechu poga Sithaadaiyil sikki manam noga”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'tt' across consecutive lines (Ettu / Sithaadaiyil).
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1987 film Kalyana Kacheri, the song relies on traditional Tamil cross-cousin marriage customs (Aththai magan / uncle's son) and rural folklore tropes, a hallmark of Gangai Amaran's celebrated folk lyricism in 1980s Tamil cinema.
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