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Koyil Yaanai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Therkathi Naattukaran

From Koyil Yaanai · 1986

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Koyil Yaanai
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
6 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hae hae….hae hae….
Yaehae hae yaehae hae
Therkaththi naattukkaaran
Themmaangu paattukkaaran
Eganaikku mogana naan paattu padippen
Elloraiyumae naan thokkadippaen
Kaalam vanthu thatti kodukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Male :Adi kanni ponna katti izhukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Therkaththi naattukkaari
Themmaangu paattukkaari
Yaettikki potti naan padippaen
Engili peesa naan thokkadippaen
Athil mukkaath thuttu pottumirukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Female :Antha pottu unna katti izhukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Therkaththi naattukkaaran
Themmaangu paattukkaaran
Eganaikku mogana naan paattu padippen
Elloraiyumae naan thokkadippaen….aehae….hae….
………………………
Maruthupandi seemaiyilae
Viruthu vaangi vanthavan haai
Thiramai kaatti ilamaiyilae
Thalamai thaangi nirppavan
Veeraappu pesaamaththaan saernthukka ho hoi
Kottungadaa melaththa koottungadaa koottaththa
Kaattungadaa aattaththa
Chorus :Hae hae
Male :Kottungadaa melaththa koottungadaa koottaththa
Kaattungadaa aattaththa
Chorus :Hae hae
Therkaththi naattukkaari
Themmaangu paattukkaari
Yaettikki potti naan padippaen
Engili peesa naan thokkadippaen
Nananaannananaa nananaannananaa nananaannaa
Hae hae…..hae hae…..hae hae….
Maelamaasi veedhiyilae maedai katti aadinava
Maelazhagu kottaikulllae ooraiyellaam poottinava
Aanaana pattavnum sokkamum
En azhagukku adimaipattu nikkanum
Kummi kotti aadungadi koyil munnae
Koodungadi kolava pottu paadungadi
Chorus :Hae hae
Female :Kummi kotti aadungadi koyil munnae
Koodungadi kolava pottu paadungadi
Chorus :Hae hae
Therkaththi naattukkaaran
Themmaangu paattukkaaran
Eganaikku mogana naan paattu padippen
Ae….haei haei….
Elloraiyumae naan thokkadippaen
Kaalam vanthu thatti kodukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Male :Adi kanni ponna katti izhukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Therkaththi naattukkaari
Themmaangu paattukkaari
Yaettikki potti naan padippaen
Engili peesa naan thokkadippaen
Athil mukkaath thuttu pottumirukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Female :Antha pottu unna katti izhukkum
Chorus :Hae hae hae hae
Hey hey... hey hey...
Aehey hey aehey hey
I am a man from the southern land,
A singer of rustic folk songs!
I will sing songs that enchant everyone,
And I will defeat anyone in a duel!
Time will come to pat my back in praise,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Male: And it will draw young girls to my side!
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
I am a girl from the southern land,
A singer of rustic folk songs!
I will match you verse for verse in contest,
If anyone tries to challenge me, I will defeat them!
I wear a bindi (forehead mark) worth three coins,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female: And that bindi will lure and pull you in!
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
I am a man from the southern land,
A singer of rustic folk songs!
I will sing songs that enchant everyone,
And I will defeat anyone in a duel... aehey... hey...
...
In the land of the brave Maruthu Pandiyar brothers,
I am the one who won laurels, hey!
Showing my skill right from my youth,
I stand as the undisputed leader!
Drop your stubborn pride and join me, ho hoy!
Beat the drums, gather the crowd!
Show off your dance moves!
Chorus: Hey hey
Male: Beat the drums, gather the crowd!
Show off your dance moves!
Chorus: Hey hey
I am a girl from the southern land,
A singer of rustic folk songs!
I will match you verse for verse in contest,
If anyone tries to challenge me, I will defeat them!
Nananannanana nananannanana nanananna
Hey hey... hey hey... hey hey...
I am the one who set up a stage and danced on West Masi Street!
With my supreme beauty, I captured the whole town!
Even the most mighty and proud men will be spellbound,
And bow down as captives to my beauty!
Clap your hands and dance Kummi (traditional clapping dance) before the temple!
Gather round, let out a kulavai (joyful trill), and sing!
Chorus: Hey hey
Female: Clap your hands and dance Kummi (traditional clapping dance) before the temple!
Gather round, let out a kulavai (joyful trill), and sing!
Chorus: Hey hey
I am a man from the southern land,
A singer of rustic folk songs!
I will sing songs that enchant everyone,
Ae... hey hey...
And I will defeat anyone in a duel!
Time will come to pat my back in praise,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Male: And it will draw young girls to my side!
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
I am a girl from the southern land,
A singer of rustic folk songs!
I will match you verse for verse in contest,
If anyone tries to challenge me, I will defeat them!
I wear a bindi (forehead mark) worth three coins,
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Female: And that bindi will lure and pull you in!
Chorus: Hey hey hey hey
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a high-energy folk musical duel (Patti Mandram / Paattu Mandram style) between a man and a woman representing southern Tamil Nadu folk singing traditions. The male singer boasts about his roots in the southern lands, his ability to sing soul-stirring Themmaangu melodies, and his confident charm that captivates young women. The female singer counters him with equal vigor, bragging about her formidable talent, her captivating beauty that holds entire towns spellbound, and her ability to out-sing anyone regardless of their status.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Therkaththi naattukkaaran / Viruthu vaangi vanthavan

The second consonant sound 'r' matches across both lines ('Therkaththi' and 'Viruthu').

Monaai (Alliteration / First letter rhyming)

Kottungadaa melaththa koottungadaa koottaththa

Repetition of the 'K' sound at the start of words within the same line creates a rhythmic tempo.

Repetition / Anaphora

Therkaththi naattukkaaran / Themmaangu paattukkaaran

Repeated structural refrain emphasizing cultural identity and regional pride.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics composed by Pulamaipithan showcase authentic southern Tamil folk terms like 'Themmaangu' (traditional rural song style), 'Kulavai' (ululation produced by women during celebrations), and 'Kummi' (traditional folk clap dance), rooted heavily in Madurai landmarks like West Masi Street ('Maelamaasi veedhi').

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