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Kavithai Paadum Alaigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thookkuda Thookkuda

From Kavithai Paadum Alaigal · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kavithai Paadum Alaigal
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
11 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilavarasae…
Ennadaa
Indha puraa aada vendumaanaal
Yaaraavadhu oruvar paada vendumaam
Ohoho paada vendumo
Pulavarae nee paadum
Poo mayil polavae
Boomiyl aadidum
Maan ival dhevi rathiyo…
Aahaa rambai thaano oo… oo…
Orvasiyo… oo…
O… engae vaasiyungal
Vanjiyin kangalo vaidooriyam
Maeniyo pon oviyam
Male :Niruthungal…
Enna idhu sariyaaga varavillaiyae
Idhu namakku sari padaadhu
Engae namadhu naattadi adiyungal
Thayaar… ondru irandu moondru naangu
Haa thookku daa thookku daa
Pallaakku thaan
Aadudhu melaakku thaan
Kaathula parakkudhu
Paavaada thaan
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaan
Idhu raanikku andha puram
Naanga veesurom venjaamaram
Idhu raanikku
Chorus :Andha puram
Male :Naanga veesurom
Chorus :Venjaamaram
Thookku daa thookku daa
Pallaakku thaan
Aadudhu melaakku thaan haai
Kaathula parakkudhu
Paavaada thaan
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaan
Chaeranum sozhanum
Veeram maeviya paandiyanum
Paavai un paarvaiyai
Paarthadhum thadumaaridanum
Idaiyilae manimaegalaiyae
Sirippilae sinthaamaniyae
Vizhiyilae iru meen kodiyae
Vizhikku mel iru vil kodiyae
Paathaalum paathen onna
Pakkatthula paathen
Kettaalum ketten
En vekkam vittu ketten
En palliyara pakkam vara
Sammadham sollu
Thookku daa thookku daa
Pallaakku thaan
Aadudhu melaakku thaan haei
Kaathula parakkudhu
Paavaada thaan
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaan
Appidi podu
Thakida thakida thakida thaa thaa
That tharikida thom
Thatthi tharikida thom
That tharikida thom
Thatthi tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thom
Hoihoi hoihoi hoihoi hoihoi
Nadaiyila udaiyila
Naanam koodiya paarvaiyila
Oorilae ulagilae
Unna pol oru paavai illa
Manakkum then madhurai
Malligaiyae
Mayakkum sirikkira punnagaiyae
Edhukku onakkindha
Dhaavaniyae
Enakku badhil sollu dhevagiyae
Venaandi modha
Idhu ottha vazhi paadha
Nee thaandi raadha indha
Kannanukku bodha
En pakkam vara vekkam vara
Koodaadhammaa
Thookku daa thookku daa
Pallaakku thaan
Aadudhu melaakku thaan
Kaathula parakkudhu
Paavaada thaan
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaan
Idhu raanikku andha puram
Naanga veesurom venjaamaram
Idhu raanikku
Chorus :Andha puram
Male :Naanga veesurom
Chorus :Venjaamaram
Haei thookku daa thookku daa
Pallaakku thaan
Aadudhu melaakku thaan haei
Hae haei hae haei hae haei
Hae haei haeiii
Chorus :Kaathula parakkudhu
Paavaada thaan
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaan
O Prince...
What is it?
If this dove is to dance,
someone has to sing, it seems!
Oho, someone must sing?
Poet, you sing!
Like a lovely peacock,
dancing upon the earth,
is this deer-like beauty Goddess Rathi?
Aha, is she Rambha? Oh... oh...
Or Urvashi? Oh...
Oh... come on, play the music!
This girl's eyes are like cat's-eye gems,
and her body is a golden painting!
Stop!
What is this? It isn't coming out right!
This doesn't suit us!
Come on, play our lively folk beat!
Ready... one, two, three, four!
Ha, lift it up, lift it up!
Lift the palanquin!
Her upper drape is swaying!
Flying in the wind,
her skirt flutters!
Catching the sweet scent of flowers!
This is the queen's private chambers,
and we wave the royal fan!
This is the queen's
private chambers!
And we wave
the royal fan!
Lift it up, lift it up!
Lift the palanquin!
Her upper drape is swaying, hey!
Flying in the wind,
her skirt flutters!
Catching the sweet scent of flowers!
The Chera and the Chola kings,
and the valiant Pandya king too,
at just one look from your eyes, girl,
would stumble and lose their hearts!
A jewel belt at your waist,
and a precious gem in your smile!
Twin fish flags in your eyes,
and twin bow flags above your eyes!
I looked and looked at you,
I saw you up close!
I asked you openly,
setting aside my shyness, I asked:
To come to my bedroom,
say yes to me!
Lift it up, lift it up!
Lift the palanquin!
Her upper drape is swaying, hey!
Flying in the wind,
her skirt flutters!
Catching the sweet scent of flowers!
That's the way!
Thagida thagida thagida thaa thaa
That tharugida thom
Thathi tharugida thom
That tharugida thom
Thathi tharugida thom
Tharugida thom tharugida thom
Tharugida thom tharugida thom
Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy!
In the way you walk, in what you wear,
and in your shy, blushing glance,
in this whole wide world,
there is no girl like you!
Like fragrant southern Madurai's
sweet jasmine flower,
with a smile that captivates!
Why do you even need
this half-sari?
Answer me, my Devaki!
Don't fight with me, girl,
this is a one-way path!
You are the Radha
who intoxicates this Krishna!
When you come near me,
you shouldn't feel shy, girl!
Lift it up, lift it up!
Lift the palanquin!
Her upper drape is swaying!
Flying in the wind,
her skirt flutters!
Catching the sweet scent of flowers!
This is the queen's private chambers,
and we wave the royal fan!
This is the queen's
private chambers!
And we wave
the royal fan!
Hey, lift it up, lift it up!
Lift the palanquin!
Her upper drape is swaying, hey!
Hey hey, hey hey, hey hey!
Hey hey, heyna!
Flying in the wind,
her skirt flutters!
Catching the sweet scent of flowers!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song opens in a theatrical play format where royalty and poets attempt to describe a beautiful dancer using classical, elevated literary Tamil. They compare her to celestial nymphs like Rambha, Urvashi, and Goddess Rathi. However, the male lead quickly breaks character, declaring that the rigid classical style is not working and demands a lively folk beat ('naattadi') instead. The song abruptly transitions into a high-energy folk celebration praising the woman's grace, attire, and captivating presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Simile

Poo mayil polavae

Comparing the dancing girl to a peacock ('Poo mayil polavae') and celestial nymphs ('Rambai thaano', 'Orvasiyo').

Literary Allusion (Ilaychiya Santham)

Idaiyilae manimaegalaiyae / Sirippilae sinthaamaniyae

Cleverly weaving the epic Tamil literature titles 'Manimekalai' and 'Sinthamani' into waist ornaments and her smile.

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyming)

Idaiyilae manimaegalaiyae / Sirippilae sinthaamaniyae

Rhyming second consonants in lines like Cheranum/Veeram/Paavai and Idaiyilae/Sirippilae.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Vizhiyilae iru meen kodiyae / Vizhikku mel iru vil kodiyae

Metaphorically linking the eyes to twin fish flags (Pandya dynasty symbol) and eyebrows to bow flags (Chera dynasty symbol).

Did you know?

Trivia

This track showcases a meta-commentary on Tamil cinema music evolution, humorously switching from formal Carnatic/literary royal court poetry to a energetic local 'Dappankuttu' folk beat midway through the performance.

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