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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thookkuda Thookkuda

From Kavithai Paadum Alaigal · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kavithai Paadum Alaigal1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ilavarasae…Oh Prince...
Male
EnnadaaWhat is it?
Male
Indha puraa aada vendumaanaalIf this dove wants to dance,
Yaaraavadhu oruvar paada vendumaamSomeone needs to sing for her.
Male
Ohoho paada vendumoOh, so someone needs to sing?
Pulavarae nee paadumPoet, please sing!
Male
Poo mayil polavaeLike a flower peacock,
Boomiyl aadidumDancing on this earth,
Maan ival dhevi rathiyo…Is this deer a goddess Rathi?
Male
Aahaa rambai thaano oo… oo…Aaha, is she Rambha?
Orvasiyo… oo…Or Urvashi?
Male
O… engae vaasiyungalOh, play the instruments there!
Male
Vanjiyin kangalo vaidooriyamThe young woman's eyes are like chrysoberyl cat's eye gemstones,
Maeniyo pon oviyamHer body is like a golden painting.
Male :Niruthungal…Male: Stop it...
Enna idhu sariyaaga varavillaiyaeWhat is this? It's not coming out right!
Idhu namakku sari padaadhuThis classical style won't suit us.
Engae namadhu naattadi adiyungalHey, play our local folk beat!
Thayaar… ondru irandu moondru naanguReady... one, two, three, four!
Male
Haa thookku daa thookku daaHaa, lift it, lift it!
Pallaakku thaanIt is a palanquin!
Aadudhu melaakku thaanHer upper garment sways,
Chorus
Kaathula parakkudhuIt flies in the wind,
Paavaada thaanHer skirt is fluttering,
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaanInhaling the fragrance of flowers!
Male
Idhu raanikku andha puramThis is the queen's inner palace,
Naanga veesurom venjaamaramWe fan her with a white whisk,
Idhu raanikkuThis is for the queen,
Chorus :Andha puramChorus: The inner palace!
Male :Naanga veesuromMale: We fan,
Chorus :VenjaamaramChorus: The white whisk!
Male
Thookku daa thookku daaLift it, lift it!
Pallaakku thaanIt is a palanquin!
Aadudhu melaakku thaan haaiHer upper garment sways, haai!
Chorus
Kaathula parakkudhuIt flies in the wind,
Paavaada thaanHer skirt is fluttering,
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaanInhaling the fragrance of flowers!
Male
Chaeranum sozhanumThe Chera and the Chola,
Veeram maeviya paandiyanumAnd the valiant Pandyan king,
Male
Paavai un paarvaiyaiUpon catching a glance of you, maiden,
Paarthadhum thadumaaridanumOught to stumble in awe!
Male
Idaiyilae manimaegalaiyaeHer waist wears the jewel Manimekalai,
Sirippilae sinthaamaniyaeHer smile shines like Seevaga Sinthamani,
Male
Vizhiyilae iru meen kodiyaeIn her eyes are twin fish flags,
Vizhikku mel iru vil kodiyaeAbove her eyes are twin bow flags!
Chorus
Paathaalum paathen onnaThough I have seen many, I saw you,
Pakkatthula paathenI saw you right beside me!
Kettaalum kettenThough I have asked, I asked,
En vekkam vittu kettenShedding my shyness, I asked!
En palliyara pakkam varaTo come near my bedchamber,
Sammadham solluGive me your consent!
Male
Thookku daa thookku daaLift it, lift it!
Pallaakku thaanIt is a palanquin!
Aadudhu melaakku thaan haeiHer upper garment sways, haei!
Chorus
Kaathula parakkudhuIt flies in the wind,
Paavaada thaanHer skirt is fluttering,
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaanInhaling the fragrance of flowers!
Male
Appidi poduHit it right there!
Male
Thakida thakida thakida thaa thaaThakida thakida thakida thaa thaa
Male
That tharikida thomThat tharikida thom
Thatthi tharikida thomThatthi tharikida thom
That tharikida thomThat tharikida thom
Thatthi tharikida thomThatthi tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thomTharikida thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thom tharikida thomTharikida thom tharikida thom
Chorus
Hoihoi hoihoi hoihoi hoihoiHoihoi hoihoi hoihoi hoihoi
Male
Nadaiyila udaiyilaIn your walk, in your dress,
Naanam koodiya paarvaiyilaIn your shy-filled gaze,
Male
Oorilae ulagilaeIn this entire town and world,
Unna pol oru paavai illaThere is no maiden quite like you!
Male
Manakkum then madhuraiOh sweet-smelling Madurai,
MalligaiyaeJasmine flower!
Mayakkum sirikkira punnagaiyaeOh intoxicating, smiling face!
Male
Edhukku onakkindhaWhy do you need this,
DhaavaniyaeHalf-saree drape?
Enakku badhil sollu dhevagiyaeAnswer me, my Devaki!
Chorus
Venaandi modhaDo not clash with me,
Idhu ottha vazhi paadhaThis is a narrow one-way path!
Nee thaandi raadha indhaYou are Radha, and for this
Kannanukku bodhaKrishna, you are the intoxication!
En pakkam vara vekkam varaTo feel shy when coming near me,
KoodaadhammaaShould not happen, my lady!
Male
Thookku daa thookku daaLift it, lift it!
Pallaakku thaanIt is a palanquin!
Aadudhu melaakku thaanHer upper garment sways,
Male
Kaathula parakkudhuIt flies in the wind,
Paavaada thaanHer skirt is fluttering,
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaanInhaling the fragrance of flowers!
Male
Idhu raanikku andha puramThis is the queen's inner palace,
Naanga veesurom venjaamaramWe fan her with a white whisk,
Idhu raanikkuThis is for the queen,
Chorus :Andha puramChorus: The inner palace!
Male :Naanga veesuromMale: We fan,
Chorus :VenjaamaramChorus: The white whisk!
Male
Haei thookku daa thookku daaHaei lift it, lift it!
Pallaakku thaanIt is a palanquin!
Aadudhu melaakku thaan haeiHer upper garment sways, haei!
Male
Hae haei hae haei hae haeiHae haei hae haei hae haei
Hae haei haeiiiHae haei haeiii
Chorus :Kaathula parakkudhuChorus: It flies in the wind,
Paavaada thaanHer skirt is fluttering,
Paakkudhu poo vaada thaanInhaling the fragrance of flowers!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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