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Enga Ooru Kavalkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thopporam

From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran · 1998

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Enga Ooru Kavalkaran
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
26 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mmm…mmm….mmm….
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
Hoo hoo hoo haaa…aa…aaa…
Aaaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Thopporam thottil katti
Thoongudhadi chella chittu
Aaththoram mettu katti
Paadudhadi sillu vandu
Paadum paattu adhu kek..kaadhaa
Adhai kettu kettu nenjam paa ..daadhaa
Paadum paattu adhu kek..kaadhaa
Adhai kettu kettu nenjam paa ..daadhaa
Thopporam thottil katti
Thoongudhadi chella chittu
Aaththoram mettu katti
Paadudhadi sillu vandu
Achi vellam pacharisi
Katti vachadhaaro
Aththai magan suththi vara
Pottu vachadhaaro
Achi vellam pacharisi
Katti vachadhaaro
Aththai magan suththi vara
Pottu vachadhaaro
Oththaiyilae nikkaiyilae
Thottadhu yaaradiyo
Thotta kai suttadhai pola
Vittadhu yaaradiyo
Roattoram rosaappoo
Aaththoram thaazampoo
Ellorum kondaadum penn poo
Thopporam thottil katti
Thoongudhadi chella chittu
Aaththoram mettu katti
Paadudhadi sillu vandu
Paadum paattu adhu kek..kaadhaa
Adhai kettu kettu nenjam paa ..daadhaa
Saeththukkulla sikkikittu
Nikkudhoru kaalai
Naaththugalai vittupputtu
Paarppadhenna aala
Saeththukkullae sikkikittu
Nikkudhoru kaala
Naaththugalai vittupputtu
Paarppadhenna aala
Naaththodu kaathum vanthu
Thanthanam paadudhadi
Pooththaadum neram vanthu
Santhanam poosudhadi
Kadalodu venn sangu
Kaaththodu themmaangu
Kekkaadha kaadhaedhu ingae
Thopporam thottil katti
Thoongudhadi chella chittu
Aaththoram mettu katti
Paadudhadi sillu vandu
Paadum paattu adhu kek..kaadhaa
Adhai kettu kettu nenjam paa ..daadhaa
Paadum paattu adhu kek..kaadhaa
Adhai kettu kettu nenjam paa ..daadhaa
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Hoo hoo hoo haa... aa... aaa...
Aaa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Tying a cradle beside the grove,
the precious little bird is fast asleep.
Making up a melody by the riverside,
the little cricket is singing away.
Can't you hear the song it sings?
Listening to it, won't the heart sing along?
Can't you hear the song it sings?
Listening to it, won't the heart sing along?
Tying a cradle beside the grove,
the precious little bird is fast asleep.
Making up a melody by the riverside,
the little cricket is singing away.
Molded jaggery and raw rice,
who packed them together?
So her cousin would follow her around,
who placed the dot on her forehead?
Molded jaggery and raw rice,
who packed them together?
So her cousin would follow her around,
who placed the dot on her forehead?
When standing all alone,
who was it that touched you, girl?
As if the hand got burnt by touching,
who let go and pulled away, girl?
A rose by the roadside,
a fragrant screw-pine flower by the river,
she is a blossoming girl whom everyone cherishes!
Tying a cradle beside the grove,
the precious little bird is fast asleep.
Making up a melody by the riverside,
the little cricket is singing away.
Can't you hear the song it sings?
Listening to it, won't the heart sing along?
Getting stuck in the muddy field,
a young bull stands still;
ignoring the tender saplings,
why is he staring at her?
Getting stuck in the muddy field,
a young bull stands still;
ignoring the tender saplings,
why is he staring at her?
Along with the saplings, the breeze comes
and sings a rhythmic folk tune!
The season of blooming has arrived,
applying cool sandalwood paste!
The white conch by the ocean,
the rustic folk song in the breeze—
is there any ear that has not heard them here?
Tying a cradle beside the grove,
the precious little bird is fast asleep.
Making up a melody by the riverside,
the little cricket is singing away.
Can't you hear the song it sings?
Listening to it, won't the heart sing along?
Can't you hear the song it sings?
Listening to it, won't the heart sing along?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thopporam Thottil Katti is a classic rural folk song from the 1988 Tamil movie Enga Ooru Kavalkaran, composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Gangai Amaran. The song vividly paints a pastoral canvas where romantic feelings blossom amidst groves, riverbanks, and muddy paddy fields. Through rich nature imagery, the lyrics playfully compare the blossoming affection between young village lovers to sleeping birds, humming beetles, and rustling breezes. The traditional folk cadence captures innocence, teasing affection, and the rural lifestyle of Tamil Nadu. In the second verse, imagery of paddy planting and bulls stuck in mud grounds the romance in everyday village labor, demonstrating how love and music seamlessly intertwine with rural life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Thopporam thottil katti / Aaththoram mettu katti”

The second letter 'p' (pha/pa) matches between 'Thopporam' and 'Aaththoram', creating a melodic rhythm typical of Tamil folk poetry.

Monaai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Thopporam thottil katti / Thoongudhadi chella chittu”

The initial consonant sound 'Th' is repeated across 'Thopporam' and 'Thoongudhadi'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Thoongudhadi chella chittu”

The maiden is affectionately addressed as 'chella chittu' (a cherished small bird), equating her grace and innocence to nature.

Personification

“Naaththodu kaathum vanthu / Thanthanam paadudhadi”

The breeze paired with paddy saplings is personified as singing a melodious rhythm ('Thanthanam paadudhadi').

Did you know?

Trivia

Enga Ooru Kavalkaran (1988) was a massive box-office hit starring Ramarajan and Gautami. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Gangai Amaran, this iconic folk track rendered by P. Susheela and Mano solidified Ramarajan's image as a staple rural hero in 1980s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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