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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thottam Konda Rasave

From Pagalil Oru Iravu · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Ilayaraja, Jency
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pagalil Oru Iravu1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aelaa…aelaa. ..aaelelaa. .lala..aaelelaaAelaa... aelaa... aaelelaa... lala... aaelelaa
Aelaa…aelaa. ..aaelelaa. .lala..aaelelaaAelaa... aelaa... aaelelaa... lala... aaelelaa
Male
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Male
Kaattu kuiyil polLike wild cuckoos,
Paattu padichomWe sang a song,
Gangai amman kaaval iruppaaGoddess Gangai Amman will protect us!
Chorus :Ponnugalaa.. pullaigalaa. .Chorus: Oh girls... oh boys...
Paadungadaa…hoiSing along... hey!
Male
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Female
Maetta vittu kaattu vellamLeaving the highlands, the wild floodwaters
Keezhirangi vandhadhaeDescended down to the plains,
Thottamum vilangudhaeMaking the entire garden flourish!
Male
Veetta katti velikattiOh divine lord who built a house and fenced it,
Vaazhavacha saamiyaeEnabling us to live peacefully,
Kaalamum kaninjadhaeThe ripe time has finally arrived!
Chorus
Kattivellam polaeLike sweet block jaggery,
Raaniyai paarungaLook at the queen!
Katterumba polaeLike busy black ants,
Raasaava kelungaListen to the king!
Female
Sittu chellammaa..aaOh precious little sparrow...
Aambala pulla onnaGive birth to
Peththu kodummaaA male child!
Chorus :Ponnugalaa.. pullaigalaa. .Chorus: Oh girls... oh boys...
Paadungadaa…hoiSing along... hey!
Male
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Male
Pooththamalli kaathadichaWhen the breeze blew over the blooming jasmine,
Ponnuruvam aachudhuIt acquired a glowing golden form,
Kannu rendum pesudhuAnd both eyes speak silent words!
Female
Kaathirundha vandu onnuA waiting beetle
Kaalavadi vaachudhuFound the right opportune moment,
Maelae vandhu kekkudhuAnd comes up closer to ask!
Chorus
Pottu vacha paaththaIf you look at her wearing a bindi, she is like a lotus flower,
ThaamarapoovaeOh lotus flower!
Poomudichchi paaththaIf you look at her with flowers in her hair,
Ammanai polaeShe looks like Goddess Amman herself!
Male
Kattithangamae. ..Oh pure solid gold...
Thottaththu maambazhamEven the mango from the garden
Unna vellumaaeWill win over you!
Chorus
Ponnugalaa.. pullaigalaa. .Oh girls... oh boys...
Paadungadaa…hoiSing along... hey!
Male
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Chorus
Aelaa…aelaa. ..aaelelaa. .lala..aaelelaaAelaa... aelaa... aaelelaa... lala... aaelelaa
Aelaa…aelaa. ..aaelelaa. .lala..aaelelaaAelaa... aelaa... aaelelaa... lala... aaelelaa
Female
Kandedutha rathinaththinFor the precious gemstone that was discovered,
Mannpudichu vaiyyungaHold its clay-bound base carefully,
Kaiyyil allikollungaGather it tenderly in your hands!
Male
Kannu padapogudhaiyaaLest the evil eye fall upon her,
Ponnukkitta sollungaTell the young lady,
Kanna pottu vaiyyungaApply a black dot to ward off the evil eye!
Chorus
Nalladhoru kaalamA good era has dawned,
Alaiyila aadungaDance along the waves of joy!
Onnukkulla onnaaUnited as one with each other,
Uravila vaazhungaLive together in love and unity!
Enga duraiyae…Oh our noble master...
Vaazhunga vaazhungaLive long, live long
Romba rombanaalFor many, many long years!
Chorus
Ponnugalaa.. pullaigalaa. .Chorus: Oh girls... oh boys...
Paadungadaa…hoiSing along... hey!
Male
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Thottam konda raasaavaeOh king who owns the garden,
Soodi konda raasaaththiOh queen adorned with flowers,
Male
Kaattu kuiyil polLike wild cuckoos,
Paattu padichomWe sang a song,
Gangai amman kaaval iruppaaGoddess Gangai Amman will protect us!
Chorus :Ponnugalaa.. pullaigalaa. .Chorus: Oh girls... oh boys...
Paadungadaa…Sing along...
Ponnugalaa.. pullaigalaa. .Oh girls... oh boys...
Paadungadaa…hoiSing along... hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Thottam Konda Raasaavae' is a festive folk song from the 1979 Tamil movie 'Pagalil Oru Iravu'. Sung in a joyful chorus by villagers, the song celebrates the prosperity, love, and togetherness of a noble couple (the lord of the garden and his bride). The villagers liken the couple's bond to blooming flowers, sweet jaggery, and vibrant nature while invoking the blessings of Goddess Gangai Amman for their safety, happiness, and lineage. The lyrics highlight rural harmony, agricultural prosperity brought by flowing waters, and deep affection within the village community. Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, the song combines rich traditional metaphors of village life with rhythmic folk energy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

Kaattu kuiyil pol

Compares the couple singing freely to wild cuckoos ('Kaattu kuiyil pol').

Metaphor & Simile

Kattivellam polae

Compares the queen's sweetness to block jaggery ('Kattivellam polae') and the king's active industriousness to black ants ('Katterumba polae').

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

Ammanai polae

Compares the bride's divine beauty to Goddess Amman ('Ammanai polae') and pure gold ('Kattithangamae').

Rhyme / Assonance (Edukai & Mohnai)

Thottam konda raasaavae

Use of initial and internal rhyming sound patterns typical of Tamil folk songs ('Thottam' / 'Soodi', 'Veetta' / 'Kaalamum').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pagalil Oru Iravu' (1979) was directed by I. V. Sasi and starred Vijayakumar, Sridevi, and Rajinikanth in prominent roles. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring soulful melodies and authentic folk arrangements. Kannadasan's lyricism in this song captures the authentic dialect and celebratory spirit of Tamil village folk culture.

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