Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vaadiyammaa Vaadi

From Panakkara Kudumbam · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Anjali, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Panakkara Kudumbam1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Palingh chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu game chant: Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Vaadiyammaa vaadi vandaattam vaadiCome, girl, come! Come fluttering like a beetle, come!
Aathangarai pakkathilae kaathirukken vaadiI am waiting near the riverbank, come!
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Vaadiyammaa vaadi vandaattam vaadiCome, girl, come! Come fluttering like a beetle, come!
Aathangarai pakkathilae kaathirukken vaadiI am waiting near the riverbank, come!
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Palingh chadukudu chadukuduSparkling chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu
Female
Kaavaeri thanniyilae kulichi vandhaendiI took a bath in the Cauvery water and came!
Karikaal sozhan kittae padichi vandhaendiI learned my lessons under Karikala Chola and came!
Female
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Kaavaeri thanniyilae kulichi vandhaendiI took a bath in the Cauvery water and came!
Karikaal sozhan kittae padichi vandhaendiI learned my lessons under Karikala Chola and came!
Kaaviri poompattinathai parthirukkiyaadiHave you seen Kaveripoompattinam, girl?
Kannagi veedu enga veettu pakkam thaandiKannagi's house is right next to my house, girl!
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Kaavaeri porandhadhu enga oor thaandiThe Cauvery river originated right beyond my town!
Kaalaalae puligalai midhichava naandiI am the one who stomped tigers with my bare feet!
Female
Paling chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduSparkling chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Kaavaeri porandhadhu enga oor thaandiThe Cauvery river originated right beyond my town!
Kaalaalae puligalai midhichava naandiI am the one who stomped tigers with my bare feet!
Srirangha pattanathai paarthirukkiyaadiHave you seen Srirangapatna town, girl?
Thippu sulthaan porandhadhu enga oor thaandiTipu Sultan was born right beyond my town!
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Vaadiyammaa vaadi vandaattam vaadiCome, girl, come! Come fluttering like a beetle, come!
Aathangarai pakkathilae kaathirukkaen vaadiI am waiting near the riverbank, come!
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Palingh chadukudu chadukuduSparkling chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Maamaa magalae vandhiyaa sariyaaUncle's daughter, did you arrive properly?
Maappillai irukkan paakkalaam variyaaThe groom is here, come let's see, will you?
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Atthai magal vandhiyaa agappattu kittiyaaAunt's daughter, did you come and get caught?
Athaanai paarthu oru mutham thara poriyaaAre you going to look at your cousin and give him a kiss?
Atthai magal vandhiyaa agappattu kittiyaaAunt's daughter, did you come and get caught?
Athaanai paarthu oru mutham thara poriyaaAre you going to look at your cousin and give him a kiss?
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Vaadiyammaa vaadi vandaattam vaadiCome, girl, come! Come fluttering like a beetle, come!
Aathangarai pakkathilae kaathirukkaen vaadiI am waiting near the riverbank, come!
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukuduChadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thothotho thotho thothotho thothothoThothotho thotho thothotho thothotho
Female
Kadalilae kuyilonnu uruludhu peraludhuA cuckoo bird rolls and tosses in the sea!
Karu karu vizhiyonnu kurunagai puriyudhuA pair of dark eyes gives a gentle smile!
Kadalilae kuyilonnu uruludhu peraludhuA cuckoo bird rolls and tosses in the sea!
Karu karu vizhiyonnu kurunagai puriyudhuA pair of dark eyes gives a gentle smile!
Kurunagai puriyudhu kurunagai puriyudhuGives a gentle smile, gives a gentle smile!
Puriyudhu puriyudhu puriyudhu puriyudhuUnderstood, understood, understood, understood!
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Udalilae kandaangi minungudhu kulungudhuThe traditional Kandaangi saree on the body shines and sways!
Odi vandha kudhirai ilaikkudhu kalaikkudhuThe horse that came running gets exhausted and tired!
Ho ho ho ho Ho ho ho hoHo ho ho ho Ho ho ho ho
Haa haa haa haa haa…Haa haa haa haa haa…
Female
Vaanattilae maanonnu mayangudhu kalangudhuIn the sky, a deer becomes mesmerized and bewildered!
Pasi konda puliyonnu padhungudhu odhungudhuA hungry tiger hides and steps aside!
Vaanattilae maanonnu mayangudhu kalangudhuIn the sky, a deer becomes mesmerized and bewildered!
Pasi konda puliyonnu padhungudhu odhungudhuA hungry tiger hides and steps aside!
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Puli kitta maan vandhu adaikkalam ketkudhuThe deer approaches the tiger seeking refuge!
Pudikkudhu kadikkudhu elumbaiyum murikkudhuIt catches, bites, and snaps even the bones!
Murikkudhu murikkudhu murikkudhu murikkudhuSnapping, snapping, snapping, snapping!
Murikkudhu murikkudhu murikkudhu murikkudhuSnapping, snapping, snapping, snapping!
Murikkudhu murikkudhu murikkudhu murikkudhuSnapping, snapping, snapping, snapping!
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho thotho
Female
Thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho
Thotho thotho thotho thotho thothoThotho thotho thotho thotho thotho

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from the film Panakkara Kudumbam (1964) frames romantic banter within the traditional Tamil game of Kabaddi (Chadukudu). The lovers tease each other using rhythmic game chants, exaggerated historical claims, and playful references to local pride—boasting about the river Cauvery, King Karikala Chola, Kannagi, and Tipu Sultan.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition / Onomatopoeia)

Chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu chadukudu

Extensive repetition of rhythmic game sounds like 'Chadukudu' and vocal beats 'Thotho' to replicate the continuous chanting required during a Kabaddi raid.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kaavaeri porandhadhu enga oor thaandi / Kaalaalae puligalai midhichava naandi

Harmonizing the second consonant sound across consecutive lines for poetic rhythm.

Metaphor / Allegory (Uvamai)

Puli kitta maan vandhu adaikkalam ketkudhu

Using predator and prey imagery ('tiger' and 'deer') to metaphorically describe playful romantic pursuit, surrender, and affection.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song incorporates the authentic Tamil folk traditional chant of 'Chadukudu' (Kabaddi), where raiders must continuously repeat the chant on a single breath while entering opponent territory.

Keep listening

More from Panakkara Kudumbam