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Vacha Kuri Thappathu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aathula Pathi Sethula Pathi

From Vacha Kuri Thappathu · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Shankar Ganesh, Suja Radhakrishnan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Vacha Kuri Thappathu
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
8 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi
Kaala vaikkaathae
Angaeyum konjam ingaeyum konjam
Kanna vaikkaathae
Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi
Kaala vaikkaathae
Angaeyum konjam ingaeyum konjam
Kanna vaikkaathae
Pooththathu poovu kaachchathu kaai kaiya vaikkaathae
Pooththathu poovu kaachchathu kaai kaiya vaikkaathae
Paaya podu paatta paadu kaakka vaikkaathae
Haiyo kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
Aah kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
: Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi
Kaala vaikkaathae
Angaeyum konjam ingaeyum konjam
Kanna vaikkaathae
Adadada machchaan vachchandi manasu ummelae
Konjam orasu emmelae
Haang…..machchaan vachchandi manasu ummelae
Konjam orasu emmelae
Thaali kattum munnaalae
Thooli katta ennaathae
Thaali kattum munnaalae
Thooli katta ennaathae
Vegappattu enna thottu vambu pannaathae
Ada maamara kiliyae
Siru thamarakodiyae
Unna naan pudipenae
Pudhu thaen kudippaenae
Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi
Kaala vaikkaathae
Angaeyum konjam ingaeyum konjam
Kanna vaikkaathae
Pooththathu poovu kaachchathu kaai kaiya vaikkaathae
Paaya podu paatta paadu kaakka vaikkaathae
Haiyo kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
Aah kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
Chummaa nikkaama parisam kondaadu
Intha vayasa pennodu
Haiyo….chummaa nikkaama parisam kondaadu
Intha vayasa pennodu
Yammaa pooveduththu vanthaenae
Kondaiyilae vachchenae
Pooveduththu vanthaenae
Kondaiyilae vachchenae
Oosi munai polae vanthu ottikittaenae
Dhinam raaththiri pozhuthu
Pudhu ragaththai ezhuthu
Oru paaththiram edhukku
Nadu saamaththil namakku
Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi
Kaala vaikkaathae
Angaeyum konjam ingaeyum konjam
Kanna vaikkaathae
Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi
Kaala vaikkaathae
Angaeyum konjam ingaeyum konjam
Kanna vaikkaathae
Pooththathu poovu kaachchathu kaai kaiya vaikkaathae
Pooththathu poovu kaachchathu kaai kaiya vaikkaathae
Paaya podu paatta paadu kaakka vaikkaathae
Haiyo kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
Haang…..kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
Haang…..kokkarak kokkarak kokkarakko
Kokkarak kokkarakko
Half in the river and half in the mud,
don't place your feet!
A little over there, a little over here,
don't cast your roving eyes!
Half in the river and half in the mud,
don't place your feet!
A little over there, a little over here,
don't cast your roving eyes!
The flower has bloomed and the fruit has formed, don't lay a hand on it!
The flower has bloomed and the fruit has formed, don't lay a hand on it!
Spread the mat, sing a song, and don't keep me waiting!
Aiyo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Ah, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Half in the river and half in the mud,
don't place your feet!
A little over there, a little over here,
don't cast your roving eyes!
Oh girl, this man has set his heart on you,
come brush close against me!
Aha... this man has set his heart on you,
come brush close against me!
Before tying the thaali (sacred wedding thread),
don't dream of hanging a cradle!
Before tying the thaali (sacred wedding thread),
don't dream of hanging a cradle!
Don't get impatient, touch me, and cause trouble!
Hey, parrot of the mango tree,
little lotus vine,
I will hold you close,
and drink sweet fresh honey!
Half in the river and half in the mud,
don't place your feet!
A little over there, a little over here,
don't cast your roving eyes!
The flower has bloomed and the fruit has formed, don't lay a hand on it!
Spread the mat, sing a song, and don't keep me waiting!
Aiyo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Ah, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Don't just stand idle, bring the parisam (engagement gift),
and celebrate with this young girl!
Aiyo... don't just stand idle, bring the parisam (engagement gift),
and celebrate with this young girl!
Oh my girl, I brought flowers,
and tucked them into your hair!
I brought flowers,
and tucked them into your hair!
Like the sharp tip of a needle, I came and clung to you!
Every single night,
write a brand new melody!
Why do we need a vessel
in the middle of the night?
Half in the river and half in the mud,
don't place your feet!
A little over there, a little over here,
don't cast your roving eyes!
Half in the river and half in the mud,
don't place your feet!
A little over there, a little over here,
don't cast your roving eyes!
The flower has bloomed and the fruit has formed, don't lay a hand on it!
The flower has bloomed and the fruit has formed, don't lay a hand on it!
Spread the mat, sing a song, and don't keep me waiting!
Aiyo, cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Aha... cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Aha... cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Male
Female
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Female
Male
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Female
Male
Female
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful Tamil folk duet revolves around a romantic banter between a young woman and her suitor. The woman warns her lover not to step onto unstable ground or harbor wavering intentions ('half in the river, half in the mud'). She insists on cultural propriety, reminding him that wedlock (tying the Thaali) must come before intimacy and parenthood, while teasingly asking him to pay the traditional bride price (parisam) to formally claim her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Folk Idiom

Aaththula paadhi saeththula paadhi

The phrase metaphorically describes double-mindedness or indecisiveness in love.

Alliteration (Monaai) and Imagery

Pooththathu poovu kaachchathu kaai kaiya vaikkaathae

Repetition of initial 'P' and 'K' sounds alongside imagery of blooming flowers and ripening fruits symbolizing youthful maturity.

Simile (Uwamai)

Oosi munai polae vanthu ottikittaenae

Compares attachment to the sharpness of a needle tip sticking closely.

Rhyme (Ethukai)

Thaali kattum munnaalae / Thooli katta ennaathae

The second letters 'li' in Thaali and Thooli rhyme, creating a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned lyricist Vaali for the 1988 film 'Vacha Kuri Thappathu', the song incorporates authentic rural Tamil proverbs and folk rhythm patterns. The refrain 'Kokkarakko' mimics the rooster's crow, adding a lively village aesthetic to the composition.

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