Aattukkutti
From 16 Vayathinile · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- 16 Vayathinile1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aaaa….aaa…aahaa….aaa… | Aaaa....aaa...aahaa....aaa... |
| Aatukutti muttai ittu | Saying a goat kid laid an egg, |
| Kozhikutti vanthathinnu | And a chick hatched out of it, |
| Yaana kunju sollakettu | Hearing the baby elephant say this, |
| Poona kunju sonnathundu | The kitten retold the tale! |
| Kathayilla saami | It is no mere tall tale, my friend, |
| Ipo kaanuthu bhoomi | The earth witnesses it now! |
| Ithu mattum thaana | Is it just this much? |
| Innum irukuthu saami | There is even more, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Koothumeda raasavukku | For the king of the drama stage, |
| Yaee aae..ae…….. | Yaee aae..ae........ |
| Koothumeda raasavukku | For the king of the drama stage, |
| Noothirendu pondatiyaam | They say he has one hundred and two wives! |
| Noothirendu pondatiyum | And all those one hundred and two wives, |
| Vaathu mutta pottathuvaam | Are said to have laid duck eggs! |
| Pattathuraani athula | Among them, as crowned queens, |
| Pathinettu peru | There are eighteen of them, |
| Pathinettu perkum | And for all eighteen of them, |
| Vayasu iruvathiyaaru | The age is twenty-six! |
| Motham iruvathiyaaru | In total, twenty-six! |
| Female :Haan | Female: Haan |
| Male | |
| Chinna kuttigalin mel aanai | Swearing on the little young ones, |
| Intha sattigalin mel aanai | Swearing on these cooking pots, |
| Ithu valluvanin yetil undu | This is written in Valluvar's palm-leaf manuscript, |
| Parambarai paatil undu | It exists in our traditional songs! |
| Katha illa magaraasi.. | It's no lie, O lady of good fortune... |
| Male | |
| Aatukutti muttai ittu | Saying a goat kid laid an egg, |
| Kozhikutti vanthathinnu | And a chick hatched out of it, |
| Yaana kunju sollakettu | Hearing the baby elephant say this, |
| Poona kunju sonnathundu | The kitten retold the tale! |
| Kathayilla saami | It is no mere tall tale, my friend, |
| Ipo kaanuthu bhoomi | The earth witnesses it now! |
| Ithu mattum thaana | Is it just this much? |
| Innum irukuthu saami | There is even more, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Kaakaiyilla seemaiyilae | In a land where no crows exist, |
| Kaateruma meikaiyilae | While grazing wild buffaloes, |
| Paateduthu paadiputtu | Singing a song with rhythm, |
| Ootamitta chinna ponnu | The little girl who ran away, |
| Santhaikku pona | Went off to the village market! |
| Naanum saatchikku varavaa | Shall I come along as a witness? |
| Sammantham panna unakku | To forge an alliance, do you |
| Sammatham thaana | Give your consent? |
| Kaakaiyilla seemaiyilae….. | In a land where no crows exist..... |
| Female :Yae…ae….aaa….aaaiii | Female: Yae...ae....aaa....aaaiii |
| Female | |
| Kaakaiyilla seemaiyilae | In a land where no crows exist, |
| Kaateruma meikaiyilae | While grazing wild buffaloes, |
| Kaakkavachu nerampaathu | Making me wait and watching the right moment, |
| Paaku vecha aasa machaan | My beloved suitor who invited me with betel nuts, |
| Santhaiki poren neenga | I am going to the market, please |
| Saatchikku vaanga | Come along as a witness! |
| Sammantham panna enakku | To make this alliance, I |
| Sammatham thaanga | Give my consent! |
| Ada intha pakkam paarungalen | Hey, look over this way, |
| Enn kannimozhi kelungalen | Listen to my sweet maidenly words! |
| Female | |
| Adi yendi intha vambuinnu | Asking 'Hey girl, why this trouble?' |
| Kekuriyae kekuriyae | You keep asking, you keep asking! |
| Pazhaya nenapuda perandi | Old memories, my grandson! |
| Pazhaya nenapuda | Ah, old memories! |
| Ahhh pazhaya nenapuda perandi | Ahhh, old memories, my grandson! |
| Pazhaya nenapuda | Ah, old memories! |
| Male | |
| Kittappaavin paata ketten | I listened to SG Kittappa's songs, |
| Chinnppaava nerula paathen | I saw PU Chinnappa in person! |
| Kotta kotta varuguthama | It flows out abundantly, |
| Sangeethama peruguthamma | Music surges forth gracefully! |
| Medaiku ponaa enakku | If I go up on the stage, |
| Edula ponnu | A girl matchless in status! |
| Paadina ninna naanum | If I stand and sing, |
| Noothula onnu | I am one in a hundred! |
| Male | |
| En thiramaya kaatatuma | Shall I display my talent? |
| Rendu sangathiya podatuma | Shall I add a couple of musical variations? |
| Thatharina thatharina | Thatharina thatharina |
| Thatharina thatharina.. | Thatharina thatharina.. |
| ……………………………… | ............................ |
| Female :Hahahahahhaha | Female: Hahahahahhaha |
| Male | |
| Thatharina thatharina | Thatharina thatharina |
| Thatharina thatharina.. | Thatharina thatharina.. |
| ………………………………. | ............................ |
| Female :Hahahahahhaha | Female: Hahahahahhaha |
| Male | |
| Thatharina thatharina | Thatharina thatharina |
| Thatharina thatharina.. | Thatharina thatharina.. |
| Aaah….aaaa….aaa….. | Aaah....aaaa....aaa..... |
| ……………………………………… | ................................. |
| Female :Hahahahahhaha | Female: Hahahahahhaha |
ஆஆ ஆ ஆஅ
ஆஅ ஆஅ
ஆ அ ஆ...
Aaaa....aaa...aahaa....aaa...
Saying a goat kid laid an egg,
And a chick hatched out of it,
Hearing the baby elephant say this,
The kitten retold the tale!
It is no mere tall tale, my friend,
The earth witnesses it now!
Is it just this much?
There is even more, my friend!
ஆட்டுக்குட்டி முட்டையிட்டு
கோழிக்குட்டி வந்ததுன்னு
யானைக்குஞ்சு சொல்லக்கேட்டு
பூனைக்குஞ்சு சொன்னதுண்டு
கதையில்ல சாமி
இப்போ காணுது பூமி
இது மட்டும்தானா
இன்னும் இருக்குது சாமி
For the king of the drama stage,
Yaee aae..ae........
For the king of the drama stage,
They say he has one hundred and two wives!
And all those one hundred and two wives,
Are said to have laid duck eggs!
Among them, as crowned queens,
There are eighteen of them,
And for all eighteen of them,
The age is twenty-six!
In total, twenty-six!
Female: Haan
கூத்து மேடை
ராஜாவுக்கு ஏ ஏய் ஏ.....
கூத்து மேடை ராஜாவுக்கு
நூற்றிரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டியாம்
நூற்றிரெண்டு பெண்டாட்டியும்
வாத்து முட்டை போட்டதுவாம்
பட்டத்துராணி அதுல பதினெட்டு பேரு
பதினெட்டு பேர்க்கும் வயசு இருபத்து ஆறு
மொத்தம் இருபத்து ஆறு
Swearing on the little young ones,
Swearing on these cooking pots,
This is written in Valluvar's palm-leaf manuscript,
It exists in our traditional songs!
It's no lie, O lady of good fortune...
ஹான்
Saying a goat kid laid an egg,
And a chick hatched out of it,
Hearing the baby elephant say this,
The kitten retold the tale!
It is no mere tall tale, my friend,
The earth witnesses it now!
Is it just this much?
There is even more, my friend!
சின்ன குட்டிகளின் மேல் ஆணை
புது சட்டிகளின் மேல் ஆணை
இரு வள்ளுவன் ஏட்டிலுண்டு
பரம்பரை பாட்டிலுண்டு
கதையில்ல மகராசி
In a land where no crows exist,
While grazing wild buffaloes,
Singing a song with rhythm,
The little girl who ran away,
Went off to the village market!
Shall I come along as a witness?
To forge an alliance, do you
Give your consent?
In a land where no crows exist.....
Female: Yae...ae....aaa....aaaiii
ஆட்டுக்குட்டி முட்டையிட்டு
கோழிக்குட்டி வந்ததுன்னு
யானைக்குஞ்சு சொல்லக்கேட்டு
பூனைக்குஞ்சு சொன்னதுண்டு
கதையில்ல சாமி
இப்போ காணுது பூமி
இது மட்டும்தானா
இன்னும் இருக்குது சாமி
In a land where no crows exist,
While grazing wild buffaloes,
Making me wait and watching the right moment,
My beloved suitor who invited me with betel nuts,
I am going to the market, please
Come along as a witness!
To make this alliance, I
Give my consent!
Hey, look over this way,
Listen to my sweet maidenly words!
காக்கையில்லா சீமையிலே
காட்டெருமை மேய்க்கையிலே
பாட்டெடுத்து பாடிப்புட்டு
நோட்டமிட்ட சின்னப் பொண்ணு
சந்தைக்கு போனா நானும்
சாட்சிக்கு வர வா
சம்பந்தம் பண்ண
உனக்கு சம்மதம்தானா
காக்கையில்லா சீமையிலே
Asking 'Hey girl, why this trouble?'
You keep asking, you keep asking!
Old memories, my grandson!
Ah, old memories!
Ahhh, old memories, my grandson!
Ah, old memories!
ஏ ஏ ஏ ஏஹெய்.........
காக்கையில்லா சீமையிலே
காட்டெருமை மேய்க்கையிலே
காக்க வச்சி நேரம் பாத்து
பாக்கு வச்ச ஆசை மச்சான்
சந்தைக்கு போறேன்
நீங்க சாட்சிக்கு வாங்க க க
சம்பந்தம் பண்ண எனக்கு சம்மதம் தாங்க
I listened to SG Kittappa's songs,
I saw PU Chinnappa in person!
It flows out abundantly,
Music surges forth gracefully!
If I go up on the stage,
A girl matchless in status!
If I stand and sing,
I am one in a hundred!
அட இந்த பக்கம் பாருங்களே
என் கன்னி மொழி கேளுங்களே
அட ஏண்டி என்ன வஞ்சனைனு
கேக்குறீயே கேக்குறீயே
{பழைய நெனப்புடா
பேராண்டி பழைய நெனப்புடா} (2)
Shall I display my talent?
Shall I add a couple of musical variations?
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina..
............................
Female: Hahahahahhaha
கிட்டப்பாவின் பாட்டை கேட்டேன்
சின்னப்பாவை நேரில் பார்த்தேன்
கொட்ட கொட்ட வருகுதம்மா
சங்கீதமா பெருகுதம்மா
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina..
............................
Female: Hahahahahhaha
வேலைக்கு போனா
எனக்கு ஈடுயில்ல பொண்ணு
பாட்டுல நின்னா நானும் நூத்துல ஒன்னு
என் திறமையை காட்டட்டுமா
இரண்டு சங்கதியை போடட்டுமா
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina..
Aaah....aaaa....aaa.....
.................................
Female: Hahahahahhaha
{ததரின ததரின
ததரின ததரின} (2)
Aaaa….aaa…aahaa….aaa…
Aaaa....aaa...aahaa....aaa...
Aatukutti muttai ittu
Saying a goat kid laid an egg,
Kozhikutti vanthathinnu
And a chick hatched out of it,
Yaana kunju sollakettu
Hearing the baby elephant say this,
Poona kunju sonnathundu
The kitten retold the tale!
Kathayilla saami
It is no mere tall tale, my friend,
Ipo kaanuthu bhoomi
The earth witnesses it now!
Ithu mattum thaana
Is it just this much?
Innum irukuthu saami
There is even more, my friend!
Koothumeda raasavukku
For the king of the drama stage,
Yaee aae..ae……..
Yaee aae..ae........
Koothumeda raasavukku
For the king of the drama stage,
Noothirendu pondatiyaam
They say he has one hundred and two wives!
Noothirendu pondatiyum
And all those one hundred and two wives,
Vaathu mutta pottathuvaam
Are said to have laid duck eggs!
Pattathuraani athula
Among them, as crowned queens,
Pathinettu peru
There are eighteen of them,
Pathinettu perkum
And for all eighteen of them,
Vayasu iruvathiyaaru
The age is twenty-six!
Motham iruvathiyaaru
In total, twenty-six!
Female :Haan
Female: Haan
Chinna kuttigalin mel aanai
Swearing on the little young ones,
Intha sattigalin mel aanai
Swearing on these cooking pots,
Ithu valluvanin yetil undu
This is written in Valluvar's palm-leaf manuscript,
Parambarai paatil undu
It exists in our traditional songs!
Katha illa magaraasi..
It's no lie, O lady of good fortune...
Aatukutti muttai ittu
Saying a goat kid laid an egg,
Kozhikutti vanthathinnu
And a chick hatched out of it,
Yaana kunju sollakettu
Hearing the baby elephant say this,
Poona kunju sonnathundu
The kitten retold the tale!
Kathayilla saami
It is no mere tall tale, my friend,
Ipo kaanuthu bhoomi
The earth witnesses it now!
Ithu mattum thaana
Is it just this much?
Innum irukuthu saami
There is even more, my friend!
Kaakaiyilla seemaiyilae
In a land where no crows exist,
Kaateruma meikaiyilae
While grazing wild buffaloes,
Paateduthu paadiputtu
Singing a song with rhythm,
Ootamitta chinna ponnu
The little girl who ran away,
Santhaikku pona
Went off to the village market!
Naanum saatchikku varavaa
Shall I come along as a witness?
Sammantham panna unakku
To forge an alliance, do you
Sammatham thaana
Give your consent?
Kaakaiyilla seemaiyilae…..
In a land where no crows exist.....
Female :Yae…ae….aaa….aaaiii
Female: Yae...ae....aaa....aaaiii
Kaakaiyilla seemaiyilae
In a land where no crows exist,
Kaateruma meikaiyilae
While grazing wild buffaloes,
Kaakkavachu nerampaathu
Making me wait and watching the right moment,
Paaku vecha aasa machaan
My beloved suitor who invited me with betel nuts,
Santhaiki poren neenga
I am going to the market, please
Saatchikku vaanga
Come along as a witness!
Sammantham panna enakku
To make this alliance, I
Sammatham thaanga
Give my consent!
Ada intha pakkam paarungalen
Hey, look over this way,
Enn kannimozhi kelungalen
Listen to my sweet maidenly words!
Adi yendi intha vambuinnu
Asking 'Hey girl, why this trouble?'
Kekuriyae kekuriyae
You keep asking, you keep asking!
Pazhaya nenapuda perandi
Old memories, my grandson!
Pazhaya nenapuda
Ah, old memories!
Ahhh pazhaya nenapuda perandi
Ahhh, old memories, my grandson!
Pazhaya nenapuda
Ah, old memories!
Kittappaavin paata ketten
I listened to SG Kittappa's songs,
Chinnppaava nerula paathen
I saw PU Chinnappa in person!
Kotta kotta varuguthama
It flows out abundantly,
Sangeethama peruguthamma
Music surges forth gracefully!
Medaiku ponaa enakku
If I go up on the stage,
Edula ponnu
A girl matchless in status!
Paadina ninna naanum
If I stand and sing,
Noothula onnu
I am one in a hundred!
En thiramaya kaatatuma
Shall I display my talent?
Rendu sangathiya podatuma
Shall I add a couple of musical variations?
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina..
Thatharina thatharina..
………………………………
............................
Female :Hahahahahhaha
Female: Hahahahahhaha
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina..
Thatharina thatharina..
……………………………….
............................
Female :Hahahahahhaha
Female: Hahahahahhaha
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina
Thatharina thatharina..
Thatharina thatharina..
Aaah….aaaa….aaa…..
Aaah....aaaa....aaa.....
………………………………………
.................................
Female :Hahahahahhaha
Female: Hahahahahhaha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aatukutti Muttai Ittu is a whimsical, satirical folk track from the landmark movie 16 Vayathinile (1977). Sung as a street drama (Therukoothu) style performance, the song utilizes playful absurdity and hyperbole—such as goats laying eggs and stage kings having over a hundred wives laying duck eggs—to poke fun at rural gossip, tall tales, and dramatic exaggerations. The lyrics gradually shift into a playful, romantic back-and-forth between characters while honoring Tamil musical nostalgia through nods to iconic singers like S.G. Kittappa and P.U. Chinnappa, showcasing traditional Tamil folk rhythm and expressive vocal scatting.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)
“Aatukutti muttai ittu / Kozhikutti vanthathinnu”
The lyrics use intentional absurdity—like a goat laying an egg that hatches a chick—to craft humor typical of folk storytelling.
Rhyme and Alliteration (Monai and Ethukai)
“Chinna kuttigalin mel aanai / Intha sattigalin mel aanai”
Standard Tamil poetic meters are preserved through sound matching across line beginnings and endings, creating a fast-paced oral tradition rhythm.
Allusion (Kurippuruthal)
“Kittappaavin paata ketten / Chinnppaava nerula paathen”
Refers to S.G. Kittappa and P.U. Chinnappa, icons of early 20th-century Tamil musical theatre and cinema, to evoke artistic heritage.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Kannadasan and sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki, this song accompanies a street play sequence in Bharathiraja's directorial debut 16 Vayathinile (1977), capturing authentic rural Tamil folklore aesthetics.
Keep listening
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