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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Padagottum Pattamma

From Chinnavar · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinnavar1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adi padagottum pattammaaHey Pattamma who drives the boat,
Paattonnu kattammaaCompose a song!
Sadukudukudu sadukudukuduSadukudukudu sadukudukudu (Kabaddi chant)
PudikkattumaaShall I catch you?
Female
Morattaalu muthaiyaaOh rough guy Muthaiya,
Verum vaaya pothaiyaaShut your empty mouth!
Padapadavena kadhakadhaWith a fluttering heart and warm words,
Yena kadhaikkiriyaaWhy are you blabbering like this?
Male
Irundhaalum ponnukkuEven so, for a girl,
Imbuttu aagaadhuThis much pride is not good!
Female
Vavaalu meenum thaanEven the batfish,
Kedaikkaama pogaadhuWill not go uncaught!
Male
Arae honnaa hohoinnaa..aaa…Arae honnaa hohoinnaa..aaa…
Female
Morattaalu muthaiyaaOh rough guy Muthaiya,
Verum vaaya pothaiyaaShut your empty mouth!
Padapadavena kadhakadhaWith a fluttering heart and warm words,
Yena kadhaikkiriyaaWhy are you blabbering like this?
Male :Sadukudukudu sadukudukuduMale: Sadukudukudu sadukudukudu
PudikkattumaaShall I catch you?
Male
Sindhaamani yendiHey Chinthamani, why,
BandhaamaniShowy girl,
Yengi nikkaadhaeDon't stand longing!
Nenappa thaangi nikkaadhaeDon't stand holding onto those thoughts!
Female
Muthu maniPearl gem,
Onna chuthum maniThe gem that circles around you,
Paadi vaikkaadhaeDon't compose a song and keep it aside!
Marachu moodi vaikkaadhaeDon't cover and hide it away!
Male
Vittil kili otti pesaadhaediHey girl, don't talk intimately like a pet bird!
Kili thattukkulla vattam podaadhadiGirl, don't circle inside the bird cage!
Otha vazhi pakkam pogaadhaediGirl, don't walk down that lonely path!
Vithai ellaam ingae vegaadhadiAll your tricks won't work here, girl!
Female
Mottaana mottukkuFor the unopened bud,
Pattaana sittukkuFor the silky little bird,
Kulukulukulu yena varugudhuSo cool and refreshing,
Pala kanavuMany dreams come!
Female
Morattaalu muthaiyaaOh rough guy Muthaiya,
Verum vaaya pothaiyaaShut your empty mouth!
Padapadavena kadhakadhaWith a fluttering heart and warm words,
Yena kadhaikkiriyaaWhy are you blabbering like this?
Male
Adi padagottum pattammaaHey Pattamma who drives the boat,
Paattonnu kattammaaCompose a song!
Sadukudukudu sadukudukuduSadukudukudu sadukudukudu
Pudikkattumaa haiShall I catch you, hai!
Female
Vavaalu meenum thaanEven the batfish,
Kedaikkaama pogaadhuWill not go uncaught!
Male
Irundhaalum ponnukkuEven so, for a girl,
Imbuttu aagaadhuThis much pride is not good!
Female
Arae honnaa hohoinnaaArae honnaa hohoinnaa
Male
Adi padagottum pattammaaHey Pattamma who drives the boat,
Paattonnu kattammaaCompose a song!
Sadukudukudu sadukudukuduSadukudukudu sadukudukudu
Pudikkattumaa haiShall I catch you, hai!
Female
Padapadavena kadhakadhaWith a fluttering heart and warm words,
Yena kadhaikkiriyaaWhy are you blabbering like this?
Male
VitharamaaSkillfully,
Enna suthaadhammaaDon't make me spin around!
Pottizhuthaalum valaikkulEven if you drag it into the net,
Maatti kollaadhuIt will not get trapped!
Female
Muthaaram thaanA pearl necklace,
Kodu achaaramaaGive it as an advance token!
Kaakka vekkaadhaeDon't make me wait!
Thuninju kekka vekkaadhaeDon't make me ask courageously!
Male
Thottaa enna viral pattaa ennaSo what if touched? What if a finger touches?
Vittaa enna manam kettaa ennaSo what if left alone? What if the heart strays?
Otta vandha sella chittaa ennaSo what if you are a darling bird that came close?
Thottu katti kolla pattaa ennaSo what if wrapped in silk after touching?
Female
Unnoda anbukkuFor your love,
Ulloorum thembukkuFor the strength inside,
Kirukirukiru yena varugudhuDizzily spinning,
Pala kanavuMany dreams come!
Male
Adi padagottum pattammaaHey Pattamma who drives the boat,
Paattonnu kattammaaCompose a song!
Sadukudukudu sadukudukuduSadukudukudu sadukudukudu
PudikkattumaaShall I catch you?
Female
Morattaalu muthaiyaaOh rough guy Muthaiya,
Verum vaaya pothaiyaaShut your empty mouth!
Padapadavena kadhakadhaWith a fluttering heart and warm words,
Yena kadhaikkiriyaaWhy are you blabbering like this?
Male
Irundhaalum ponnukkuEven so, for a girl,
Imbuttu aagaadhuThis much pride is not good!
Female
Vavaalu meenum thaanEven the batfish
Kedaikkaama pogaadhuWill not go uncaught!
Male
Arae honnaa hohoinnaa..aaa…Arae honnaa hohoinnaa..aaa…
Female
Ada morattaalu muthaiyaaOh rough guy Muthaiya,
Verum vaaya pothaiyaaShut your empty mouth!
Padapadavena kadhakadhaWith a fluttering heart and warm words,
Yena kadhaikkiriyaaWhy are you blabbering like this?
Male :Sadukudukudu sadukudukuduMale: Sadukudukudu sadukudukudu
Pudikkattumaa..aa…Shall I catch you..aa…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet from the film 'Chinnavar' portrays a lighthearted romantic banter between a village boatman named Muthaiya and a spirited local girl, Pattamma. The male protagonist uses energetic sports rhythms like 'Sadukudukudu' and fishing metaphors—comparing the girl's heart to a prize catch like a batfish—to tease and woo her. In response, the female protagonist pretends to dismiss his boastful antics, playfully telling him to keep quiet. Despite her sharp retorts, she reveals her underlying romantic feelings, admitting that his love and charm make her head spin with sweet, cool dreams of togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi / Sound Imitation)

Sadukudukudu sadukudukudu

Words like 'Sadukudukudu' (imitating the rhythm of Kabaddi), 'Kulukulukulu' (cool sensation), and 'Kirukirukiru' (dizzying motion) evoke vivid sensory responses.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vavaalu meenum thaan Kedaikkaama pogaadhu

The hero uses 'Vavaalu meen' (batfish) as a metaphor for the heroine, asserting that no elusive fish escapes a skilled fisherman's net.

Anaphora (Initial Rhyming / Modhana)

Thottaa enna finger pattaa enna

Sequential lines start with matching rhythmic sounds and structural patterns ('Thottaa enna', 'Vittaa enna', 'Otta vandha', 'Thottu katti').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in the prompt context, the soundtrack for 'Chinnavar' (1992) starring Prabhu and Kasthuri was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran. The song 'Adi Padagottum Pattammaa' is a popular folk-style track sung by Mano and Swarnalatha, celebrated for its catchy village rhythm and lively vocal delivery.

Keep listening

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