Azhagaana Malayaalam
From Vazhkai Vazhvatharke · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Vazhkai Vazhvatharke1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| :Pachai kuththalaiyoo pachai kuththalaiyoo | Do you want green tattoos? Getting green tattoos! |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana malayaalam | In beautiful Malayalam land, |
| Malayaala karaiyoram | Along the coast of Malayalam, |
| Karaiyoram merkku malai | Along the coast lies the Western mountain, |
| Merkku malai engal malai | The Western mountain is our mountain! |
| Azhagaana malayaalam | In beautiful Malayalam land, |
| Malayaala karaiyoram | Along the coast of Malayalam, |
| Karaiyoram merkku malai | Along the coast lies the Western mountain, |
| Merkku malai engal malai | The Western mountain is our mountain! |
| Female | |
| Oosi ilai kaadugalil | In the forests of needle-like leaves, |
| Vaasam seiyum jaadhiyamma | We are the tribe that resides, Oh mother! |
| Maasu padaa sammadhiyom | Unblemished is our community, |
| Maan jaadhi kottam amma | A clan pure like deer, Oh mother! |
| Female | |
| Pachai ilai vetti vandhu | Gathering and cutting green leaves, |
| Paaleduthu mai vadithu | Extracting sap and distilling ink, |
| Achadikkum muthirigal maarathamma | The stamped marks etched here will never change, Oh mother! |
| Maan eludhi meen eludhi | Inking deer, inking fish, |
| Vanna mayil paambezhudhi | Inking colorful peacocks and snakes, |
| Naan ezhudhum oviyangal pogathamma | The artwork I draw will never fade away, Oh mother! |
| Maan eludhi meen eludhi | Inking deer, inking fish, |
| Vanna mayil paambezhudhi | Inking colorful peacocks and snakes, |
| Naan ezhudhum oviyangal pogathamma | The artwork I draw will never fade away, Oh mother! |
| Female | |
| Neerinilaekaraivadhillai | It does not dissolve in water, |
| Neruppinilae erivadhillai | It does not burn in fire, |
| Ilamaiyilae theetiya pachai | The green tattoo etched in youth, |
| Iruthi varai azhivadhillai | Does not erase until the very end! |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana malayaalam | In beautiful Malayalam land, |
| Malayaala karaiyoram | Along the coast of Malayalam, |
| Karaiyoram merkku malai | Along the coast lies the Western mountain, |
| Merkku malai engal malai | The Western mountain is our mountain! |
| Female | |
| Pettravarai vittu vittu | For the children who left behind, |
| Sendru vitta pillaigalai | The parents who gave birth to them, |
| Kandukolla poduvadhu pchai amma | Tattooing is done for identification, Oh mother! |
| Sutri varum devadhaigal | So that roaming spirits and evil deities, |
| Pattramalae irukka | Do not touch or possess a person, |
| Kuthi veikkum mandhiramae pachai amma | Tattooing is a protective magical spell, Oh mother! |
| Sutri varum devadhaigal | So that roaming spirits and evil deities, |
| Pattramalae irukka | Do not touch or possess a person, |
| Kuthi veikkum mandhiramae pachai amma | Tattooing is a protective magical spell, Oh mother! |
| Female | |
| Sami per ezhudhi vaithaal | If you etch the name of God, |
| Thalaimuraikku kaaval varum | Protection will arrive for generations; |
| Devi perr ezhudhi vaithaal | If you etch the name of Goddess, |
| Dhinam dhinamum thunai irukkum | Daily companionship and strength will remain! |
| Female | |
| Azhagaana malayaalam | In beautiful Malayalam land, |
| Malayaala karaiyoram | Along the coast of Malayalam, |
| Karaiyoram merkku malai | Along the coast lies the Western mountain, |
| Merkku malai engal malai | The Western mountain is our mountain! |
பச்சை குத்தலையோ..........
பச்சை குத்தலையோ.....
Do you want green tattoos? Getting green tattoos!
அழகான மலையாளம்
மலையாளக் கரையோரம்
கரையோரம் மேற்கு மலை
மேற்கு மலை எங்கள் மலை
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
The Western mountain is our mountain!
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
The Western mountain is our mountain!
அழகான மலையாளம்
மலையாளக் கரையோரம்
கரையோரம் மேற்கு மலை
மேற்கு மலை எங்கள் மலை
ஊசி இலைக் காடுகளில்
வாசம் செய்யும் ஜாதியம்மா
மாசு பட சம்மதியோம்
மான் ஜாதி கூட்டம் அம்மா
In the forests of needle-like leaves,
We are the tribe that resides, Oh mother!
Unblemished is our community,
A clan pure like deer, Oh mother!
பச்சை இலை வெட்டி வந்து
பாலெடுத்து மை வடித்து
அச்சடிக்கும் முத்திரைகள் மாறாதம்மா
மானெழுதி மீனெழுதி
வண்ண மயில் பாம்பெழுதி
நான் எழுதும் ஓவியங்கள் போகாதம்மா
மானெழுதி மீனெழுதி
வண்ண மயில் பாம்பெழுதி
நான் எழுதும் ஓவியங்கள் போகாதம்மா
Gathering and cutting green leaves,
Extracting sap and distilling ink,
The stamped marks etched here will never change, Oh mother!
Inking deer, inking fish,
Inking colorful peacocks and snakes,
The artwork I draw will never fade away, Oh mother!
Inking deer, inking fish,
Inking colorful peacocks and snakes,
The artwork I draw will never fade away, Oh mother!
நீரினிலே கரைவதில்லை
நெருப்பினிலே எரிவதில்லை
இளமையிலே தீட்டிய பச்சை
இறுதிவரை அழிவதில்லை
It does not dissolve in water,
It does not burn in fire,
The green tattoo etched in youth,
Does not erase until the very end!
அழகான மலையாளம்
மலையாளக் கரையோரம்
கரையோரம் மேற்கு மலை
மேற்கு மலை எங்கள் மலை
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
The Western mountain is our mountain!
பெற்றவரை விட்டு விட்டு
சென்று விட்ட பிள்ளைகளை
கண்டுக் கொள்ள போடுவது பச்சை அம்மா
சுற்றி வரும் தேவதைகள்
பற்றாமலே இருக்க
குத்தி வைக்கும் மந்திரமே பச்சை அம்மா
சுற்றி வரும் தேவதைகள்
பற்றாமலே இருக்க
குத்தி வைக்கும் மந்திரமே பச்சை அம்மா
For the children who left behind,
The parents who gave birth to them,
Tattooing is done for identification, Oh mother!
So that roaming spirits and evil deities,
Do not touch or possess a person,
Tattooing is a protective magical spell, Oh mother!
So that roaming spirits and evil deities,
Do not touch or possess a person,
Tattooing is a protective magical spell, Oh mother!
சாமி பேர் எழுதி வைத்தால்
தலைமுறைக்கு காவல் வரும்
தேவி பேர் எழுதி வைத்தால்
தினம் தினமும் துணை இருக்கும்
If you etch the name of God,
Protection will arrive for generations;
If you etch the name of Goddess,
Daily companionship and strength will remain!
அழகான மலையாளம்
மலையாளக் கரையோரம்
கரையோரம் மேற்கு மலை
மேற்கு மலை எங்கள் மலை
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
The Western mountain is our mountain!
:Pachai kuththalaiyoo pachai kuththalaiyoo
Do you want green tattoos? Getting green tattoos!
Azhagaana malayaalam
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Malayaala karaiyoram
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Karaiyoram merkku malai
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
Merkku malai engal malai
The Western mountain is our mountain!
Azhagaana malayaalam
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Malayaala karaiyoram
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Karaiyoram merkku malai
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
Merkku malai engal malai
The Western mountain is our mountain!
Oosi ilai kaadugalil
In the forests of needle-like leaves,
Vaasam seiyum jaadhiyamma
We are the tribe that resides, Oh mother!
Maasu padaa sammadhiyom
Unblemished is our community,
Maan jaadhi kottam amma
A clan pure like deer, Oh mother!
Pachai ilai vetti vandhu
Gathering and cutting green leaves,
Paaleduthu mai vadithu
Extracting sap and distilling ink,
Achadikkum muthirigal maarathamma
The stamped marks etched here will never change, Oh mother!
Maan eludhi meen eludhi
Inking deer, inking fish,
Vanna mayil paambezhudhi
Inking colorful peacocks and snakes,
Naan ezhudhum oviyangal pogathamma
The artwork I draw will never fade away, Oh mother!
Maan eludhi meen eludhi
Inking deer, inking fish,
Vanna mayil paambezhudhi
Inking colorful peacocks and snakes,
Naan ezhudhum oviyangal pogathamma
The artwork I draw will never fade away, Oh mother!
Neerinilaekaraivadhillai
It does not dissolve in water,
Neruppinilae erivadhillai
It does not burn in fire,
Ilamaiyilae theetiya pachai
The green tattoo etched in youth,
Iruthi varai azhivadhillai
Does not erase until the very end!
Azhagaana malayaalam
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Malayaala karaiyoram
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Karaiyoram merkku malai
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
Merkku malai engal malai
The Western mountain is our mountain!
Pettravarai vittu vittu
For the children who left behind,
Sendru vitta pillaigalai
The parents who gave birth to them,
Kandukolla poduvadhu pchai amma
Tattooing is done for identification, Oh mother!
Sutri varum devadhaigal
So that roaming spirits and evil deities,
Pattramalae irukka
Do not touch or possess a person,
Kuthi veikkum mandhiramae pachai amma
Tattooing is a protective magical spell, Oh mother!
Sutri varum devadhaigal
So that roaming spirits and evil deities,
Pattramalae irukka
Do not touch or possess a person,
Kuthi veikkum mandhiramae pachai amma
Tattooing is a protective magical spell, Oh mother!
Sami per ezhudhi vaithaal
If you etch the name of God,
Thalaimuraikku kaaval varum
Protection will arrive for generations;
Devi perr ezhudhi vaithaal
If you etch the name of Goddess,
Dhinam dhinamum thunai irukkum
Daily companionship and strength will remain!
Azhagaana malayaalam
In beautiful Malayalam land,
Malayaala karaiyoram
Along the coast of Malayalam,
Karaiyoram merkku malai
Along the coast lies the Western mountain,
Merkku malai engal malai
The Western mountain is our mountain!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Pachai Kuththalaiyoo' from the 1964 film 'Vazhkai Vazhvatharke' is an energetic folk song composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, written by Kannadasan, and rendered with signature vigor by L. R. Eswari. The song gives voice to a nomadic tattoo artist from the Western Ghats near the Kerala border, highlighting the cultural heritage and craftsmanship of traditional Indian tattooing ('pachai kuthuthal'). The lyrics describe preparing natural green inks from plant juices and etching motifs of animals, nature, and deities onto the skin.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anadiplosis (Antadi)
“Malayaala karaiyoram / Karaiyoram merkku malai / Merkku malai engal malai”
The end of one line becomes the beginning of the next line, creating a rhythmic and interlocking folk flow.
Contrast & Antithesis
“Neerinilaekaraivadhillai / Neruppinilae erivadhillai”
Contrasting elements of water and fire to emphasize the permanent, indestructible nature of traditional tattoos.
Metaphor
“Kuthi veikkum mandhiramae pachai amma”
Tattooing is metaphorically described as a protective spell or talisman ('mandhiram') that wards off malevolent spirits.
Did you know?
Trivia
During the 1960s, singer L. R. Eswari was highly celebrated for bringing raw energy, unique voice modulations, and authentic folk nuances to gypsy and tribal characters on screen. Lyricist Kannadasan incorporated authentic rural beliefs—such as tattooing names of gods for generational protection and identifying lost children—into the lyrical weave of this song.
Keep listening
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