Chinna Chinna Paathi Katti
From Chakkalathi · 1980
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. Janaki, B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Chakkalathi1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| So so so so so so | So so so so so so |
| Female | |
| So…so… so…so… | So…so… so…so… |
| Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so… | Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so… |
| Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so… | I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so… |
| Naan vecha naathukku naanae sondham | I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted |
| Nallaa konjam kaettukkadi adi chella kannu | Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so… | Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so… |
| Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so… | I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so… |
| Naan vecha naathukku naanae sondham | I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted |
| Nallaa konjam kaettukkadi adi chella kannu | Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so… | Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so… |
| Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so… | I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so… |
| Female | |
| Paalaathulae meen pudichaendi | I caught a fish in the Palar river, my dear |
| Paana chattiyilae adha moodi vachaendi | I kept it covered safely in a clay pot, my dear |
| Paalaathulae meen pudichaendi | I caught a fish in the Palar river, my dear |
| Paana chattiyilae adha moodi vachaendi | I kept it covered safely in a clay pot, my dear |
| Aathaa kannaathaa sollaathaa | Oh mother, oh dear, don't say that! |
| Meenu ennaachu adha poona thinnaachu | What happened to the fish? A cat came and ate it up! |
| Velli kannu kolli kannu vaalum illa naalum illa | With silver eyes and fiery eyes, having neither a tail nor a good day |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so… | Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so… |
| Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so… | I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so… |
| Female | |
| Aathoramaa oothu thanniyila | In the fresh spring water along the riverbank |
| Rosaa vachaendi indha raasaa kannaatti | I planted a rose bush, my dear king-like sweet darling |
| Aathoramaa ootthu thanniyila | In the fresh spring water along the riverbank |
| Rosaa vachaendi indha raasaa kannaatti | I planted a rose bush, my dear king-like sweet darling |
| Naanae pon maanae vechaenae | I myself planted it, oh my golden deer |
| Oodha kandaalaam oru paavi vandhaalaam | Seeing it blossom, a wicked sinner woman arrived |
| Kothu kothaa alli vechaa nenjukkullae mulla vechaa | She plucked the flowers in bunches and left thorns inside my heart |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so… | Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so… |
| Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so… | I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so… |
| Naan vecha naatthukku naanae sondham | I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted |
| Nallaa konjam kaettukkadi adi chella kannu | Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl |
| Female | |
| Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so… | Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so… |
| Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so… | I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so… |
சோ சோ சோ சோ சோ சோ
So so so so so so
சோ.....சோ சோ.....சோ
சின்ன சின்ன பாத்திக்கட்டி....சோ சோ
சீரக சம்பா நாத்து வச்சேன்.....சோ சோ
நான் வச்ச நாத்துக்கு நானே சொந்தம்
நல்லா கொஞ்சம் கேட்டுக்கடி அடி செல்லக்கண்ணு
So…so… so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted
Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl
சின்ன சின்ன பாத்திக்கட்டி....சோ சோ
சீரக சம்பா நாத்து வச்சேன்.....சோ சோ
நான் வச்ச நாத்துக்கு நானே சொந்தம்
நல்லா கொஞ்சம் கேட்டுக்கடி அடி செல்லக்கண்ணு
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted
Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl
சின்ன சின்ன பாத்திக்கட்டி....சோ சோ
சீரக சம்பா நாத்து வச்சேன்.....சோ சோ
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
பாலாத்துலே மீன் பிடிச்சேன்டி
பானை சட்டியிலே அத மூடி வச்சேன்டி
பாலாத்துலே மீன் பிடிச்சேன்டி
பானை சட்டியிலே அத மூடி வச்சேன்டி
ஆத்தா கண்ணாத்தா செல்லாத்தா
மீனு என்னாச்சு அத பூனை தின்னாச்சு
வெள்ளிக்கண்ணு கொள்ளிக்கண்ணு
வாலுமில்ல நாளுமில்ல.......
I caught a fish in the Palar river, my dear
I kept it covered safely in a clay pot, my dear
I caught a fish in the Palar river, my dear
I kept it covered safely in a clay pot, my dear
Oh mother, oh dear, don't say that!
What happened to the fish? A cat came and ate it up!
With silver eyes and fiery eyes, having neither a tail nor a good day
சின்ன சின்ன பாத்திக்கட்டி....சோ சோ
சீரக சம்பா நாத்து வச்சேன்.....சோ சோ
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
ஆத்தோரமா ஊத்து தண்ணியிலே
ரோசா வச்சேண்டி இந்த ராசாக் கண்ணாட்டி
ஆத்தோரமா ஊத்து தண்ணியிலே
ரோசா வச்சேண்டி இந்த ராசாக் கண்ணாட்டி
நானே பெண் மானே வச்சேனே
பூவ கண்டாளாம் ஒரு பாவி வந்தாளாம்
கொத்து கொத்தா அள்ளி வச்சா
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள முள்ள வச்சா.....
In the fresh spring water along the riverbank
I planted a rose bush, my dear king-like sweet darling
In the fresh spring water along the riverbank
I planted a rose bush, my dear king-like sweet darling
I myself planted it, oh my golden deer
Seeing it blossom, a wicked sinner woman arrived
She plucked the flowers in bunches and left thorns inside my heart
சின்ன சின்ன பாத்திக்கட்டி....சோ சோ
சீரக சம்பா நாத்து வச்சேன்.....சோ சோ
நான் வச்ச நாத்துக்கு நானே சொந்தம்
நல்லா கொஞ்சம் கேட்டுக்கடி செல்லக்கண்ணு
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted
Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl
சின்ன சின்ன பாத்திக்கட்டி....சோ சோ
சீரக சம்பா நாத்து வச்சேன்.....சோ சோ
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
So so so so so so
So so so so so so
So…so… so…so…
So…so… so…so…
Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
Naan vecha naathukku naanae sondham
I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted
Nallaa konjam kaettukkadi adi chella kannu
Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl
Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
Naan vecha naathukku naanae sondham
I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted
Nallaa konjam kaettukkadi adi chella kannu
Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl
Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
Paalaathulae meen pudichaendi
I caught a fish in the Palar river, my dear
Paana chattiyilae adha moodi vachaendi
I kept it covered safely in a clay pot, my dear
Paalaathulae meen pudichaendi
I caught a fish in the Palar river, my dear
Paana chattiyilae adha moodi vachaendi
I kept it covered safely in a clay pot, my dear
Aathaa kannaathaa sollaathaa
Oh mother, oh dear, don't say that!
Meenu ennaachu adha poona thinnaachu
What happened to the fish? A cat came and ate it up!
Velli kannu kolli kannu vaalum illa naalum illa
With silver eyes and fiery eyes, having neither a tail nor a good day
Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
Aathoramaa oothu thanniyila
In the fresh spring water along the riverbank
Rosaa vachaendi indha raasaa kannaatti
I planted a rose bush, my dear king-like sweet darling
Aathoramaa ootthu thanniyila
In the fresh spring water along the riverbank
Rosaa vachaendi indha raasaa kannaatti
I planted a rose bush, my dear king-like sweet darling
Naanae pon maanae vechaenae
I myself planted it, oh my golden deer
Oodha kandaalaam oru paavi vandhaalaam
Seeing it blossom, a wicked sinner woman arrived
Kothu kothaa alli vechaa nenjukkullae mulla vechaa
She plucked the flowers in bunches and left thorns inside my heart
Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
Naan vecha naatthukku naanae sondham
I alone hold the right of ownership over the saplings I planted
Nallaa konjam kaettukkadi adi chella kannu
Listen to this carefully, my dear darling girl
Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…
Making small plots in the agricultural field, so…so…
Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen so…so…
I planted Jeeraga Samba rice saplings, so…so…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk-style song from 'Chakkalathi' uses agricultural and everyday rural metaphors to express a woman's claim of sole ownership over her love and home, while lamenting the intrusion of a rival woman (a co-wife or 'chakkalathi'). Imagery such as planting rice saplings, catching a fish only to have a cat steal it, and nurturing a rose bush that gets ruined by an evil woman serves as an allegory for her devotion being threatened or stolen by another.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Naan vecha naathukku naanae sondham”
The speaker uses agricultural saplings ('naathu'), a caught fish ('meen'), and a rose ('rosaa') as metaphors for her cherished relationship and hard work, which are encroached upon by an intruder.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Chinna chinna paathi katti / Seeraga chambaa naathu vechaen”
The second consonant 'n' (ன) matches across consecutive lines, creating a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.
Onomatopoeia / Folk Refrain
“Chinna chinna paathi katti so…so…”
The 'So...so...' sound mimics the traditional rhythmic chant used by farmers in Tamil Nadu while tending crops or herding.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film title 'Chakkalathi' translates to 'co-wife' or 'female rival in love'. Written by Pulamaipithan, the song relies heavily on authentic Tamil Naattupura Paatu (folk song) structure and rural idioms to convey domestic jealousy and grief.
Keep listening
More from Chakkalathi
Chakkalathi
Chakkalathi
Chakkalathi