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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Chutti Chutti

From Thalattu Ketkuthamma · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thalattu Ketkuthamma1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Chutti chutti chutti chutti ponnuMischievous, playful girl,
Idhu matti matti matti matti ponnuShe is a foolish, dull girl.
Chutti ponnaTo this naughty girl,
Kattik katti podattaaShall I tie her up tightly?
Pottu onnu vaikkattaaShall I place a bindi on her forehead?
Thottut thottu killattaaShall I playfully touch and pinch her?
Aehae yaehae hae durr…..chutti…Aehae yaehae hae durr... naughty...
Male
Chutti chutti ponnukkuFor this mischievous girl,
Metti onnu podattaaShall I place a toe-ring on her foot?
Metti pottu katti podattaa…..aa….Shall I put a toe-ring and bind her in marriage?
Male
Pottak kutti vaayikkuFor this young girl's mouth,
Poottu onnu podattaaShall I put a lock?
Poottu pottu paattu paadattaa….aa…Shall I lock it and sing a song?
Male
Paappaa yappappaa paappaa appappaaOh child, oh my, oh child,
Paarththaa thappappaa veeraappaaSeeing this arrogance is quite wrong.
Female
Matti matti mattaikkuTo this foolish, dull-headed girl,
Mattai marak kattaikkuTo this block of wooden log,
Kottik kotti puththi sollattaa….Shall I knock her head repeatedly and teach wisdom?
Female
Pattikkaattu pattikkuTo this rural village girl,
Kottik kollum vettikkuTo the dhoti that bites/stings,
Vatti pottu vaangik kollattaa….aa…Shall I collect it back with interest?
Male
Solli vecha oru thaedhiyilOn an agreed date,
Nikka vechu maala maaththuvaenI will stand you up and exchange garlands.
Female :Kattikkitta maru naalilaeFemale: The very day after getting married,
Potti paambaa unna maatthuvaenI will make you behave like a tamed snake in a box!
Male
Vaadi poonjittu nee thaan enkittaMale: Come here, tiny bird; if you unnecessarily butt heads with me,
Veenaa muttinaa mutti thaeyum hoiYour knees will wear out, hoi!
Female :Poyaa koomutta vaenaa enkittaFemale: Go away, egghead; don't mess with me,
Nee thaan kuttinaa kutti paayumIf you poke me, I will leap back at you!
Male
Vaegaadhu papput thaanMale: Your trick won't work here!
Chorus :Aiyaiyaiyayaiyai yaiyaChorus: Aiyaiyaiyayaiyai yaiya!
Female :Aagaadhu thapputhaanFemale: Doing wrong will not work!
Chorus :Aiyaiyaiyayaiyai yaiyaChorus: Aiyaiyaiyayaiyai yaiya!
Male :Vaegaadhu papputhaanMale: Your trick won't work here,
Aagaadhu thapputhaanDoing wrong will not work.
Yaarunnu yennanu nenachaWho do you think you are?
Madhi kettu ponaaShe has lost her mind!
Male
Chutti chutti ponnukkuFor this mischievous girl,
Metti onnu podattaaShall I place a toe-ring on her foot?
Metti pottu katti podattaa…..aa….Shall I put a toe-ring and bind her in marriage?
Female
Haan….. pattikkaattu pattikkuHaan... to this rural village girl,
Kottik kollum vettikkuTo the dhoti that bites/stings,
Vatti pottu vaangik kollattaa….aa….Shall I collect it back with interest?
Male
Paappaa yappappaa paappaa appappaaOh child, oh my, oh child,
Paatthaa thappappaa veeraappaaSeeing this arrogance is quite wrong.
Female
Matti matti mattaikkuTo this foolish, dull-headed girl,
Mattai marak kattaikkuTo this block of wooden log,
Kottik kotti butthi sollattaaShall I knock her head repeatedly and teach wisdom?
Male
VevvevvevevvaaVevvevvevevvaa!
Pottak kutti vaayikkuFor this young girl's mouth,
Poottu onnu podattaaShall I put a lock?
Poottup pottu paattup paadattaa aan haan haaShall I lock it and sing a song, aan haan haa?
Chorus
………………….....
Female
Potta pulla manja noolukkuFemale: That a girl is bound merely by a yellow thread (mangalsutra),
Kattuppattadhu antha kaalamthaanThose times are long gone!
Male :Gettikkarap paiya paattukkuMale: For a smart guy's song,
Oththukkaadhu thappu thaalamthaanAn off-beat rhythm will never be accepted!
Female
Maamaa unnap pol vaachaaFemale: If a man turns out like you, uncle,
Yenna pol maalai ittava anja maattaaA woman who marries him like me will never fear!
Male :Oorum kettidum paerum kettidumMale: The town will be ruined, and reputation destroyed,
Thaaram unna pol aattam pottaaIf a wife throws tantrums like you,
Female
Maanam vaangat thaanIt is only to bring dishonor!
Chorus :Vandhirukkom vandhirukkomChorus: We have come, we have come!
Male :Podi vaayaththaanMale: Go away, loudmouth!
Chorus :Potthi vappom potthi vappomChorus: We will keep it quiet, we will keep it quiet!
Female :Aanaalum katthuvaen adangaama suththuvaenFemale: Even so, I will scream and roam untamed,
Oorellaam unnaththaan pazhikkumThe whole town will blame you instead!
Kulir vittup ponaaMale: If your nerve grows too bold,
Female
Matti matti mattaikkuTo this foolish, dull-headed girl,
Mattai marak kattaikkuTo this block of wooden log,
Kottik kotti puththi sollattaaShall I knock her head repeatedly and teach wisdom?
Male
Hei pottakutti vaayikkuHey, for this young girl's mouth,
Poottu onnu podattaaShall I put a lock?
Poottu pottu paattu paadattaaShall I lock it and sing a song?
Female
Paatthaa ennappaa poppaa chinnappaaLooking at this, what is it, little one?
Aaththaa appappaa veeraappaaOh mother, my oh my, what arrogance!
Male
Chutti chuttip ponnukkuFor this mischievous girl,
Metti onnu podattaaShall I place a toe-ring on her foot?
Metti pottu kattip podattaaShall I put a toe-ring and bind her in marriage?
Chorus
Dandan daada dandan daaDandan daada dandan daa,
Dandan daada dandan daaDandan daada dandan daa,
Dandan daada dandan daadaadaaDandan daada dandan daadaadaa,
Dandan daada dandan daaDandan daada dandan daa,
Dandan daada dandan daaDandan daada dandan daa,
Dandan daada dandan daadaadaaDandan daada dandan daadaadaa.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a sprightly bantering argument between a male and female protagonist. The male singer teasingly calls the girl mischievous and dull-headed, threatening to tame her wild nature by locking her mouth, teaching her sense, and marrying her with a traditional toe-ring (metti). He warns that her arrogant behavior will bring shame and ruin their reputation in the village. In response, the quick-witted female protagonist asserts her independence, declaring that the days of women being submissively bound by the yellow thread of marriage are over. She vows to turn him into a tamed snake after marriage and refuses to back down from his threats. The song captures a humorous battle of wits filled with folk flavor, rhythmic teasing, and classic rural Tamil banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Chutti chutti chutti chutti ponnu

The word 'chutti' and 'matti' are repeated sequentially ('Chutti chutti', 'matti matti') to intensify the mischievous and foolish traits being attributed.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kattik katti podattaa / Pottu onnu vaikkattaa

The second consonant 'tt' (ட்ட) rhymes across consecutive lines ('Kattik', 'Pottu', 'Thottut').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Mattai marak kattaikku

Comparing the female protagonist to a 'mattai marak kattai' (a dry wooden log) metaphorically highlights her perceived stubbornness and lack of sharpness.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Metti onnu podattaa / Poottu onnu podattaa

Lines end with the rhyming verb suffix '-attaa' ('podattaa', 'vaikkattaa', 'killattaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1991 movie 'Thalattu Ketkuthamma', starring Prabhu and Kanaka. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by the legendary Vaali. Sung by Mano and K. S. Chithra, this dueling folk track showcases Vaali's mastery over colloquial village banter and rhythmic wordplay.

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