Kaadu Potta Kaadu
From Karuththamma · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Bharathiraja, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Karuththamma1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Kaadu potta kaadu | {A barren land, a dry scrubland |
| Sengaathu veesum kaadu | A land where red dry winds blow |
| Veedu keethu veedu | A house made of thatched leaves |
| Yeliyodu yenga paadu..hoo} (2) | Our plight of sharing space with rats..hoo} (2) |
| Male | |
| Koozhu cholakoozhu | Porridge, corn porridge |
| Vengaayam kooda seru | Accompanied by a side of onion |
| Thai maasam nellu soru..ahaa.. | In the month of Thai, we eat rice..ahaa.. |
| Bhoomi enga bhoomi | Our land, this land of ours |
| Vaanam paathu vaazhum bhoomi | A land that survives looking up at the sky for rain |
| Thoongi poachu enga saami | Our God has fallen fast asleep |
| Male | |
| Kaadu potta kaadu | A barren land, a dry scrubland |
| Sengaathu veesum kaadu | A land where red dry winds blow |
| Veedu keethu veedu | A house made of thatched leaves |
| Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo | Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo |
| Male | |
| Andhi neram vandha | When dusk falls |
| Thalaiyellaam yenni paaru | Count all the heads present |
| Aadu maata serthu | Including the goats and cattle |
| Enga veettil ezhu peru | There are seven members in our house |
| Male | |
| Aaru engae aaru | Where is the river? Where is it? |
| Ada podaa vetkka kedu | Oh go away, what a shameful loss of dignity |
| Mazhai vandha thanni odum | When rain comes, water flows briefly |
| Maru naalae vandi odum | By the next day, bullock carts roll on dry ground |
| Male | |
| Kannu peththa kannu | A calf born to my cow |
| En kannu kuttiyum onnu onnu | My cow and calf are dear to me as one |
| Kanji oothum enga mannu | This soil of ours is what feeds us porridge |
| Male | |
| Kaadu potta kaadu | A barren land, a dry scrubland |
| Sengaathu veesum kaadu | A land where red dry winds blow |
| Veedu keethu veedu | A house made of thatched leaves |
| Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo | Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo |
| Female | |
| Kakaa elapaara | For the crow to rest |
| Karuvela maram irukkku | There is a thorny Karuvelam tree |
| En makka elapaara | For my people to rest |
| Mamarathu nizhal irukka | Is there the cool shade of a mango tree? |
| Kokku pasi aara | To satisfy the heron's hunger |
| Kokkulathu meen irukku | There is fish in the pond |
| En makka pasi aara | To satisfy my people's hunger |
| Makki pona nel irukka | Is there anything besides rotted grain? |
| Male | |
| Maadu thathai maadu | A bullock taking baby steps |
| Idhu odum romba thooram | It travels a very long distance |
| Vaazhkai thathai vaazhkai | A life taking toddler steps |
| Idhu pogum romba kaalam | This life drags on for a long time |
| Male | |
| Kaattu kallikulla | Inside a wild cactus |
| Ullaadum vaalapola | Like a lizard squirming inside |
| Ullaara kanneer pongum | Tears well up silently within us |
| Sollama ullam pongum | The heart swells without words |
| Male | |
| Patta marathu mela | Upon a dead, withered tree |
| Etti paarkum onaan pola | Like a garden lizard peeking out |
| Vaazha vandhom bhoomi mela | We came to live upon this earth |
| Male | |
| {Kaadu potta kaadu | {A barren land, a dry scrubland |
| Sengaathu veesum kaadu | A land where red dry winds blow |
| Veedu keethu veedu | A house made of thatched leaves |
| Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo} (2) | Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo} (2) |
| Male | |
| Koozhu cholakoozhu | Porridge, corn porridge |
| Vengaayam kooda seru | Accompanied by a side of onion |
| Thai maasam nellu soru..ahaa.. | In the month of Thai, we eat rice..ahaa.. |
| Bhoomi enga bhoomi | Our land, this land of ours |
| Vaanam paathu vaazhum bhoomi | A land that survives looking up at the sky for rain |
| Thoongi poachu enga saami | Our God has fallen fast asleep |
| Male | |
| Kaadu potta kaadu | A barren land, a dry scrubland |
| Sengaathu veesum kaadu | A land where red dry winds blow |
| Veedu keethu veedu | A house made of thatched leaves |
| Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo | Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo |
{காடு பொட்ட காடு
செங்காத்து வீசும் காடு
வீடு கீத்து வீடு
எலியோடு எங்க பாடு..ஹோ ...} (2)
{A barren land, a dry scrubland
A land where red dry winds blow
A house made of thatched leaves
Our plight of sharing space with rats..hoo} (2)
கூழு சோள கூழு
வெங்காயம் கூட சேரு
தை மாசம் நெல்லு சோரு
பூமி எங்க பூமி
வானம் பாத்து வாழும் பூமி
தூங்கி போச்சு எங்க சாமி
Porridge, corn porridge
Accompanied by a side of onion
In the month of Thai, we eat rice..ahaa..
Our land, this land of ours
A land that survives looking up at the sky for rain
Our God has fallen fast asleep
காடு பொட்ட காடு
செங்காத்து வீசும் காடு
வீடு கீத்து வீடு
எலியோடு எங்க பாடு..ஹோ ....
A barren land, a dry scrubland
A land where red dry winds blow
A house made of thatched leaves
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo
அந்தி நேரம் வந்தா
தலயெல்லாம் எண்ணி பாரு
ஆடு மாட சேர்த்து
எங்க வீட்டில் ஏழு பேரு
When dusk falls
Count all the heads present
Including the goats and cattle
There are seven members in our house
ஆறு எங்கே ஆறு
போடா வெட்க கேடு
மழை வந்தா தண்ணி ஓடும்
மறு நாளே வண்டி ஓடும்
Where is the river? Where is it?
Oh go away, what a shameful loss of dignity
When rain comes, water flows briefly
By the next day, bullock carts roll on dry ground
கண்ணு பெத்த கண்ணு
என் கண்ணு குட்டியும்
ஒண்ணு ஒண்ணு
கஞ்சி ஊதும் எங்க மண்ணு
A calf born to my cow
My cow and calf are dear to me as one
This soil of ours is what feeds us porridge
காடு பொட்ட காடு
செங்காத்து வீசும் காடு
வீடு கீத்து வீடு
எலியோடு எங்க பாடு..ஹோ ..
A barren land, a dry scrubland
A land where red dry winds blow
A house made of thatched leaves
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo
காக்கா இளைப்பாற
கருவேல மரம் இருக்கு
என் மக்கா இளைப்பாற
மாமரத்து நிழல் இருக்கு
கொக்கு பசி ஆற
கொக்குளத்து மீன் இருக்கு
என் மக்கா பசி ஆற
மக்கி போன இருக்கா
For the crow to rest
There is a thorny Karuvelam tree
For my people to rest
Is there the cool shade of a mango tree?
To satisfy the heron's hunger
There is fish in the pond
To satisfy my people's hunger
Is there anything besides rotted grain?
மாடு தத்தை மாடு
இது ஓடும் ரொம்ப தூரம்
வாழ்க்கை தத்தை வாழ்க்கை
இது போகும் ரொம்ப காலம்
A bullock taking baby steps
It travels a very long distance
A life taking toddler steps
This life drags on for a long time
காட்டு கள்ளி குள்ளே
உல்லாடும் வால போல
உள்ளாற கண்ணீர் பொங்கும்
சொல்லாம உள்ளம் பொங்கும்
Inside a wild cactus
Like a lizard squirming inside
Tears well up silently within us
The heart swells without words
பட்ட மரத்து மேலே
எட்டி பார்கும் ஒனான் போல
வாழ வந்தோம் பூமி மேலே
Upon a dead, withered tree
Like a garden lizard peeking out
We came to live upon this earth
{காடு பொட்ட காடு
செங்காத்து வீசும் காடு
வீடு கீத்து வீடு
எலியோடு எங்க பாடு..ஹோ ...} (2)
{A barren land, a dry scrubland
A land where red dry winds blow
A house made of thatched leaves
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo} (2)
கூழு சோள கூழு
வெங்காயம் கூட சேரு
தை மாசம் நெல்லு சோரு
பூமி எங்க பூமி
வானம் பாத்து வாழும் பூமி
தூங்கி போச்சு எங்க சாமி
Porridge, corn porridge
Accompanied by a side of onion
In the month of Thai, we eat rice..ahaa..
Our land, this land of ours
A land that survives looking up at the sky for rain
Our God has fallen fast asleep
காடு பொட்ட காடு
செங்காத்து வீசும் காடு
வீடு கீத்து வீடு
எலியோடு எங்க பாடு..ஹோ ....
A barren land, a dry scrubland
A land where red dry winds blow
A house made of thatched leaves
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo
{Kaadu potta kaadu
{A barren land, a dry scrubland
Sengaathu veesum kaadu
A land where red dry winds blow
Veedu keethu veedu
A house made of thatched leaves
Yeliyodu yenga paadu..hoo} (2)
Our plight of sharing space with rats..hoo} (2)
Koozhu cholakoozhu
Porridge, corn porridge
Vengaayam kooda seru
Accompanied by a side of onion
Thai maasam nellu soru..ahaa..
In the month of Thai, we eat rice..ahaa..
Bhoomi enga bhoomi
Our land, this land of ours
Vaanam paathu vaazhum bhoomi
A land that survives looking up at the sky for rain
Thoongi poachu enga saami
Our God has fallen fast asleep
Kaadu potta kaadu
A barren land, a dry scrubland
Sengaathu veesum kaadu
A land where red dry winds blow
Veedu keethu veedu
A house made of thatched leaves
Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo
Andhi neram vandha
When dusk falls
Thalaiyellaam yenni paaru
Count all the heads present
Aadu maata serthu
Including the goats and cattle
Enga veettil ezhu peru
There are seven members in our house
Aaru engae aaru
Where is the river? Where is it?
Ada podaa vetkka kedu
Oh go away, what a shameful loss of dignity
Mazhai vandha thanni odum
When rain comes, water flows briefly
Maru naalae vandi odum
By the next day, bullock carts roll on dry ground
Kannu peththa kannu
A calf born to my cow
En kannu kuttiyum onnu onnu
My cow and calf are dear to me as one
Kanji oothum enga mannu
This soil of ours is what feeds us porridge
Kaadu potta kaadu
A barren land, a dry scrubland
Sengaathu veesum kaadu
A land where red dry winds blow
Veedu keethu veedu
A house made of thatched leaves
Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo
Kakaa elapaara
For the crow to rest
Karuvela maram irukkku
There is a thorny Karuvelam tree
En makka elapaara
For my people to rest
Mamarathu nizhal irukka
Is there the cool shade of a mango tree?
Kokku pasi aara
To satisfy the heron's hunger
Kokkulathu meen irukku
There is fish in the pond
En makka pasi aara
To satisfy my people's hunger
Makki pona nel irukka
Is there anything besides rotted grain?
Maadu thathai maadu
A bullock taking baby steps
Idhu odum romba thooram
It travels a very long distance
Vaazhkai thathai vaazhkai
A life taking toddler steps
Idhu pogum romba kaalam
This life drags on for a long time
Kaattu kallikulla
Inside a wild cactus
Ullaadum vaalapola
Like a lizard squirming inside
Ullaara kanneer pongum
Tears well up silently within us
Sollama ullam pongum
The heart swells without words
Patta marathu mela
Upon a dead, withered tree
Etti paarkum onaan pola
Like a garden lizard peeking out
Vaazha vandhom bhoomi mela
We came to live upon this earth
{Kaadu potta kaadu
{A barren land, a dry scrubland
Sengaathu veesum kaadu
A land where red dry winds blow
Veedu keethu veedu
A house made of thatched leaves
Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo} (2)
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo} (2)
Koozhu cholakoozhu
Porridge, corn porridge
Vengaayam kooda seru
Accompanied by a side of onion
Thai maasam nellu soru..ahaa..
In the month of Thai, we eat rice..ahaa..
Bhoomi enga bhoomi
Our land, this land of ours
Vaanam paathu vaazhum bhoomi
A land that survives looking up at the sky for rain
Thoongi poachu enga saami
Our God has fallen fast asleep
Kaadu potta kaadu
A barren land, a dry scrubland
Sengaathu veesum kaadu
A land where red dry winds blow
Veedu keethu veedu
A house made of thatched leaves
Yeliyodu yenga paadu…hooo
Our plight of sharing space with rats…hooo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant folk song from the 1994 movie Karuththamma portrays the severe hardships, poverty, and resilience of villagers living in arid southern Tamil Nadu. The lyrics describe a harsh existence where families live in basic thatched huts alongside rats, depend entirely on rainfed agriculture, and eat simple millet porridge with onions, getting proper rice only during the post-harvest month of Thai.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Patta marathu mela / Etti paarkum onaan pola / Vaazha vandhom bhoomi mela”
Compares human survival on dry, lifeless land to a garden lizard clinging to a dead tree.
Contrast / Rhetorical Parallelism
“Kakaa elapaara Karuvela maram irukkku / En makka elapaara Mamarathu nizhal irukka”
Contrasts the availability of basic shelter/food for birds and animals against the stark lack of comfort and nutrition for poor human villagers.
Personification
“Thoongi poachu enga saami”
Personifies God as being asleep to highlight the feeling of divine abandonment felt by suffering villagers.
Monai (Alliteration)
“Kaadu potta kaadu / Sengaathu veesum kaadu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines for rhythmic folk pacing.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by A. R. Rahman for Bharathiraja's award-winning film Karuththamma (1994). Lyricist Vairamuthu captured authentic southern Tamil agrarian folk idioms to illustrate extreme rural poverty and drought.
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