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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaakki Sattai Maatti

From Yettikki Potti · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Yettikki Potti
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
1 Oct 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Ingae thiyagiyum irukkalaam
Thirudanum irukkalaam
Gnyaayatha pakka venumga neenga
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Ada naan thaane pattam varen
Nammooru kaaval thurai
Ohoonnu naadae pugaluthu
Chorus :Aamam ohoonnu naadae pugaluthu
Male :Oru yemali maatikitta
Maamulu vaangiputtaa
Mariyaadha angae koraiyudhu
Chorus :Aamaam mariyaadha anage koraiyudhu
Thuppukala tholakki
Veikkira adhikaaringa thaanga
Thumbha vittu vaala pudikkira
Ariyamaiyum yenga
Ongalaiyum thiruthi kollanunga neenga
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Ingae thiyagiyum irukalaam
Thirudanum irukalaam
Gnyaayathai pakka venunga neenga
Female : Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Raapozhuthana suthuringa
Visil oodhi katharinga
Poruppathaan vela nadakudhu
Chorus :Aamaam poruppathaan vela nadakudhu
Neenga oorkaaval kathirundhum
Urangaamal suthi vandhum
Vedikundu yenyaa vedikkudhu
Chorus :Aiyoo vedikundu yenyaa vedikkudhu
Sundakkaya siraiyil
Veikkira arivaalinga neenga
Poosinikkaai pora edatha
Puriyaadhadhu yenga
Sattangala olungu seiyanunga neenga
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Ingae thiyagiyum irukalaam
Thirudanum irukalaam
Gnyaayathai pakka venunga neenga
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Nikkum raasakkalae
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
There may be a noble soul here,
There may also be a thief,
You must seek out justice and fairness!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
Come on, let me sing it for you!
Our town's police force—
The whole country praises it to the skies!
Chorus: Yes, the whole country praises it to the skies!
Male: But when a helpless simpleton gets caught,
And you take a bribe from him,
All respect is lost right there!
Chorus: Yes, all respect is lost right there!
You are officers capable of uncovering
And tracking down every single clue,
So why let go of the main rope and grasp at the tail,
Acting with such foolish ignorance?
You must reform yourselves too!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
There may be a noble soul here,
There may also be a thief,
You must seek out justice and fairness!
Female: Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
You patrol around all through the night,
Blowing your whistles and shouting out,
Doing your duty with responsibility!
Chorus: Yes, the work is done with responsibility!
Even with you guarding our town,
And patrolling without any sleep,
Why do bombs still explode, tell me?
Chorus: Alas, why do bombs still explode?
You are clever enough to lock up
A petty thief as small as a berry,
So why can't you ever trace
Where the big pumpkin of a criminal went?
You need to set the law in order!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
There may be a noble soul here,
There may also be a thief,
You must seek out justice and fairness!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
Wearing your khaki uniforms,
O kings standing on duty,
Please listen to the song this grandma sings!
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This satirical song from the film 'Yettikki Potti' (1987) addresses police officers wearing khaki uniforms. Through humorous commentary and folk style, the characters critique systemic issues within the police force—such as bribery, losing track of clues, letting major criminals escape while arresting minor offenders, and failing to prevent major crimes like bomb blasts despite night patrols. At the same time, it serves as a constructive call for the police department to maintain justice impartially, reform their practices, and uphold their duty without fear or favor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kaakki sattai sattai maatti / Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen

Rhyming of second consonant letters in Tamil poetry lines, such as 'sattai' and 'paatti'.

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Thumbha vittu vaala pudikkira / Ariyamaiyum yenga

Using 'Thumbha vittu vaala pudikkira' (letting go of the trunk/head and catching the tail) to metaphorically describe failing to catch major criminals while apprehending minor ones.

Contrast / Metaphor (Sundakkai vs Poosinikkaai)

Sundakkaya siraiyil / Veikkira arivaalinga neenga / Poosinikkaai pora edatha

Contrasting 'Sundakkai' (turkey berry, representing small petty offenders) with 'Poosinikkaai' (pumpkin, representing large-scale corrupt criminals).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Gangai Amaran with lyrics written by legendary lyricist Vaali, 'Yettikki Potti' features energetic folk-based social satire common in 1980s Tamil cinema, blending humor with sharp social commentary on law enforcement.

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