Kaakki Sattai Maatti
From Yettikki Potti · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Yettikki Potti1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Female | |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Female | |
| Ingae thiyagiyum irukkalaam | Here, there might be a martyr or a good person, |
| Thirudanum irukkalaam | Or there might also be a thief, |
| Gnyaayatha pakka venumga neenga | You must look at justice impartially. |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Male | |
| Ada naan thaane pattam varen | Hey, I will give you a title, |
| Nammooru kaaval thurai | Our local police department, |
| Ohoonnu naadae pugaluthu | The whole nation praises it highly. |
| Chorus :Aamam ohoonnu naadae pugaluthu | Chorus: Yes, the whole nation praises it highly! |
| Male :Oru yemali maatikitta | Male: If a gullible fool gets caught, |
| Maamulu vaangiputtaa | And if bribes are taken from them, |
| Mariyaadha angae koraiyudhu | The respect for the force decreases right there. |
| Chorus :Aamaam mariyaadha anage koraiyudhu | Chorus: Yes, respect decreases right there! |
| Female | |
| Thuppukala tholakki | You are officials who lose track of clues, |
| Veikkira adhikaaringa thaanga | And misplace evidence, |
| Thumbha vittu vaala pudikkira | Catching the tail after letting go of the trunk, |
| Ariyamaiyum yenga | Why this ignorance on your part? |
| Ongalaiyum thiruthi kollanunga neenga | You must correct yourselves too. |
| Male | |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Ingae thiyagiyum irukalaam | Here, there might be a martyr, |
| Thirudanum irukalaam | Or there might also be a thief, |
| Gnyaayathai pakka venunga neenga | You must look at justice impartially. |
| Female : Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Female: Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Female | |
| Raapozhuthana suthuringa | You roam around all night long, |
| Visil oodhi katharinga | Blowing whistles and shouting, |
| Poruppathaan vela nadakudhu | Work happens with responsibility. |
| Chorus :Aamaam poruppathaan vela nadakudhu | Chorus: Yes, work happens with responsibility! |
| Female | |
| Neenga oorkaaval kathirundhum | Even though you guard the village, |
| Urangaamal suthi vandhum | And patrol without sleeping, |
| Vedikundu yenyaa vedikkudhu | Why do bomb blasts still occur, sir? |
| Chorus :Aiyoo vedikundu yenyaa vedikkudhu | Chorus: Oh dear, why do bomb blasts still occur, sir? |
| Male | |
| Sundakkaya siraiyil | You intelligent folks put small fry in prison, |
| Veikkira arivaalinga neenga | Holding them behind bars, |
| Poosinikkaai pora edatha | While the place where big criminals hide, |
| Puriyaadhadhu yenga | Remains completely incomprehensible to you! |
| Sattangala olungu seiyanunga neenga | You must reform and streamline the laws properly. |
| Female | |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Male | |
| Ingae thiyagiyum irukalaam | Here, there might be a martyr, |
| Thirudanum irukalaam | Or there might also be a thief, |
| Gnyaayathai pakka venunga neenga | You must look at justice impartially. |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
| Female | |
| Kaakki sattai sattai maatti | Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms, |
| Nikkum raasakkalae | Standing there proudly, |
| Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen | Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother. |
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Here, there might be a martyr or a good person,
Or there might also be a thief,
You must look at justice impartially.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Hey, I will give you a title,
Our local police department,
The whole nation praises it highly.
Chorus: Yes, the whole nation praises it highly!
Male: If a gullible fool gets caught,
And if bribes are taken from them,
The respect for the force decreases right there.
Chorus: Yes, respect decreases right there!
You are officials who lose track of clues,
And misplace evidence,
Catching the tail after letting go of the trunk,
Why this ignorance on your part?
You must correct yourselves too.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Here, there might be a martyr,
Or there might also be a thief,
You must look at justice impartially.
Female: Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
You roam around all night long,
Blowing whistles and shouting,
Work happens with responsibility.
Chorus: Yes, work happens with responsibility!
Even though you guard the village,
And patrol without sleeping,
Why do bomb blasts still occur, sir?
Chorus: Oh dear, why do bomb blasts still occur, sir?
You intelligent folks put small fry in prison,
Holding them behind bars,
While the place where big criminals hide,
Remains completely incomprehensible to you!
You must reform and streamline the laws properly.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Here, there might be a martyr,
Or there might also be a thief,
You must look at justice impartially.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Standing there proudly,
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Ingae thiyagiyum irukkalaam
Here, there might be a martyr or a good person,
Thirudanum irukkalaam
Or there might also be a thief,
Gnyaayatha pakka venumga neenga
You must look at justice impartially.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Ada naan thaane pattam varen
Hey, I will give you a title,
Nammooru kaaval thurai
Our local police department,
Ohoonnu naadae pugaluthu
The whole nation praises it highly.
Chorus :Aamam ohoonnu naadae pugaluthu
Chorus: Yes, the whole nation praises it highly!
Male :Oru yemali maatikitta
Male: If a gullible fool gets caught,
Maamulu vaangiputtaa
And if bribes are taken from them,
Mariyaadha angae koraiyudhu
The respect for the force decreases right there.
Chorus :Aamaam mariyaadha anage koraiyudhu
Chorus: Yes, respect decreases right there!
Thuppukala tholakki
You are officials who lose track of clues,
Veikkira adhikaaringa thaanga
And misplace evidence,
Thumbha vittu vaala pudikkira
Catching the tail after letting go of the trunk,
Ariyamaiyum yenga
Why this ignorance on your part?
Ongalaiyum thiruthi kollanunga neenga
You must correct yourselves too.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Ingae thiyagiyum irukalaam
Here, there might be a martyr,
Thirudanum irukalaam
Or there might also be a thief,
Gnyaayathai pakka venunga neenga
You must look at justice impartially.
Female : Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Female: Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Raapozhuthana suthuringa
You roam around all night long,
Visil oodhi katharinga
Blowing whistles and shouting,
Poruppathaan vela nadakudhu
Work happens with responsibility.
Chorus :Aamaam poruppathaan vela nadakudhu
Chorus: Yes, work happens with responsibility!
Neenga oorkaaval kathirundhum
Even though you guard the village,
Urangaamal suthi vandhum
And patrol without sleeping,
Vedikundu yenyaa vedikkudhu
Why do bomb blasts still occur, sir?
Chorus :Aiyoo vedikundu yenyaa vedikkudhu
Chorus: Oh dear, why do bomb blasts still occur, sir?
Sundakkaya siraiyil
You intelligent folks put small fry in prison,
Veikkira arivaalinga neenga
Holding them behind bars,
Poosinikkaai pora edatha
While the place where big criminals hide,
Puriyaadhadhu yenga
Remains completely incomprehensible to you!
Sattangala olungu seiyanunga neenga
You must reform and streamline the laws properly.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Ingae thiyagiyum irukalaam
Here, there might be a martyr,
Thirudanum irukalaam
Or there might also be a thief,
Gnyaayathai pakka venunga neenga
You must look at justice impartially.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Kaakki sattai sattai maatti
Oh kings standing there dressed in khaki uniforms,
Nikkum raasakkalae
Standing there proudly,
Paatti sollum patta konjam kelungalen
Listen a bit to the song sung by this old grandmother.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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