- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Kathirukka Neramillai
- Movie release year
- 1993
- Lyrics added on
- 26 Jan 2019
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaattil oru kaadaikku
Naan kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Kaadai illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Ooty mala ullaanukku
Kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Ullaan illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Ennaannu sollu
Naanga uttomae jollu
Ennaannu sollu
Naanga uttomae jollu
Kanni ponnu
Adhu katti ponnu
Vanji ponnu
Siru manja kannu
Kanni ponnu
Adhu katti ponnu
Male :Ahaan
Chorus :Vanji ponnu
Siru manja kannu
Ahaa kaattil oru kaadaikku
Naan kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Kaadai illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Pazhuthu nikkidhu
Kozhuthu nikkidhu
Azhagu pappaali
Ada valanju nikkidhu
Nelinju nikkidhu
Velanja thakkaali
Pazhuthu nikkidhu
Kozhuthu nikkidhu
Azhagu pappaali
Ada valanju nikkidhu
Nelinju nikkidhu
Velanja thakkaali
Oviyathapaathu
Gazhal paadi vandhenae
Ottagatthil yeri ingu
Odi vandhenae
Ada kaattil oru kaadaikku
Naan kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Kaadai illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Ennaannu sollu
Naanga uttomae jollu
Ennaannu sollu
Naanga uttomae jollu
Kanni ponnu
Adhu katti ponnu
Vanji ponnu
Siru manja kannu hoi
Kanni ponnu
Adhu katti ponnu
Male :Haan
Chorus :Vanji ponnu
Siru manja kannu
Ahaa kaattil oru kaadaikku
Naan kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Kaadai illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Thalaikku melae
Dhinamum suthudhu
Adhishta sakkaram thaan
Enna orasa vandhavan
Dhinamum paththadi
Odhungi nikkanum thaan
Modha vandhavan
Moraikka vandhavan
Nooru vasthaadhu
Moodu mandhiram pottu vellura
Aalu ingaedhu
Velaiya thaan paaru
Ivan kaattura podhu
Moolaiya thaan paaru
Kodi naattura podhu
Ada kaattil oru kaadaikku
Naan kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Kaadai illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Ooty mala ullaanukku
Kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Ullaan illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Ennaannu sollu
Naanga uttomae jollu
Meheheh
Ennaannu sollu
Naanga uttomae jollu
Kanni ponnu
Adhu katti ponnu
Vanji ponnu
Siru manja kannu
Kanni ponnu
Adhu katti ponnu
Vanji ponnu
Siru manja kannu
Ahaa kaattil oru kaadaikku
Naan kanni vachen
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
Kanniyilae vandhadhoru
Kaadai illae
Chorus :Aiyo aiyo
For a quail in the forest,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a quail!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
For a snipe on Ooty's hill,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a snipe!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
Tell us what it was,
we are already drooling!
Tell us what it was,
we are already drooling!
A blooming young girl,
a solid stunner of a girl!
A slender, graceful girl,
with bright, lovely eyes!
A blooming young girl,
a solid stunner of a girl!
Male: Aha!
Chorus: A slender, graceful girl,
with bright, lovely eyes!
Aha, for a quail in the forest,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a quail!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
Ripe and luscious,
plump and full,
like a gorgeous papaya!
Oh, swaying and curving,
bending with grace,
like a ripe tomato!
Ripe and luscious,
plump and full,
like a gorgeous papaya!
Oh, swaying and curving,
bending with grace,
like a ripe tomato!
Gazing upon that picture of beauty,
I came singing a ghazal!
Riding high on a camel,
I came dashing here!
Hey, for a quail in the forest,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a quail!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
Tell us what it was,
we are already drooling!
Tell us what it was,
we are already drooling!
A blooming young girl,
a solid stunner of a girl!
A slender, graceful girl,
with bright, lovely eyes, hoy!
A blooming young girl,
a solid stunner of a girl!
Male: Haan!
Chorus: A slender, graceful girl,
with bright, lovely eyes!
Aha, for a quail in the forest,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a quail!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
Right over my head,
spinning every day,
is the wheel of good fortune!
Anyone who tries to mess with me
must stay ten feet away
and step aside!
Those who came to pick a fight,
those who came to glare with rage—
a hundred tough champions!
Where is anyone who can cast a spell
and conquer me?
Just look at the action
when he puts on a show!
Just look at his brains
when he plants his victory flag!
Hey, for a quail in the forest,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a quail!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
For a snipe on Ooty's hill,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a snipe!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
Tell us what it was,
we are already drooling!
Meh-heh-heh!
Tell us what it was,
we are already drooling!
A blooming young girl,
a solid stunner of a girl!
A slender, graceful girl,
with bright, lovely eyes!
A blooming young girl,
a solid stunner of a girl!
A slender, graceful girl,
with bright, lovely eyes!
Aha, for a quail in the forest,
I set a trap!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
But what got caught in that trap
wasn't a quail!
Chorus: Oh no, oh no!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This playful and folk-infused track 'Kaattil Oru Kaadaikku' uses extended metaphors of hunting birds (quails and hill snipes) and traps to depict the unexpected nature of love and attraction. The protagonist sets traps expecting simple game, only to capture the heart of a precious maiden compared metaphorically to ripe fruits like papaya and tomato. Interspersed with energetic chorus responses, the song celebrates romantic pursuit, beauty, and confidence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Monothongal Second-Letter Rhyme)
“Adhu katti ponnu”
Matching second consonant 'tta' across words like 'katti' and 'vetti/jaat' created rhythmical consistency in folk verse.
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagarm)
“Azhagu pappaali / Velanja thakkaali”
Comparing the heroine's allure to ripe papaya and lush tomato ('pappaali', 'thakkaali') to emphasize youth, beauty, and vitality.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Pazhuthu nikkidhu / Kozhuthu nikkidhu”
Rhyming stanza endings using similar sound suffixes like 'nikkidhu' and 'nikkidhu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Legendary lyricist Vaali, 'Kathirukka Neramillai' (1993) featured engaging local folk rhythms designed to blend humor with fast-paced storytelling using rural metaphors of bird snaring.
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