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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaattiputtan Thannithan

From Kazhugumalai Kallan · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Kazhugumalai Kallan1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Elaei ammaachi….sannaasiHey grandmother... ascetic...
Arukkaani…aei….maruthaaniyoArukkaani... hey... Henna girl...
Female Chorus :EnnaFemale Chorus: What?
Male Chorus :EnnaMale Chorus: What?
Female Chorus :EnnaFemale Chorus: What?
Male Chorus :EnnaMale Chorus: What?
Male
Kotta saami thappichchuttaanKotta Saami escaped!
Kaattu pakkam vanthuputtaanHe came toward the forest side,
Kotta kotta thaandipputtaanHe jumped over wide distances,
Police-sa dapaaichchuttaanHe tricked the police completely!
Female Chorus :EppadiFemale Chorus: How?
Male Chorus :EppadiMale Chorus: How?
Female Chorus :EppadiFemale Chorus: How?
Male Chorus :EppadiMale Chorus: How?
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaan ammaadiyovOh my, he showed his trickery!
Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaan appaadiyovOh dear, the khaki-uniformed police are squirming in frustration!
Kaattipputtaan thannithaan ammaadiyovOh my, he showed his trickery!
Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaan appaadiyovOh dear, the khaki-uniformed police are squirming in frustration!
Male
Pokkiringa mookkarukkum kotta saamithaanIt is Kotta Saami who cuts down the arrogance of rogues,
Police-kku naamaththaiyae potta saamithaanIt is the deity who thoroughly duped the police!
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaanHe showed his trickery,
Chorus :AmmaadiyovChorus: Oh my goodness!
Male :Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaanMale: The police uniform squirms in distress,
Chorus :AppaadiyovChorus: Oh dear!
Male
Pokkiringa mookkarukkum kotta saamithaanIt is Kotta Saami who cuts down the arrogance of rogues,
Chorus :Police-kku naamaththaiyae potta saamithaanIt is the deity who thoroughly duped the police!
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaanHe showed his trickery,
Chorus :AmmaadiyovChorus: Oh my goodness!
Male :Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaanMale: The police uniform squirms in distress,
Chorus :Appaadiyov….aaththaadiyov…Chorus: Oh dear... oh mother...
Male
Kodai mazhai ooththurathae verukkaagaththaanThe summer rain pours only for the roots of trees,
Kottaisamy vaazhurathae oorukkaagaththaanKottaisamy lives only for the welfare of his village,
Male :Oodugira kaaththa inga puddikka mudiyumaMale: Can anyone catch the running wind here?
Male :Vaanavilla raamanaalum odaikka mudiyumaaMale: Can even Lord Rama break a rainbow?
Male
Thuninju eppothum haan thiriyum nammaaluOur man always wanders around courageously,
Male :Valaiyil sikkaamal vazhukkum semmeenuMale: He is like a slippery red fish that escapes the fishing net!
Male Chorus :Kaattaruvi oottaththukkuMale Chorus: For the rush of a wild mountain stream,
Karai ezhuppa aalirukkaaIs there anyone who can build a riverbank?
Female Chorus :Kaattaruvi oottaththukkuFemale Chorus: For the rush of a wild mountain stream,
Karai ezhuppa aalirukkaaIs there anyone who can build a riverbank?
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaanHe showed his trickery,
Chorus :AmmaadiyovChorus: Oh my goodness!
Male :Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaanMale: The police uniform squirms in distress,
Chorus :Appaadiyov….Chorus: Oh dear...
Male
Pokkiringa mookkarukkumCuts down the arrogance of rogues,
Chorus :Kotta saamithaanChorus: It is Kotta Saami!
Male :Police-kku naamaththaiyaeMale: To the police force,
Chorus :Potta saamithaanChorus: He put the mark of defeat!
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaanHe showed his trickery,
Chorus :AmmaadiyovChorus: Oh my goodness!
Male :Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaanMale: The police uniform squirms in distress,
Chorus :Appaadiyov….aaththaadiyov…oo…Chorus: Oh dear... oh mother...
Male
Kurutha melae yaeripputtaan marutha veeranthaanHe climbed up to the top shoots, this brave man of the Marutham land,
Male :Oruththarukkum pudipadaathaMale: Uncatchable by anyone,
Periya sooranthaan annaeHe is a great valiant hero, brother!
Male :Eruthu pola ezhunthu nikkum maruthu paandiyaeMale: Standing tall and strong like a bull, like Maruthu Pandiyar,
Male :Eeramaana nenjamulla veerapaandiyaeMale: A brave warrior possessing a compassionate heart like Veerapandiya Kattabomman,
Male
Azhuthaa kanneera thudaippaan nammaaluOur man wipes away tears whenever someone cries,
Male :Avanthaan vanthaachchu haan adidaa maththaalamMale: He has arrived now, strike the drums loud!
Male Chorus :Yaezhaikellaam kaaval nikkaMale Chorus: To stand guard for all the poor people,
Ivana vittaa yaarirukkaaWho else is there besides him?
Female Chorus :Yaezhaikellaam kaaval nikkaFemale Chorus: To stand guard for all the poor people,
Ivana vittaa yaarirukkaaWho else is there besides him?
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaanHe showed his trickery,
Chorus :AmmaadiyovChorus: Oh my goodness!
Male :Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaanMale: The police uniform squirms in distress,
Chorus :Appaadiyov….Chorus: Oh dear...
Male
Pokkiringa mookkarukkumCuts down the arrogance of rogues,
Chorus :Kotta saamithaanChorus: It is Kotta Saami!
Male :Police-kku naamaththaiyaeMale: To the police force,
Chorus :Potta saamithaanChorus: He put the mark of defeat!
Male
Kaattipputtaan thannithaanHe showed his trickery,
Chorus :AmmaadiyovChorus: Oh my goodness!
Male :Kaakki sattai thavikkuthaanMale: The police uniform squirms in distress,
Chorus :Appaadiyov….aaththaadiyov…oo…Chorus: Oh dear... oh mother...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk track celebrates the protagonist Kottaisamy, a Robin Hood-like hero who outsmarts the police and fights for the poor people of his village. The lyrics highlight his agility, bravery, and generous heart, comparing him to invincible elements of nature like the wind, a mountain stream, and historical freedom fighters like Maruthu Pandiyar and Veerapandiya Kattabomman.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile)

Valaiyil sikkaamal vazhukkum semmeenu

Compares the protagonist's evasive nature to a slippery fish escaping a net ('Valaiyil sikkaamal vazhukkum semmeenu').

Rhetorical Question (Winna)

Oodugira kaaththa inga puddikka mudiyuma

Uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the hero's unstoppable nature, asking if anyone can catch the wind or build a dam across a wild stream.

Allusion (Aalumaai)

Eruthu pola ezhunthu nikkum maruthu paandiyae

Invokes historic Tamil heroes Maruthu Pandiyar and Veerapandiya Kattabomman to praise the hero's valor and kindness.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were penned by Vaali for Kazhugumalai Kallan (1988), capturing rural folk idioms and rhythmic call-and-response choruses traditional to Tamil folk musical storytelling.

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