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Karakattakari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaattu Kili

From Karakattakari · 2004

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Karthik, Bhavatharani
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Karakattakari
Movie release year
2004
Lyrics added on
7 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaattu kili kaattu kili
Enga koottukkoru paattu padi
Kaattu kili kaattu kili
Enga koottukkoru paattu padi
Panjavarna kiliyae
Pathu naalaa unna kaanaliyae
Sollu oru mozhiyae
Unna paathaa onnum thonaliyae
Siragadichu veliyae vaa
Nee ila maala neram
Yesa paada venum
Kaattu kili kaattu kili
Enga koottukkoru paattu padi
Keragam pola keragam pola
Kanni ilam vayasu
Salanga pola salanga pola
Kulungudhu manasu
Unna nenachu unna nenachu
Ethanaiyo iravu
Kannu muzhichu kannu muzhichu
Ethanaiyo kanavu
Kallaattam irukken
Innu enna kanavu
Kanavula kandadhu enna
Ulladha solli pudu
Poongeragam pola katti vecha uravu
Pogaadhu pogaadhunnu
Sathiyam panni kudu
Kaalai kadhiravanum
Dhikku maari maerkae udhichaalum
Namakkoru kaadhal dhesa
Maarumaa maarumaa
Kaattu kili kaattu kili
Enga koottukkoru paattu padi
Pannapurathu ponnu padikkum
Paattu inikkudhadi
Punnavanathu poova parikka
Acham thadukkudhadi
Thannam thaniyaa pesi kalikka
Pechu irukkudhadi
Koodi irukkum koottatha kandu
Koocham porakkudhadi
Thaeru varum neram
Theruvula koottam
Gavanatha ingae vaiyi
Kaaladi thaalathula
Vaana vedi osa vaanathoda vela
Saami kutham venaam
Namma sallaabam kaattukkulla
Aadura kovanamae
Nalladhoru sedhiya chollaliyaa
Ammanaval maala rendu
Tharanum tharanum
Kaattu kili kaattu kili
Enga koottukkoru paattu padi
Panjavarna kiliyae
Pathu naalaa unna kaanaliyae
Sollu oru mozhiyae
Unna paathaa onnum thonaliyae
Siragadichu veliyae vaa
Nee ila maala neram
Yesa paada venum
Wild parrot, oh wild parrot,
Sing a song for our nest!
Wild parrot, oh wild parrot,
Sing a song for our nest!
Oh colorful little parrot,
I haven't seen you in ten days!
Say just a word to me,
for seeing you makes my mind go blank!
Spread your wings and come outside,
in this gentle evening hour,
to sing our playful song!
Wild parrot, oh wild parrot,
Sing a song for our nest!
Balanced like a dance pot,
is my youthful age.
Jingling like ankle bells,
my heart trembles with joy!
Thinking of you, constantly thinking of you,
so many nights have gone by!
Staying awake with open eyes,
so many dreams I have had!
I am standing right here in front of you,
so why do you still need dreams?
What did you see in your dream?
Tell me the honest truth!
This bond tied together like a flower-decked dance pot,
will never, ever fade away—
make that promise to me!
Even if the morning sun
changes direction and rises in the west,
will our kingdom of love
ever change? Will it change?
Wild parrot, oh wild parrot,
Sing a song for our nest!
The song that the girl from Pannaipuram sings
sounds so very sweet!
To pluck a flower from the grove,
fear holds me back!
To sit all alone and chat happily,
there is so much to say!
Looking at the gathered crowd,
a sudden shyness comes over me!
When the temple chariot arrives,
the streets are packed with crowds.
Keep your eyes right here,
on the rhythm of my dancing feet!
The crackle of fireworks belongs to the sky;
let us not offend the gods,
our sweet romance belongs in the woods!
Hasn't the swaying festive cloth
brought us good news?
The Goddess must surely bless us
with two wedding garlands!
Wild parrot, oh wild parrot,
Sing a song for our nest!
Oh colorful little parrot,
I haven't seen you in ten days!
Say just a word to me,
for seeing you makes my mind go blank!
Spread your wings and come outside,
in this gentle evening hour,
to sing our playful song!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kaattu Kili is a vibrant Tamil folk duet from the film Karakattakari, celebrating romance amidst traditional rural festivities. The lovers communicate using playful metaphors of wild parrots, decorated Karakattam pots, and temple street processions, capturing both the innocence and intensity of their affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

“Kaattu kili kaattu kili”

The phrase 'Kaattu kili kaattu kili' repeats the word for rhythm and emotional emphasis characteristic of Tamil folk music.

Upamai (Simile)

“Salanga pola salanga pola / Kulungudhu manasu”

Comparing the trembling emotional state of the heart to the sound of jingling anklets ('Salanga pola').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Pannapurathu ponnu padikkum / Paattu inikkudhadi”

The initial 'P' sound is repeated across words in the line ('Pannapurathu', 'ponnu', 'padikkum', 'Paattu').

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

“Dhikku maari maerkae udhichaalum / Namakkoru kaadhal dhesa / Maarumaa maarumaa”

Declaring that even an impossible cosmic event like the sun rising in the west would not alter their love.

Did you know?

Trivia

The line 'Pannapurathu ponnu padikkum paattu' pays a subtle tribute to Pannapuram, the birthplace of legendary music composer Ilaiyaraaja, who popularized Tamil folk music in cinema.

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