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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaattukkulle Kanni Ponnu

From Vesham · 1985

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Vesham1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Oo rambaa oo ramba oo rambaaOo Rambaa, oo Rambaa, oo Rambaa
Oo rambaa oo ramba oo rambaaOo Rambaa, oo Rambaa, oo Rambaa
Oo rambaaOo Rambaa
Female :Oo…..oo…..Female: Oo... oo...
Chorus :Oo rambaaChorus: Oo Rambaa
Female :Oo…..oo…..Female: Oo... oo...
Chorus :Oo rambaaChorus: Oo Rambaa
Female :Oo…..oo…..Female: Oo... oo...
Female
Kaattukullae kanni ponnuA maiden inside the forest
Kaiyaa vachchaan paiyan onnuA young boy laid his hands on her
Maattikittaan inga vanthuHe got trapped by coming here
Maamo…..maamo….Uncle... uncle...
Kattikanum thaaliHe must tie the sacred thread
Illaavittaa aal gaali…….Otherwise, he is dead meat...
Female
Aaaa…..Aaaa...
Male :Aahaa haMale: Aahaa ha
Female :Aaaa…..Female: Aaaa...
Male :Aahaa haMale: Aahaa ha
Female :Ae…..ae….Female: Ae... ae...
Male :Ahaa haaMale: Ahaa haa
Female :Aaa….Female: Aaa...
Male :Ahaa haMale: Ahaa ha
Female
Kaattukullae kanni ponnuA maiden inside the forest
Kaiyaa vachchaan paiyan onnuA young boy laid his hands on her
Maattikittaan inga vanthuHe got trapped by coming here
Maamo…..maamo….Uncle... uncle...
Male
……………
Chorus
…………….
Female
Kattikittaa thaekkumaraIf married, a teakwood
Kattilonnu senji vaippomBed, we will make and keep
Ponna kattikanum sonnaa oththukkanumIf asked to marry the girl, he must agree
Kattikittaa thaekkumaraIf married, a teakwood
Kattilonnu senji vaippomBed, we will make and keep
Ponna kattikanum sonnaa oththukkanumIf asked to marry the girl, he must agree
Female
Illaavittaal solliputtomOtherwise, we are warning you
Kaalae illaWithout even legs
Kattililae katti vaippomWe will tie him up on a bed
Kattaiyilae kolli vaippomWe will set fire to his funeral pyre
Kalyaanamthaanaa kacherithaanaIs it a wedding or a concert?
Santhosam thaanaa pesaendaaIs it happiness? Speak up, man!
Chorus
Kalyaanamthaanaa kacherithaanaIs it a wedding or a concert?
Santhosam thaanaa pesaendaaIs it happiness? Speak up, man!
Female
Aaaa…..Aaaa...
Male :Aahaa haMale: Aahaa ha
Female :Aaaa…..Female: Aaaa...
Male :Aahaa haMale: Aahaa ha
Female :Ae…..ae….Female: Ae... ae...
Male :Ahaa haaMale: Ahaa haa
Female :Aaa….Female: Aaa...
Male :Ahaa haMale: Ahaa ha
Female
Kaattukullae kanni ponnuA maiden inside the forest
Kaiyaa vachchaan paiyan onnuA young boy laid his hands on her
Maattikittaan inga vanthuHe got trapped by coming here
Maamo…..maamo….Uncle... uncle...
Kattikanum thaaliHe must tie the sacred thread
Illaavittaa aal gaali…….Otherwise, he is dead meat...
Chorus
…………………
Female
Kattupattaa KattuppaduObey and stay disciplined
Illaiyinnaa vettupaduOtherwise, get chopped down
Ennaa pannikkirae yaedhu pannikkiraeWhat are you doing, why are you doing this?
Kattupattaa KattuppaduObey and stay disciplined
Illaiyinnaa vettupaduOtherwise, get chopped down
Ennaa pannikkirae yaedhu pannikkiraeWhat are you doing, why are you doing this?
Kobabada vaikkaathadaa nikaathadaaDon't make us angry, don't just stand there
Female
Maelam kottu thaali kattuBeat the drums, tie the wedding thread
Illaiyinnaa vettupaduOtherwise, get chopped down
Pogaththaan porae ponnaththaan paaraenYou are going anyway, look at the girl
Sorkaththai ingae paaththukoyaen….Experience heaven right here...
Chorus
Pogaththaan porae ponnaththaan paaraenYou are going anyway, look at the girl
Sorkaththai ingae paaththukoyaen….Experience heaven right here...
Female
Aaaa…..Aaaa...
Male :Aahaa haMale: Aahaa ha
Female :Aaaa…..Female: Aaaa...
Male :Aahaa haMale: Aahaa ha
Female :Ae…..ae….Female: Ae... ae...
Male :Ahaa haaMale: Ahaa haa
Female :Aaa….Female: Aaa...
Male :Ahaa haMale: Ahaa ha
Female
Kaattukullae kanni ponnuA maiden inside the forest
Kaiyaa vachchaan paiyan onnuA young boy laid his hands on her
Maattikittaan inga vanthuHe got trapped by coming here
Maamo…..maamo….Uncle... uncle...
Kattikanum thaaliHe must tie the sacred thread
Illaavittaa aal gaali…….Otherwise, he is dead meat...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaattukullae Kanni Ponnu from the 1985 movie Vesham is a playful yet threatening folk-style group song written by lyricist Pulamaipithan. The song revolves around a young man who enters a forest and approaches a young maiden. The local folk dwellers surround him and demand that he marry her immediately by tying the sacred knot (thaali), warning him that any refusal will result in severe consequences or death. The lyrics combine traditional rhythm, humor, and aggressive banter, offering a teakwood bed as a wedding gift if he consents, while threatening to light his funeral pyre if he declines. Through energetic rhythm and chorus responses, the song presents an entertaining cinematic folk situation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kaattukullae kanni ponnu / Kaiyaa vachchaan paiyan onnu

Repetition of the second consonant 'tt' across consecutive lines for poetic rhythm.

Monae (First-letter Alliteration)

Kattupattaa Kattuppadu

Alliteration using the same starting consonant sound ('Ka') in adjacent words.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kattupattaa Kattuppadu / Illaiyinnaa vettupadu

Matching end-rhyming suffixes '-padu' across paired lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vesham (1985) features lyrics by the celebrated Tamil poet Pulamaipithan. The track employs traditional high-energy folk percussion and tribal chorus vocals typical of 1980s Tamil cinema situational songs.

Keep listening

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