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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadharu Sattaiya

From Vallal · 1997

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chithra, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Details
Vallal1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kadharu sattaiyaWearing a khadi shirt,
Pottukkittu pottukkittuWearing it, wearing it,
Female Chorus :PottukkittuFemale Chorus: Wearing it,
Female :Collaraththaan thookkikittuFemale: Raising up the collar,
ThookkikituRaising it up,
Female Chorus :ThookkikituFemale Chorus: Raising it up,
Female
Kadharu sattaiyaWearing a khadi shirt,
PottukkittuWearing it,
Collaraththaan thookkikittuRaising up the collar,
Nilaththuppakkam pogaiyilaWhen walking towards the field,
Ummai naaththum vananguthuEven the sapling bows to you;
Kulaththupakkam pogaiyilaWhen walking towards the pond,
Ummai kaaththum vananguthuEven the breeze bows to you.
Yaettula yaettula paaththuLooking at books and texts,
Yaezhu vallalai naan padichchenI read about the seven great philanthropists;
Veettula veettula paaththuBut seeing you right at home,
Ippa valakkaraththai pudichenI have now held your right hand.
Female
Kadharu sattaiyaWearing a khadi shirt,
Pottukkittu pottukkittuWearing it, wearing it,
Collaraththaan thookkikittuRaising up the collar,
ThookkikittuRaising it up.
Female
Sonthamilla panthamillaHaving no relatives, no bonds,
Naathiyaththu vantha pullaA helpless child who arrived,
Thikku thesao yaedhumillaHaving no direction or destination,
Thachchalichchu ninna pullaA girl who stood dazed and alone.
Pottu vachchu poo mudichchuAdorning with bindi and flowers,
Yaeththukitta veettukkullaYou welcomed me into your home;
Nandri solla ennudaiyaTo express my gratitude,
Nenjukkulla vaarththaiyillaI have no words in my heart.
Male
Veli onnu venumunnuThinking I needed protection like a fence,
Thaaliyonnu naan mudichchenI tied the sacred mangalsutra thread.
Kaikkuttaiyai pola vanthuComing like a handkerchief,
Kanneeraiththaan naan thudaichchenI wiped away her tears.
Yaarukku yaarunnu irukkuWho belongs to whom is already decided,
Idhu avan vaguththa kanakkuThis is the calculation made by God.
Vaadum verukku neer vidum manasuA heart that pours water on a wilting root,
Ingu iyarkkaiyilae irukkuIs inherently present here in nature.
Female
Kadharu sattaiyaWearing a khadi shirt,
Pottukkittu pottukkittuWearing it, wearing it,
Collaraththaan thookkikittuRaising up the collar,
ThookkikittuRaising it up.
Chorus
…………………
Female
Unnaivida naan vanangaFor me to worship other than you,
Deivam onnu ooril illaiThere is no god in this town;
Nee irukkum veettaividaOther than the house where you reside,
Naan arinja kovil illaiThere is no temple I know of.
Paari mannan thaer kodukkaKing Paari gave his chariot,
Vaazhnthathaiyaa vaasamullaiAnd so the fragrant jasmine vine survived;
Kola mannan thirumpa vanthuThat gracious king has returned,
Ninnaan enthan vaasalilaeAnd stands right at my doorstep!
Male
Thanjaminnu vanthavalaiShe came seeking refuge,
Nenjaththilae VaangikkittaenAnd I embraced her in my heart.
Thaaraminnu pattam thanthuGiving her the title of wife,
Tholirandil thaangikkittaenI supported her on both my shoulders.
Vaanamum bhoomiyum polaLike the sky and the earth,
Ingu nilaichchirukkum uravuThis relationship will endure forever here.
Entha vaazhvilum thaazhvilum inaichchuIn every prosperity and adversity, bound together,
Kooda nadanthirukkum nilavuA moon that walks along with me.
Female
Kadharu sattaiyaWearing a khadi shirt,
Pottukkittu pottukkittuWearing it, wearing it,
Female Chorus :PottukkittuFemale Chorus: Wearing it,
Femae :Collaraththaan thookkikittuFemale: Raising up the collar,
ThookkikituRaising it up,
Female Chorus :ThookkikituFemale Chorus: Raising it up,
Female
Kadharu sattaiyaWearing a khadi shirt,
Pottukkittu pottukkittuWearing it, wearing it,
Female Chorus :PottukkittuFemale Chorus: Wearing it,
Female :Collaraththaan thookkikittuFemale: Raising up the collar,
ThookkikituRaising it up,
Female Chorus :ThookkikituFemale Chorus: Raising it up.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kadharu Sattaiya from the movie Vallal (1997) is a soulful rural romantic duet expressing deep gratitude, devotion, and unconditional affection between a husband and wife. The heroine reveres her husband for his kindness and noble stature, comparing him to the legendary ancient Tamil patron King Paari and placing him above all temples and deities. In response, the hero reflects on how he took in an orphaned, helpless woman, gave her dignity as his wife, and vows to support her through thick and thin, comparing their unbreakable bond to the enduring connection between the sky and the earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Kaikkuttaiyai pola vanthu / Kanneeraiththaan naan thudaichchen

Compares the act of comforting and comforting tears to a handkerchief.

Upamai (Simile)

Vaanamum bhoomiyum pola / Ingu nilaichchirukkum uravu

Compares the everlasting bond between husband and wife to the eternal existence of heaven and earth.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Yaettula yaettula paaththu / Veettula veettula paaththu

The second consonant 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines (Yaettula / Veettula).

Metaphor / Allusion

Paari mannan thaer kodukka / Vaazhnthathaiyaa vaasamullai

Refers to King Paari (one of the Kadai Ezhu Vallal) to hyperbolically praise the husband's extreme generosity and benevolence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by 'Thenisai Thendral' Deva for the 1997 Sathyaraj and Meena starer film 'Vallal'. Sung by legendary vocalists S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra with lyrics by Vaali, the song celebrates traditional village romance and moral values, perfectly mirroring the protagonist's generous character implied by the movie title Vallal (The Philanthropist).

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