Kalli Kalli Chedi
From Thenmerku Paruvakaatru · 2010
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Shweta Mohan
- Music director
- N. R. Raghunanthan
- Details
- Thenmerku Paruvakaatru2010
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thira naa naa naa | Thira naa naa naa |
| Tha naa | Tha naa |
| Naa naa thirana | Naa naa thirana |
| Thira naa naa naa | Thira naa naa naa |
| Tha naa | Tha naa |
| Naa naa thirana | Naa naa thirana |
| Tha ra re…eee…eee.. | Tha ra re…eee…eee.. |
| Female | |
| Kalli kalli chedi | The thorny cactus plant |
| Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae | Has borne a fruit and it has ripened. |
| Kaattu karatta onnu | A wild chameleon |
| Athu kai neetta kuninjiruchae | Has bent down stretching its hand towards it. |
| Female | |
| : Kaikku kedachcha pazham | : Will the fruit obtained in hand |
| Ada vai vaikka vanthu seruma | Ah, actually reach the mouth to be consumed? |
| Muzhusa kedachuruma | Will it be received in full, |
| Illa movaayil mullu thekkuma | Or will thorns pierce the chin? |
| Female | |
| Udal vettikittu | The body recoils |
| Mella velaguthae | And slowly backs away. |
| Usur ottikittu | The soul clings tightly |
| Puga marukkuthae | And refuses to leave. |
| Female | |
| Ithu nallathukka | Is this for good |
| Illa kettathukka | Or for bad? |
| Nenju pogum vazhi pona | If one travels the path chosen by the heart, |
| Pozhappirukka | Will there be a life ahead? |
| Female | |
| : Kalli kalli chedi | : The thorny cactus plant |
| Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae | Has borne a fruit and it has ripened. |
| Kaattu karatta onnu | A wild chameleon |
| Male | |
| Thira naa naa naa | Thira naa naa naa |
| Tha naa | Tha naa |
| Naa naa thirana | Naa naa thirana |
| Thira naa naa naa | Thira naa naa naa |
| Tha naa | Tha naa |
| Naa naa thirana | Naa naa thirana |
| Tha ra re…eee…eee.. | Tha ra re…eee…eee.. |
| Female | |
| Kalli kalli chedi | The thorny cactus plant |
| Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae | Has borne a fruit and it has ripened. |
| Kaattu karatta onnu | A wild chameleon |
| Athu kai neetta kuninjiruchae | Has bent down stretching its hand towards it. |
| Female | |
| Kaikku kedachcha pazham | Will the fruit obtained in hand |
| Ada vai vaikka vanthu seruma | Ah, actually reach the mouth to be consumed? |
| Muzhusa kedachuruma | Will it be received in full, |
| Illa movaayil mullu thekkuma | Or will thorns pierce the chin? |
| Female | |
| Udal vettikittu | The body recoils |
| Mella velaguthae | And slowly backs away. |
| Usur ottikittu | The soul clings tightly |
| Puga marukkuthae | And refuses to leave. |
| Female | |
| Ithu nallathukka | Is this for good |
| Illa kettathukka | Or for bad? |
| Nenju pogum vazhi pona | If one travels the path chosen by the heart, |
| Pozhappirukka | Will there be a life ahead? |
திர நா நா
நா தா நா நா நா
திரனா திர நா நா
நா தா நா நா நா
திரனா தா ரா ரி.....
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Tha ra re…eee…eee..
கள்ளி கள்ளி
செடி ஒரு காய் விட்டு
பழுத்திருச்சே காட்டு
கரட்ட ஒன்னு அது
கை நீட்ட குனிஞ்சிருச்சே
The thorny cactus plant
Has borne a fruit and it has ripened.
A wild chameleon
Has bent down stretching its hand towards it.
கைக்கு கெடச்ச
பழம் அட வாய் வைக்க
வந்து சேருமா முழுசா
கெடச்சுருமா இல்ல
மோவாயில் முள்ளு
தேக்குமா
: Will the fruit obtained in hand
Ah, actually reach the mouth to be consumed?
Will it be received in full,
Or will thorns pierce the chin?
உடல்
வெட்டிக்கிட்டு
மெல்ல வௌகுதே
உசுர் ஒட்டிக்கிட்டு
போக மறுக்குதே
The body recoils
And slowly backs away.
The soul clings tightly
And refuses to leave.
இது நல்லதுக்கா
இல்ல கெட்டதுக்கா
நெஞ்சு போகும் வழி
போன பொழப்பிருக்கா
Is this for good
Or for bad?
If one travels the path chosen by the heart,
Will there be a life ahead?
கள்ளி கள்ளி
செடி ஒரு காய் விட்டு
பழுத்திருச்சே காட்டு
கரட்ட ஒன்னு
: The thorny cactus plant
Has borne a fruit and it has ripened.
A wild chameleon
திர நா நா
நா தா நா நா நா
திரனா திர நா நா
நா தா நா நா நா
திரனா தா ரா ரி.....
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Tha ra re…eee…eee..
கள்ளி கள்ளி
செடி ஒரு காய் விட்டு
பழுத்திருச்சே காட்டு
கரட்ட ஒன்னு அது
கை நீட்ட குனிஞ்சிருச்சே
The thorny cactus plant
Has borne a fruit and it has ripened.
A wild chameleon
Has bent down stretching its hand towards it.
கைக்கு கெடச்ச
பழம் அட வாய் வைக்க
வந்து சேருமா முழுசா
கெடச்சுருமா இல்ல
மோவாயில் முள்ளு
தேக்குமா
Will the fruit obtained in hand
Ah, actually reach the mouth to be consumed?
Will it be received in full,
Or will thorns pierce the chin?
உடல்
வெட்டிக்கிட்டு
மெல்ல வௌகுதே
உசுர் ஒட்டிக்கிட்டு
போக மறுக்குதே
The body recoils
And slowly backs away.
The soul clings tightly
And refuses to leave.
இது நல்லதுக்கா
இல்ல கெட்டதுக்கா
நெஞ்சு போகும் வழி
போன பொழப்பிருக்கா
Is this for good
Or for bad?
If one travels the path chosen by the heart,
Will there be a life ahead?
Thira naa naa naa
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Naa naa thirana
Thira naa naa naa
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Naa naa thirana
Tha ra re…eee…eee..
Tha ra re…eee…eee..
Kalli kalli chedi
The thorny cactus plant
Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae
Has borne a fruit and it has ripened.
Kaattu karatta onnu
A wild chameleon
Athu kai neetta kuninjiruchae
Has bent down stretching its hand towards it.
: Kaikku kedachcha pazham
: Will the fruit obtained in hand
Ada vai vaikka vanthu seruma
Ah, actually reach the mouth to be consumed?
Muzhusa kedachuruma
Will it be received in full,
Illa movaayil mullu thekkuma
Or will thorns pierce the chin?
Udal vettikittu
The body recoils
Mella velaguthae
And slowly backs away.
Usur ottikittu
The soul clings tightly
Puga marukkuthae
And refuses to leave.
Ithu nallathukka
Is this for good
Illa kettathukka
Or for bad?
Nenju pogum vazhi pona
If one travels the path chosen by the heart,
Pozhappirukka
Will there be a life ahead?
: Kalli kalli chedi
: The thorny cactus plant
Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae
Has borne a fruit and it has ripened.
Kaattu karatta onnu
A wild chameleon
Thira naa naa naa
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Naa naa thirana
Thira naa naa naa
Thira naa naa naa
Tha naa
Tha naa
Naa naa thirana
Naa naa thirana
Tha ra re…eee…eee..
Tha ra re…eee…eee..
Kalli kalli chedi
The thorny cactus plant
Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae
Has borne a fruit and it has ripened.
Kaattu karatta onnu
A wild chameleon
Athu kai neetta kuninjiruchae
Has bent down stretching its hand towards it.
Kaikku kedachcha pazham
Will the fruit obtained in hand
Ada vai vaikka vanthu seruma
Ah, actually reach the mouth to be consumed?
Muzhusa kedachuruma
Will it be received in full,
Illa movaayil mullu thekkuma
Or will thorns pierce the chin?
Udal vettikittu
The body recoils
Mella velaguthae
And slowly backs away.
Usur ottikittu
The soul clings tightly
Puga marukkuthae
And refuses to leave.
Ithu nallathukka
Is this for good
Illa kettathukka
Or for bad?
Nenju pogum vazhi pona
If one travels the path chosen by the heart,
Pozhappirukka
Will there be a life ahead?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song uses evocative rural imagery to depict the inner turmoil and dilemma of pursuing a fragile happiness. The metaphor of a wild chameleon reaching for a ripe cactus fruit illustrates a person longing for love or fulfillment while fearing the pain and thorns that come with it. The verses capture the conflict between the mind's caution and the soul's persistent attachment, raising fundamental questions about whether following one's heart leads to bliss or sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Metaphor / Allegory)
“Kalli kalli chedi / Oru kaai vittu pazhuththiruchae”
The cactus bearing a fruit and the chameleon attempting to reach it serves as an allegory for desiring a vulnerable joy amid harsh realities.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaattu karatta onnu”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words creates a rhythmic lyrical flow.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Udal vettikittu / Usur ottikittu”
Matching second letter consonant sounds ('da' and 'su') creates structural poetic harmony across adjacent lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Thenmerku Paruvakaatru' (2010), directed by Seenu Ramasamy, marked the debut of Vijay Sethupathi as a lead actor. The film won three National Film Awards, including Best Lyricist for Vairamuthu.
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