Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaalam Kattaame

From Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi · 1978

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannaalam kattaamae kadhavu thaappaa podaamaeWithout tying the knot of marriage, without latching the door,
Pullai peru paakkaamae puttipaalu ooththaamaeWithout experiencing childbirth, without feeding bottle-milk,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Vaigai perugi vara vaalai meen thulli varaAs the Vaigai river swells and the scabbard fish leap,
Vaigai perugi vara vaalai meen thulli varaAs the Vaigai river swells and the scabbard fish leap,
Thulli vara meenukkellaam thoondi podum raasaavaaIs he the king who casts a hook for all the leaping fish?
Thulli vara meenukkellaam thoondi podum raasaavaaIs he the king who casts a hook for all the leaping fish?
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Kannaalam kattaamae kadhavu thaappaa podaamaeWithout tying the knot of marriage, without latching the door,
Pullai peru paakkaamae puttipaalu ooththaamaeWithout experiencing childbirth, without feeding bottle-milk,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Malaikku magalingam maamadurai sokkalingamMagalingam for the mountain, Sokkalingam for great Madurai,
Malaikku magalingam maamadurai sokkalingamMagalingam for the mountain, Sokkalingam for great Madurai,
Sokkalingam petheduththaThe one fathered by Sokkalingam,
Surulimalai velanaattamJust like Murugan of Suruli hill,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Kannaalam kattaamae kadhavu thaappaa podaamaeWithout tying the knot of marriage, without latching the door,
Pullai peru paakkaamae puttipaalu ooththaamaeWithout experiencing childbirth, without feeding bottle-milk,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Seedhaiyamman thirumagano sriraamar peththavanoIs he the divine son of Goddess Sita, or the one fathered by Lord Rama?
Seedhaiyamman thirumagano sriraamar peththavanoIs he the divine son of Goddess Sita, or the one fathered by Lord Rama?
Kannan magan mammuthanoIs he Krishna's son, or cupid Manmatha?
Kaalaiyinni sollumpadiSuch that everyone praises him as a grand young prince,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Kannaalam kattaamae kadhavu thaappaa podaamaeWithout tying the knot of marriage, without latching the door,
Pullai peru paakkaamae puttipaalu ooththaamaeWithout experiencing childbirth, without feeding bottle-milk,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Naan munthaanai virikkaamaeWithout me spreading my saree pallu,
Munnoru naal sumakkaamaeWithout carrying a pregnancy for months beforehand,
Sontha pantham sirikkaamaeWithout relatives laughing in ridicule,
Thonthi sariyaa pekkaamaeWithout a heavy belly giving birth,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Female
Kannaalam kattaamae kadhavu thaappaa podaamaeWithout tying the knot of marriage, without latching the door,
Pullai peru paakkaamae puttipaalu ooththaamaeWithout experiencing childbirth, without feeding bottle-milk,
Female
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.
Em machan peththaan pullaeMy beloved husband gave birth to a child,
Avan manasu rompa vellaeHis heart is so pure and white.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Em machan peththaan pullae' from the 1978 movie 'Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi' is a playful and affectionate folk-style celebration of love and companionship. Sung in a traditional village lullaby and narrative style, the protagonist playfully sings about her husband bringing home or caring for a child as if he himself gave birth to it, highlighting his sheer innocence, purity of heart, and tender love. Through poetic metaphors drawn from nature (Vaigai river, leap of fish) and Hindu mythology (Lord Rama, Sita, Murugan, Krishna, and Manmatha), she praises both the baby's radiant charm and her husband's gentle, pure nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Simile (Uvamai)

Surulimalai velanaattam

Compares the child to divine figures like Surulimalai Velan (Lord Murugan) and Cupid (Manmatha).

Rhyme / Monai & Ethirai

Kannaalam kattaamae kadhavu thaappaa podaamae

Use of internal and initial rhyming pairs such as 'kattaamae' / 'podaamae' and 'virikkaamae' / 'sumakkaamae' to create a catchy folk rhythm.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Em machan peththaan pullae

Playfully claiming that the husband gave birth to the child himself to emphasize his soft-heartedness and innocence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by the legendary folk lyricist A. Maruthakasi, this song highlights Vani Jairam's versatility in rendering rural Tamil folk rhythms infused with classical nuances.

Keep listening

More from Ullathil Kuzhanthaiyadi