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Lyrics & meaning

Kathaazha Kaattu Vazhi

From Kizhakku Cheemayile · 1993

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Jayachandran, S. Janaki
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Kizhakku Cheemayile
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
29 Nov 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaththazhangattu vazhi..ee…ee..
Kallappatti rattu vazhi
Vandi katti poravalae
Vakkappattu poravalae
{Vandimaadu ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
Pinnae pagudhamma} (2)
Kaththazhangattu vazhi..
Kallappatti rattu vazhi
Vandi katti poravalae
Vakkappattu poravalae
Vandimaadu ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
Pinnae pagudhamma
Ettumela ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Pottu vechcha ponnu manam
Pinnae pogudhamma
Thayi virumaayi
Manasu marugudhamma
Uzhudha puzhudhiyilum
Ummogamae theriyudhamma
Thangampol nan valarththa
Thangachchi piriyakkandu
Kaththazhangattukkulla
Kaalaigalum kadharudhamma
Vasappadi kadakkayilae
Varalaiyae pechchu
Pallappatti thaandivitta
Padhi uyir pochchu
Vandimaadu ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
Pinnae pogudhamma
Annen poi varava
Azhudhu poi varava
Mannae poi varava
Mamaramae poi varava
Anilvaal meesa konda
Annae onna vittu
Pulival meesa konda
Purushanoda poi varava
Sattappadi ambalakki
Oththa edamdhanae
Thavalaikkum pombalaikkum
Rendu edam dhanae
Vandimadu ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
Pinnae pogudhamma
Ettumela ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Pottu vechcha ponnu manam
Pinnae pogudhamma
Aaaa….aaa…..aaa….aaa….
Vandimadu ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
Pinnae pogudhamma
Ettumela ettu vechchu
Munnae pogudhamma
Pottu vechcha ponnu manam
Pinnae pogudhamma
Along the path through the cactus forest,
Along the road to Kallippatti,
O girl riding in the bullock cart,
O girl leaving for your husband's home,
The cart bulls step forward,
Moving ahead,
Yet the married girl’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Along the path through the cactus forest,
Along the road to Kallippatti,
O girl riding in the bullock cart,
O girl leaving for your husband's home,
The cart bulls step forward,
Moving ahead,
Yet the married girl’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Taking step after step,
Moving ahead,
Yet the bride’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
O my dear sister Virumayi,
My heart aches with grief...
Even in the dust of the ploughed fields,
Your face is all I can see.
I brought you up like precious gold,
And seeing my little sister part from me,
Here in this cactus wilderness,
Even the bullocks cry in pain.
When you crossed our home's threshold,
You were choked for words.
Once you cross past Pallappatti,
Half my life will be gone.
The cart bulls step forward,
Moving ahead,
Yet the married girl’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Dear brother, shall I say goodbye?
With tears, shall I take my leave?
O my home soil, shall I say goodbye?
O mango tree, shall I take my leave?
Leaving behind my brother,
With his squirrel-tail moustache,
To go with my husband,
Who has a tiger-tail moustache, shall I take my leave?
By the rules of life, a man
Has only one home,
Yet like a frog between land and water,
A woman has two homes!
The cart bulls step forward,
Moving ahead,
Yet the married girl’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Taking step after step,
Moving ahead,
Yet the bride’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Aaaa... aaaa... aaaa...
The cart bulls step forward,
Moving ahead,
Yet the married girl’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Taking step after step,
Moving ahead,
Yet the bride’s heart
Keeps longing backward!
Male
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant folk song from the 1993 movie 'Kizhakku Cheemayile' captures the deep emotional agony of a newly married rural bride leaving her ancestral home and her affectionate brother. As the bullock cart moves physically forward toward her husband's home, her emotional heart pulls backwards toward the memories, lands, and family she leaves behind. The song beautifully captures rural Tamil traditions, sibling bonds, and the grief of separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Visual Imagery

Vandimaadu ettu vechchu munnae pogudhamma / Vakkappatta ponnu manam pinnae pagudhamma

Juxtaposes the forward physical motion of the cart bullocks ('Munnae pogudhamma') against the backward emotional pull of the bride's heart ('Pinnae pogudhamma').

Simile (Uvamai)

Thangampol nan valarththa

Compares the love and care given while raising the sister to precious gold ('Thangampol').

Analogy / Metaphor

Thavalaikkum pombalaikkum rendu edam dhanae

Compares a woman to a frog, noting that both naturally inhabit two distinct homes/environments throughout their lives.

Metaphorical Parallelism

Anilvaal meesa konda... / Pulival meesa konda...

Contrasts the gentle brother ('Anilvaal meesa' - squirrel-tail mustache) with the fierce husband ('Pulival meesa' - tiger-tail mustache).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman and directed by Bharathiraja, 'Kizhakku Cheemayile' relies heavily on authentic rural Tamil folk tunes. The song features vocals by S. Janaki and Malaysia Vasudevan and depicts the central theme of intense sibling affection played by Radhika and Vijayakumar.

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