Kathaazha Kaattu Vazhi
From Kizhakku Cheemayile · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Jayachandran, S. Janaki
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kizhakku Cheemayile1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaththazhangattu vazhi..ee…ee.. | Along the path of the cactus forest... |
| Kallappatti rattu vazhi | Along the cart track to Kallappatti, |
| Vandi katti poravalae | Oh girl traveling in the bullock cart, |
| Vakkappattu poravalae | Oh girl going away to her marital home, |
| Male | |
| {Vandimaadu ettu vechchu | {The cart bullock steps forward, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Vakkappatta ponnu manam | The married girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pagudhamma} (2) | Is lingering backwards} (2) |
| Male | |
| Kaththazhangattu vazhi.. | Along the path of the cactus forest... |
| Kallappatti rattu vazhi | Along the cart track to Kallappatti, |
| Vandi katti poravalae | Oh girl traveling in the bullock cart, |
| Vakkappattu poravalae | Oh girl going away to her marital home, |
| Male | |
| Vandimaadu ettu vechchu | The cart bullock steps forward, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Vakkappatta ponnu manam | The married girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pagudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
| Male | |
| Ettumela ettu vechchu | Taking step after step, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Pottu vechcha ponnu manam | The adorned girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pogudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
| Male | |
| Thayi virumaayi | Oh Mother Virumaayi, |
| Manasu marugudhamma | My heart grieves and aches, |
| Uzhudha puzhudhiyilum | Even in the plowed soil's dust, |
| Ummogamae theriyudhamma | Only your face appears to me! |
| Male | |
| Thangampol nan valarththa | My younger sister whom I raised like pure gold, |
| Thangachchi piriyakkandu | Seeing her part away from me, |
| Kaththazhangattukkulla | Inside the cactus fields, |
| Kaalaigalum kadharudhamma | Even the sturdy bulls are weeping aloud! |
| Male | |
| Vasappadi kadakkayilae | While crossing the doorstep of the home, |
| Varalaiyae pechchu | Words failed to come out, |
| Pallappatti thaandivitta | By the time I crossed Pallappatti, |
| Padhi uyir pochchu | Half of my life force left me! |
| Male | |
| Vandimaadu ettu vechchu | The cart bullock steps forward, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Vakkappatta ponnu manam | The married girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pogudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
| Female | |
| Annen poi varava | Brother, shall I take leave and go? |
| Azhudhu poi varava | Shall I take leave weeping? |
| Mannae poi varava | Oh native land, shall I take leave and go? |
| Mamaramae poi varava | Oh beloved mango tree, shall I take leave and go? |
| Female | |
| Anilvaal meesa konda | Leaving behind my brother, |
| Annae onna vittu | Who has a squirrel-tail mustache, |
| Pulival meesa konda | With my husband, |
| Purushanoda poi varava | Who has a tiger-tail mustache, shall I depart? |
| Female | |
| Sattappadi ambalakki | By custom and law for a man, |
| Oththa edamdhanae | There is only one place to belong, |
| Thavalaikkum pombalaikkum | For a frog and a woman, |
| Rendu edam dhanae | There are always two places! |
| Male | |
| Vandimadu ettu vechchu | The cart bullock steps forward, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Vakkappatta ponnu manam | The married girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pogudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
| Male | |
| Ettumela ettu vechchu | Taking step after step, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Pottu vechcha ponnu manam | The adorned girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pogudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
| Female | |
| Aaaa….aaa…..aaa….aaa…. | Aaaa....aaa.....aaa....aaa.... |
| Male | |
| Vandimadu ettu vechchu | The cart bullock steps forward, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Vakkappatta ponnu manam | The married girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pogudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
| Male | |
| Ettumela ettu vechchu | Taking step after step, |
| Munnae pogudhamma | Moving ahead, |
| Pottu vechcha ponnu manam | The adorned girl's heart, |
| Pinnae pogudhamma | Is lingering backwards. |
கத்தாழங்காட்டு வழி
கள்ளிப்பட்டி ரோட்டு வழி
வண்டி கட்டிப் போறவளே
வாக்கப்பட்டுப் போறவளே
Along the path of the cactus forest...
Along the cart track to Kallappatti,
Oh girl traveling in the bullock cart,
Oh girl going away to her marital home,
{வண்டிமாடு எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
வாக்கப்பட்ட பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா} (2)
{The cart bullock steps forward,
Moving ahead,
The married girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards} (2)
கத்தாழங்காட்டு வழி
கள்ளிப்பட்டி ரோட்டு வழி
வண்டி கட்டிப் போறவளே
வாக்கப்பட்டுப் போறவளே
Along the path of the cactus forest...
Along the cart track to Kallappatti,
Oh girl traveling in the bullock cart,
Oh girl going away to her marital home,
வண்டிமாடு எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
வாக்கப்பட்ட பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
The cart bullock steps forward,
Moving ahead,
The married girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
எட்டுமேல எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
பொட்டு வெச்ச பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
Taking step after step,
Moving ahead,
The adorned girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
தாயி விருமாயி
மனசு மருகுதம்மா
உழுத புழுதியிலும்
ஒம்மொகமே தெரியுதம்மா
Oh Mother Virumaayi,
My heart grieves and aches,
Even in the plowed soil's dust,
Only your face appears to me!
தங்கம்போல் நான் வளர்த்த
தங்கச்சி பிரியக்கண்டு
கத்தாழங்காட்டுக்குள்ள
காளைகளும் கதறுதம்மா
My younger sister whom I raised like pure gold,
Seeing her part away from me,
Inside the cactus fields,
Even the sturdy bulls are weeping aloud!
வாசப்படி கடக்கயிலே
வரலையே பேச்சு
பள்ளப்பட்டி தாண்டிவிட்டா
பாதி உயிர் போச்சு
While crossing the doorstep of the home,
Words failed to come out,
By the time I crossed Pallappatti,
Half of my life force left me!
வண்டிமாடு எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
வாக்கப்பட்ட பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
The cart bullock steps forward,
Moving ahead,
The married girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
அண்ணே போய் வரவா
அழுது போய் வரவா
மண்ணே போய் வரவா
மாமரமே போய் வரவா
Brother, shall I take leave and go?
Shall I take leave weeping?
Oh native land, shall I take leave and go?
Oh beloved mango tree, shall I take leave and go?
அணில்வால் மீச கொண்ட
அண்ணே ஒன்ன விட்டு
புலிவால் மீச கொண்ட
புருஷனோட போய் வரவா
Leaving behind my brother,
Who has a squirrel-tail mustache,
With my husband,
Who has a tiger-tail mustache, shall I depart?
சட்டப்படி ஆம்பளைக்கி
ஒத்த எடந்தானே
தவளைக்கும் பொம்பளைக்கும்
ரெண்டு எடந்தானே
By custom and law for a man,
There is only one place to belong,
For a frog and a woman,
There are always two places!
வண்டிமாடு எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
வாக்கப்பட்ட பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
The cart bullock steps forward,
Moving ahead,
The married girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
எட்டுமேல எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
பொட்டு வெச்ச பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
Taking step after step,
Moving ahead,
The adorned girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
ஆஆஆ......ஆஆ........ஆஆஆ.....
Aaaa....aaa.....aaa....aaa....
வண்டிமாடு எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
வாக்கப்பட்ட பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
The cart bullock steps forward,
Moving ahead,
The married girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
எட்டுமேல எட்டு வெச்சு
முன்னே போகுதம்மா
பொட்டு வெச்ச பொண்ணு மனம்
பின்னே போகுதம்மா
Taking step after step,
Moving ahead,
The adorned girl's heart,
Is lingering backwards.
Kaththazhangattu vazhi..ee…ee..
Along the path of the cactus forest...
Kallappatti rattu vazhi
Along the cart track to Kallappatti,
Vandi katti poravalae
Oh girl traveling in the bullock cart,
Vakkappattu poravalae
Oh girl going away to her marital home,
{Vandimaadu ettu vechchu
{The cart bullock steps forward,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
The married girl's heart,
Pinnae pagudhamma} (2)
Is lingering backwards} (2)
Kaththazhangattu vazhi..
Along the path of the cactus forest...
Kallappatti rattu vazhi
Along the cart track to Kallappatti,
Vandi katti poravalae
Oh girl traveling in the bullock cart,
Vakkappattu poravalae
Oh girl going away to her marital home,
Vandimaadu ettu vechchu
The cart bullock steps forward,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
The married girl's heart,
Pinnae pagudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Ettumela ettu vechchu
Taking step after step,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Pottu vechcha ponnu manam
The adorned girl's heart,
Pinnae pogudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Thayi virumaayi
Oh Mother Virumaayi,
Manasu marugudhamma
My heart grieves and aches,
Uzhudha puzhudhiyilum
Even in the plowed soil's dust,
Ummogamae theriyudhamma
Only your face appears to me!
Thangampol nan valarththa
My younger sister whom I raised like pure gold,
Thangachchi piriyakkandu
Seeing her part away from me,
Kaththazhangattukkulla
Inside the cactus fields,
Kaalaigalum kadharudhamma
Even the sturdy bulls are weeping aloud!
Vasappadi kadakkayilae
While crossing the doorstep of the home,
Varalaiyae pechchu
Words failed to come out,
Pallappatti thaandivitta
By the time I crossed Pallappatti,
Padhi uyir pochchu
Half of my life force left me!
Vandimaadu ettu vechchu
The cart bullock steps forward,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
The married girl's heart,
Pinnae pogudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Annen poi varava
Brother, shall I take leave and go?
Azhudhu poi varava
Shall I take leave weeping?
Mannae poi varava
Oh native land, shall I take leave and go?
Mamaramae poi varava
Oh beloved mango tree, shall I take leave and go?
Anilvaal meesa konda
Leaving behind my brother,
Annae onna vittu
Who has a squirrel-tail mustache,
Pulival meesa konda
With my husband,
Purushanoda poi varava
Who has a tiger-tail mustache, shall I depart?
Sattappadi ambalakki
By custom and law for a man,
Oththa edamdhanae
There is only one place to belong,
Thavalaikkum pombalaikkum
For a frog and a woman,
Rendu edam dhanae
There are always two places!
Vandimadu ettu vechchu
The cart bullock steps forward,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
The married girl's heart,
Pinnae pogudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Ettumela ettu vechchu
Taking step after step,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Pottu vechcha ponnu manam
The adorned girl's heart,
Pinnae pogudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Aaaa….aaa…..aaa….aaa….
Aaaa....aaa.....aaa....aaa....
Vandimadu ettu vechchu
The cart bullock steps forward,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Vakkappatta ponnu manam
The married girl's heart,
Pinnae pogudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Ettumela ettu vechchu
Taking step after step,
Munnae pogudhamma
Moving ahead,
Pottu vechcha ponnu manam
The adorned girl's heart,
Pinnae pogudhamma
Is lingering backwards.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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