Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kathadikkuthu Kathadikkuthu

From Ninaivirukkum Varai · 1999

Lyricist
K. Subash
Singers
Sabesh, Krishnaraj
Music director
Deva
Details
Ninaivirukkum Varai1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
AiyyaaSir
Male :RasaKing
Male :Avaas udaatha navaasDon't raise your voice, boss
Male :Thoradu novuthadaaThe throat is hurting, man
Male :Idho vantaenpaaHere I come, buddy
Male :KadichchikkinuBiting on a side dish...
Male
Ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaaShall I pour a drink and eat a side dish?
Kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaaShall I eat a side dish and pour a drink?
Male :Poththikkinu paduththukalaamWe can cover ourselves up and sleep
Paduththikinum poththikalaamWe can sleep and cover ourselves up
Male :Thaththuvam paaThat is philosophy, man
Male
Kaaththadikkuthu kaaththadikkuthuThe wind is blowing, the wind is blowing
Kaasimettu kaththadikkuthuKasimedu's knife is striking
Kaaththadikkuthu kaaththadikkuthuThe wind is blowing, the wind is blowing
Kaasimettu kaththadikkuthuKasimedu's knife is striking
Male
Enga dhisai paathhadikkithuBlowing in our direction
Yaezhai sanam kooththadikkuthuThe poor folk are celebrating and dancing
Male
Ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaaShall I pour a drink and eat a side dish?
Kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaaShall I eat a side dish and pour a drink?
Male :Poththikkinu paduththukalaamWe can cover ourselves up and sleep
Paduththikinum poththikalaamWe can sleep and cover ourselves up
Male
Jumkku jukkum jumkku jukkumJumkku jukkum jumkku jukkum
Jumkku jukkum jumkku jukkumJumkku jukkum jumkku jukkum
Jumkku jukkum jumkku jukkumJumkku jukkum jumkku jukkum
Jumkku jukkum jumkku jukkumJumkku jukkum jumkku jukkum
Male
……………....
Male
Yae….velichcham paaru velichcham paaruHey, look at the light, look at the light
Pagala pola velichcham paaruLook at the light bright like daytime
Dull-aana road-u melaOn top of the dull road
Daal adikkum oodu paaruLook at the shining tiled roof
Male
Oottu mela bulp paaruLook at the bulb over the roof
Bulp kaattum color-a paaruLook at the colors shown by the bulb
Kannu koosum kaatchi paaruLook at the sight that dazzles the eyes
Kaasu seiyyum vela paauLook at what money can do
Male
Kattu kattaa note adichchaaPrinting bundles of cash notes
Current bill-u katturaaruHe pays the electricity bill
Male
Jumkku jukkum jumkku jukkumJumkku jukkum jumkku jukkum
Jumkku jukkum jumkku jukkumJumkku jukkum jumkku jukkum
Male
Kattu kattaa note adichchaaPrinting bundles of cash notes
Current bill-u katturaaruHe pays the electricity bill
Chorus
Ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaaShall I pour a drink and eat a side dish?
Kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaaShall I eat a side dish and pour a drink?
Poththikkinu paduththukalaamWe can cover ourselves up and sleep
Paduththikinum poththikalaamWe can sleep and cover ourselves up
Male
Yaahoo yaahoo yaahoo yaahooYaahoo yaahoo yaahoo yaahoo
Male
Yae nenachchu paaru nenachchu paaruHey, think about it, think about it
Nenja thottu nenachchu paaruTouch your heart and think about it
Panjar potta nikkar paaruLook at the patched-up shorts
Paathiyaana udambu paaruLook at the emaciated body
Male
Yae nenachchu paaru nenachchu paaruHey, think about it, think about it
Nenja thottu nenachchu paaruTouch your heart and think about it
Panjar potta nikkar paaruLook at the patched-up shorts
Paathiyaana udambu paaruLook at the emaciated body
Male
Kaanju pona thalaiya paaruLook at the dried-up hair
Saanju pona nadaiya paaruLook at the slanting walk
Kuzhi vizhnttha kannam paaruLook at the sunken cheeks
Surungi pona vayiththa paaruLook at the shriveled belly
Male
Paavam antha vayiththukkuPity that belly...
Pasikka solli thanthathaaruWho taught it to feel hungry?
Paavam antha vayiththukkuPity that belly...
Pasikka solli thanthathaaruWho taught it to feel hungry?
Male
Ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaaShall I pour a drink and eat a side dish?
Kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaaShall I eat a side dish and pour a drink?
Poththikkinu paduththukalaamWe can cover ourselves up and sleep
Paduththikinum poththikalaamWe can sleep and cover ourselves up
Male
Kaaththadikkuthu kaaththadikkuthuThe wind is blowing, the wind is blowing
Kaasimettu kaththadikkuthuKasimedu's knife is striking
Kaaththadikkuthu kaaththadikkuthuThe wind is blowing, the wind is blowing
Kaasimettu kaththadikkuthuKasimedu's knife is striking
Male
Enga dhisai paathhadikkithuBlowing in our direction
Yaezhai sanam kooththadikkuthuThe poor folk are celebrating and dancing
Chorus
Ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaaShall I pour a drink and eat a side dish?
Kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaaShall I eat a side dish and pour a drink?
Poththikkinu paduththukalaamWe can cover ourselves up and sleep
Paduththikinum poththikalaamWe can sleep and cover ourselves up

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a quintessential 'gana' track set in the coastal neighborhood of Kasimedu, Chennai. Through humorous, lighthearted slang and upbeat rhythm, it delves into the stark socio-economic divide between the rich and the poor. It contrasts affluent homes filled with dazzling lights with the poverty-stricken reality of hungry, thin individuals wearing patched clothes, ultimately questioning why fate condemns the underprivileged to hunger and struggle while they try to find solace in simple pleasures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Pagala pola velichcham paaru / Dull-aana road-u mela / Daal adikkum oodu paaru

The word 'paaru' is repeated at the end of multiple consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, observational hook.

Refrain / Repetition

Ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaa / Kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaa

The playful wordplay switching 'ooththikkinu kadichchukkavaa' and 'kadichchikkinnu ooththikkavaa' acts as a recurring chorus emphasizing lighthearted banter.

Visual Imagery

Panjar potta nikkar paaru / Kuzhi vizhnttha kannam paaru

Detailed physical descriptions such as 'panjar potta nikkar' (patched shorts) and 'kuzhi vizhnttha kannam' (sunken cheeks) vividly paint a picture of severe poverty.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ninaivirukkum Varai' (1999) was directed by K. Subash and starred Prabhu Deva and Keerthi Reddy. The film's music was composed by Deva, who is famously dubbed the 'Gana King' of Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Ninaivirukkum Varai