Kathai Solla Poren
From Pooveli · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- Pooveli1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadhai solla poren | I am going to tell a story |
| Vidu kadhai solla poren | I am going to tell a riddle |
| Kadhai solla poren | I am going to tell a story |
| Vidu kadhai solla poren | I am going to tell a riddle |
| En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna | If you answer my riddle |
| Soth ezhuthi thaaren | I will write off my property to you |
| Chorus | |
| Sollunga mappilai sollunga | Tell us, groom, tell us |
| Unga vidu kathiyai sollunga | Tell us your riddle |
| Chorus | |
| Sollunga mappilai sollunga | Tell us, groom, tell us |
| Unga vidu kathiyai sollunga | Tell us your riddle |
| Chorus | |
| Muthu muthaa vidaiyai sonna | If you give answers pure as pearls |
| Rokkam allí kodunga | Hand over cash in abundance |
| Illa thappu thappaai badhila sonna | If you give wrong answers instead |
| Sambalathil pidinga | Deduct it from the salary |
| Male | |
| Kekka oru kadhillai | I have no ear to listen |
| Pakka oru kannillai | I have no eye to see |
| Pesa oru vaayillai enakku | I have no mouth to speak |
| Enna thedi vandha | If you come seeking me |
| Needhi undu unakku | Justice awaits you |
| Naan yaaru… naan yaaru | Who am I... who am I? |
| Chorus | |
| Tharaasu a tharaasu | A weighing scale, a weighing scale! |
| Male | |
| Ahaa sabash | Aha, bravo! |
| Chorus | |
| Kadhai solla porom | We are going to tell a story |
| Vidu kadhai solla porom | We are going to tell a riddle |
| Kadhai solla porom | We are going to tell a story |
| Vidu kadhai solla porom | We are going to tell a riddle |
| En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna | If you answer our riddle |
| Soth ezhuthi thaarom | We will write off our property to you |
| Male | |
| Sollunga sollunga sollunga | Tell us, tell us, tell us |
| Unga vidu kadhaiyai sollunga | Tell us your riddle |
| Male | |
| Sollunga sollunga sollunga | Tell us, tell us, tell us |
| Unga vidu kadhaiyai sollunga | Tell us your riddle |
| Chorus | |
| Paruppu kolambu manapathen | Why does the dal curry smell fragrant? |
| Male :Nei ootri irupangappa | Male: Because they poured ghee in it, my friend! |
| Chorus :Padai veeran saavathen | Chorus: Why does the soldier die? |
| Male :Oosi pona paruppu kolamba thinniruppano | Male: Did he eat spoiled dal curry? |
| Female | |
| Enga thirupi sollunga | Say it again properly! |
| Chorus | |
| Paruppu kolambu manapathen | Why does the dal curry smell fragrant? |
| Padai veeran saavathen | Why does the soldier die? |
| Female | |
| Perungayathaal | Because of asafoetida (Perungayam)! |
| Perun kaayathaal | Because of a major wound (Perun kaayam)! |
| Female | |
| Kadhai solla poren | I am going to tell a story |
| Vidu kadhai solla poren | I am going to tell a riddle |
| Male :Neeyuma | Male: You too? |
| Female :En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna | Female: If you answer my riddle |
| Soth ezhuthi thaaren | I will write off my property to you |
| Male | |
| Sollunga patti sollunga | Tell us, grandma, tell us |
| Unga vidu kadhayai sollunga | Tell us your riddle |
| Male | |
| Sollunga patti sollunga | Tell us, grandma, tell us |
| Unga vidu kadhayai sollunga | Tell us your riddle |
| Female | |
| Erukka ilai pazhupathen | Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow? |
| Male :Kizhinchathu po | Male: Oh, we are ruined! |
| Female :Eruma kannu azhuvathen | Female: Why does the calf weep? |
| Male :Erukaa ilai eduthu | Male: If you take a milkweed leaf and give it to the calf, it eats it up! |
| Eruma kannuku potta thinuttu podhu | Male: Tell us further |
| Mela sollu | Go on, tell us! |
| Female | |
| Erukka ilai pazhupathen | Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow? |
| Eruma kannu azhuvathen | Why does the calf weep? |
| Female | |
| Paal vathiponaal | Because the sap dried up! |
| Paal vathiponaal | Because the milk dried up! |
| Male | |
| Mappilai ayusu poora | Groom, for a lifetime |
| Muzhichittu nikkara maari onnu | Something that stays wide awake |
| Eduthu vidunga paakkalam | Throw a riddle like that, let us see |
| Male | |
| Unakkul irukku enakkul irukku | It is inside you, it is inside me, yet it has no life |
| Uyirum illai | Chorus: Mmm mmm |
| Chorus :Hmm hmmm | Male: It cannot be caught in hand, nor seen by eyes, nor is it wind |
| Male :Kaiyil sikkathu kannil theriyathu | Female: Hoo hoo |
| Kaatrum illai | Though it has feeling, it has no form, nor is it God |
| Female :Hoo hoo | Chorus: Ho hooo |
| Male | |
| Unarchi irunthaalum uruvam irukkathu | Male: There is no country without it, nor is it the sky |
| Kadavulum illai | What is it... what is it? |
| Chorus :Ho hooo | That, that right there is love! |
| Male :Idhu illatha dhesam edhuvum kidaiyathu | |
| Vanamum illa | |
| Adhu enna…adhu enna | |
| Male | |
| Adhaan adhaanya kaadhal | |
கதை சொல்ல போறேன்
விடுகதை சொல்ல போறேன்
கதை சொல்ல போறேன்
விடுகதை சொல்ல போறேன்
என் விடுகதைக்கு விடைய சொன்னா
சொத்த எழுதி தாறேன்
I am going to tell a story
I am going to tell a riddle
I am going to tell a story
I am going to tell a riddle
If you answer my riddle
I will write off my property to you
சொல்லுங்க மாப்பிள்ளை சொல்லுங்க
உங்க விடுகதையை சொல்லுங்க
Tell us, groom, tell us
Tell us your riddle
சொல்லுங்க மாப்பிள்ளை சொல்லுங்க
உங்க விடுகதையை சொல்லுங்க
Tell us, groom, tell us
Tell us your riddle
முத்து முத்தா விடையை சொன்னா
ரொக்கம் அள்ளி கொடுங்க
இல்ல தப்பு தப்பாய் பதில சொன்னா
சம்பளத்தில் பிடிங்க
If you give answers pure as pearls
Hand over cash in abundance
If you give wrong answers instead
Deduct it from the salary
கேக்க ஒரு காதில்லை
பாக்க ஒரு கண்ணில்லை
பேச ஒரு வாயில்லை எனக்கு
என்ன தேடி வந்தா
நீதி உண்டு உனக்கு
நான் யாரு....நான் யாரு
I have no ear to listen
I have no eye to see
I have no mouth to speak
If you come seeking me
Justice awaits you
Who am I... who am I?
தராசு அ தாரசு
A weighing scale, a weighing scale!
ஆஹா சபாஷ்
Aha, bravo!
கதை சொல்ல போறோம்
விடுகதை சொல்ல போறோம்
கதை சொல்ல போறோம்
விடுகதை சொல்ல போறோம்
என் விடுகதைக்கு விடைய சொன்னா
சொத்த எழுதி தாறோம்
We are going to tell a story
We are going to tell a riddle
We are going to tell a story
We are going to tell a riddle
If you answer our riddle
We will write off our property to you
சொல்லுங்க சொல்லுங்க சொல்லுங்க
உங்க விடுகதையை சொல்லுங்க
Tell us, tell us, tell us
Tell us your riddle
சொல்லுங்க சொல்லுங்க சொல்லுங்க
உங்க விடுகதையை சொல்லுங்க
Tell us, tell us, tell us
Tell us your riddle
பருப்பு கொழம்பு மணப்பதேன்
நெய் ஊற்றி இருபாங்கப்பா
குழு :
படை வீரன் சாவதேன்
ஊசி போன பருப்பு கொழம்பு
தின்னிருப்பானோ
Why does the dal curry smell fragrant?
Male: Because they poured ghee in it, my friend!
Chorus: Why does the soldier die?
Male: Did he eat spoiled dal curry?
எங்க திருப்பி சொல்லுங்க
Say it again properly!
பருப்பு கொழம்பு மணப்பதேன்
படை வீரன் சாவதேன்
Why does the dal curry smell fragrant?
Why does the soldier die?
பெருங்காயத்தால்
பெருங் காயத்தால்
Because of asafoetida (Perungayam)!
Because of a major wound (Perun kaayam)!
கதை சொல்ல போறேன்
விடுகதை சொல்ல போறேன்
நீயுமா
என் விடுகதைக்கு விடைய சொன்னா
சொத்த எழுதி தாறேன்
I am going to tell a story
I am going to tell a riddle
Male: You too?
Female: If you answer my riddle
I will write off my property to you
சொல்லுங்க பாட்டி சொல்லுங்க
உங்க விடுகதைய சொல்லுங்க
Tell us, grandma, tell us
Tell us your riddle
சொல்லுங்க பாட்டி சொல்லுங்க
உங்க விடுகதைய சொல்லுங்க
Tell us, grandma, tell us
Tell us your riddle
எருக்க இலை பழுப்பதேன்
கிழிஞ்சது போ
எருமை கண்ணு அழுவதேன்
எருக்க இல்லை எடுத்து
எருமை கண்ணுக்கு போட்ட தின்னுட்டு போது
மேல சொல்லு
Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow?
Male: Oh, we are ruined!
Female: Why does the calf weep?
Male: If you take a milkweed leaf and give it to the calf, it eats it up!
Male: Tell us further
Go on, tell us!
எருக்க இலை பழுப்பதேன்
எருமை கண்ணு அழுவதேன்
Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow?
Why does the calf weep?
பால் வத்திபோனால்
பால் வத்திபோனால்
Because the sap dried up!
Because the milk dried up!
மாப்பிள்ளை ஆயுசு பூரா
முழிச்சுட்டு நிக்கிற மாதிரி ஒன்னு
எடுத்து விடுங்க பாக்கலாம்
Groom, for a lifetime
Something that stays wide awake
Throw a riddle like that, let us see
உனக்குள் இருக்கு எனக்குள் இருக்கு
உயிரும் இல்லை
குழு :
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம்
கையில் சிக்காது கண்ணில் தெரியாது
காற்றும் இல்லை
ஹோ ஹோ
It is inside you, it is inside me, yet it has no life
Chorus: Mmm mmm
Male: It cannot be caught in hand, nor seen by eyes, nor is it wind
Female: Hoo hoo
Though it has feeling, it has no form, nor is it God
Chorus: Ho hooo
உணர்ச்சி இருந்தாலும் உருவம் இருக்காது
கடவளும் இல்லை
குழு :
ஹோ ஹோ
இது இல்லாத தேசம் எதுவும் கிடையாது
வானமும் இல்லை
அது என்ன .....அது என்ன
Male: There is no country without it, nor is it the sky
What is it... what is it?
That, that right there is love!
அதான் அதான்யா காதல்
Kadhai solla poren
I am going to tell a story
Vidu kadhai solla poren
I am going to tell a riddle
Kadhai solla poren
I am going to tell a story
Vidu kadhai solla poren
I am going to tell a riddle
En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna
If you answer my riddle
Soth ezhuthi thaaren
I will write off my property to you
Sollunga mappilai sollunga
Tell us, groom, tell us
Unga vidu kathiyai sollunga
Tell us your riddle
Sollunga mappilai sollunga
Tell us, groom, tell us
Unga vidu kathiyai sollunga
Tell us your riddle
Muthu muthaa vidaiyai sonna
If you give answers pure as pearls
Rokkam allí kodunga
Hand over cash in abundance
Illa thappu thappaai badhila sonna
If you give wrong answers instead
Sambalathil pidinga
Deduct it from the salary
Kekka oru kadhillai
I have no ear to listen
Pakka oru kannillai
I have no eye to see
Pesa oru vaayillai enakku
I have no mouth to speak
Enna thedi vandha
If you come seeking me
Needhi undu unakku
Justice awaits you
Naan yaaru… naan yaaru
Who am I... who am I?
Tharaasu a tharaasu
A weighing scale, a weighing scale!
Ahaa sabash
Aha, bravo!
Kadhai solla porom
We are going to tell a story
Vidu kadhai solla porom
We are going to tell a riddle
Kadhai solla porom
We are going to tell a story
Vidu kadhai solla porom
We are going to tell a riddle
En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna
If you answer our riddle
Soth ezhuthi thaarom
We will write off our property to you
Sollunga sollunga sollunga
Tell us, tell us, tell us
Unga vidu kadhaiyai sollunga
Tell us your riddle
Sollunga sollunga sollunga
Tell us, tell us, tell us
Unga vidu kadhaiyai sollunga
Tell us your riddle
Paruppu kolambu manapathen
Why does the dal curry smell fragrant?
Male :Nei ootri irupangappa
Male: Because they poured ghee in it, my friend!
Chorus :Padai veeran saavathen
Chorus: Why does the soldier die?
Male :Oosi pona paruppu kolamba thinniruppano
Male: Did he eat spoiled dal curry?
Enga thirupi sollunga
Say it again properly!
Paruppu kolambu manapathen
Why does the dal curry smell fragrant?
Padai veeran saavathen
Why does the soldier die?
Perungayathaal
Because of asafoetida (Perungayam)!
Perun kaayathaal
Because of a major wound (Perun kaayam)!
Kadhai solla poren
I am going to tell a story
Vidu kadhai solla poren
I am going to tell a riddle
Male :Neeyuma
Male: You too?
Female :En vidu kadhaikku vidaiya sonna
Female: If you answer my riddle
Soth ezhuthi thaaren
I will write off my property to you
Sollunga patti sollunga
Tell us, grandma, tell us
Unga vidu kadhayai sollunga
Tell us your riddle
Sollunga patti sollunga
Tell us, grandma, tell us
Unga vidu kadhayai sollunga
Tell us your riddle
Erukka ilai pazhupathen
Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow?
Male :Kizhinchathu po
Male: Oh, we are ruined!
Female :Eruma kannu azhuvathen
Female: Why does the calf weep?
Male :Erukaa ilai eduthu
Male: If you take a milkweed leaf and give it to the calf, it eats it up!
Eruma kannuku potta thinuttu podhu
Male: Tell us further
Mela sollu
Go on, tell us!
Erukka ilai pazhupathen
Why does the milkweed leaf turn yellow?
Eruma kannu azhuvathen
Why does the calf weep?
Paal vathiponaal
Because the sap dried up!
Paal vathiponaal
Because the milk dried up!
Mappilai ayusu poora
Groom, for a lifetime
Muzhichittu nikkara maari onnu
Something that stays wide awake
Eduthu vidunga paakkalam
Throw a riddle like that, let us see
Unakkul irukku enakkul irukku
It is inside you, it is inside me, yet it has no life
Uyirum illai
Chorus: Mmm mmm
Chorus :Hmm hmmm
Male: It cannot be caught in hand, nor seen by eyes, nor is it wind
Male :Kaiyil sikkathu kannil theriyathu
Female: Hoo hoo
Kaatrum illai
Though it has feeling, it has no form, nor is it God
Female :Hoo hoo
Chorus: Ho hooo
Unarchi irunthaalum uruvam irukkathu
Male: There is no country without it, nor is it the sky
Kadavulum illai
What is it... what is it?
Chorus :Ho hooo
That, that right there is love!
Male :Idhu illatha dhesam edhuvum kidaiyathu
Vanamum illa
Adhu enna…adhu enna
Adhaan adhaanya kaadhal
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kadhai Solla Poren' from the film Pooveli (1998) is a vibrant and playful riddle-based Tamil folk song (Vidu Kadhai Paattu). The song features family members and lovers challenging each other with classic folk riddles. Correct answers bring promises of wealth, while wrong answers lead to humorous taunts. Through clever puns and double meanings (Sledai), the characters solve riddles about daily village life, objects, and natural phenomena.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sledai (Double Entendre / Pun)
“Perungayathaal / Perun kaayathaal”
A classic Tamil poetic technique where a single sound/phrase yields two entirely different meanings. 'Perungayathaal' refers to asafoetida (seasoning for dal), while 'Perun kaayathaal' refers to a mortal wound.
Sledai (Double Entendre / Pun)
“Paal vathiponaal”
The phrase 'Paal vathiponaal' dual-functions as plant sap drying up (causing leaves to yellow) and buffalo milk drying up (causing calves to weep).
Personification & Riddle Metaphor
“Kekka oru kadhillai / Pakka oru kannillai / Pesa oru vaayillai enakku”
An inanimate object (a weighing scale of justice) is given human traits (no ears, eyes, or mouth) to form a classic folk riddle.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kekka oru kadhillai / Pakka oru kannillai”
Rhyming line endings ('kadhillai', 'kannillai') creating a catchy rhythm suitable for folk banter.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed in simple queries as 'Unknown', the music for Pooveli (1998) was composed by Bharadwaj. Lyricist Vairamuthu incorporated authentic South Indian folk riddles using the ancient literary device of 'Sledai' (wordplay), which was traditionally used in village gatherings to test intellect and humor.
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