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Lyrics & meaning

Kathu Pasapasanga

From Ethirum Pudhirum · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Anuradha Sriram, Gopal Rao, Malaysia Vasudevan, Pushpavanam Kuppusamy
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Ethirum Pudhirum1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ulagathai kaapavalaeOh protector of the world
Selvamagaa kaali..Precious daughter Kaali..
Un paadham enga thunaYour feet are our protection
Selvamagaa kaali..Precious daughter Kaali..
Porul tharuvaa pugazh tharuvaa..She gives wealth, she gives fame..
Selvamaga kaali..Precious daughter Kaali..
Adi ponnaana saamiyadiOh golden goddess
Enga selvamagaa kaali…Our precious daughter Kaali…
Male
Kaththu pasapasangaWhile the fresh wind was blowing
Kattoram poirundhenI went near the field bank
Mazhaiyum posaposanguthaeRain is drizzling heavily
Adi yemmadiOh my mother
Mazhaiyum posaposanguthae…Rain is drizzling heavily…
Male
Kaththu pasapasangaWhile the fresh wind was blowing
Kattoram poirundhenI went near the field bank
Mazhaiyum posaposanguthaeRain is drizzling heavily
Adi yemmadiOh my mother
Mazhaiyum posaposanguthae…Rain is drizzling heavily…
Male
Mazhaiyum pasapasangaAs rain dripped gently
Madai thirakka poirndhen…I went to open the sluice gate…
Meenu kosakosanguthaeFish are swarming in crowds
Adi yemmadiOh my mother
Meenu kosakosanguthae…Fish are swarming in crowds…
Female
Meenu kosakosangaAs fish were swarming
Valai eduka poirndhen..I went to take the net..
Gouli monamonanguthaeThe lizard is chirping away
Adi yemmadiOh my mother
Gouli monamonanguthae…The lizard is chirping away…
Female
Gouli monamonangaAs the lizard was chirping
Kari soru aakka ponenI went to cook meat rice
Soru thalapulanguthaeThe rice is bubbling hot
Adi yemmadiOh my mother
Soru thalapulanguthe….The rice is bubbling hot….
Male
En kannana kannukuttiMy beloved calf-like darling
Kaal mulaicha vellakatti..Sugar lump that grew legs..
Kandangi vaangi tharendi…I will buy you a Kandangi saree…
Nee uduthikittuYou drape it on
Sarasaraka nadanthu vaayendi…And walk rustling softly, my girl…
Male
Heyy kandangi sarasarakkumHey, Kandangi saree rustles
Kattiyathum kasangumadi..But gets crumpled once worn..
Banarasu vaangitharendii…I will buy you a Banaras saree…
Nee uduthikitta palapalanuWhen you wear it, shiny and bright
Jolikkum paaradiLook how it glitters, my girl
Male
Heyy banarasu palapalakkumHey, Banaras saree glitters
Pattu onna udambil kuththum…But silk pricks the body…
Kanchipuram vaangi tharendiii…I will buy you a Kanchipuram saree…
Nee uduthikittaWhen you wear it
Silusilunnu silukkum paaradi….Look how cool and silky it sways, my girl….
Female
Haan….seela kodupathellaamAh… giving sarees to a woman
Seela izhukkathaanaeIs only to pull her saree off later
Ariva indha pombala unga moonuperilAs a smart woman, among you three men
Oruthanaiyum sirukki nambala…This girl does not trust even one…
Male
HeyyyyHeyyyy
HeyyyHeyyy
Hey intha ..Hey this ..
Hey intha..alekka…Hey this.. easily…
Hey hey..appudi podu..Hey hey.. do it like that..
Alekkaa…Easily…
Jamukajinta…Jamukajinta…
Appudipodu…Do it like that…
Male
Hey saelam aasarikkuHey, to the Salem goldsmith
Seetu ezhuthi thanthirukken..I have given a note/receipt..
Kaalkolusu vaangivaarendii…I will bring you silver anklets…
Nee pottukittaa galagalannuWhen you wear them, tinkling merrily
Pesumpaaradiii..Look how they talk, my girl..
Male
Kolusu galagalakkumAnklets tinkle merrily
Katilila satham varum..Making noise on the bed..
Kalvalayil vaangithaarendii..I will buy you black glass bangles..
Nee maatikitta vazha vazhanuWhen you slip them on, so smooth
Vazhukum paaradi…Look how they slide, my girl…
Male
Heyy kalvalaiyal vazhavazhakkumHey, black bangles are smooth
Kanchathanam athula irukkum..There is stinginess in that..
Vairathodu vaangithaarendii…I will buy you diamond earrings…
Nee pottukitta thagathaganuWhen you wear them, dazzlingly
Jollikum paaradiii…Look how they sparkle, my girl…
Female
Aammm…mothanagai poduvathuAh… giving all these jewels
Mothathaiyum vaangathanae..Is only to take everything off..
Sangathi theriyum enakku..I know your intentions..
Unga aambalainga sarithiramaeThe entire history of you men
Kaiyil irukku…Is right in my hands…
Male
Chithiraiyil veyil adichaIf the sun blazes in Chithirai month
Sithiramae verthidumae…My beautiful picture-like girl will sweat…
Thennanthoppu vaangitharendiiI will buy a coconut grove for you
Adi yemmadi..Oh my girl..
Silusilunu vachuruppendii….I will keep you cool and pleasant…
Male
Heyyy ennadaaHey, what man
Male
Chithiraiyil silusilukkumCool in Chithirai month
Maargazhiyil kuliradikkumCold in Maargazhi month
Kambaliyal veedu seivendiiI will make a house with blankets
Nee kudi irukka gathagathappa vachuruppendii….I will keep it warm and cozy for you to live in….
Male
Enna daa suthi irangi pochuWhat man, everything descended down
Yethu daa daeiiiWhat is this, hey!
Male
Heyy margazhiyil kulir adikkumCold bites in Maargazhi month
Karthigayil mazhai adikumRain falls in Karthigai month
Unakku mattum kudai pudipendii…I will hold an umbrella just for you…
En vaettiyaala kurukurukka kudaipidipendii…I will hold an umbrella snugly with my dhoti…
Female
Kuru kurukkum aasai vanthaWhen mischievous desires arise
Kurukkuputhi nooru varum…A hundred crooked thoughts will follow…
Kaariyatha mudikka parpeega…You will try to accomplish your goal…
Athu mudincha pinnae…Once that is over…
Kalativittu oodi poveega…You will discard everything and run away…
YennnyaaaHey man!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-inspired duet song begins with a devotional invocation to Goddess Kaali, followed by playful storytelling filled with traditional rural imagery and onomatopoeic rhythm. The narrative transitions into a spirited battle of wits between men offering lavish gifts—such as traditional sarees (Kandangi, Banaras, Kanchipuram), jewelry (anklets, bangles, diamond studs), and comfortable dwellings—and a sharp-witted woman who humorously sees through their affectionate charm. She cheekily asserts that all their generosity comes with ulterior motives, keeping the playful upper hand throughout the song.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irattai Kilavi / Onomatopoeia

Mazhaiyum posaposanguthae

Extensive use of reduplicated rhythmic sounds to evoke senses, such as 'posaposanguthae' (drizzling), 'kosakosanguthae' (teeming fish), 'galagalannu' (tinkling), and 'silusilunnu' (cool rustle).

Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)

Kaththu pasapasanga / Kattoram poirundhen

Rhyming pattern where second letters match across lines, common in Tamil folk poetry, such as 'Kaththu' and 'Kattoram'.

Metaphor

En kannana kannukutti / Kaal mulaicha vellakatti..

Comparing the beloved to a lump of sugar that sprouted legs ('Kaal mulaicha vellakatti') and a calf ('kannukutti').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ethirum Pudhirum' (1999) featured music composed by Deva, known for incorporating authentic Tamil folk rhythm and fast-paced 'Gaana' elements into mainstream cinema soundtracks. Lyricist Vairamuthu used authentic Tamil village folklore tropes and playful gender banter in this track.

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