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Isaimozhi
Puthir album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Katta Nalla Nattu Katta

From Puthir · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Puthir
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
8 Sept 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Katta nalla naattu katta en kitta nee maattikitta
Panthayaththa pottu vanthu venthu vendaathatha vaangikitta
Panaththula paapparadi naan panthaiyaththil superadi
Gunaththula ramanadi unna kondu pogum mamanadi
Sellaathu jambam en kitta aaththaa
Katta nalla naattu katta en kitta nee maattikitta
Panthayaththa pottu vanthu venthu vendaathatha vaangikitta
Rosham thvesham edhukkadi ponnukku
Paasam nesam therinjukkanum
Rosham thvesham edhukkadi ponnukku
Paasam nesam therinjukkanum
Inbathkku aasaipatu maththavarkku thunbam thanthaa
Kashtappatta yaezhai vidum saabam palikkum
Inbathkku aasaipatu maththavarkku thunbam thanthaa
Kashtappatta yaezhai vidum saabam palikkum
Nalla puththi kaththukkadi aaththaa
Katta nalla naattu katta en kitta nee maattikitta
Panthayaththa pottu vanthu venthu vendaathatha vaangikitta
Panaththula paapparadi naan panthaiyaththil superadi
Gunaththula ramanadi unna kondu pogum mamanadi
Sellaathu jambam en kitta aaththaa
Ponnaa porranthaa adhu mattum podhumaa
Poruma peruma marakkanumaa
Adi ponnaa poranthaa adhu mattum podhumaa
Poruma peruma marakkanumaa
Ponnaana maeni vechchaan
Mandaikkulla saani vachchaan
Peyaattam aadugira pachchai kiliyae
Ponnaana maeni vechchaan
Mandaikkulla saani vachchaan
Peyaattam aadugira pachchai kiliyae
Ponna pola vaazha venum aaththaa
Katta nalla naattu katta en kitta nee maattikitta
Panthayaththa pottu vanthu venthu vendaathatha vaangikitta
Panaththula paapparadi naan panthaiyaththil superadi
Gunaththula ramanadi unna kondu pogum mamanadi
Sellaathu jambam en kitta aaththaa…..
You shapely country beauty, you got caught in my hands!
You challenged me with a bet and invited trouble on yourself!
I might be broke in money, but I am the best at winning bets!
In character I am noble like Rama, and I'm the man who will take you as my bride!
Your haughty pride won't work on me, girl...
You shapely country beauty, you got caught in my hands!
You challenged me with a bet and invited trouble on yourself!
Why should a girl have such anger and spite?
You ought to learn what love and affection mean.
Why should a girl have such anger and spite?
You ought to learn what love and affection mean.
If you chase your own pleasure by causing pain to others,
The curse of the suffering poor will surely strike you.
If you chase your own pleasure by causing pain to others,
The curse of the suffering poor will surely strike you.
Learn some good sense, girl...
You shapely country beauty, you got caught in my hands!
You challenged me with a bet and invited trouble on yourself!
I might be broke in money, but I am the best at winning bets!
In character I am noble like Rama, and I'm the man who will take you as my bride!
Your haughty pride won't work on me, girl...
Is it enough just to be born as a woman?
Should you cast aside patience and dignity?
Hey, is it enough just to be born as a woman?
Should you cast aside patience and dignity?
God gave you a golden body,
But He packed your head with dung!
You green parrot, dancing around like a mad spirit!
God gave you a golden body,
But He packed your head with dung!
You green parrot, dancing around like a mad spirit!
You must live with dignity like a true woman, girl...
You shapely country beauty, you got caught in my hands!
You challenged me with a bet and invited trouble on yourself!
I might be broke in money, but I am the best at winning bets!
In character I am noble like Rama, and I'm the man who will take you as my bride!
Your haughty pride won't work on me, girl...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Katta Nalla Naattu Katta' from the 1986 Tamil film 'Puthir' is a playful yet moralizing duet/teasing track. The male protagonist mockingly reprimands an arrogant woman who challenged him to a wager and lost. He lectures her on humility, moral conduct, and respect for others, warning her that causing grief to others brings curses upon oneself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Katta nalla naattu katta / Panthayaththa pottu vanthu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Katta' and 'Panthayaththa', or 'Panaththula' and 'Gunaththula'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Panaththula paapparadi naan panthaiyaththil superadi / Gunaththula ramanadi unna kondu pogum mamanadi

Rhyming ends of phrases like 'maattikitta' and 'vaangikitta', as well as 'superadi' and 'mamanadi'.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagambar)

Ponnaana maeni vechchaan / Mandaikkulla saani vachchaan

Comparing the female lead's beauty to a golden body ('Ponnaana maeni') and a green parrot ('pachchai kiliyae'), contrasted sharply with hyperbole ('mandaikkulla saani').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Gangai Amaran, sung in the energetic, colloquial folk style characteristic of singer Malaysia Vasudevan.

Keep listening

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