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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kattana

From Vaazhthugiren · 2018

Lyricist
Ramasubramanian
Singers
Ananthi, Magalingam
Music director
Ramasubramanian
Details
Vaazhthugiren2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaatu muni karuppa sami ee ee eeOh Forest Sage, Karuppasami!
Vettaiappa madhura veeran..aanOh Vettaiappan, Madurai Veeran...
Kaathu nirkkum saami ellaamAll guardian deities standing in protection,
Namma kulam kaakkanumaeMust protect our clan and lineage,
Saathi sanam potranumae…ae….ae…ae..ae…And our relatives and community should praise us!
Male
{Kattaana kattazhagi kanniyammaWell-built, beautiful maiden Kanniyamma,
Summa meiyaalumaeTruly mesmerizing me,
Valachu potta ennaiyamma} (2)Oh girl, you have entrapped and bent me!
Male
{Heyy poovaana poovazhagiWell-built, beautiful maiden Kanniyamma,
Pottu vacha mottazhagi} (2)Truly mesmerizing me,
Poovaana pola vanthuOh girl, you have entrapped and bent me!
Thoovaanam poda veikkuraHey, beautiful flower-like beauty,
Male
{Nee thaanae nei vadiyuraBudding beauty adorned with a bindi,
Nethili meenuHey, beautiful flower-like beauty,
Naan thaane unna muzhunguraBudding beauty adorned with a bindi,
Vilaangu meenu} (2)Coming like a gentle blossom,
Male
Kattaana kattazhagi kanniyammaYou make a drizzle fall upon me.
Summa meiyaalumaeAre you not the oil-dripping...
Valachu potta ennaiyamma...anchovy fish?
Male
Kaara pasun dhaegumAm I not the one swallowing you...
Kattazhagu poondhaegam...like an eel fish?
Lesaaga naanum unnaAre you not the oil-dripping...
Nerukki kollavaa...anchovy fish?
Female
Veenaana vambaagumAm I not the one swallowing you...
Naan unakku sandhaegam...like an eel fish?
Ennai vittu neeyum konjamWell-built, beautiful maiden Kanniyamma,
Thalli nillaiyaaTruly mesmerizing me,
Male
{Kaadhal ilam kanni maanaeOh girl, you have entrapped and bent me!
Sottugira mullai thaenae} (2)Body like a rich dark cow,
Malarnthaa iva manasuBeautiful and floral body,
Pudhu malligai poova polaShall I gently come...
Female
Viluntha pinna ezhuva...and embrace you close?
En sangathi paatu melaIt will turn into useless trouble,
Male
Nee thaanae nei vadiyuraI am doubtful about you,
Nethili meenuSo step away from me a little,
Naan thaane unna muzhunguraAnd stand at a distance!
Vilaangu meenuOh youthful maiden deer of love,
Male
Kattaana kattazhagi kanniyammaDripping honey of jasmine,
Summa meiyaalumaeOh youthful maiden deer of love,
Valachu potta ennaiyammaDripping honey of jasmine,
Male
Sevaazhai poo melaWhen her heart blossoms,
Semmeenu thee polaIt is like a fresh jasmine flower.
Theeyaaga enna vanthuEven if it falls, it rises up,
Soodu yethuraUpon my melody and song.
Female
Thillaaga ninnenaeAre you not the oil-dripping...
Vilaala kolladha...anchovy fish?
Ambaaga enna vanthuAm I not the one swallowing you...
Kuththa paakura...like an eel fish?
Male
{Koiyaatha thendral naanaeWell-built, beautiful maiden Kanniyamma,
Kolli mala chinna thaenae} (2)Truly mesmerizing me,
Paruvam ilam paruvamOh girl, you have entrapped and bent me!
Intha sithiram pola varuvomUpon the red banana flower,
Female
Naan tharuvenLike the red fish on fire,
Onnu tharuvenComing at me like a flame,
inga muththiraYou raise the heat.
Pathikka varuvenI stood courageously,
Male
Nee thaanae nei vadiyuraDo not kill me with your bow-like waist,
Nethili meenuComing at me like an arrow,
Naan thaane unna muzhunguraYou try to pierce me.
Vilaangu meenuI am the unplucked gentle breeze,
Male
{Kattaana kattazhagi kanniyammaThe sweet honey of Kolli Hills,
Summa meiyaalumaeI am the unplucked gentle breeze,
Valachu potta ennaiyamma} (2)The sweet honey of Kolli Hills,
Male
{Heyy poovaana poovazhagiYouthful time, this young age,
Pottu vacha mottazhagi} (2)We shall arrive like this picture,
Poovaana pola vanthuI will give,
Thoovaanam poda veikkuraI will give you one thing,
Male
{Nee thaanae nei vadiyuraHere, to imprint a kiss/seal,
Nethili meenuI will come to leave my mark.
Naan thaane unna muzhunguraAre you not the oil-dripping...
Vilaangu meenu} (2)...anchovy fish?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song opens with an invocation to traditional Tamil village guardian deities (Karuppasami, Vettaiappan, Madurai Veeran), praying for the welfare, protection, and honor of the clan and community. Following the spiritual invocation, the track transitions into a playful, romantic duet set in a rural folk landscape. The male protagonist admires the heroine's physical grace and beauty, using vivid rural metaphors such as fish, flowers, honey, and rain, while expressing his passionate desire for her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvamai)

Nee thaanae nei vadiyura Nethili meenu / Naan thaane unna muzhungura Vilaangu meenu

Compares the heroine to a rich anchovy fish dripping in oil ('nei vadiyura Nethili meenu') and the hero to an eel fish swallowing it ('muzhungura Vilaangu meenu').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kattaana kattazhagi / Pottu vacha mottazhagi

Rhyming of the second letter 't' in consecutive lines ('Kattaana' and 'Pottu' or 'Vettaiappa').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Heyy poovaana poovazhagi / Pottu vacha mottazhagi

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'p' in 'Poovaana poovazhagi'.

Simile (Uvamai)

Pudhu malligai poova pola

Direct comparison of the maiden's heart blooming like a fresh jasmine flower ('pudhu malligai poova pola').

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Trivia

This track showcases traditional Tamil rural folk songwriting dynamics where a song begins with a 'Kula Deivam' (lineage deity) invocation before moving into romantic exchanges, a staple structure in South Indian folk music.

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