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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kattanum Kattanum

From En Aasai Rasave · 1998

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Details
En Aasai Rasave1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kattunen kattunen kotta onnaI built, I built a fort
Adha katti kaakka oru kaaval illaeTo guard and protect it, there is no guard
Male
Suthunen suthunen boomi ellaamI traveled, I traveled all across the earth
Enna suthuna sondhatha paakkavillaeI didn't see any relatives surrounding me
Male
Sakkammaa sakkammaa nee sollammaaGoddess Sakkamma, Goddess Sakkamma, tell me
Ingae naan vaazhndha vaazhkkaikkuFor the life I lived here
Per ennammaaWhat is the name given, Goddess?
Male
Sakkammaa sakkammaa nee sollammaaGoddess Sakkamma, Goddess Sakkamma, tell me
Ingae naan vaazhndha vaazhkkaikkuFor the life I lived here
Per ennammaaWhat is the name given, Goddess?
Sandhana kaathukku sangadam yenammaaWhy should distress touch the sandal-scented breeze?
Sakkammaa sakthiya nee kodammaaGoddess Sakkamma, grant me your divine power
Male
Kattunen kattunen kotta onnaI built, I built a fort
Adha katti kaakka oru kaaval illaeTo guard and protect it, there is no guard
Suthunen suthunen boomi ellaamI traveled, I traveled all across the earth
Enna suthuna sondhatha paakkavillaeI didn't see any relatives surrounding me
Male
Sothu sogam thaedavillaIt didn't seek wealth or comfort
Idhu sondhatha thaedi thaanThis heart went only in search
PonadhammaaOf kith and kin, oh mother
Male
Katha vitha thorkavillaThe art and skills learned did not fail
Adha kaatta thaan ippavumJust to showcase that, even now
VandhadhammaaIt has come forward, oh mother
Female
Sothu sogam thaedavillaIt didn't seek wealth or comfort
Idhu sondhatha thaedi thaanThis heart went only in search
PonadhammaaOf kith and kin, oh mother
Katha vitha thorkavillaThe art and skills learned did not fail
Adha kaatta thaan ippavumJust to showcase that, even now
VandhadhammaaIt has come forward, oh mother
Male
Kattala ittadhu thaayammaaIt was mother who commanded
Ada kai katti ninnadhu saeiyammaaAnd it was the child who stood with folded hands
Female
Kattala ittadhu thaayammaaIt was mother who commanded
Ada kai katti ninnadhu saeiyammaaAnd it was the child who stood with folded hands
Male
Vaesham pottadhulaIn donning a disguise
Oru nokkam irukkammaaThere is a noble purpose, oh mother
Paasam poi aagumaaCan true affection ever become false?
Adhil maasu vandhirumaaCan any stain ever tarnish it?
Male
Kattuna kattuna kottaiyilaIn the fort that was built
Ippa katti kaakka ingu kaaval unduNow there is protection to guard it
Female
Nee suthuna suthuna boomi ellaamAcross the entire world you traveled
Romba suthamaa onakku perum unduYou have earned a pure name for yourself
Male
Sakkammaa sakkammaaGoddess Sakkamma, Goddess Sakkamma
Nee sollammaaPlease tell, mother
Engappan vaazhkkaikku per undammaaMy father's life has earned a great name
Female
Sandhana kaathukkuTo the sandal breeze
Sangadam saerumaaWill sorrow ever attach itself?
Sakkammaa sakkammaa nee sollammaaGoddess Sakkamma, Goddess Sakkamma, tell me
Male
Kattabomman kottaiylaeInto Kattabomman's fort
Vandhu kaaladi vechadhuStep-by-step entered
Kannu kuttiA young calf
Male
Ketta vazhi ponadhillaeIt never went down an evil path
Idhu appana meeraadhaThis is a lion cub
Singa kuttiThat never disobeys its father
Male
Kattabomman kottaiylaeInto Kattabomman's fort
Vandhu kaaladi vechadhuStep-by-step entered
Kannu kuttiA young calf
Ketta vazhi ponadhillaeIt never went down an evil path
Idhu appana meeraadhaThis is a lion cub
Singa kuttiThat never disobeys its father
Male
Eppavum un pulla sutham thaanYour child is always pure
Idhu mothamum appanin ratham thaanThis entire bloodline carries the father's blood
Eppavum un pulla sutham thaanYour child is always pure
Idhu mothamum appanin ratham thaanThis entire bloodline carries the father's blood
Koyil vaasalula ada needhi thokkanumaaAt the temple entrance, should justice fail?
Naalum paathu ninnaa adhu niyaayam aayirumaaIf one waits watching the days, does that become righteousness?
Male
Kattunen kattunen kotta onnaI built, I built a fort
Adha katti kaakka inga oru kaaval unduTo guard and protect it, now there is a guard here
Suthunen suthunen boomi ellaamI traveled, I traveled all across the earth
Romba suthamaa enakku perum unduI have a spotless and reputed name
Male
Sakkammaa sakkammaa nee sollammaaGoddess Sakkamma, Goddess Sakkamma, tell me
Naan vaazhndha vaazhkkaikku per undammaaThe life I lived here has earned a great name
Sandhana kaathukku sangadam serummaaWill sorrow ever attach itself to the sandal breeze?
Sakkammaa sakkammaa nee sollammaaGoddess Sakkamma, Goddess Sakkamma, tell me
Male
Kattunen kattunen kotta onnaI built, I built a fort
Adha katti kaakka inga oru kaaval unduTo guard and protect it, now there is a guard here
Suthunen suthunen boomi ellaamI traveled, I traveled all across the earth
Romba suthamaa enakku perum unduI have a spotless and reputed name

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional folk ballad from 'En Aasai Rasave' centers around themes of family honor, deep-rooted identity, devotion, and righteous living. The protagonist addresses Goddess Sakkamma (a revered deity in rural Tamil Nadu culture), lamenting a period of isolation despite building a metaphorical fort of life and searching the world for true familial connections. The speaker emphasizes that his pursuits were never for material wealth or worldly pleasures, but purely for affection and blood ties.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Kattunen kattunen kotta onna

Words like 'Kattunen kattunen', 'Suthunen suthunen', and 'Sakkammaa sakkammaa' are repeated consecutively to express intensity of action and emotional plea.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Sandhana kaathukku sangadam yenammaa

'Sandhana kaathukku' (sandalwood breeze) is used as a metaphor for a pure, benevolent soul who shouldn't suffer hardship.

Metaphor & Animal Imagery

Idhu appana meeraadha Singa kutti

'Singa kutti' (lion cub) represents a dutiful and brave son who steadfastly obeys his father's principles.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kattala ittadhu thaayammaa Ada kai katti ninnadhu saeiyammaa

Matching initial consonant sounds across words in a line, such as 'Kattala' and 'Kai' or 'Kattunen' and 'Kotta'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'En Aasai Rasave' (1998) is a Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan, Murali, and Roja, directed by Kasthuri Raja. The soundtrack was composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Kasthuri Raja, blending traditional folk sensibilities with emotional narrative arc.

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