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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kattavandi (Male)

From Sakalakala Vallavan 1982 · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sakalakala Vallavan 19821982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thai thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thai thathakku thathakku)
Thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku)
Thathakku thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku thathakku)
Thai thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thai thathakku thathakku)
Thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku)
Thathakku thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku thathakku)
Male
Thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku)
Thathakku thathakku thaththaaththaaRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku thaththaaththaa)
Thai thathakku thathakkuRhythmic vocal beat (Thai thathakku thathakku)
Thathakku thathakku thaththaaththaaRhythmic vocal beat (Thathakku thathakku thaththaaththaa)
Male
Kattai vandi kattai vandiThe bullock cart, the bullock cart
Kaappaaththa vandha vandiThe cart that came to save you
Kattai vandi kattai vandiThe bullock cart, the bullock cart
Kaappaaththa vandha vandiThe cart that came to save you
Male
Naalum therinja vandiThe cart that knows all four directions and wisdom
Naagareegam arinja vandiThe cart that understands civilized culture
Naalum therinja vandiThe cart that knows all four directions and wisdom
Naagareegam arinja vandiThe cart that understands civilized culture
Male
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ippo ukki pottu yeradi pullaNow hold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pullaHold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Male
Kattai vandi vandi kattai vandiThe bullock cart, cart, the bullock cart
Kaappaaththa vandha vandiThe cart that came to save you
Naalum therinja vandiThe cart that knows all four directions and wisdom
Naagareegam arinja vandiThe cart that understands civilized culture
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pullaHold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Male
Odungi nikkidhu carruThe car stands aside, broken down
Adha pudingi vuttadhu yaaruWho stripped it and rendered it useless?
Hey odungi nikkidhu carruHey, the car stands aside, broken down
Adha pudingi vuttadhu yaaruWho stripped it and rendered it useless?
Male
Kaaththadikkum pumppu onnuAn air pump to inflate the tires
Naan tharavaaShall I give you one?
Pottiyitta otta carruDid the broken old car you competed with
Puncture aaghi pochchaaGet a tire puncture?
Male
Maattukkaara velu kittaWith Velu, the cowherd man
Palikkummaadi paachchaaWill your clever tricks work, girl?
Pallamedu ethanaiyoIt is a cart that has seen many
PaaththavandiUps and downs along the way
Male
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ippo ukki pottu yeradi pullaNow hold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pullaHold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Male
Kattai vandi vandi kattai vandiThe bullock cart, cart, the bullock cart
Kaappaaththa vandha vandiThe cart that came to save you
Naalum therinja vandiThe cart that knows all four directions and wisdom
Naagareegam arinja vandiThe cart that understands civilized culture
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pullaHold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Male
Sevalai edhirththa kozhiA hen that fought against a rooster
Endrum jeichchadhilladi thozhiHas never won in history, my friend
Sevalai edhirththa kozhiA hen that fought against a rooster
Endrum jeichchadhilladi thozhiHas never won in history, my friend
Male
Muttaiyidum pettaigalaaIs it for egg-laying hens
MuttuvadhuTo try and butt heads like bulls?
Pattaalaththu ponnungalinSeeing the stubborn behavior
Latchanaththa kandaaOf modern army-like women
Male
Bayapadaama manja thaaliIs there any man brave enough
Katturavan undaaTo tie the sacred thread without fear?
Onna pola paththu peraIt is a cart that has seen ten people
KandavandiJust like you before
Male
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ippo ukki pottu yeradi pullaNow hold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pullaHold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Male
Durr uh….. durr uh …..Vehicle engine sound effects (Durr uh... durr uh...)
Durr durr durr durr uh…..Vehicle engine sound effects (Durr durr durr durr uh...)
Durr durr durr durr uh ……Vehicle engine sound effects (Durr durr durr durr uh...)
Uh kikkiri bukkiriPlayful vocal sounds (Uh kikkiri bukkiri)
Kikkiri bukkiri kikkiPlayful vocal sounds (Kikkiri bukkiri kikki)
Chorus
Um aaahaaa.. um ahaaa…Vocalizing melody (Um aaahaaa.. um ahaaa...)
Um aaahaaa.. um ahaaa…Vocalizing melody (Um aaahaaa.. um ahaaa...)
Um ahaa…aaa…..Vocalizing melody (Um ahaa...aaa.....)
Male
Maaman mudinja poovuThe flower tied by your maternal uncle
Idha mondhu mondhu paaruSmell it again and again and see
Hey maaman mudinja poovuHey, the flower tied by your maternal uncle
Idha mondhu mondhu paaruSmell it again and again and see
Male
Mallighaiyae kaiyil suththumHe is a dapper man who spins
MainaradiJasmine flowers in his hands
Yededuththu nee padichchiYou took books and studied, but
Yenna panna kooruTell me, what did you achieve?
Male
Yeredukka naan illaattiIf I do not plow the fields
Yedhunakku soruWhere will you get your food from?
Naaduyura paadughalaIt is a cart that endured hardships
PattavandiTo help the nation rise
Male
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ippo ukki pottu ah yeradi pullaNow hold your ears, do squats, climb aboard, girl!
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pullaHold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Male
Kattai vandi vandi kattai vandiThe bullock cart, cart, the bullock cart
Kaappaaththa vandha vandiThe cart that came to save you
Naalum therinja vandiThe cart that knows all four directions and wisdom
Naagareegam arinja vandiThe cart that understands civilized culture
Naalum therinja vandiThe cart that knows all four directions and wisdom
Naagareegam arinja vandiThe cart that understands civilized culture
Male
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ippo ukki pottu yeradi pullaNow hold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl!
Nalla vandi paaradi pullaLook at this good cart, girl!
Ukki pottu yeradi pulla..ey…Hold your ears, do squats, and climb aboard, girl.. hey!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk track from the classic 1982 movie 'Sakalakala Vallavan' features the rustic protagonist, Velu, teasing and challenging an arrogant, modern city woman whose luxury car has broken down on a rural road. Using his traditional bullock cart ('kattai vandi') as a metaphor for rural self-reliance, hard work, and wisdom, Velu playfully humbles her pride. He asserts that modern education and fancy automobiles are useless without the foundational labor of agriculture and traditional values. Through lively rhythm and sarcastic banter, the lyricist Vaali highlights the contrast between urban pretension and rural authenticity. The hero insists that if the modern woman wants a ride to safety on his bullock cart, she must drop her ego, do penance (represented by 'ukki pottu' or holding her ears and squatting), and respect the rural way of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Kattai vandi kattai vandi / Kaappaaththa vandha vandi

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Kattai' and 'Kaappaaththa', or 'Naalum' and 'Naagareegam'.

Moonaa (Initial letter / sound repetition)

Naalum therinja vandi / Naagareegam arinja vandi

Repetition of the 'N' sound at the start of adjacent lines ('Naalum' / 'Naagareegam').

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kattai vandi kattai vandi / Kaappaaththa vandha vandi

Comparing the simple rustic bullock cart ('kattai vandi') to an all-knowing, reliable savior, contrasted against the fragile modern car.

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Thai thathakku thathakku / Thathakku thathakku

Use of vocalized sound effects like 'Thai thathakku' and 'Durr durr' to simulate musical rhythms and engine sounds.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sakalakala Vallavan' (1982), starring Kamal Haasan and Ambika, was an iconic blockbuster directed by S. P. Muthuraman. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung energetically by Malaysia Vasudevan, this song stands out for its high-energy rustic beats and comedic choreography where Kamal Haasan plays a village man teasing the urban heroine.

Keep listening

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