Kattazhagi Pottazhagi
From Thirunelveli · 2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Chorus | |
| Kattazhagi pottazhagi | Oh beauty with well-built grace and a lovely bindi, |
| Unna kattikka poravan yaaru | Who is the one going to marry you? |
| Chorus | |
| Kattazhagi pottazhagi | Oh beauty with well-built grace and a lovely bindi, |
| Unna kattikka poravan yaaru | Who is the one going to marry you? |
| Muththazhagi muththazhagi | Oh sweet pearl-like beauty, pearl-like beauty, |
| Nenjil ottikka poravan yaaru | Who is the one going to embrace you in his heart? |
| Chorus | |
| Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan | If he gets caught, he will hug you, |
| Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan | If he hugs you, he will get caught, |
| Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan | If he gets caught, he will hug you, |
| Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan | If he hugs you, he will get caught, |
| Maanae pon maanae…. | My deer, my golden deer... |
| Female | |
| Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae | Neither too short nor too tall, |
| Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa | Will a handsome man come for me? |
| Kattazhagil mattum illae | Not just with handsome looks, |
| Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa | He will tie the knot and carry me away! |
| Female | |
| Pandiyaru vamsamadaa | He belongs to the lineage of the Pandyas! |
| Chorus :Aahaa | Chorus: Aha! |
| Female :Paari vallal amsamadaa | Female: He has the generous traits of King Paari! |
| Chorus :Ohho | Chorus: Oh-ho! |
| Female :Meesa vechcha chinnavandaa | Female: He is a young man with a fine mustache! |
| Chorus :Appadiyaa | Chorus: Is that so? |
| Female :Aasa vaikkum mannavandaa | Female: He is the king who kindles desire! |
| En rasa magarasa…. | My king, my grand emperor... |
| Chorus :Ho wow…. | Chorus: Ho wow... |
| Female | |
| Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae | Neither too short nor too tall, |
| Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa | Will a handsome man come for me? |
| Kattazhagil mattum illae | Not just with handsome looks, |
| Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa | He will tie the knot and carry me away! |
| Female | |
| Sirichchaa kannaththula kuzhi vizhugum | When he smiles, dimples form on his cheeks, |
| Azhagulla magarasa…. | My handsome grand emperor... |
| Chorus :Ammaadiyo | Chorus: Oh my goodness! |
| Female :Nadanthaal kannu padum nadaiyiloru | Female: If he walks, everyone will cast an evil eye, in his stride |
| Rajanadai konda rasa | A king who possesses a majestic royal walk! |
| Chorus :Ammaadiyo | Chorus: Oh my goodness! |
| Female :Avan per solli naalthorum kuyilum koovumae | Female: Uttering his name, cuckoos sing every single day, |
| Avan kai kaattum oor nokki gangai odumae | Towards the town he points at, the Ganges river flows, |
| Female | |
| Avan thottaalae eppothum poo vaasanai | Whenever he touches, there is always the fragrance of flowers, |
| Avan themmaangu sangeetham mann vaasanai | His folk songs carry the earthy smell of the soil, |
| Ulagam engum peru konda mannanukku | For a king who is renowned across the entire world, |
| Peru sollum pillaithaanae…. | I am the child who brings him fame... |
| Female | |
| Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae | Neither too short nor too tall, |
| Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa | Will a handsome man come for me? |
| Kattazhagil mattum illae | Not just with handsome looks, |
| Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa | He will tie the knot and carry me away! |
| Female | |
| Idhu pol jodi undaa asanthu ninnu | Is there a pair like us? Standing in awe, |
| Ooru sanam pesa venum | The townspeople should talk about us! |
| Chorus :Aaththaadiyo | Chorus: Oh my goodness! |
| Female :Varusam onnu rendaa pulla kuttigal | Female: In a year or two, many children, |
| Naanum peththu poda venum | I want to give birth to and raise, |
| Chorus :Adiyaaththi | Chorus: Oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Ada em pulla england school-u poganum | Hey, my child must go to school in England, |
| Avan Aeroplane yaeri vanthu enna paakkanum | He must board an airplane and come visit me, |
| Ada appaatta pesanum english-la | Hey, he should speak fluently in English, |
| Naan eppothum ketkkanum en kaadhula | I must always listen to it with my own ears, |
| Manasukkulla odugira ennangal | The thoughts running inside my heart, |
| Solla oru sollu illaiyae | There are no words left to express! |
| Female | |
| Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae | Neither too short nor too tall, |
| Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa | Will a handsome man come for me? |
| Kattazhagil mattum illae | Not just with handsome looks, |
| Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa | He will tie the knot and carry me away! |
| Female | |
| Pandiyaru vamsamadaa | He belongs to the lineage of the Pandyas! |
| Chorus :Aahaa | Chorus: Aha! |
| Female :Paari vallal amsamadaa | Female: He has the generous traits of King Paari! |
| Chorus :Ohho | Chorus: Oh-ho! |
| Female :Meesa vechcha chinnavandaa | Female: He is a young man with a fine mustache! |
| Chorus :Appadiyaa | Chorus: Is that so? |
| Female :Aasa vaikkum mannavandaa | Female: He is the king who kindles desire! |
| En rasa magarasa…. | My king, my grand emperor... |
| Chorus :Ho wow…. | Chorus: Ho wow... |
| Female | |
| Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae | Neither too short nor too tall, |
| Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa | Will a handsome man come for me? |
| Kattazhagil mattum illae | Not just with handsome looks, |
| Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa…. | He will tie the knot and carry me away!... |
ஆஹா ஹாஹ் ஆஹா ஹாஹ் ஆஹ்ஹா
ஆஹா ஹா ஆஹா ஹாஹ் ஹா
ஆஹா ஹாஹ் ஆஹா ஹாஹ் ஆஹா ஹாஹ்....ஆ....
...
கட்டழகி பொட்டழகி
உன்னக் கட்டிக்கப் போறவன் யாரு
Oh beauty with well-built grace and a lovely bindi,
Who is the one going to marry you?
கட்டழகி பொட்டழகி
உன்னக் கட்டிக்கப் போறவன் யாரு
முத்தழகி முத்தழகி
நெஞ்சில் ஒட்டிக்கப் போறவன் யாரு
Oh beauty with well-built grace and a lovely bindi,
Who is the one going to marry you?
Oh sweet pearl-like beauty, pearl-like beauty,
Who is the one going to embrace you in his heart?
மாட்டிக்கிட்டா கட்டிக்குவான்
கட்டிக்கிட்டா மாட்டிக்குவான்
மாட்டிக்கிட்டா கட்டிக்குவான்
கட்டிக்கிட்டா மாட்டிக்குவான்
மானே பொன் மானே.......
If he gets caught, he will hug you,
If he hugs you, he will get caught,
If he gets caught, he will hug you,
If he hugs you, he will get caught,
My deer, my golden deer...
கட்டையில்லே நெட்டையில்லே
ஒரு கட்டழகன் வருவான்டா
கட்டழகில் மட்டும் இல்லே
என்ன கட்டிட்டு போயிடுவான்டா
Neither too short nor too tall,
Will a handsome man come for me?
Not just with handsome looks,
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
பாண்டியரு வம்சமடா.....
குழு :
ஆஹா
பாரி வள்ளல் அம்சமடா.....
குழு :
ஓஹோ
மீச வெச்ச சின்னவன்டா...
குழு :
அப்படியா
ஆச வைக்கும் மன்னவன்டா
என் ராசா மகராசா......
குழு :
ஹோ வாவ்......
He belongs to the lineage of the Pandyas!
Chorus: Aha!
Female: He has the generous traits of King Paari!
Chorus: Oh-ho!
Female: He is a young man with a fine mustache!
Chorus: Is that so?
Female: He is the king who kindles desire!
My king, my grand emperor...
Chorus: Ho wow...
கட்டையில்லே நெட்டையில்லே
ஒரு கட்டழகன் வருவான்டா
கட்டழகில் மட்டும் இல்லே
என்ன கட்டிட்டு போயிடுவான்டா
Neither too short nor too tall,
Will a handsome man come for me?
Not just with handsome looks,
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
பீப்பீ பிபீபிப்பி பீ
பீப்பீ பிபீபிப்பி பீ
When he smiles, dimples form on his cheeks,
My handsome grand emperor...
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female: If he walks, everyone will cast an evil eye, in his stride
A king who possesses a majestic royal walk!
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female: Uttering his name, cuckoos sing every single day,
Towards the town he points at, the Ganges river flows,
சிரிச்சா கன்னத்துல குழி விழுகும்
அழகுள்ள மகராசா...
குழு :
அம்மாடியோ
நடந்தால் கண்ணு படும் நடையிலொரு
ராஜநடை கொண்ட ராசா..
குழு :
அம்மாடியோ
அவன் பேர் சொல்லி நாள்தோறும் குயிலும் கூவுமே
அவன் கை காட்டும் ஊர் நோக்கி கங்கை ஓடுமே
Whenever he touches, there is always the fragrance of flowers,
His folk songs carry the earthy smell of the soil,
For a king who is renowned across the entire world,
I am the child who brings him fame...
அவன் தொட்டாலே எப்போதும் பூ வாசனை
அவன் தெம்மாங்கு சங்கீதம் மண் வாசனை
உலகம் எங்கும் பேரு கொண்ட மன்னனுக்கு
பேரு சொல்லும் பிள்ளை தானே.....
Neither too short nor too tall,
Will a handsome man come for me?
Not just with handsome looks,
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
கட்டையில்லே நெட்டையில்லே
ஒரு கட்டழகன் வருவான்டா
கட்டழகில் மட்டும் இல்லே
என்ன கட்டிட்டு போயிடுவான்டா
Is there a pair like us? Standing in awe,
The townspeople should talk about us!
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female: In a year or two, many children,
I want to give birth to and raise,
Chorus: Oh dear!
இது போல் ஜோடி உண்டா அசந்து நின்னு
ஊரு சனம் பேச வேணும்......
குழு :
ஆத்தாடியோ
வருசம் ஒன்னு ரெண்டா புள்ள குட்டிகள்
நானும் பெத்துப் போட வேணும்....
குழு :
அடியாத்தி..
Hey, my child must go to school in England,
He must board an airplane and come visit me,
Hey, he should speak fluently in English,
I must always listen to it with my own ears,
The thoughts running inside my heart,
There are no words left to express!
அட எம் புள்ள இங்கிலாந்து ஸ்கூலு போகணும்
அவன் ஏரோப்ளேன் ஏறி வந்து என்ன பாக்கணும்
அட அப்பாட்ட பேசணும் இங்க்லீசுல
நான் எப்போதும் கேக்கோணும் என் காதுல
மனசுக்குள்ள ஓடுகிற எண்ணங்கள
சொல்ல ஒரு சொல்லு இல்லையே.....
Neither too short nor too tall,
Will a handsome man come for me?
Not just with handsome looks,
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
கட்டையில்லே நெட்டையில்லே
ஒரு கட்டழகன் வருவான்டா
கட்டழகில் மட்டும் இல்லே
என்ன கட்டிட்டு போயிடுவான்டா
He belongs to the lineage of the Pandyas!
Chorus: Aha!
Female: He has the generous traits of King Paari!
Chorus: Oh-ho!
Female: He is a young man with a fine mustache!
Chorus: Is that so?
Female: He is the king who kindles desire!
My king, my grand emperor...
Chorus: Ho wow...
பாண்டியரு வம்சமடா.....
குழு :
ஆஹா
பாரி வள்ளல் அம்சமடா.....
குழு :
ஓஹோ
மீச வெச்ச சின்னவன்டா...
குழு :
அப்படியா
ஆச வெக்கும் மன்னவன்டா
என் ராசா மகராசா......
குழு :
ஹோ வாவ்......
Neither too short nor too tall,
Will a handsome man come for me?
Not just with handsome looks,
He will tie the knot and carry me away!...
கட்டையில்லே நெட்டையில்லே
ஒரு கட்டழகன் வருவான்டா
கட்டழகில் மட்டும் இல்லே
என்ன கட்டிட்டு போயிடுவான்டா
…………………
...
Kattazhagi pottazhagi
Oh beauty with well-built grace and a lovely bindi,
Unna kattikka poravan yaaru
Who is the one going to marry you?
Kattazhagi pottazhagi
Oh beauty with well-built grace and a lovely bindi,
Unna kattikka poravan yaaru
Who is the one going to marry you?
Muththazhagi muththazhagi
Oh sweet pearl-like beauty, pearl-like beauty,
Nenjil ottikka poravan yaaru
Who is the one going to embrace you in his heart?
Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan
If he gets caught, he will hug you,
Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan
If he hugs you, he will get caught,
Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan
If he gets caught, he will hug you,
Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan
If he hugs you, he will get caught,
Maanae pon maanae….
My deer, my golden deer...
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Neither too short nor too tall,
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Will a handsome man come for me?
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Not just with handsome looks,
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
Pandiyaru vamsamadaa
He belongs to the lineage of the Pandyas!
Chorus :Aahaa
Chorus: Aha!
Female :Paari vallal amsamadaa
Female: He has the generous traits of King Paari!
Chorus :Ohho
Chorus: Oh-ho!
Female :Meesa vechcha chinnavandaa
Female: He is a young man with a fine mustache!
Chorus :Appadiyaa
Chorus: Is that so?
Female :Aasa vaikkum mannavandaa
Female: He is the king who kindles desire!
En rasa magarasa….
My king, my grand emperor...
Chorus :Ho wow….
Chorus: Ho wow...
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Neither too short nor too tall,
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Will a handsome man come for me?
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Not just with handsome looks,
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
Sirichchaa kannaththula kuzhi vizhugum
When he smiles, dimples form on his cheeks,
Azhagulla magarasa….
My handsome grand emperor...
Chorus :Ammaadiyo
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female :Nadanthaal kannu padum nadaiyiloru
Female: If he walks, everyone will cast an evil eye, in his stride
Rajanadai konda rasa
A king who possesses a majestic royal walk!
Chorus :Ammaadiyo
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female :Avan per solli naalthorum kuyilum koovumae
Female: Uttering his name, cuckoos sing every single day,
Avan kai kaattum oor nokki gangai odumae
Towards the town he points at, the Ganges river flows,
Avan thottaalae eppothum poo vaasanai
Whenever he touches, there is always the fragrance of flowers,
Avan themmaangu sangeetham mann vaasanai
His folk songs carry the earthy smell of the soil,
Ulagam engum peru konda mannanukku
For a king who is renowned across the entire world,
Peru sollum pillaithaanae….
I am the child who brings him fame...
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Neither too short nor too tall,
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Will a handsome man come for me?
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Not just with handsome looks,
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
Idhu pol jodi undaa asanthu ninnu
Is there a pair like us? Standing in awe,
Ooru sanam pesa venum
The townspeople should talk about us!
Chorus :Aaththaadiyo
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female :Varusam onnu rendaa pulla kuttigal
Female: In a year or two, many children,
Naanum peththu poda venum
I want to give birth to and raise,
Chorus :Adiyaaththi
Chorus: Oh dear!
Ada em pulla england school-u poganum
Hey, my child must go to school in England,
Avan Aeroplane yaeri vanthu enna paakkanum
He must board an airplane and come visit me,
Ada appaatta pesanum english-la
Hey, he should speak fluently in English,
Naan eppothum ketkkanum en kaadhula
I must always listen to it with my own ears,
Manasukkulla odugira ennangal
The thoughts running inside my heart,
Solla oru sollu illaiyae
There are no words left to express!
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Neither too short nor too tall,
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Will a handsome man come for me?
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Not just with handsome looks,
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
He will tie the knot and carry me away!
Pandiyaru vamsamadaa
He belongs to the lineage of the Pandyas!
Chorus :Aahaa
Chorus: Aha!
Female :Paari vallal amsamadaa
Female: He has the generous traits of King Paari!
Chorus :Ohho
Chorus: Oh-ho!
Female :Meesa vechcha chinnavandaa
Female: He is a young man with a fine mustache!
Chorus :Appadiyaa
Chorus: Is that so?
Female :Aasa vaikkum mannavandaa
Female: He is the king who kindles desire!
En rasa magarasa….
My king, my grand emperor...
Chorus :Ho wow….
Chorus: Ho wow...
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Neither too short nor too tall,
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Will a handsome man come for me?
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Not just with handsome looks,
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa….
He will tie the knot and carry me away!...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kattazhagi pottazhagi' from the movie 'Thirunelveli' (2000) is a lively, romantic folk track where friends tease the lead female character about her ideal partner, and she enthusiastically describes her dream groom. She envisions him as a perfectly proportioned, handsome man belonging to the royal Pandya dynasty who possesses the noble generosity of King Paari. She sings of his majestic demeanor, his sweet smile with dimples, and how nature itself honors his presence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kattazhagi pottazhagi”
The second consonant sound 'tt' rhymes across consecutive words 'Kattazhagi' and 'pottazhagi'.
Antimetabole / Chiasmus
“Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan / Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan”
Reversal of words in sequential clauses creating rhythmic wordplay: 'Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan / Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan'.
Anaphora (Repetition)
“Avan per solli naalthorum kuyilum koovumae / Avan kai kaattum oor nokki gangai odumae”
Repetition of the phrase 'Avan' at the beginning of successive lines for poetic emphasis.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Avan kai kaattum oor nokki gangai odumae”
Exaggerating the husband's grandeur by claiming the river Ganges changes direction based on where he points.
Did you know?
Trivia
The soundtrack for 'Thirunelveli' (2000) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics for this song penned by lyricist Mayil. The film stars Prabhu and Roja in lead roles.
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