Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Thirunelveli album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kattazhagi Pottazhagi

From Thirunelveli · 2000

Lyricist
Mayil
Singer
Devi
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thirunelveli
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
26 Sept 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………
Kattazhagi pottazhagi
Unna kattikka poravan yaaru
Kattazhagi pottazhagi
Unna kattikka poravan yaaru
Muththazhagi muththazhagi
Nenjil ottikka poravan yaaru
Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan
Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan
Maattikkittaa kattikkuvaan
Kattikkittaa maattikkuvaan
Maanae pon maanae….
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
Pandiyaru vamsamadaa
Chorus :Aahaa
Female :Paari vallal amsamadaa
Chorus :Ohho
Female :Meesa vechcha chinnavandaa
Chorus :Appadiyaa
Female :Aasa vaikkum mannavandaa
En rasa magarasa….
Chorus :Ho wow….
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
Sirichchaa kannaththula kuzhi vizhugum
Azhagulla magarasa….
Chorus :Ammaadiyo
Female :Nadanthaal kannu padum nadaiyiloru
Rajanadai konda rasa
Chorus :Ammaadiyo
Female :Avan per solli naalthorum kuyilum koovumae
Avan kai kaattum oor nokki gangai odumae
Avan thottaalae eppothum poo vaasanai
Avan themmaangu sangeetham mann vaasanai
Ulagam engum peru konda mannanukku
Peru sollum pillaithaanae….
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
Idhu pol jodi undaa asanthu ninnu
Ooru sanam pesa venum
Chorus :Aaththaadiyo
Female :Varusam onnu rendaa pulla kuttigal
Naanum peththu poda venum
Chorus :Adiyaaththi
Ada em pulla england school-u poganum
Avan Aeroplane yaeri vanthu enna paakkanum
Ada appaatta pesanum english-la
Naan eppothum ketkkanum en kaadhula
Manasukkulla odugira ennangal
Solla oru sollu illaiyae
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa
Pandiyaru vamsamadaa
Chorus :Aahaa
Female :Paari vallal amsamadaa
Chorus :Ohho
Female :Meesa vechcha chinnavandaa
Chorus :Appadiyaa
Female :Aasa vaikkum mannavandaa
En rasa magarasa….
Chorus :Ho wow….
Kattaiyillae nettaiyillae
Oru kattazhagan varuvaanaa
Kattazhagil mattum illae
Enna kattittu poyiduvaandaa….
...
Gorgeous girl with a pretty bindi,
Who is the one that's going to marry you?
Gorgeous girl with a pretty bindi,
Who is the one that's going to marry you?
Sweet girl like a pearl,
Who is the one that will win your heart?
If he falls for me, he'll marry me,
And once he marries me, he's trapped!
If he falls for me, he'll marry me,
And once he marries me, he's trapped!
Oh dear, my golden deer...
Whether he's short or tall,
Will a handsome man come along?
Not only is he handsome,
He will surely marry me and take me away!
He belongs to the Pandya dynasty!
Chorus: Aha!
Female: He has the generous spirit of King Paari!
Chorus: Oho!
Female: A young man with a fine mustache!
Chorus: Is that so?
Female: A king who will shower me with love!
My king, my great king...
Chorus: Oh wow...
Whether he's short or tall,
Will a handsome man come along?
Not only is he handsome,
He will surely marry me and take me away!
When he smiles, dimples form on his cheeks,
My handsome great king...
Chorus: Goodness gracious!
Female: Catching every eye with the way he walks,
A king with a royal stride!
Chorus: Goodness gracious!
Female: Calling his name, the cuckoo sings every day!
Towards whichever town he points, the river Ganga flows!
Wherever he touches, it smells like fresh flowers,
His rustic folk song carries the scent of the earth!
To a king renowned all over the world,
He is a son who brings great pride...
Whether he's short or tall,
Will a handsome man come along?
Not only is he handsome,
He will surely marry me and take me away!
Is there any match like this? Stunned in awe,
The whole town should talk about us!
Chorus: Oh my goodness!
Female: Every year or two, little children,
I should give birth to them all!
Chorus: Oh my!
Hey, my child must go to school in England!
He should fly in on an airplane to visit me!
Hey, he should speak fluent English,
And I should always hear it with my own ears!
The thoughts racing inside my heart,
There are no words to explain them!
Whether he's short or tall,
Will a handsome man come along?
Not only is he handsome,
He will surely marry me and take me away!
He belongs to the Pandya dynasty!
Chorus: Aha!
Female: He has the generous spirit of King Paari!
Chorus: Oho!
Female: A young man with a fine mustache!
Chorus: Is that so?
Female: A king who will shower me with love!
My king, my great king...
Chorus: Oh wow...
Whether he's short or tall,
Will a handsome man come along?
Not only is he handsome,
He will surely marry me and take me away!
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Thirunelveli

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.