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Engal Vathiyar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kattazhagu Kanni

From Engal Vathiyar · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Engal Vathiyar
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
18 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa….aa….aa….aa….a….
Kattazhagu kanni kaaththirukkiraenae
Roja pooppolae
Kattazhagu kanni kaaththirukkiraenae
Roja pooppolae
Aa….kattazhagu kanni kaaththirukkiraenae
Roja pooppolae
Petti panam kondu vanthavarkkellaam
Jodi aavenae
Petti panam kondu vanthavarkalellaam
Jodi aavenae
Kattazhagu kanni kaaththirukkiraenae
Roja pooppolae
Aa….aa…aa….aa…a….
Inba duraimugam naanena enni
Yaengi vanthaarae
Muththumani varamaalaigal thanthaal
Mogam theerppaenae
Thangakkudam pongum
Mellidai thannai thaangakkoodaatho
Thangakkudam pongum
Mellidai thannai thaangakkoodaatho
Ponnai vaikkum thattil
Ennaiyum vaiththu paarkkakoodaatho
Ponnai vaikkum thattil
Ennaiyum vaiththu paarkkakoodaatho
Mangai naan alliththandu
Mannanukku mullai sendu
Mangai naan alliththandu
Mannanukku mullai sendu
Aththai magan pola vanthaal
Meththaiyena naanum undu
Kattazhagu kanni kaaththirukkiraenae
Roja pooppolae
Petti panam kondu vanthavarkkellaam
Jodi aavenae
Aa….aa…aa….aa…a….
Sengkadhirum angae saaintha pinnaalae
Engal raajaangam
Sengkadhirum angae saaintha pinnaalae
Engal raajaangam
Ungal jaathi madham thannai ketpathumillai
Engal arasaangam
Inba iravindru poevidum
Meendum naalai vaaraathae
Inba iravindru poevidum
Meendum naalai vaaraathae
Ingu vantha pinnum thevaiyai solla
Naanam kollaathae
Ingu vantha pinnum thevaiyai solla
Naanam kollaathae
Santhanam poosi kolvom
Sangathigal pesi kolvom
Santhanam poosi kolvom
Sangathigal pesi kolvom
Kaigalai pinni kolvom
Kann sivakka kadhai padippom
Kattazhagu kanni kaaththirukkiraenae
Roja pooppolae
Aa... aa... aa... aa... ah...
A lovely young girl, I am waiting
like a fresh rose.
A lovely young girl, I am waiting
like a fresh rose.
Ah... a lovely young girl, I am waiting
like a fresh rose.
To anyone who brings a box of money,
I will be a companion.
To anyone who brings a box of money,
I will be a companion.
A lovely young girl, I am waiting
like a fresh rose.
Aa... aa... aa... aa... ah...
Thinking of me as a harbor of pleasure,
O you who came longing—
if you give me pearl and diamond necklaces,
I will satisfy your desire.
My golden pot of beauty overflows—
won't you hold my slender waist?
My golden pot of beauty overflows—
won't you hold my slender waist?
On the balance scale meant for gold,
won't you place and weigh me too?
On the balance scale meant for gold,
won't you place and weigh me too?
I am a girl as soft as a water-lily stem,
a bouquet of jasmine for my king.
I am a girl as soft as a water-lily stem,
a bouquet of jasmine for my king.
If you come like a beloved cross-cousin,
I will be a soft bed for you.
A lovely young girl, I am waiting
like a fresh rose.
To anyone who brings a box of money,
I will be a companion.
Aa... aa... aa... aa... ah...
Once the red sun sets out there,
our kingdom begins.
Once the red sun sets out there,
our kingdom begins.
It never asks about your caste or religion,
this government of ours.
This night of pleasure will pass away today,
it will not come back tomorrow.
This night of pleasure will pass away today,
it will not come back tomorrow.
Even after coming here, to speak your desires,
do not feel shy.
Even after coming here, to speak your desires,
do not feel shy.
We will apply sweet sandalwood paste,
we will whisper intimate secrets.
We will apply sweet sandalwood paste,
we will whisper intimate secrets.
We will entwine our hands,
and read love's stories till our eyes turn red.
A lovely young girl, I am waiting
like a fresh rose.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Female
Female
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Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic track sung by S. Janaki is a seductive cabaret dance song performed in a night establishment context. The protagonist describes herself as a beautiful maiden blooming like a rose, welcoming wealthy patrons who can afford her companionship. She compares her kingdom to the night world where social distinctions like caste and religion cease to matter, emphasizing the fleeting nature of pleasure and encouraging her partner to shed inhibition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Roja pooppolae

Comparing the beauty and delicate nature of the maiden directly to a rose flower using 'pooppolae'.

Metaphor

Inba duraimugam naanena enni

Describing herself as 'Inba duraimugam' (a harbor/port of pleasure) that attracts travelers.

Emoni / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Mangai naan alliththandu / Mannanukku mullai sendu

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in consecutive words ('Mangai' and 'Mannanukku').

Iyaibu (Rhyme Scheme)

Santhanam poosi kolvom / Sangathigal pesi kolvom

Matching end sounds across lines ('poosi kolvom', 'pesi kolvom', 'pinni kolvom').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song showcases S. Janaki's famous versatility in rendering glamour cabaret tracks with expressive vocal modulations during the late 1970s and early 1980s Tamil cinema era.

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