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Lyrics & meaning

Kattazhagu Mama

From Vanangamudi – 1957 Film · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Vanangamudi – 1957 Film1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ho o o haa ..ha ha…Ho o o haa ..ha ha…
Ho o o oHo o o o
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!
Vittuvittu odaathae vetkangetta doomaaDon't run away in bursts, shameless fool!
Vetkangetta doomaa……vetkangetta doomaaShameless fool... shameless fool!
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!
Female
Kaathaadi polae summaa parakkuraYou are flying around aimlessly like a kite,
Aathadi yen aiyaa ippadi moraikkuraOh my, why are you glaring like this, sir?
Kaathaadi polae summaa parakkuraYou are flying around aimlessly like a kite,
Aathadi yen aiyaa ippadi moraikkuraOh my, why are you glaring like this, sir?
Kannadichi nikkaadhaeDon't stand there winking,
Pennai kandu sokkaadhaeDon't get mesmerized seeing a woman!
Kannadichi nikkaadhaeDon't stand there winking,
Pennai kandu sokkaadhaeDon't get mesmerized seeing a woman!
Vittuvittu odaathae vetkangetta doomaaDon't run away in bursts, shameless fool!
Vetkangetta doomaa……vetkangetta doomaaShameless fool... shameless fool!
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!
Female
Manasai vithavan maanathai vithavanThe one who sold his heart and sold his honor,
Manushan thaana sollidunghaTell me, is he even a real human?
Madhiyum kettavan vidhiyum kettavanOne whose intellect is ruined and fate is ruined,
Vaazhndhiduvaana sollidunghaTell me, will he ever live prosperously?
Mathaappu polae maraiyum purinjikooUnderstand that like a sparkler, it will fade away,
Mathaappu polae maraiyum purinjikooUnderstand that like a sparkler, it will fade away,
Undhan vitharam sellaadhu ingae therinjikooKnow that your clever antics won't work here!
Vakkarichu nillaadhae kokkarichu thulladhaeDon't stand arrogantly, don't crow and leap around!
Vakkarichu nillaadhae kokkarichu thulladhaeDon't stand arrogantly, don't crow and leap around!
Vittuvittu odaathae vetkangetta doomaaDon't run away in bursts, shameless fool!
Vetkangetta doomaa……vetkangetta doomaaShameless fool... shameless fool!
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!
Female
Thenna marathula thelu kadichaaIf a scorpion bites on a coconut tree,
Panai marathukku valikkumaWill a palmyra tree feel the pain?
Punna marathilae yeri iranginaaIf you climb up and down an Alexandrian laurel tree,
Puliyangaayum kidaikkumaaWill you get tamarind fruit?
Thenna marathula thelu kadichaaIf a scorpion bites on a coconut tree,
Panai marathukku valikkumaWill a palmyra tree feel the pain?
Punna marathilae yeri iranginaaIf you climb up and down an Alexandrian laurel tree,
Puliyangaayum kidaikkumaaWill you get tamarind fruit?
Puriyaama velicham podum poochaandiA boogeyman throwing light without understanding,
Ingae sariyaana ilichavaai vaachaandiLook, a perfect easy target has arrived here!
Jallikattu kaalaiyum thullikittu paayudhadiEven the Jallikattu bull is leaping and charging!
Jallikattu kaalaiyum thullikittu paayudhadiEven the Jallikattu bull is leaping and charging!
Vittuvittu odaathae vetkangetta doomaaDon't run away in bursts, shameless fool!
Vetkangetta doomaa……vetkangetta doomaaShameless fool... shameless fool!
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!
Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaaHandsome uncle, beautiful decorated lady!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and satirical song from the 1957 Tamil film 'Vanangamudi' features a woman teasing and mocking a foolish, arrogant suitor who tries to flirt without any character or substance. Through sharp colloquialisms and absurd folk metaphors, she exposes his superficiality and warns him that his tricks will not succeed against her. Using humorous analogies—such as asking whether a palmyra tree feels pain when a scorpion bites a coconut tree—the lyricist lampoons illogical arguments and fake swagger. The song reinforces themes of self-dignity, moral integrity, and practical wisdom over hollow boasting.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kattazhagu maama pottazhagu boomaa

Matching second consonants across lyric lines to create rhythmic flow.

Simile (Upamai)

Mathaappu polae maraiyum purinjikoo

Comparing the fleeting nature of superficial pride to the temporary brightness of a sparkler firework.

Proverbial Nonsense / Satire (Pazhamozhi Sledai)

Thenna marathula thelu kadichaa panai marathukku valikkuma

Using absurd folk metaphors to illustrate illogical thinking and useless behavior.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, 'Kattazhagu Maama' is a classic 1950s Tamil cinema dance song rendered by P. Leela. The film 'Vanangamudi' stars Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri, and the track is memorable for its lively folk rhythm and catchy, proverbial lyricisms.

Keep listening

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