Kattazhagu Mama
From Tripura Sundari · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Tripura Sundari1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kattazhagu mama unnaiththaanae | Oh handsome beloved, only you |
| Kattikollalaamaa | May I hold you close in an embrace? |
| Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa | Should this maiden's sweetness be left untouched? |
| Nalla neram nerunguthu mama | The auspicious time is drawing near, my love |
| Yae hae hae hae hae hae…. | Yae hae hae hae hae hae… |
| Oh…ho….ho….ho…. | Oh…ho….ho….ho… |
| Female | |
| Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa | Shall I lay a fresh green banana leaf? |
| Pakkam vanthu parimaaravaa | Shall I come close and serve you? |
| Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa | Shall I lay a fresh green banana leaf? |
| Female | |
| Kattil meedhu malar thoovavaa | Shall I scatter flowers upon the bed? |
| Kannaal mella kadhai pesavaa | Shall I softly share stories through my eyes? |
| Sittraadai katti yaei singaara kutti | Draped in a fine saree, oh stylish darling |
| Machchaanin pon maarbilae | Upon my beloved man's golden chest |
| Mayangidalaamaa…. | May I lose myself in bliss? |
| Female | |
| Kattazhagu mama unnaiththaanae | Oh handsome beloved, only you |
| Kattikollalaamaa | May I hold you close in an embrace? |
| Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa | Should this maiden's sweetness be left untouched? |
| Nalla neram nerunguthu mama | The auspicious time is drawing near, my love |
| Female | |
| Engal veedu arasaangamaa | Is our house a royal kingdom? |
| Engum dheepa alangaaramaa | Are lit lamps decorating everywhere? |
| Engal veedu arasaangamaa | Is our house a royal kingdom? |
| Female | |
| Ingae naanum magaraniyaa | Am I the queen here? |
| Ennai aala manavaalanaa | Are you the bridegroom born to rule over me? |
| Oorellaam nindru paaraatta endru | For the whole town to stand and praise us |
| Thaeraeri pogindra naal vanthathu mama | The day to ride the grand chariot has arrived, my love |
| Female | |
| Aaraariraaro…..aaraariraaro…. | Lullaby sounds... aaraariraaro... |
| Aaraariraaro…..aaraariraaro…. | Lullaby sounds... aaraariraaro... |
| Female | |
| Thottaal pothum medhuvaagavae | Just a gentle touch is enough |
| Thottil aadum azhagaagavae | For the cradle to swing so beautifully |
| Thottaal pothum medhuvaagavae | Just a gentle touch is enough |
| Female | |
| Machchaan rasi sugaraasithaan | My beloved's sign brings endless joy |
| Mangai naanum magarasithaan | I, the young bride, am truly blessed |
| Yaezhettu pillai melondrumillai | Seven or eight children, nothing more than that |
| Aaraaro aaraariro paadanum mama…. | I ought to sing lullabies for them, my love... |
கட்டழகு மாமா உன்னைத்தானே
கட்டிக் கொள்ளலாமா..........
கன்னித் தேனை விட்டு வைக்கலாமா
நல்ல நேரம் நெருங்குது மாமா......
ஏ ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே.........
ஓ...ஹோ..ஹோ....ஹோ............
Oh handsome beloved, only you
May I hold you close in an embrace?
Should this maiden's sweetness be left untouched?
The auspicious time is drawing near, my love
Yae hae hae hae hae hae…
Oh…ho….ho….ho…
பச்சை வாழை இலை போடவா
பக்கம் வந்து பரிமாறவா
பச்சை வாழை இலை போடவா
Shall I lay a fresh green banana leaf?
Shall I come close and serve you?
Shall I lay a fresh green banana leaf?
கட்டில் மீது மலர் தூவவா
கண்ணால் மெல்ல கதை பேசவா
சிற்றாடை கட்டி ஏய் சிங்கார குட்டி
மச்சானின் பொன் மார்பிலே
மயங்கிடலாமா........
Shall I scatter flowers upon the bed?
Shall I softly share stories through my eyes?
Draped in a fine saree, oh stylish darling
Upon my beloved man's golden chest
May I lose myself in bliss?
கட்டழகு மாமா உன்னைத்தானே
கட்டிக் கொள்ளலாமா..........
கன்னித் தேனை விட்டு வைக்கலாமா
நல்ல நேரம் நெருங்குது மாமா......
Oh handsome beloved, only you
May I hold you close in an embrace?
Should this maiden's sweetness be left untouched?
The auspicious time is drawing near, my love
எங்கள் வீடு அரசாங்கமா
எங்கும் தீப அலங்காரமா
எங்கள் வீடு அரசாங்கமா
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Are lit lamps decorating everywhere?
Is our house a royal kingdom?
இங்கே நானும் மகராணியா
என்னை ஆள மணவாளனா
ஊரெல்லாம் நின்று பாராட்ட என்று
தேரேறி போகின்ற நாள் வந்தது மாமா
Am I the queen here?
Are you the bridegroom born to rule over me?
For the whole town to stand and praise us
The day to ride the grand chariot has arrived, my love
ஆராரிராரோ........ஆராரிராரோ......
ஆராரிராரோ.......ஆராரிராரோ
Lullaby sounds... aaraariraaro...
Lullaby sounds... aaraariraaro...
தொட்டால் போதும் மெதுவாகவே
தொட்டில் ஆடும் அழகாகவே
தொட்டால் போதும் மெதுவாகவே
Just a gentle touch is enough
For the cradle to swing so beautifully
Just a gentle touch is enough
மச்சான் ராசி சுகராசிதான்
மங்கை நானும் மகராசிதான்
ஏழெட்டு பிள்ளை மேலோன்றுமில்லை
ஆராரோ ஆராரிரோ பாடணும் மாமா......
My beloved's sign brings endless joy
I, the young bride, am truly blessed
Seven or eight children, nothing more than that
I ought to sing lullabies for them, my love...
Kattazhagu mama unnaiththaanae
Oh handsome beloved, only you
Kattikollalaamaa
May I hold you close in an embrace?
Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa
Should this maiden's sweetness be left untouched?
Nalla neram nerunguthu mama
The auspicious time is drawing near, my love
Yae hae hae hae hae hae….
Yae hae hae hae hae hae…
Oh…ho….ho….ho….
Oh…ho….ho….ho…
Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa
Shall I lay a fresh green banana leaf?
Pakkam vanthu parimaaravaa
Shall I come close and serve you?
Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa
Shall I lay a fresh green banana leaf?
Kattil meedhu malar thoovavaa
Shall I scatter flowers upon the bed?
Kannaal mella kadhai pesavaa
Shall I softly share stories through my eyes?
Sittraadai katti yaei singaara kutti
Draped in a fine saree, oh stylish darling
Machchaanin pon maarbilae
Upon my beloved man's golden chest
Mayangidalaamaa….
May I lose myself in bliss?
Kattazhagu mama unnaiththaanae
Oh handsome beloved, only you
Kattikollalaamaa
May I hold you close in an embrace?
Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa
Should this maiden's sweetness be left untouched?
Nalla neram nerunguthu mama
The auspicious time is drawing near, my love
Engal veedu arasaangamaa
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Engum dheepa alangaaramaa
Are lit lamps decorating everywhere?
Engal veedu arasaangamaa
Is our house a royal kingdom?
Ingae naanum magaraniyaa
Am I the queen here?
Ennai aala manavaalanaa
Are you the bridegroom born to rule over me?
Oorellaam nindru paaraatta endru
For the whole town to stand and praise us
Thaeraeri pogindra naal vanthathu mama
The day to ride the grand chariot has arrived, my love
Aaraariraaro…..aaraariraaro….
Lullaby sounds... aaraariraaro...
Aaraariraaro…..aaraariraaro….
Lullaby sounds... aaraariraaro...
Thottaal pothum medhuvaagavae
Just a gentle touch is enough
Thottil aadum azhagaagavae
For the cradle to swing so beautifully
Thottaal pothum medhuvaagavae
Just a gentle touch is enough
Machchaan rasi sugaraasithaan
My beloved's sign brings endless joy
Mangai naanum magarasithaan
I, the young bride, am truly blessed
Yaezhettu pillai melondrumillai
Seven or eight children, nothing more than that
Aaraaro aaraariro paadanum mama….
I ought to sing lullabies for them, my love...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kattazhagu Mama from Tripura Sundari (1978) is a seductive yet innocent folk-romantic song expressing a young woman's deep affection and romantic dreams for her beloved maternal cousin/groom ('mama'). She playfully teasingly asks if the time has come for them to unite, picturing traditional wedding rituals, romantic night scenes decorated with flowers, and a prosperous domestic life filled with children and lullabies.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kattazhagu mama unnaiththaanae / Kattikollalaamaa”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' in 'Kattazhagu' and 'Kattikollalaamaa'.
Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Thottaal pothum medhuvaagavae / Thottil aadum azhagaagavae”
Matching of the second consonant 'tt' in 'Thottaal' and 'Thottil'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kanni thaenai vittu vaikkalaamaa”
'Kanni thaen' (maiden's honey) metaphorically represents her youthful affection and sweetness.
Visual Imagery
“Pachai vaazhai ilai podavaa / Kattil meedhu malar thoovavaa”
Evokes vivid pictures of South Indian cultural motifs like green banana leaves, flower beds, lit lamps, and cradles.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track features voice modulation by singer S. Janaki. Her expressive, playful, and alluring vocal texture made the song a popular hit in late 1970s Tamil cinema culture.
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