Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Katthuthadi Raakkozhi

From Deiva Vaakku · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Deiva Vaakku1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………………….....
Chorus
Thandhanaththannaa thaanaRhythmic vocalization (Thandhanaththannaa thaana)
Thandhanaththannaa thaanaththaanaRhythmic vocalization (Thandhanaththannaa thaanaththaana)
Thandhannaa thandhannaaRhythmic vocalization (Thandhannaa thandhannaa)
Thaana thandhannaaRhythmic vocalization (Thaana thandhannaa)
Thaanath thaanath thaanath thaanathRhythmic vocalization (Thaanath thaanath thaanath thaanath)
Thaanath thandhannaaRhythmic vocalization (Thaanath thandhannaa)
Male
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiThe night fowl is squawking,
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
AaththaadiOh my goodness!
Chorus
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiThe night fowl is squawking,
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
AaththaadiOh my goodness!
Male
Hae hae hae hae haehae rukkumaniHey hey hey hey hey-hey Rukkumani!
Chorus :Aachi aachiChorus: It's done, it's done!
Male :Paththu maniMale: Ten o'clock...
Chorus :Aachu aachuChorus: It has become!
Male: OorukkullaMale: In the town...
Chorus :Kaachu moochuChorus: All the noise and commotion...
Male :Saththam ellaamMale: All the sounds...
Chorus :Pochu pochuChorus: Are gone, are gone!
Male :Enga varaikkumMale: As far as we are concerned,
Idhu thaan pagal naeramThis is our daytime!
Male
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiThe night fowl is squawking,
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
Aaththaadi paadaeOh my goodness, sing along!
Chorus
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiThe night fowl is squawking,
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
AaththaadiOh my goodness!
Male
Indha veettukku vandhaWhat is the business of coming to this house?
Joli ennaWhy ask for rent for a house visited casually?
Summaa vandha veettukkuWhy talk about home, entrance, and children, man?
Koda kooli ennaThis trouble and mess,
Veedu vaasal pilla kutti yendaa doiWe do not want it, man!
Indha vambu thumbuHit the palm tree and grab from the old lady's shop,
Engalukku vendaa doiThe fritters, man!
Chorus
Thennadichu aachi kadaWhen gotten for free, it tastes extremely delicious,
Bondaa doiIndeed, man!
Adhu osiyila romba rusiWhichever direction we want,
Thaandaa doiChorus: We will go!
Male
Endha pakkam venumnaalumMale: We will live this way or that way,
Chorus :PovomChorus: We will live!
Male :Naama ippadiyum eppadiyumWe are night fowls, young bandicoots!
Chorus :VaazhvomMale: Rhythmic vocalization (Tharannaannaa tharannaannaa naa)
Naanga raakkozhi ilam peruchaali{The night fowl is squawking, leaving sleep behind and wandering around, oh my goodness!} (2)
Male :Tharannaannaa tharannaannaa naaRhythmic beat sounds (Dhinukku dhinukku thakka)
Chorus
{Kaththudhadi raakkozhiRhythmic beat sounds (Dheenguduthakka thakkathakka)
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiRhythmic beat sounds (Dhinukku dhinukku thakka)
Aaththaadi} (2)Rhythmic beat sounds (Dheenguduthakka thakkathakka)
Male
Dhinukku dhinukku thakkaRhythmic beat sounds (Dhinukku dhinukku)
Dheenguduthakka thakkathakkaRhythmic beat sounds (Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakka thakka)
Dhinukku dhinukku thakkaRhythmic beat sounds (Dhinukku dhinukku)
Dheenguduthakka thakkathakkaRhythmic beat sounds (Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakka thakka)
Male
Dhinukku dhinukkuRhythmic beat sounds (Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakka)
Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakka thakkaRhythmic beat sounds (Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakka)
Dhinukku dhinukkuWhy place a pen/corral for a temple bull?
Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakka thakkaWhy calculate interest for our father's property?
Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakkaKeep whatever profit comes your way, man,
Dheenguduthakka dheenguduthakkaOtherwise, pick a fight and scratch your own head!
Male
Koyil kaalaikku oru patti ennaIf you don't want trouble or mess,
Enga appan soththukku oru vatti ennaMove aside and step away!
Vandha vara laabaththula vachukkodaaIf your shirt gets torn,
Illa vambizhuthu mandaiya thaan pichikkodaaTake a needle and stitch it yourself!
Chorus
Vambu thumbu venaamunnaaTo question us here,
Othu podaaChorus: Who is there?
Satta pinju ponaaMale: To dance according to our words,
Oosi vachu thechukkodaaChorus: The whole town must!
Male
Namma ingu thatti kekkaWe are night fowls, young bandicoots!
Chorus :YaaruMale: Rhythmic vocalization (Tharannaannaa tharannaannaa naa)
Male :Naama sonna padi aada vaenumThe night fowl is squawking,
Chorus :OoruIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
Naanga raakkozhi ilam peruchaaliOh my goodness!
Male :Tharannaannaa tharannaannaa naaThe night fowl is squawking,
Male
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiOh my goodness!
AaththaadiHey Rukkumani!
Chorus
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiChorus: It's done, it's done!
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiMale: Ten o'clock...
AaththaadiChorus: It has become!
Male
Hae rukkumaniMale: In the town...
Chorus :Aachi aachiChorus: All the noise and commotion...
Male :Paththu maniMale: All the sounds...
Chorus :Aachu aachuChorus: Are gone, are gone!
Male :OorukkullaMale: As far as we are concerned,
Chorus :Kaachu moochuThis is our daytime!
Male :Saththam ellaamThe night fowl is squawking,
Chorus :Pochu pochuIt wanders around leaving its sleep behind!
Male :Enga varaikkumOh my goodness, go ahead!
Idhu thaan pagal naeramHey hey hey!
Male
Kaththudhadi raakkozhiChorus: The night fowl is squawking, leaving sleep behind and wandering around, oh my goodness!
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadiMale: Hey hey hey hey hey-hey...
Aaththaadi podae
Male
Hae hae hae
Chorus :Kaththudhadi raakkozhi
Thookkatha vittu suththudhadi
Aaththaadi
Male :Hae hae hae hae haehae….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song 'Kaththudhadi Raakkozhi' from the movie Deiva Vaakku (1992) captures the carefree, night-owl lifestyle of local roguish yet lighthearted characters. The song metaphorically compares the protagonists to night birds ('Raakkozhi') and young bandicoots ('Ilam Peruchaali') who stay awake through the night, making the quiet dark hours their personal daytime. They reject worldly expectations like family burdens, rent, and conventional societal discipline, choosing instead to live freely on their own terms. With lively rhythm, playful banter, and colloquial language written by legendary lyricist Vaali, the song celebrates unrestrained freedom and local street smartness. The characters dismiss unnecessary conflicts, advising others not to cross their paths, while emphasizing their carefree nature and dominance over their own lives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagaddhai)

Naanga raakkozhi ilam peruchaali

Comparing the nocturnal human characters to 'Raakkozhi' (night bird / owl) and 'Ilam Peruchaali' (young bandicoot) to highlight their night-time activities and opportunistic lifestyle.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Indha veettukku vandha Joli enna / Summaa vandha veettukku Koda kooli enna

Matching of the second consonant sounds across consecutive lines ('thuu' in Thookkatha and 'thaa' in Aaththaadi; 'Joli' and 'Kooli').

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)

Dhinukku dhinukku thakka Dheenguduthakka thakkathakka

Use of folk rhythmic vocables and beat sounds like 'Thandhanaththannaa' and 'Dhinukku dhinukku thakka' to build energy and mood.

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Enga varaikkum Idhu thaan pagal naeram

Contrasting night time with daytime ('Enga varaikkum idhu thaan pagal naeram') to express an inverted routine.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Deiva Vaakku' (1992) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Karthik and Revathi. The song 'Kaththudhadi Raakkozhi' is widely known for its catchy folk rhythm and energetic delivery, sung by Ilaiyaraaja and S. Janaki along with chorus, capturing the quintessential early-90s rural Tamil cinema soundscape.

Keep listening

More from Deiva Vaakku