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Isaimozhi
Vaazhkai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kattikollava

From Vaazhkai · 1984

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vaazhkai
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
15 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Katti kollavaa
Chorus :Katti kollavaa
Male :Kannam killavaa
Chorus :Kannam killavaa
Selvam vandhu serndhadhu
Thaen nadhi paaindhadhu
Male :Velli kaasu paadhaalam paayalaam
Chorus :Paadhaalam paayalaam
Male :Vilaiyai kelu sorghathai vaangalaam
Chorus :Sorghathai vaangalaam
Female :Katti kollavaa
Chorus :Katti kollavaa
………………………………
Aa… aa… aa…
Angae paarthaal arangerum poigal
Ingae paarthaal kaai kaaitha kaigal
Uravum kaanal neeraanadhae
Udambil vervai aaraanadhae
Kaalgal madhuvodu thadumaarum angae
Dhegam kalaippodu thadumaarum ingae
Sondham bandham vaazhvil engae
Chorus :Hae…
Neram vandhadhu
Chorus :Neram vandhadhu
Female :Vaazhvu vandhadhu
Chorus :Vaazhvu vandhadhu
Natchathira hotelil
Naattiya naadagam
Female :Kaanum idhu ondrae meiyadaa
Chorus :Idhu ondrae meiyadaa
Female :Appan pillai ellaamae poiyadaa
Chorus :Ellaamae poiyadaa
Neram vandhadhu
Chorus :Neram vandhadhu
Ha aa…
Male :Hae…
Female :Ha aa…
Male :Hae…
Both :Hae hae hae hae
Aa.. aa…aa…
Urugum thangam tharam povadhillai
Neruppil veezhndhum
Niram povadhillai
Thiramai ondrae nee kandadhu
Ini mel unnai yaar velvadhu
Unmai sila kaalam alai modhum indru
Kaalam adhu maarum mudi soodum andru
Inbam thunbam yaavum ondru
Hae…
Male :Medai yerungal
Chorus :Medai yerungal
Male :Jodi saerungal
Chorus :Jodi saerungal
Aanum pennum
Vaazhkkaiyil naanathai paarungal
Male :Sondham bandham
Ellaamae veliyae
Chorus :Ellaamae veliyae
Male :Veli thaandi vandhaalae jolliyae
Chorus :Vandhaalae jolliyae
Shall I hold you close?
Chorus: Shall I hold you close?
Male: Shall I pinch your cheek?
Chorus: Shall I pinch your cheek?
Wealth has come our way,
A river of honey flows.
Male: Silver coins can reach the underworld!
Chorus: Reach the underworld!
Male: Name the price, we can buy heaven itself!
Chorus: We can buy heaven!
Female: Shall I hold you close?
Chorus: Shall I hold you close?
...
Ah... ah... ah...
Look over there, lies are put on stage,
Look over here, hands are calloused with toil.
Relationships have become a mirage,
Sweat has become a river on the body.
Over there, legs stumble on wine,
Over here, bodies stumble in exhaustion.
Where are true bonds and family in this life?
Chorus: Hey...
The time has arrived!
Chorus: The time has arrived!
Female: A new life has arrived!
Chorus: A new life has arrived!
In a luxury hotel,
A dance and drama show!
Female: What you see right here is the only truth, my friend!
Chorus: Only this is the truth!
Female: Father and son, all of it is a lie, my friend!
Chorus: Everything is a lie!
The time has arrived!
Chorus: The time has arrived!
Ha aa...
Male: Hey...
Female: Ha aa...
Male: Hey...
Both: Hey hey hey hey!
Aa... aa... aa...
Molten gold does not lose its purity,
Even when cast into fire,
It never loses its shine.
Talent is the only true gift you have found,
Who can ever defeat you now?
Truth may struggle against the waves for a while today,
But time will change, and one day it will be crowned!
Joy and sorrow are all the same.
Hey...
Male: Step up onto the stage!
Chorus: Step up onto the stage!
Male: Pair up and join together!
Chorus: Pair up and join together!
Men and women,
Look at the shy charms in life!
Male: Family and relations,
Leave it all outside!
Chorus: Leave it all outside!
Male: Once you step outside, it's nothing but fun!
Chorus: Nothing but fun!
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song presents a sharp philosophical and societal contrast between upper-class excess and working-class struggle. It highlights how money can purchase superficial pleasures and luxury ('buying heaven'), whereas emotional bonds and relationships often dissolve like a mirage. Through expressive lyrics, the narrative questions the authenticity of social ties in a world driven by material greed. Simultaneously, the song offers an uplifting message of resilience and self-worth. By metaphorically comparing human talent and integrity to gold that retains its luster even when tested in fire, the lyricist emphasizes that true merit and honesty will eventually triumph over temporary hardship, crowning the individual with success in due time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethiraimai (Antithasis / Contrast)

Angae paarthaal arangerum poigal / Ingae paarthaal kaai kaaitha kaigal

Contrasts the deceptive luxury of the wealthy ('angae arangerum poigal') with the honest calloused hands of working people ('ingae kaai kaaitha kaigal').

Uvamaani (Metaphor)

Uravum kaanal neeraanadhae

Compares human relationships to a mirage ('kaanal neer'), signifying their temporary and deceitful nature in a materialistic world.

Uvamaani (Analogy / Metaphor)

Urugum thangam tharam povadhillai / Neruppil veezhndhum niram povadhillai

Compares inherent talent and truth to pure gold tested in fire, which never loses its intrinsic quality or color despite suffering.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Medai yerungal / Jodi saerungal

Repetition of the initial letter 'M' across adjacent structural words.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Vaazhkai' (1984), directed by C. V. Rajendran, starred legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan alongside Ambika, Jaishankar, and Silk Smitha. The soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, featuring prominent lyrics written by poet Muthulingam.

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