Kattil Illai Meththai Illai
From Pongi Varum Kaveri · 1989
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pongi Varum Kaveri1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kattil illa methai illa | There is no bed, there is no mattress |
| Kaavalukku yaarumilla | There is no one around to guard |
| Pottu vecha chinna pulla | The young girl wearing a bindi |
| Kaathirukku veetu kulla | Is waiting inside the house |
| Female | |
| Raagam pottu paada venum | You should sing with a beautiful tune |
| Thaalam pottu kooda venum | You should join in by keeping the rhythm |
| Mappilla malligapoo manakkala | Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet |
| Unnai vida yaarumae | Other than you, no one else |
| Enakkippo pudikala | I do not like right now |
| Female | |
| Ippo neenga thalai asaichaa | If you nod your head right now |
| Thappaama naan virunthu vaippen | Without fail, I will host a grand feast for you |
| Enna venum ponnu kitta kelunga | Ask the girl whatever you want |
| Machaan mela aasai pattu | Having fallen in love with my beloved groom |
| Vachen naanum pulli onnu | I too have set my mind on you |
| Acharam thaan seekirama podunga | Give me the token of assurance quickly |
| Female | |
| Nenachatha pola | Just as envisioned |
| Nerunganum neenga | You must come closer to me |
| Adikadi paarka avasiyam vaanga | Do come often to see me |
| Ada enna neenga muzhikireenga | Oh, why are you staring blankly? |
| Chinna maappilla | My young groom |
| Female | |
| Kattil illa methai illa | There is no bed, there is no mattress |
| Kaavalukku yaarumilla | There is no one around to guard |
| Pottu vecha chinna pulla | The young girl wearing a bindi |
| Kaathirukku veetu kulla | Is waiting inside the house |
| Female | |
| Raagam pottu paada venum | You should sing with a beautiful tune |
| Thaalam pottu kooda venum | You should join in by keeping the rhythm |
| Mappilla malligapoo manakkala | Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet |
| Unnai vida yaarumae | Other than you, no one else |
| Enakkippo pudikala..aa.. | I do not like right now |
| Female | |
| Pathamadai paai virichu | Spreading a fine Pathamadai mat |
| Pavala malli poovirichu | Shower coral jasmine flowers over it |
| Athaanodu sernthirukka aasai thaan | It is my deep desire to be united with my lover |
| Sothaaga thaan enna nenachu | Considering me as your true treasure |
| Kothaaga thaan dhinam anaichu | Embracing me tightly every single day |
| Mothamaaga vaikka venum paasam thaan | You must bestow all your affection upon me |
| Female | |
| Mungi mungi neenga | Diving deep into the waters again and again |
| Muthedukka venum | You must retrieve precious pearls |
| Mutheduthu maalai | Making a necklace out of those pearls |
| Katti thara venum | You must weave and give it to me |
| Summa neenga irupathu thaan | Just sitting idle like this |
| Enna maappilla | What is this, my groom? |
| Female | |
| Kattil illa methai illa | There is no bed, there is no mattress |
| Kaavalukku yaarumilla | There is no one around to guard |
| Pottu vecha chinna pulla | The young girl wearing a bindi |
| Kaathirukku veetu kulla | Is waiting inside the house |
| Female | |
| Raagam pottu paada venum | You should sing with a beautiful tune |
| Thaalam pottu kooda venum | You should join in by keeping the rhythm |
| Mappilla malligapoo manakkala | Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet |
| Unnai vida yaarumae | Other than you, no one else |
| Enakkippo pudikala | I do not like right now |
கட்டில் இல்ல
மெத்தை இல்ல காவலுக்கு
யாருமில்ல பொட்டு வச்ச
சின்ன புள்ள காத்திருக்கு
வீட்டுகுள்ள
There is no bed, there is no mattress
There is no one around to guard
The young girl wearing a bindi
Is waiting inside the house
ராகம் போட்டு
பாட வேணும் தாளம்
போட்டு கூட வேணும்
மாப்பிள்ள மல்லிகைபூ
மணக்கல உன்னை விட
யாருமே எனக்கிப்போ
புடிக்கல
You should sing with a beautiful tune
You should join in by keeping the rhythm
Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet
Other than you, no one else
I do not like right now
இப்போ நீங்க
தலை அசைச்சா தப்பாம
நான் விருந்து வைப்பேன்
என்ன வேணும் பொண்ணு
கிட்ட கேளுங்க மச்சான்
மேல ஆசை பட்டு வச்சேன்
நானும் புள்ளி ஒன்னு
அச்சாரம் தான் சீக்கிரமா
போடுங்க
If you nod your head right now
Without fail, I will host a grand feast for you
Ask the girl whatever you want
Having fallen in love with my beloved groom
I too have set my mind on you
Give me the token of assurance quickly
நெனச்சத போல
நெருங்கனும் நீங்க அடிக்கடி
பார்க்க அவசியம் வாங்க
அட என்ன நீங்க முழிக்கிறீங்க
சின்ன மாப்பிள்ள
Just as envisioned
You must come closer to me
Do come often to see me
Oh, why are you staring blankly?
My young groom
கட்டில் இல்ல
மெத்தை இல்ல காவலுக்கு
யாருமில்ல பொட்டு வச்ச
சின்ன புள்ள காத்திருக்கு
வீட்டுகுள்ள
There is no bed, there is no mattress
There is no one around to guard
The young girl wearing a bindi
Is waiting inside the house
ராகம் போட்டு பாட
வேணும் தாளம் போட்டு கூட
வேணும் மாப்பிள்ள மல்லிகைபூ
மணக்கல உன்னை விட யாருமே
எனக்கிப்போ புடிக்கல
You should sing with a beautiful tune
You should join in by keeping the rhythm
Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet
Other than you, no one else
I do not like right now
பத்தமடை பாய்
விரிச்சு பவள மல்லி பூ
விரிச்சு அத்தானோட
சேர்ந்திருக்க ஆசை தான்
சொத்தாக தான் என்ன
நெனச்சு கொத்தாக தான்
தினம் அணைச்சு மொத்தமாக
வைக்க வேணும் பாசம் தான்
Spreading a fine Pathamadai mat
Shower coral jasmine flowers over it
It is my deep desire to be united with my lover
Considering me as your true treasure
Embracing me tightly every single day
You must bestow all your affection upon me
முங்கி முங்கி
நீங்க முத்தெடுக்க வேணும்
முத்தெடுத்து மாலை கட்டி
தர வேணும் சும்மா நீங்க
இருப்பது தான் என்ன
மாப்பிள்ள
Diving deep into the waters again and again
You must retrieve precious pearls
Making a necklace out of those pearls
You must weave and give it to me
Just sitting idle like this
What is this, my groom?
கட்டில் இல்ல
மெத்தை இல்ல காவலுக்கு
யாருமில்ல பொட்டு வச்ச
சின்ன புள்ள காத்திருக்கு
வீட்டுகுள்ள
There is no bed, there is no mattress
There is no one around to guard
The young girl wearing a bindi
Is waiting inside the house
ராகம் போட்டு
பாட வேணும் தாளம்
போட்டு கூட வேணும்
மாப்பிள்ள மல்லிகைபூ
மணக்கல உன்னை விட
யாருமே எனக்கிப்போ
புடிக்கல
You should sing with a beautiful tune
You should join in by keeping the rhythm
Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet
Other than you, no one else
I do not like right now
Kattil illa methai illa
There is no bed, there is no mattress
Kaavalukku yaarumilla
There is no one around to guard
Pottu vecha chinna pulla
The young girl wearing a bindi
Kaathirukku veetu kulla
Is waiting inside the house
Raagam pottu paada venum
You should sing with a beautiful tune
Thaalam pottu kooda venum
You should join in by keeping the rhythm
Mappilla malligapoo manakkala
Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet
Unnai vida yaarumae
Other than you, no one else
Enakkippo pudikala
I do not like right now
Ippo neenga thalai asaichaa
If you nod your head right now
Thappaama naan virunthu vaippen
Without fail, I will host a grand feast for you
Enna venum ponnu kitta kelunga
Ask the girl whatever you want
Machaan mela aasai pattu
Having fallen in love with my beloved groom
Vachen naanum pulli onnu
I too have set my mind on you
Acharam thaan seekirama podunga
Give me the token of assurance quickly
Nenachatha pola
Just as envisioned
Nerunganum neenga
You must come closer to me
Adikadi paarka avasiyam vaanga
Do come often to see me
Ada enna neenga muzhikireenga
Oh, why are you staring blankly?
Chinna maappilla
My young groom
Kattil illa methai illa
There is no bed, there is no mattress
Kaavalukku yaarumilla
There is no one around to guard
Pottu vecha chinna pulla
The young girl wearing a bindi
Kaathirukku veetu kulla
Is waiting inside the house
Raagam pottu paada venum
You should sing with a beautiful tune
Thaalam pottu kooda venum
You should join in by keeping the rhythm
Mappilla malligapoo manakkala
Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet
Unnai vida yaarumae
Other than you, no one else
Enakkippo pudikala..aa..
I do not like right now
Pathamadai paai virichu
Spreading a fine Pathamadai mat
Pavala malli poovirichu
Shower coral jasmine flowers over it
Athaanodu sernthirukka aasai thaan
It is my deep desire to be united with my lover
Sothaaga thaan enna nenachu
Considering me as your true treasure
Kothaaga thaan dhinam anaichu
Embracing me tightly every single day
Mothamaaga vaikka venum paasam thaan
You must bestow all your affection upon me
Mungi mungi neenga
Diving deep into the waters again and again
Muthedukka venum
You must retrieve precious pearls
Mutheduthu maalai
Making a necklace out of those pearls
Katti thara venum
You must weave and give it to me
Summa neenga irupathu thaan
Just sitting idle like this
Enna maappilla
What is this, my groom?
Kattil illa methai illa
There is no bed, there is no mattress
Kaavalukku yaarumilla
There is no one around to guard
Pottu vecha chinna pulla
The young girl wearing a bindi
Kaathirukku veetu kulla
Is waiting inside the house
Raagam pottu paada venum
You should sing with a beautiful tune
Thaalam pottu kooda venum
You should join in by keeping the rhythm
Mappilla malligapoo manakkala
Groom, the jasmine flower is not fragrant yet
Unnai vida yaarumae
Other than you, no one else
Enakkippo pudikala
I do not like right now
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kattil illa methai illa is a playful and romantic folk-style song from the movie Pongi Varum Kaveri (1989), penned by Gangai Amaran. The song captures the lighthearted teasing of a young woman expressing her deep affection for her lover. Waiting for him inside a quiet house, she coaxingly invites him to sing, dance, and step closer to seal their bond of love with a formal commitment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Pathamadai paai virichu / Pavala malli poovirichu”
Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound in 'Pathamadai' and 'Pavala' creates a rhythmic folk cadence.
Metaphor (Uruvakam)
“Mungi mungi neenga / Muthedukka venum”
Diving deep to retrieve pearls is used as a metaphor for discovering the depths of love and intimacy.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kattil illa methai illa / Kaavalukku yaarumilla”
Rhyming of line endings 'methai illa' and 'yaarumilla' enhances the musicality of the opening refrain.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song incorporates cultural imagery typical of rural Tamil Nadu, such as the famous 'Pathamadai paai' (fine woven reed mats from Pathamadai) and 'Pavala malli' (coral jasmine), which are traditionally associated with marriage, romance, and auspicious beginnings.
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