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Solla Marandha Kadhai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kattula Thalai

From Solla Marandha Kadhai · 2002

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Vidhu Prathapan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Solla Marandha Kadhai
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
1 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aehaehae…
Ooo oo ho hohho… hohoo
Aehaehae…
Ooo oo ho hohho… hohoo
Aehaehae…
Ooo oo ho hohho… hohoo
………………………..
Kaattula thalai aattura
Siru aavaaram poovae
Em paattaiyum konjam
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovae
Kaattula thalai aattura
Siru aavaaram poovae
Em paattaiyum konjam
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovae
Manjala poosunadhaaru
Konji chirikka sonnadhum yaaru
Andhiyil vaanathu vanna
Sindhu thandhu sirippadhum yaaru
Thendral kaathula kaiya korkkura
Vilaiyaattukku pesura pechula
Kaattula thalai aattura
Siru aavaaram poovae
Em paattaiyum konjam
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovae
Naanae nannae naanae nannae
Naanae nannae appadi podu
Naanae nannae
Thantha nana naanae nannae
Naanae nannae naanae nannae
Adi aamaa sollu
Naanae nannae
Thana thandhaa nannaa nannaa
Hey thana thandhaa nannaa nannaa
Mannil vedhachidum
Nella nee paakkuriyae adiyae
Ingu unna vedhachadhu
Yaarunnu solluviyaa sariyaa
Poothu chirikkira
Unna naan paakkaiyilae adiyae
Mugam paathu chinungura
Kanni pen nyaabagamae varudhae
Kaattu poovilum
Thaen kaattum poovilum
Sudhi kootti cherudhae
Nalla paattu kekkudhae
Pookkalin nanbanum naanae
Adhai naan sollat thaevai illai
Ungalai enakku thandhaal
Annai anbukku ellai illai
Oru vaazhthu paada vaadi neeyum
Vaaliba koottukkullae
Kaattula thalai aattura
Siru aavaaram poovae
Em paattaiyum konjam
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovae
Thottathu velachal
Pattanam povadhu pol adiyae
Pattikkaattil porandhum
Pattanam povadhu thaan padippaa
Patta padippidhu
Panathai kondu varum adiyae
Unna petha oorukkadhu
Ennatha kondu tharum iniyae
Padicha padippinaal
Nalla panbu valaranum
Andha panbu uyarvadhaal
Naadu perumai kollanum
Ungalai paarppavan padippaan
Avan padikka thaevai illai
Unmai unarvugal izhandhaal
Avar mannukku thaevai illai
Indha vaarthai koora vaadi ennodu
Vaaliba koottukkullae
Kaattula thalai aattura
Siru aavaaram poovae
Chorus :Heyy thana nana naaana
Male :Em paattaiyum konjam
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovae
Chorus :Heyy thana nana naaana
Manjala poosunadhaaru
Konji chirikka sonnadhum yaaru
Andhiyil vaanathu vanna
Sindhu thandhu sirippadhum yaaru
Thendral kaathula kaiya korkkura
Vilaiyaattukku pesura pechula
Eh-heh-heh...
Oh-oh oo ho ho-ho... ho-hoo
Eh-heh-heh...
Oh-oh oo ho ho-ho... ho-hoo
Eh-heh-heh...
Oh-oh oo ho ho-ho... ho-hoo
...
Nodding your head in the wild,
O little aavaram flower,
listen to my song for a moment,
listen to me, O aavaram flower!
Nodding your head in the wild,
O little aavaram flower,
listen to my song for a moment,
listen to me, O aavaram flower!
Who bathed you in yellow turmeric?
Who asked you to laugh so affectionately?
Spreading the colours of the evening sky,
who is it that gifts a melody and smiles?
Holding hands with the gentle breeze,
and chattering in playful whispers...
Nodding your head in the wild,
O little aavaram flower,
listen to my song for a moment,
listen to me, O aavaram flower!
Naane nanne naane nanne
Naane nanne, keep the beat going!
Naane nanne
Thandha nana naane nanne
Naane nanne naane nanne
Come on, say yes!
Naane nanne
Thana thanthaa nannaa nannaa
Hey thana thanthaa nannaa nannaa
The paddy sown in the soil,
you watch it grow, my dear;
but who sowed you here in the wild,
can you tell me that truly?
When I see you blooming
and smiling bright, my dear,
I am reminded of a young girl
who blushes coyly looking at someone's face!
Even among the wild flowers,
and the flowers brimming with honey,
harmonies join in perfect tune,
and a lovely song is heard!
I am a true friend to flowers,
I do not even need to say it.
By giving all of you to me,
Mother Nature's love knows no bounds!
Come along to sing a cheerful song,
into this circle of youth!
Nodding your head in the wild,
O little aavaram flower,
listen to my song for a moment,
listen to me, O aavaram flower!
When crops fail,
people rush to the city, my dear;
but after being born in a village,
is running off to the city all that learning means?
This college degree
might bring in money, my dear,
but for the town that gave you birth,
what will it ever bring from now on?
From the education one receives,
good character should grow;
and as that character rises high,
the nation should take pride!
Anyone who looks at you flowers will learn;
he has no need to read books.
If people lose their true feelings,
this land has no need for them!
Come with me to say these words,
into this circle of youth!
Nodding your head in the wild,
O little aavaram flower,
Chorus: Hey thana nana naana
Male: Listen to my song for a moment,
listen to me, O aavaram flower!
Chorus: Hey thana nana naana
Who bathed you in yellow turmeric?
Who asked you to laugh so affectionately?
Spreading the colours of the evening sky,
who is it that gifts a melody and smiles?
Holding hands with the gentle breeze,
and chattering in playful whispers...
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kaattula Thalai Aattura' from the movie 'Solla Marandha Kadhai' (2002) is a rustic, folk-inspired melody addressed to the yellow Aavaaram flower. The protagonist uses nature as a canvas to express deep moral reflections on life, education, and village culture. He draws parallels between the innate beauty of wild flora and the innocent charm of rural women. Beyond simple aesthetic appreciation, the song transitions into a social commentary on education and moral values. The protagonist highlights how real education should not merely serve as a tool to move to cities and earn money, but should foster virtue, character, and love for one's roots and motherland.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe (Address to nature)

Kaattula thalai aattura Siru aavaaram poovae

Addressing the 'Aavaaram poove' (Aavaaram flower) as an active listener and dialogue partner throughout the song.

Personification

Thendral kaathula kaiya korkkura

Attributing human traits like smiling ('sirippadhum yaaru') and holding hands ('kaiya korkkura') to flowers and breezes.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming in Tamil)

Mannil vedhachidum / Ingu unna vedhachadhu

Rhyming of second consonant letters across lines such as 'vedhachidum' / 'vedhachadhu'.

Metaphor

Manjala poosunadhaaru

Comparing the natural bloom of yellow flowers to turmeric application ('Manjala poosunadhaaru').

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack of 'Solla Marandha Kadhai' was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, directed by Cheran. The movie was adapted from the famous Tamil novel 'Thalaikeezh Vigithangal' written by Bama / R. Parthasarathy. Ilaiyaraaja himself penned the lyrics for this track, weaving folk rhythms ('Oppari' and 'Naattupura Paattu' flavors) with philosophical reflections.

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