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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kattula Thalai

From Solla Marandha Kadhai · 2002

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Vidhu Prathapan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Solla Marandha Kadhai2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aehaehae…Aehaehae…
Ooo oo ho hohho… hohooOoo oo ho hohho… hohoo
Male
Aehaehae…Aehaehae…
Ooo oo ho hohho… hohooOoo oo ho hohho… hohoo
Aehaehae…Aehaehae…
Ooo oo ho hohho… hohooOoo oo ho hohho… hohoo
Chorus
……………………….....
Male
Kaattula thalai aatturaNodding your head in the forest,
Siru aavaaram poovaeO little Aavaaram flower,
Em paattaiyum konjamListen a little to my song as well,
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovaeListen to it, O Aavaaram flower!
Male
Kaattula thalai aatturaNodding your head in the forest,
Siru aavaaram poovaeO little Aavaaram flower,
Em paattaiyum konjamListen a little to my song as well,
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovaeListen to it, O Aavaaram flower!
Male
Manjala poosunadhaaruWho smeared turmeric on you?
Konji chirikka sonnadhum yaaruWho told you to smile so affectionately?
Andhiyil vaanathu vannaWho smiles back giving colorful tunes
Sindhu thandhu sirippadhum yaaruIn the evening sky?
Thendral kaathula kaiya korkkuraHolding hands with the gentle breeze,
Vilaiyaattukku pesura pechulaIn the casual chatter of playful banter...
Male
Kaattula thalai aatturaNodding your head in the forest,
Siru aavaaram poovaeO little Aavaaram flower,
Em paattaiyum konjamListen a little to my song as well,
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovaeListen to it, O Aavaaram flower!
Chorus
Naanae nannae naanae nannaeNaanae nannae naanae nannae
Naanae nannae appadi poduNaanae nannae, hit it like that!
Naanae nannaeNaanae nannae
Thantha nana naanae nannaeThantha nana naanae nannae
Naanae nannae naanae nannaeNaanae nannae naanae nannae
Adi aamaa solluHey, say yes to that!
Naanae nannaeNaanae nannae
Thana thandhaa nannaa nannaaThana thandhaa nannaa nannaa
Hey thana thandhaa nannaa nannaaHey thana thandhaa nannaa nannaa
Male
Mannil vedhachidumYou look at the paddy seed
Nella nee paakkuriyae adiyaeSown in the earth, my girl;
Ingu unna vedhachadhuWill you tell me correctly
Yaarunnu solluviyaa sariyaaWho sowed you here?
Male
Poothu chirikkiraWhen I look at you blooming
Unna naan paakkaiyilae adiyaeAnd smiling, my girl,
Mugam paathu chinunguraI am reminded of a young maiden
Kanni pen nyaabagamae varudhaeBlushing as she looks at a face.
Male
Kaattu poovilumEven in wild flowers,
Thaen kaattum poovilumEven in flowers showing nectar,
Sudhi kootti cherudhaeHarmonizing pitch together,
Nalla paattu kekkudhaeA fine melody is heard.
Pookkalin nanbanum naanaeI am a friend of flowers too,
Adhai naan sollat thaevai illaiI don't need to say that out loud.
Ungalai enakku thandhaalIf you give yourselves to me,
Annai anbukku ellai illaiA mother's love knows no bounds.
Oru vaazhthu paada vaadi neeyumCome, join in to sing a blessing,
Vaaliba koottukkullaeInto the group of youth!
Male
Kaattula thalai aatturaNodding your head in the forest,
Siru aavaaram poovaeO little Aavaaram flower,
Em paattaiyum konjamListen a little to my song as well,
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovaeListen to it, O Aavaaram flower!
Male
Thottathu velachalJust as the harvest from the farm
Pattanam povadhu pol adiyaeGoes to the town, my girl,
Pattikkaattil porandhumIs education just about going to town
Pattanam povadhu thaan padippaaDespite being born in a rural village?
Male
Patta padippidhuDegree education
Panathai kondu varum adiyaeBrings in money, my girl;
Unna petha oorukkadhuWhat will it yield for the village
Ennatha kondu tharum iniyaeThat gave birth to you, sweet one?
Male
Padicha padippinaalFrom the education received,
Nalla panbu valaranumGood virtues must grow.
Andha panbu uyarvadhaalAs those virtues elevate,
Naadu perumai kollanumThe nation should feel proud.
Ungalai paarppavan padippaanWhoever looks at you will learn,
Avan padikka thaevai illaiHe doesn't need formal study.
Unmai unarvugal izhandhaalIf true feelings are lost,
Avar mannukku thaevai illaiThey are of no use to this earth.
Indha vaarthai koora vaadi ennoduCome with me to say these words,
Vaaliba koottukkullaeInto the group of youth!
Male
Kaattula thalai aatturaNodding your head in the forest,
Siru aavaaram poovaeO little Aavaaram flower,
Chorus :Heyy thana nana naaanaHeyy thana nana naaana
Male :Em paattaiyum konjamListen a little to my song as well,
Kettu kolladai aavaaram poovaeListen to it, O Aavaaram flower!
Chorus :Heyy thana nana naaanaHeyy thana nana naaana
Male
Manjala poosunadhaaruWho smeared turmeric on you?
Konji chirikka sonnadhum yaaruWho told you to smile so affectionately?
Andhiyil vaanathu vannaWho smiles back giving colorful tunes
Sindhu thandhu sirippadhum yaaruIn the evening sky?
Thendral kaathula kaiya korkkuraHolding hands with the gentle breeze,
Vilaiyaattukku pesura pechulaIn the casual chatter of playful banter...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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