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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kazhutha Kathuna

From Seerum Singangal · 1983

Lyricist
Poonguyilan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Sundar Rajan, Vivek Sarathy
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Seerum Singangal1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kazhutha kaththunaaIf the donkey brays
Chorus :Aa….Chorus: Aa...
Male :Nalla sagunamthaanMale: It is a good omen indeed
Chorus :Aa….Chorus: Aa...
Male
Kaanaang kuruvikkum kaakkaaikkum ingaeHere, for the jungle fowl and the crow
Kalyaanam nadanthaachchuThe wedding has taken place
Pennoda mappilla onnaachchuThe bride and groom have united
Chorus :Takkumukku tikku thaalamChorus: Takkumukku rhythm beat
Idhu eththaanooru ketti maelamThis is the wedding drum beat of some distant village
Male :Haan haanMale: Haan haan
Chorus :Takkumukku tikku thaalamChorus: Takkumukku rhythm beat
Idhu eththaanooru ketti maelamThis is the wedding drum beat of some distant village
Male
Kazhutha kaththunaaIf the donkey brays
Chorus :Aa….Chorus: Aa...
Male :Nalla sagunamthaanMale: It is a good omen indeed
Chorus :Aa….Chorus: Aa...
Male
Kaanaang kuruvikkum kaakkaaikkum ingaeHere, for the jungle fowl and the crow
Kalyaanam nadanthaachchuThe wedding has taken place
Pennoda mappilla onnaachchuThe bride and groom have united
Chorus :Takkumukku tikku thaalamChorus: Takkumukku rhythm beat
Idhu eththaanooru ketti maelamThis is the wedding drum beat of some distant village
Male :Haan haanMale: Haan haan
Chorus :Takkumukku tikku thaalamChorus: Takkumukku rhythm beat
Idhu eththaanooru ketti maelamThis is the wedding drum beat of some distant village
Male
……………….[Instrumental Interlude]
Male
Power cut-tu vanthuduchchuA power cut has occurred
Paaththu podu velakkkaththaanLight the lamp carefully
Iruttula kudumbaththa naththikkaRun the family life in the dark
Oru naalu vittu maru naal kulichchikkaTake a bath every other day
Male
Kattikittu kadakkavumTo stay lying down embracing
Kaalamundu naeramunduThere is time and opportunity
Oorukaap pol thottukittaa sugamunduEnjoying moderately like pickle brings pleasure
Rendu pullaikku mael poranthaa thadaiyunduThere is a restriction if more than two children are born
Male
Idhaithaanpaa arasaangamThis is what, my friend, the government
Radio-vula solluthappaaIs saying on the radio, my friend
Idhaithaanpaa arasaangamThis is what, my friend, the government
Radio-vula solluthappaaIs saying on the radio, my friend
Male
Kazhutha kaththunaaIf the donkey brays
Kazhutha kaththunaaIf the donkey brays
Chorus :Aa….Chorus: Aa...
Male :Nalla sagunamthaanMale: It is a good omen indeed
Chorus :Aa….Chorus: Aa...
Male
Kaanaang kuruvikkum kaakkaaikkum ingaeHere, for the jungle fowl and the crow
Kalyaanam nadanthaachchuThe wedding has taken place
Pennoda mappilla onnaachchuThe bride and groom have united
Chorus :Takkumukku tikku thaalamChorus: Takkumukku rhythm beat
Idhu eththaanooru ketti maelamThis is the wedding drum beat of some distant village
Male :Haan haanMale: Haan haan
Chorus :Takkumukku tikku thaalamChorus: Takkumukku rhythm beat
Idhu eththaanooru ketti maelamThis is the wedding drum beat of some distant village
Male
……………[Instrumental Interlude]
Male
Powder poosunaa avan visiri veesuvaanIf she applies powder, he will fan her
Ava paarththu sirichchaa ivan palla kaattuvaanIf she looks and smiles, he will grin wide
Rambambam powder poosunaa avan visiri veesuvaanRambambam, if she applies powder, he will fan her
Ava paarththu sirichchaa ivan palla kaattuvaanIf she looks and smiles, he will grin wide
Male
Pondaatti pechchu kettuListening to the wife's words
Thoppukkaranam poda poraangaThey are going to do sit-ups to please her
Thannaala kaalukadiyil poonai polaAutomatically at her feet like a cat
Kedakka poraangaThey are going to lie down
Ahahahhaha haa haehhhaeAhahahhaha haa haehhhae
Ahahahhha haa hahhhahaaAhahahhha haa hahhhahaa
Male
Naatta paaththu vaazhkka nadaththungaLead life observing the condition of the country
Uppu velakkooda ippa osanthu pochchungaEven the price of salt has gone up now
Naatta paaththu vaazhkka nadaththungaLead life observing the condition of the country
Uppu velakkooda ippa osanthu pochchungaEven the price of salt has gone up now
Thakkaali rendu roobaa kadaiyil vikkiraanTomatoes are being sold at two rupees in the shop
Ippa arisiyaththaanNow it is rice that
Therthal vanthu kannula kaatturaanThey show to our eyes only when elections come
Nelama purinjukka porupaa pozhaikka therinjikkaUnderstand the situation and learn to live responsibly
Nelama purinjukka porupaa pozhaikka therinjikkaUnderstand the situation and learn to live responsibly

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kazhutha Kaththunaa is a satirical folk song from the 1983 Tamil film Seerum Singangal, penned by lyricist Poonguyilan. Framed around a rural wedding celebration, the song uses humor, local folk expressions, and colloquial Tamil to comment on social norms, domestic life, and civic issues prevalent during the era. The song blends lighthearted satire regarding marital dynamics with practical advice on everyday living. It humorously touches upon government family planning messages broadcast over the radio (such as the two-child norm), managing household life through power outages and inflation, and the political empty promises made during election seasons regarding essential commodities like rice and vegetables.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Angadam

Kazhutha kaththunaa... Nalla sagunamthaan

Uses absurdity by declaring a donkey's braying as a good omen to satirize superstition and social conventions surrounding weddings.

Simile / Uvamai

Thannaala kaalukadiyil poonai pola

Compares a submissive husband lying obediently at his wife's feet to a pet cat.

Metaphor / Uvamaani

Oorukaap pol thottukittaa sugamundu

Compares moderate indulgence in life and marriage to tasting a pinch of pickle.

Alliteration / Monaai

Kaanaang kuruvikkum kaakkaaikkum ingae

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across words creates a playful folk rhythm.

Keep listening

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