Kettaalum Kettadhu Ippadi Kettudakkudaadhu
From Kalai Arasi · 1963
- Lyricist
- N. M. Muthukkoothan
- Singer
- A. G. Rathnamala
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kalai Arasi1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu | Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly |
| Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru | The town should not fall into ruin like this |
| Kettaalum kettudhu | Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined |
| Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu | It should not get ruined like this |
| Ada kaeli pesum kudumi kullaa | Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft |
| Neenga yaaru | Who do you think you are? |
| Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… |
| Cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… |
| Female | |
| Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu | Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly |
| Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru | The town should not fall into ruin like this |
| Kettaalum kettudhu | Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined |
| Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu | It should not get ruined like this |
| Ada kaeli pesum kudumi kullaa | Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft |
| Neenga yaaru | Who do you think you are? |
| Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… |
| Cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… |
| Female | |
| Ettaadha pazhathai paarthu | Looking at the fruit that is out of reach |
| Kottaavi viduraaru | He sits yawning in longing |
| Edhaiyedhaiyo nenachi | Preoccupied with useless thoughts |
| Yengi saagiraaru | He pines away in despair |
| Female | |
| Ettaadha pazhathai paarthu | Looking at the fruit that is out of reach |
| Kottaavi viduraaru | He sits yawning in longing |
| Edhaiyedhaiyo nenachi | Preoccupied with useless thoughts |
| Yengi saagiraaru | He pines away in despair |
| Muttaalum buthisaali vesham poduraaru | Even a fool pretends to be a wise person |
| Muttaalum buthisaali vesham poduraaru | Even a fool pretends to be a wise person |
| Iraval moolaikkaarar iraval moolaikkaarar | He is a person with borrowed brains, borrowed brains |
| Ulladhai sonnaa moraichi paakkuraaru | If you tell him the truth, he glares at you furiously |
| Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… |
| Cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… |
| Female | |
| Paattu kettai rasippadhu pol | Pretending to appreciate and enjoy music |
| Pagatturaaru | He flaunts and shows off |
| Kaasu panathai neetti kaatti | By dangling money and wealth in front |
| Aalai mayakkuraaru | He tries to charm and deceive people |
| Ottai odasal kooda serndhu suthuraaru | He hangs out with worthless, broken companions |
| Oorai suthuraaru | Wandering mindlessly around the town |
| Ippa ozhaikka manamillaamae | Now having no desire to do honest work |
| Sutha oodhaariyaanaaru | He has turned into a total spendthrift |
| Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… |
| Cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… |
| Female | |
| Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu | Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly |
| Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru | The town should not fall into ruin like this |
| Kettaalum kettudhu | Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined |
| Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu | It should not get ruined like this |
| Ada kaeli pesum kudumi kullaa | Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft |
| Neenga yaaru | Who do you think you are? |
| Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… | Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… |
| Cha… cha… cha…cha | Cha… cha… cha…cha |
கெட்டாலும்......கெட்டாலும் கெட்டுது
இப்படிக் கெட்டுடக்கூடாது ஊரு
கெட்டாலும் கெட்டுது
இப்படிக் கெட்டுடக்கூடாது
அட கேலி பேசும் குடுமி குல்லா
நீங்க யாரு
சே......சே.......சே........சே........சே........சே....
சே........சே........சே....
Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly
The town should not fall into ruin like this
Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined
It should not get ruined like this
Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft
Who do you think you are?
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
கெட்டாலும்......கெட்டாலும் கெட்டுது
இப்படிக் கெட்டுடக்கூடாது ஊரு
கெட்டாலும் கெட்டுது
இப்படிக் கெட்டுடக்கூடாது
அட கேலி பேசும் குடுமி குல்லா
நீங்க யாரு
சே......சே.......சே........சே........சே........சே....
சே........சே........சே....
Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly
The town should not fall into ruin like this
Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined
It should not get ruined like this
Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft
Who do you think you are?
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
எட்டாதப் பழத்தைப் பார்த்து
கொட்டாவி விடுறாரு
எதை எதையோ நினைச்சு
ஏங்கிச் சாகிறாரு
Looking at the fruit that is out of reach
He sits yawning in longing
Preoccupied with useless thoughts
He pines away in despair
எட்டாதப் பழத்தைப் பார்த்து
கொட்டாவி விடுறாரு
எதை எதையோ நினைச்சு
ஏங்கிச் சாகிறாரு
முட்டாளும் புத்திசாலி வேஷம் போடுறாரு
முட்டாளும் புத்திசாலி வேஷம் போடுறாரு
இரவல் மூளைக்காரர் இரவல் மூளைக்காரர்
உள்ளதைச் சொன்னா மொறைச்சிப் பாக்குறாரு
சே......சே.......சே........சே........சே........சே....
சே........சே........சே....
Looking at the fruit that is out of reach
He sits yawning in longing
Preoccupied with useless thoughts
He pines away in despair
Even a fool pretends to be a wise person
Even a fool pretends to be a wise person
He is a person with borrowed brains, borrowed brains
If you tell him the truth, he glares at you furiously
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
பாட்டைக் கேட்டு ரசிப்பது போல்
பகட்டுறாரு
காசு பணத்தைக் காட்டி
ஆளை மயக்குறாரு
ஓட்டை ஒடசல் கூட சேர்ந்து சுத்துறாரு
ஊரைச் சுத்துறாரு
இப்ப ஒழைக்க மனமில்லாமே
சுத்த ஊதாரியானாரு
சே......சே.......சே........சே........சே........சே....
சே........சே........சே....
Pretending to appreciate and enjoy music
He flaunts and shows off
By dangling money and wealth in front
He tries to charm and deceive people
He hangs out with worthless, broken companions
Wandering mindlessly around the town
Now having no desire to do honest work
He has turned into a total spendthrift
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
கெட்டாலும்......கெட்டாலும் கெட்டுது
இப்படிக் கெட்டுடக்கூடாது ஊரு
கெட்டாலும் கெட்டுது
இப்படிக் கெட்டுடக்கூடாது
அட கேலி பேசும் குடுமி குல்லா
நீங்க யாரு
சே......சே.......சே........சே........சே........சே....
சே........சே........சே....
Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly
The town should not fall into ruin like this
Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined
It should not get ruined like this
Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft
Who do you think you are?
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…cha
Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu
Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly
Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru
The town should not fall into ruin like this
Kettaalum kettudhu
Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined
Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu
It should not get ruined like this
Ada kaeli pesum kudumi kullaa
Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft
Neenga yaaru
Who do you think you are?
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu
Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly
Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru
The town should not fall into ruin like this
Kettaalum kettudhu
Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined
Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu
It should not get ruined like this
Ada kaeli pesum kudumi kullaa
Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft
Neenga yaaru
Who do you think you are?
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Ettaadha pazhathai paarthu
Looking at the fruit that is out of reach
Kottaavi viduraaru
He sits yawning in longing
Edhaiyedhaiyo nenachi
Preoccupied with useless thoughts
Yengi saagiraaru
He pines away in despair
Ettaadha pazhathai paarthu
Looking at the fruit that is out of reach
Kottaavi viduraaru
He sits yawning in longing
Edhaiyedhaiyo nenachi
Preoccupied with useless thoughts
Yengi saagiraaru
He pines away in despair
Muttaalum buthisaali vesham poduraaru
Even a fool pretends to be a wise person
Muttaalum buthisaali vesham poduraaru
Even a fool pretends to be a wise person
Iraval moolaikkaarar iraval moolaikkaarar
He is a person with borrowed brains, borrowed brains
Ulladhai sonnaa moraichi paakkuraaru
If you tell him the truth, he glares at you furiously
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Paattu kettai rasippadhu pol
Pretending to appreciate and enjoy music
Pagatturaaru
He flaunts and shows off
Kaasu panathai neetti kaatti
By dangling money and wealth in front
Aalai mayakkuraaru
He tries to charm and deceive people
Ottai odasal kooda serndhu suthuraaru
He hangs out with worthless, broken companions
Oorai suthuraaru
Wandering mindlessly around the town
Ippa ozhaikka manamillaamae
Now having no desire to do honest work
Sutha oodhaariyaanaaru
He has turned into a total spendthrift
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…
Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu
Even if things get ruined... they have gotten ruined terribly
Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru
The town should not fall into ruin like this
Kettaalum kettudhu
Even if it gets ruined, it is ruined
Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu
It should not get ruined like this
Ada kaeli pesum kudumi kullaa
Hey, you mocking fellow wearing a cap over your tuft
Neenga yaaru
Who do you think you are?
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha… cha… cha… cha…
Cha… cha… cha…cha
Cha… cha… cha…cha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical track from the 1963 film Kalai Arasi critiques pretentiousness, laziness, and moral degradation in society. The narrator mocks an arrogant, foolish character who pretends to be wise and wealthy while depending on borrowed intellect and deceitful charm. Instead of earning an honest living, he spends his time pining over unachievable desires, hanging out with bad company, and squandering resources as a spendthrift.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kettaalum… kettaalum kettudhu / Ippadi kettuda koodaadhu ooru”
The second consonant 'tt' matches across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic symmetry.
Metaphor / Proverbial Allusion
“Ettaadha pazhathai paarthu / Kottaavi viduraaru”
Refers to the Tamil proverb 'Ettaadha pazhathukku kottaavi', symbolizing longing for something impossible to reach.
Irony / Satire
“Muttaalum buthisaali vesham poduraaru”
Satirizes a foolish person wearing a facade of intelligence ('iraval moolaikkaarar' - borrowed brains).
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Ottai odasal kooda serndhu suthuraaru / Oorai suthuraaru”
Repetition of initial consonants like 'O' in 'Ottai', 'Odasal', and 'Oorai'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kalai Arasi (1963), starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi, is widely regarded as one of the earliest sci-fi films in Indian cinema, featuring themes of alien abduction and space travel alongside traditional social satire and musical numbers.
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