Kettikari Vaadi Kettikari
From Aagaya Thamaraigal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Thirupathooran
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Aagaya Thamaraigal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari | Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl! |
| Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi | Listen to the story, listen to it! |
| Thakka badhil sollalaennaa | If you do not give a proper answer, |
| Kattupattu odanumdi | You must obey and run away! |
| Kettikkaarai saanthu pottukkaari | Clever girl wearing a tilak on her forehead! |
| Chorus | |
| Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari | Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl! |
| Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi | Listen to the story, listen to it! |
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Sela kattaatha pulla | A girl who does not wear a saree, |
| Yaezhettu peththa pulla | A girl who birthed seven or eight, |
| Oororam thoppukkulla | Inside the grove at the edge of the village, |
| Jodiyodu aadum pulla | A girl who dances with a partner. |
| Female | |
| Sela kattaatha pulla | A girl who does not wear a saree, |
| Yaezhettu peththa pulla | A girl who birthed seven or eight, |
| Oororam thoppukkulla | Inside the grove at the edge of the village, |
| Jodiyodu aadum pulla | A girl who dances with a partner. |
| Yaaru pulla adi chinnapulla | Who is that girl, hey young girl? |
| Nee sollu pulla | You tell us, girl! |
| Female | |
| Adhu naanu illa | That is not me! |
| Chorus :Hahaah hahaah | Chorus: Hahaah hahaah |
| Female | |
| Sela kattaatha pulla | A girl who does not wear a saree, |
| Yaezhettu peththa pulla | A girl who birthed seven or eight, |
| Oororam thoppukkulla | Inside the grove at the edge of the village, |
| Jodiyodu aadum pulla kelu pulla | A girl dancing with a partner, listen girl! |
| Adhu chella pulla…..anil pulla | That darling girl... is a squirrel! |
| Chorus | |
| Pudhiru keththa badhila sollala | If she does not answer the riddle, |
| Pudichchi vachchu kottungadi | Catch her and beat her up! |
| Kazhutha mela yaeththi vachchu | Make her ride on a donkey, |
| Karumpulli sempulli kuththungadi | And mark her with black and red spots! |
| Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae yae…. | Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae yae... |
| Chorus | |
| Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari | Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl! |
| Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi | Listen to the story, listen to it! |
| Thakka badhil sollalaennaa | If you do not give a proper answer, |
| Kattupattu odanumdi | You must obey and run away! |
| Kettikkaarai saanthu pottukkaari | Clever girl wearing a tilak on her forehead! |
| Chorus | |
| Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari | Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl! |
| Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi | Listen to the story, listen to it! |
| Female | |
| Mullu mullukkulla | Amidst the sharp thorns, |
| Mukkulamum thanddukkulla | Inside three ponds and stems, |
| Velli madalukkulla venkala katti | A bronze lump inside a silver sheath, |
| Idha solli vilakkadi senbaga kutti | Solve and explain this, Senbaga girl! |
| Female | |
| Engae innoru tharam sollu | Where is it? Say it one more time! |
| Female | |
| Mullu mullukkulla | Amidst the sharp thorns, |
| Mukkulamum thanddukkulla | Inside three ponds and stems, |
| Velli madalukkulla venkala katti | A bronze lump inside a silver sheath, |
| Idha solli vilakkadi senbaga kutti | Solve and explain this, Senbaga girl! |
| Female | |
| Appanum soriyanadi aaththaa sadaichchiyadi | The father is prickly, the mother has matted hair, |
| Pullainga ellaamae sakkarakkatti | All the children are blocks of sugar! |
| Adi pottikku vanthavalae vallikkutti | Hey Valli girl who came to compete! |
| Vidukadhaiyellaam pazhuththa pazham nee | You who are ripe in solving riddles, |
| Viduththathu thaanae palaapazham palaapazham | What was posed is indeed a jackfruit, a jackfruit! |
| Female | |
| Adi aaththaadi sariyaa solliputtaadiyo | Oh my goodness, she answered it correctly! |
| Female :Ippa en vidukathaikku badhil sollungadi | Female: Now answer my riddle, girls! |
| Female | |
| Kalyaanam aana ponnu karuththapulla | A married dark-skinned girl, |
| Ava kaiya pudichchaan oruththan purushanilla | A man held her hand, but he is not her husband! |
| Kalyaanam aana ponnu karuththapulla | A married dark-skinned girl, |
| Ava kaiya pudichchaan oruththan purushanilla | A man held her hand, but he is not her husband! |
| Sambanthapattaa avalum marukkala | She did not refuse as it was customary, |
| Sangadappattaa veru vazhiyilla | Even if troubled, there was no other choice. |
| Female | |
| Avan thottu pidichchaan | He touched and held her hand, |
| Ava vittu koduththaa | She yielded and gave in. |
| Pazhakkamaagi vanthavan | One who came out of habit, |
| Ada vazhakkam pola thanthavan | Oh, one who gave as usual! |
| Yaar avan yaar avan yaar avan…. | Who is he? Who is he? Who is he? |
| Female | |
| Ada idhu theriyaathaakkum | Oh, do you not know this? |
| Female :Kallapurushan | Female: Secret lover! |
| Female :Adachee… | Female: Oh shame! |
| Kadhaiya maaththi sollaathadi idikkaporaen | Do not twist the story, or I will strike you! |
| Antha karuththapulla kaiya thottavan | The one who touched that dark girl's hand, |
| Valaiyalkaaran…..valaiyalkaaran | Is the bangle seller... the bangle seller! |
| Female | |
| Pudhiru keththa badhila sollala | If you do not give a suitable answer to the riddle, |
| Pudichchi vachchu kottuvendi | I will catch you and beat you up! |
| Kazhutha mela yaeththi vachchu | Make you ride on a donkey, |
| Karumpulli sempulli kuththuvendi….haan… | And mark you with black and red spots!... haan... |
கெட்டிக்காரி வாடி கெட்டிக்காரி
கேட்டுக்கோடி கத கேட்டுக்கோடி
தக்க பதில் சொல்லலேன்னா
கட்டுப்பட்டு ஓடனும்டி
கெட்டிக்காரி சாந்துப் பொட்டுக்காரி...
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Listen to the story, listen to it!
If you do not give a proper answer,
You must obey and run away!
Clever girl wearing a tilak on her forehead!
கெட்டிக்காரி வாடி கெட்டிக்காரி
கேட்டுக்கோடி கத கேட்டுக்கோடி
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Listen to the story, listen to it!
...........................
...
சேலக் கட்டாத புள்ள
ஏழெட்டு பெத்த புள்ள
ஊரோரம் தோப்புக்குள்ள
ஜோடியோடு ஆடும் புள்ள
A girl who does not wear a saree,
A girl who birthed seven or eight,
Inside the grove at the edge of the village,
A girl who dances with a partner.
சேலக் கட்டாத புள்ள
ஏழெட்டு பெத்த புள்ள
ஊரோரம் தோப்புக்குள்ள
ஜோடியோடு ஆடும் புள்ள
யாரு புள்ள அடி சின்னப்புள்ள
நீ சொல்லு புள்ள...
A girl who does not wear a saree,
A girl who birthed seven or eight,
Inside the grove at the edge of the village,
A girl who dances with a partner.
Who is that girl, hey young girl?
You tell us, girl!
அது நானு இல்ல
குழு :
ஹஹாஹ் ஹஹாஹ்
That is not me!
Chorus: Hahaah hahaah
சேலக் கட்டாத புள்ள
ஏழெட்டு பெத்த புள்ள
ஊரோரம் தோப்புக்குள்ள
ஜோடியோடு ஆடும் புள்ள கேளு புள்ள
அது செல்லப் புள்ள.....அணில் புள்ள
A girl who does not wear a saree,
A girl who birthed seven or eight,
Inside the grove at the edge of the village,
A girl dancing with a partner, listen girl!
That darling girl... is a squirrel!
புதிரு கேத்த பதில சொல்லல
புடிச்சி வச்சு கொட்டுங்கடி
கழுத மேல ஏத்தி வச்சு
கரும்புள்ளி செம்புள்ளி குத்துங்கடி......
ஏஹே ஏஹே ஏஹே ஏஹே ஏ.....
If she does not answer the riddle,
Catch her and beat her up!
Make her ride on a donkey,
And mark her with black and red spots!
Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae yae...
கெட்டிக்காரி வாடி கெட்டிக்காரி
கேட்டுக்கோடி கத கேட்டுக்கோடி
தக்க பதில் சொல்லலேன்னா
கட்டுப்பட்டு ஓடனும்டி
கெட்டிக்காரி சாந்துப் பொட்டுக்காரி...
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Listen to the story, listen to it!
If you do not give a proper answer,
You must obey and run away!
Clever girl wearing a tilak on her forehead!
கெட்டிக்காரி வாடி கெட்டிக்காரி
கேட்டுக்கோடி கத கேட்டுக்கோடி
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Listen to the story, listen to it!
முள்ளு முள்ளுக்குள்ள
முக்குளமும் தண்டுக்குள்ள
வெள்ளி மடலுக்குள்ள வெண்கல கட்டி
இத சொல்லி விளக்கடி செண்பக குட்டி
Amidst the sharp thorns,
Inside three ponds and stems,
A bronze lump inside a silver sheath,
Solve and explain this, Senbaga girl!
எங்கே இன்னொரு தரம் சொல்லு......
Where is it? Say it one more time!
முள்ளு முள்ளுக்குள்ள
முக்குளமும் தண்டுக்குள்ள
வெள்ளி மடலுக்குள்ள வெண்கல கட்டி
இத சொல்லி விளக்கடி செண்பக குட்டி
Amidst the sharp thorns,
Inside three ponds and stems,
A bronze lump inside a silver sheath,
Solve and explain this, Senbaga girl!
அப்பனும் சொரியனடி ஆத்தா சடைச்சியடி
புள்ளைங்க எல்லாமே சக்கரக்கட்டி
அடி போட்டிக்கு வந்தவளே வள்ளிக்குட்டி
விடுகதையெல்லாம் பழுத்த பழம் நீ
விடுத்ததுதானே பலாப்பழம் பலாப்பழம்
The father is prickly, the mother has matted hair,
All the children are blocks of sugar!
Hey Valli girl who came to compete!
You who are ripe in solving riddles,
What was posed is indeed a jackfruit, a jackfruit!
அடி ஆத்தாடி சரியா சொல்லிபுட்டாடியோ
இப்ப என் விடுகதைக்கு பதில் சொல்லுங்கடி
Oh my goodness, she answered it correctly!
Female: Now answer my riddle, girls!
கல்யாணம் ஆனப் பொண்ணு கருத்தப்புள்ள
அவ கையப் புடிச்சான் ஒருத்தன் புருஷனில்ல
கல்யாணம் ஆனப் பொண்ணு கருத்தப்புள்ள
அவ கையப் புடிச்சான் ஒருத்தன் புருஷனில்ல
சம்மதப்பட்டா அவளும் மறுக்கல
சங்கடப்பட்டா வேறு வழியில்ல
A married dark-skinned girl,
A man held her hand, but he is not her husband!
A married dark-skinned girl,
A man held her hand, but he is not her husband!
She did not refuse as it was customary,
Even if troubled, there was no other choice.
அவன் தொட்டுப் பிடிச்சான்
அவ விட்டுக் கொடுத்தா
பழக்கமாகி வந்தவன்
அட வழக்கம் போல தந்தவன்
யார் அவன் யார் அவன் யார் அவன்.....
He touched and held her hand,
She yielded and gave in.
One who came out of habit,
Oh, one who gave as usual!
Who is he? Who is he? Who is he?
அட இது தெரியாதாக்கும்.....
கள்ளப்புருஷன்......
அடச்சீ......
கதைய மாத்தி சொல்லாதடி இடிக்கப்போறேன்
அந்த கருத்தப்புள்ள கையத் தொட்டவன்
வளையல்காரன்.......வளையல்காரன்......
Oh, do you not know this?
Female: Secret lover!
Female: Oh shame!
Do not twist the story, or I will strike you!
The one who touched that dark girl's hand,
Is the bangle seller... the bangle seller!
புதிரு கேத்த பதில சொல்லல
புடிச்சி வச்சு கொட்டுவேன்டி
கழுத மேல ஏத்தி வச்சு
கரும்புள்ளி செம்புள்ளி குத்துவேன்டி.....ஹான்....
If you do not give a suitable answer to the riddle,
I will catch you and beat you up!
Make you ride on a donkey,
And mark you with black and red spots!... haan...
Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi
Listen to the story, listen to it!
Thakka badhil sollalaennaa
If you do not give a proper answer,
Kattupattu odanumdi
You must obey and run away!
Kettikkaarai saanthu pottukkaari
Clever girl wearing a tilak on her forehead!
Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi
Listen to the story, listen to it!
…………………
...
Sela kattaatha pulla
A girl who does not wear a saree,
Yaezhettu peththa pulla
A girl who birthed seven or eight,
Oororam thoppukkulla
Inside the grove at the edge of the village,
Jodiyodu aadum pulla
A girl who dances with a partner.
Sela kattaatha pulla
A girl who does not wear a saree,
Yaezhettu peththa pulla
A girl who birthed seven or eight,
Oororam thoppukkulla
Inside the grove at the edge of the village,
Jodiyodu aadum pulla
A girl who dances with a partner.
Yaaru pulla adi chinnapulla
Who is that girl, hey young girl?
Nee sollu pulla
You tell us, girl!
Adhu naanu illa
That is not me!
Chorus :Hahaah hahaah
Chorus: Hahaah hahaah
Sela kattaatha pulla
A girl who does not wear a saree,
Yaezhettu peththa pulla
A girl who birthed seven or eight,
Oororam thoppukkulla
Inside the grove at the edge of the village,
Jodiyodu aadum pulla kelu pulla
A girl dancing with a partner, listen girl!
Adhu chella pulla…..anil pulla
That darling girl... is a squirrel!
Pudhiru keththa badhila sollala
If she does not answer the riddle,
Pudichchi vachchu kottungadi
Catch her and beat her up!
Kazhutha mela yaeththi vachchu
Make her ride on a donkey,
Karumpulli sempulli kuththungadi
And mark her with black and red spots!
Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae yae….
Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae yae...
Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi
Listen to the story, listen to it!
Thakka badhil sollalaennaa
If you do not give a proper answer,
Kattupattu odanumdi
You must obey and run away!
Kettikkaarai saanthu pottukkaari
Clever girl wearing a tilak on her forehead!
Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari
Come on, smart girl, come on, smart girl!
Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi
Listen to the story, listen to it!
Mullu mullukkulla
Amidst the sharp thorns,
Mukkulamum thanddukkulla
Inside three ponds and stems,
Velli madalukkulla venkala katti
A bronze lump inside a silver sheath,
Idha solli vilakkadi senbaga kutti
Solve and explain this, Senbaga girl!
Engae innoru tharam sollu
Where is it? Say it one more time!
Mullu mullukkulla
Amidst the sharp thorns,
Mukkulamum thanddukkulla
Inside three ponds and stems,
Velli madalukkulla venkala katti
A bronze lump inside a silver sheath,
Idha solli vilakkadi senbaga kutti
Solve and explain this, Senbaga girl!
Appanum soriyanadi aaththaa sadaichchiyadi
The father is prickly, the mother has matted hair,
Pullainga ellaamae sakkarakkatti
All the children are blocks of sugar!
Adi pottikku vanthavalae vallikkutti
Hey Valli girl who came to compete!
Vidukadhaiyellaam pazhuththa pazham nee
You who are ripe in solving riddles,
Viduththathu thaanae palaapazham palaapazham
What was posed is indeed a jackfruit, a jackfruit!
Adi aaththaadi sariyaa solliputtaadiyo
Oh my goodness, she answered it correctly!
Female :Ippa en vidukathaikku badhil sollungadi
Female: Now answer my riddle, girls!
Kalyaanam aana ponnu karuththapulla
A married dark-skinned girl,
Ava kaiya pudichchaan oruththan purushanilla
A man held her hand, but he is not her husband!
Kalyaanam aana ponnu karuththapulla
A married dark-skinned girl,
Ava kaiya pudichchaan oruththan purushanilla
A man held her hand, but he is not her husband!
Sambanthapattaa avalum marukkala
She did not refuse as it was customary,
Sangadappattaa veru vazhiyilla
Even if troubled, there was no other choice.
Avan thottu pidichchaan
He touched and held her hand,
Ava vittu koduththaa
She yielded and gave in.
Pazhakkamaagi vanthavan
One who came out of habit,
Ada vazhakkam pola thanthavan
Oh, one who gave as usual!
Yaar avan yaar avan yaar avan….
Who is he? Who is he? Who is he?
Ada idhu theriyaathaakkum
Oh, do you not know this?
Female :Kallapurushan
Female: Secret lover!
Female :Adachee…
Female: Oh shame!
Kadhaiya maaththi sollaathadi idikkaporaen
Do not twist the story, or I will strike you!
Antha karuththapulla kaiya thottavan
The one who touched that dark girl's hand,
Valaiyalkaaran…..valaiyalkaaran
Is the bangle seller... the bangle seller!
Pudhiru keththa badhila sollala
If you do not give a suitable answer to the riddle,
Pudichchi vachchu kottuvendi
I will catch you and beat you up!
Kazhutha mela yaeththi vachchu
Make you ride on a donkey,
Karumpulli sempulli kuththuvendi….haan…
And mark you with black and red spots!... haan...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful Tamil song consists of a playful riddle game ('Vidukadhai') exchanged between young village women. The lyrics feature catchy folk riddles about everyday objects and nature—such as a squirrel, a jackfruit, and a bangle seller putting bangles on a married woman's hand. The spirit of the song is lighthearted and competitive, with humorous penalties threatened for those who fail to guess the correct answers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kettikkaari vaadi kettikkaari / Kettukkodi kadha kettukkodi”
Repetition of the second consonant sound across consecutive lines, such as 'Kettikkaari' and 'Kettukkodi' ('tt' sound).
Monae (First-letter Alliteration)
“Mullu mullukkulla / Mukkulamum thanddukkulla”
Matching starting sounds in adjacent words or lines, such as 'Mullu' and 'Mukkulamum'.
Metaphor / Riddle Imagery (Uvamaani)
“Appanum soriyanadi aaththaa sadaichchiyadi / Pullainga ellaamae sakkarakkatti”
Using natural descriptive metaphors to pose riddles, describing a jackfruit tree ('rough father, matted mother, sweet children').
Keep listening
More from Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal
Aagaya Thamaraigal