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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kettu Paar Kettu

From Maadi Veettu Mappillai · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Movie name
Maadi Veettu Mappillai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
21 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kettu paar kettupaar
Kettupaaru kelvigal nooru
Paattupadu kaali ennodu
Kettu paar kettupaar
Kettupaaru kelvigal nooru
Pattu paadu paavai ennodu
Ketta kelvikku badhil illai endraal
Koottam paarthu kumbidu podu
Kettu paar kettupaar
Aa naa enbadhai mudhal ezhuthaaga
Aakkiya thenadi tamil ezhuthaaga
Chorus :Aa naa enbadhai mudhal ezhuthaaga
Aakkiya thenadi tamil ezhuthaaga
Female :Pillai pirandahdhum vaai vazhiyaaga
Chorus :Amma amma amma
Female :Ri ri ga ri ri ga ri ri ga
Ga ga pa pa dha dha pa
Aanukkum ennukkum baedhangal moondru
Arivaaya nee avai enanvendru
Chorus :Aanukkum ennukkum baedhangal moondru
Arivaaya nee avai enanvendru
Male :Paruvam adaivadhai arivadhu ondru
Paal tharum thaaimai neriyenum moondru
Kettu paar kettupaar
Female :Kettupaaru kelvigal nooru
Pattu paadu paavai ennodu
Chorus :Kettu paar kettupaar
Ulagam yaavukkum podhumozhi enna
Chorus :Enna enna
Male :Uruvamilladha thani mozhi enna enna
Chorus :Enna enna
Female :Kannaal kettpadhu kannaal tharuvadhu
Sonnaal purivadhai solladhiruppadhu
Maunam adhu maunam
Ri ri ga ri ri ga ri ri ga
Ga ga pa pa dha dha pa
Kettu paar kettupaar
Male :Kettupaaru kelvigal nooru
Pattu paadu kaalai ennodu
Chorus :Kettu paar kettupaar
Ilamaiyinaale valarvadhu enna
Ilai illamal kanivadhu enna enna
Chorus :Enna adhu enna
Male :Pen kettaal idhai naan sollalaama
Periyavar munnae veliyidalaama yemmaa
Female :Aama
Chorus :Aama
Male :Ri ri ga ri ri ga ri ri ga
Ga ga pa pa dha dha pa
Kaadhal….. adhu kaadhal
Om Enum mandhiarm uraipadhu enna
Chorus :Om Enum mandhiarm uraipadhu enna enna
Male :Kandhan uraitha karu porul enna
Chorus :Kandhan uraitha karu porul enna enna
Male :Arivom inaivom vaazhvom endru
Athanai ulagaiyum inaippadharkkendru
Arivom
Chorus :Om
Male :Inaivom
Chorus :Om
Male :Vaazhvom
Chorus :Om
Male :Valarvom
Chorus :Om
Male :Valarvom
Ask and see, ask and see!
Go ahead and ask a hundred questions!
Sing a song with me, fierce Kali!
Ask and see, ask and see!
Go ahead and ask a hundred questions!
Sing a song with me, lovely girl!
If you have no answer to the question asked,
Bow down before the crowd in defeat!
Ask and see, ask and see!
Why was the letter 'Aa' made
the very first letter of the Tamil alphabet?
Chorus: Why was the letter 'Aa' made
the very first letter of the Tamil alphabet?
Female: Because the moment a baby is born, it cries from its mouth:
Chorus: "Amma, Amma, Amma!" (Mother, Mother, Mother!)
Female: Ri Ri Ga Ri Ri Ga Ri Ri Ga
Ga Ga Pa Pa Dha Dha Pa
There are three differences between a man and a woman—
Do you know what they are?
Chorus: There are three differences between a man and a woman—
Do you know what they are?
Male: Attaining womanhood is one,
and bearing life and nursing as a mother make three!
Ask and see, ask and see!
Female: Go ahead and ask a hundred questions!
Sing a song with me, lovely girl!
Chorus: Ask and see, ask and see!
What is the common language of the entire world?
Chorus: What is it, what is it?
Male: What is that unique language without any form?
Chorus: What is it, what is it?
Female: It is asked with the eyes and answered with the eyes,
revealing clearly without speaking a word—
Silence, it is silence!
Ri Ri Ga Ri Ri Ga Ri Ri Ga
Ga Ga Pa Pa Dha Dha Pa
Ask and see, ask and see!
Male: Go ahead and ask a hundred questions!
Sing a song with me, young man!
Chorus: Ask and see, ask and see!
What is it that grows with youth?
What is it that ripens into fruit without any leaves?
Chorus: What is it? What is it?
Male: When a woman asks, can I really answer?
Can I reveal it before the elders, my girl?
Female: Yes!
Chorus: Yes!
Male: Ri Ri Ga Ri Ri Ga Ri Ri Ga
Ga Ga Pa Pa Dha Dha Pa
Love... it is love!
What does the sacred chant 'Om' declare?
Chorus: What does the sacred chant 'Om' declare, what is it?
Male: What is the core truth revealed by Lord Murugan?
Chorus: What is the core truth revealed by Lord Murugan, what is it?
Male: To know, to unite, and to live—
it is meant to bring all the worlds together!
We shall know!
Chorus: Om!
Male: We shall unite!
Chorus: Om!
Male: We shall live!
Chorus: Om!
Male: We shall grow!
Chorus: Om!
Male: We shall grow!
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful riddle-style musical song from the 1967 film 'Maadi Veettu Mappillai' features a witty exchange of riddles and philosophical questions between the lead characters. Through catchy rhyming couplets, the lyrics explore fundamental life concepts—such as the nature of language, human biological differences, the power of silent communication, the sweet intensity of romantic love, and the divine universal chant 'Om'. Kannadasan weaves deep Tamil cultural and spiritual philosophical themes into a playful, interactive duet format. The song moves from lighthearted banter about language and human biology to profound spiritual truths, concluding with a message of universal harmony, knowledge, and collective growth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Vina-Vidai (Question and Answer / Riddle Format)

“Kettupaaru kelvigal nooru / Pattu paadu paavai ennodu”

The entire song structure uses the traditional Tamil literary device of posing riddles ('Kelvigal nooru') and answering them in poetic meter.

Emona / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kettu paar kettupaar / Kettupaaru kelvigal nooru”

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds at the beginning of adjacent lines, such as 'Kettu' and 'Kettupaaru'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Ketta kelvikku badhil illai endraal / Koottam paarthu kumbidu podu”

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'Ketta' and 'Koottam' (tt), or 'Aanukkum' and 'Arivaaya' (r/n).

Swaras / Solkattu Integration

“Ri ri ga ri ri ga ri ri ga / Ga ga pa pa dha dha pa”

Carnatic musical solfa syllables ('Ri ri ga...', 'Ga ga pa...') are woven directly into the poetic lines to bridge spoken dialogue and melody.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Maadi Veettu Mappillai' (1967) stars Jaishankar and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao, featuring legendary playback singers T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela. The song stands out for using traditional Carnatic swara passages (Ri-Ga-Pa-Dha) seamlessly inside a mainstream pop/duet song format.

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