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Ponnu Veettukkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kettukama Kettukama

From Ponnu Veettukkaran · 1999

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ponnu Veettukkaran
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
27 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kettukkammaa kettukkammaa
Naattuppura paattu idhu
Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam
Suthi varum paattu idhu
Hae chithira poo chendugalae
Haa satham idum vandugalae
Solli tharavaa sudhi maaraadhu
Kettukkammaa kettukkammaa
Naattuppura paattu idhu
Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam
Suthi varum paattu idhu
Annangalin nadai ellaam
High heels aachu
Aei nethiyilae thilagam ellaam
Ippa maari pochu
Kaancheepuram saela
Haa chudidhaaru aayaachu
Penna pola penna
Hoi hoi paathu romba naalaachu
Poo vizhi paavaiyae thaevaiyaa bodhaiyae
Neeyae sollammaa
Koondhalil paadhiyum penmaiyil paadhiyum
Engae pochu ponnae maniyae nee sollu
Kettukkammaa kettukkammaa
Naattuppura paattu idhu
Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam
Suthi varum paattu idhu
Hae chithira poo chendugalae
Haa satham idum vandugalae
Solli tharavaa sudhi maaraadhu
Haei kettukkammaa kettukkammaa
Naattuppura paattu idhu
Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam
Suthi varum paattu idhu
Azhagu mani koyililae
Olirum dheebam
Ho vasanthathin solaiyilae kuyilin geetham
Manjal vannam minnum
Ho maalai naera megangal
Nenjai alli chellum
Hoi hoi malligai poo vaasangal
Boomiyil thondridum unnadham yaavumae
Pennin thotram thaan
Iyarkkaiyai polavae pengalum vaazhanum
Kannil theriyum dheivam ingae pen thaanae
Kettukkammaa kettukkammaa
Naattuppura paattu idhu
Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam
Suthi varum paattu idhu
Hae chithira poo chendugalae
Haa satham idum vandugalae
Solli tharavaa sudhi maaraadhu
Kettukkammaa kettukkammaa
Naattuppura paattu idhu
Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam
Suthi varum paattu idhu
Listen, dear girl, listen closely!
This is a rustic village song!
Around every heart that is pure and true,
This song swirls and lingers!
Hey, bouquets of lovely flowers!
Ah, buzzing little honeybees!
Shall I teach you without losing the tune?
Listen, dear girl, listen closely!
This is a rustic village song!
Around every heart that is pure and true,
This song swirls and lingers!
The graceful walk of a swan
Has now turned into high heels!
Hey, the round bindi on the forehead
Has changed completely now!
The Kanchipuram silk sari
Has now turned into a salwar suit!
A woman who acts truly like a traditional woman—
It has been so long since I saw one!
Oh girl with flower-like eyes, do you really need this modern craze?
You tell me yourself, dear girl!
Half of your long hair and half of your womanly grace,
Where have they vanished, my precious one? You tell me!
Listen, dear girl, listen closely!
This is a rustic village song!
Around every heart that is pure and true,
This song swirls and lingers!
Hey, bouquets of lovely flowers!
Ah, buzzing little honeybees!
Shall I teach you without losing the tune? Hey!
Hey, listen, dear girl, listen closely!
This is a rustic village song!
Around every heart that is pure and true,
This song swirls and lingers!
Inside a beautiful, sacred temple,
The glowing flame of an oil lamp;
In the garden of spring, the sweet song of a cuckoo;
Gleaming with a rich golden yellow,
The soft evening clouds;
Sweeping the heart away,
The sweet fragrance of fresh jasmine flowers—
Everything noble and wonderful born on this earth
Is only a reflection of womanhood!
Just like Mother Nature, women too should live naturally,
For the visible divinity in this world is woman herself!
Listen, dear girl, listen closely!
This is a rustic village song!
Around every heart that is pure and true,
This song swirls and lingers!
Hey, bouquets of lovely flowers!
Ah, buzzing little honeybees!
Shall I teach you without losing the tune? Hey!
Listen, dear girl, listen closely!
This is a rustic village song!
Around every heart that is pure and true,
This song swirls and lingers!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kettukkammaa' from the film Ponnu Veettukkaran is a lively folk-style track penned by lyricist Pazhani Bharathi. It addresses young women with a mix of gentle commentary and high praise for traditional femininity. The first verse reflects on the changing trends in modern society, comparing traditional attire and grace—such as Kancheepuram sarees, forehead marks, long hair, and swan-like walks—with modern shifts towards high heels and westernized clothing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyme)

Kettukkammaa / Naattuppura paattu idhu

The second consonant 't' (ட்) rhymes across lines to form traditional Tamil rhythmic harmony.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Sutham ulla nenjai ellaam / Suthi varum paattu idhu

Repetition of the initial sound 'Su' (சு) enhances the musical flow of the line.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kannil theriyum dheivam ingae pen thaanae

Women are equated to sacred lamps in temples and nature's finest beauty, elevating womanhood to divine status.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ponnu Veettukkaran (1999) stars Sathyaraj and Preetha Vijayakumar. The film features songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja, celebrating traditional Tamil culture and moral values through folk rhythms.

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