Kodu Poatta
From Raavanan · 2010
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Benny Dayal
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Raavanan2010
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Male | |
| Kodu potta.. konnu podu.. | If they draw a line.. kill them.. |
| Veli potta.. hey vetti podu.. | If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down.. |
| Nethuvaraikum unga sattam | Until yesterday, it was your law |
| Innaikirunthu enga sattam | From today, it is our law |
| Male | |
| Kodu potta.. konnu podu.. | If they draw a line.. kill them.. |
| Veli potta.. hey vetti podu.. | If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down.. |
| Villa pola valanja kootam | The group that bent like a bow |
| Vela pola nimirnthu vittom | Has now stood up straight like a spear |
| Male | |
| Sothula pangu ketta | If someone asks for a share of property |
| Ada ellayapodu ellaya | Hey, lay out a leaf for them to eat |
| Soththula pangu ketta | If someone asks for a share of land |
| Avan thalaya podu thalaya | Chop off his head! |
| Male | |
| Ooraan veetu sattathukku | To the laws made by outsiders |
| Ooru naadu masiyathu | This land and town will never bow down |
| Megam vanthu satham potta | When clouds make loud thunder |
| Aagayamdhan ketkathu | The sky itself does not obey |
| Male | |
| Paatan pootan | Forefathers and ancestors |
| Boomiya yaarum | No one has the right to put |
| Patta poda koodathu | A land title on the earth! |
| Chorus | |
| {Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey} (2) | Hey hey hey hey (2) |
| Male | |
| Pambu kooda pazhagi | Living closely alongside snakes |
| Pasum paala oothum saathi | We are the clan that feeds them fresh cow milk |
| Thappu thanda sencha | If anyone commits a wrongdoing |
| Ada appa theriyum sedhi | Hey, then you will see what happens |
| Male | |
| Kalli kaatu pullathaachi | A pregnant woman of the cactus forest |
| Kalla petha veeranada | Is a warrior who gave birth to a stone-hearted hero |
| Jalli kaatu madu kizhicha | Even if ripped open by a Jallikattu bull |
| Sariyum kudalae maalaiyada | The spilling intestines are like a victory garland! |
| Male | |
| Setha kezhavan | Left behind by the dead ancestors |
| Ezhuthi vecha | Written down as inheritance |
| Ootha soththu veeramada | Valour is our only true heritage! |
| Male | |
| Kodu potta.. konnu podu.. | If they draw a line.. kill them.. |
| Veli potta.. hey vetti podu.. | If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down.. |
| Chorus | |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Male | |
| Enga kaathu | The wind in our land |
| Meensutta vaasam adikum | Smells of grilled fish |
| Enga thanni | The water in our land |
| Eri saarayam pol uraikum | Hits strong like arrack liquor |
| Male | |
| Vathi pona usuroda | Even with a withered soul |
| Vaazhvaanae samsari | The farmer continues to live on |
| Oru chappathi kalli vaazha | For a prickly pear cactus to grow |
| Venamae mummari | Three seasonal rains are not needed! |
| Male | |
| Ettukaani pona | If eight acres of land are lost |
| Ada evanum ezha illa | Hey, no man becomes truly poor |
| Maanam mattum pona | But if honor alone is lost |
| Nee maika naalae ezha | You remain poor for four generations |
| Male | |
| Manaivi maatha mattum illa | Not just a wife or mother |
| Mannum kooda maanamthaan | The land itself is our honor and dignity |
| Chiyaan kaatta thoandi paatha | If you dig up Chiyaan's forest and look |
| Semman oothu rathamthaan | The red earth springs out like blood! |
| Male | |
| Ko ko ko | Ko ko ko |
| Kodu potta.. hey hey | If they draw a line.. hey hey |
| Konnu podu.. hey hey | Kill them.. hey hey |
| Veli potta.. hey hey | If they build a fence.. hey hey |
| Hey vetti podu..hey hey | Hey, chop it down..hey hey |
| Nethuvaraikum unga sattam | Until yesterday, it was your law |
| Innaikirunthu enga sattam | From today, it is our law |
| Chorus | |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Hey hey hey hey | Hey hey hey hey |
| Male | |
| Kodu potta.. hey hey hey | If they draw a line.. hey hey hey |
| Konnu podu.. hey hey hey | Kill them.. hey hey hey |
| Veli potta.. hey hey hey | If they build a fence.. hey hey hey |
| Hey vetti podu..hey hey hey | Hey, chop it down..hey hey hey |
| Male | |
| Nethuvaraikum unga sattam | Until yesterday, it was your law |
| Nethuvaraikum unga sattam | Until yesterday, it was your law |
| Nethuvaraikum unga sattam | Until yesterday, it was your law |
| Innaikirunthu enga sattam | From today, it is our law |
ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே
Hey hey hey hey
கோடு போட்டா
கொன்னு போடு வேலி
போட்டா ஹே வெட்டி
போடு நேத்துவரைக்கும்
உங்க சட்டம் இன்னைக்கிருந்து
எங்க சட்டம்
If they draw a line.. kill them..
If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down..
Until yesterday, it was your law
From today, it is our law
கோடு போட்டா
கொன்னு போடு வேலி
போட்டா ஹே வெட்டி
போடு வில்ல போல
வளைஞ்ச கூட்டம்
வேல போல நிமிர்ந்து
விட்டோம்
If they draw a line.. kill them..
If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down..
The group that bent like a bow
Has now stood up straight like a spear
சோத்துல பங்கு
கேட்டா அட இலயப்போடு
இலய சொத்துல பங்கு
கேட்டா அவன் தலயப்போடு
தலய
If someone asks for a share of property
Hey, lay out a leaf for them to eat
If someone asks for a share of land
Chop off his head!
ஊரான் வீட்டு
சட்டத்துக்கு ஊரு நாடு
மசியாது மேகம் வந்து
சத்தம் போட்டா ஆகாயம்
தான் கேட்காது
To the laws made by outsiders
This land and town will never bow down
When clouds make loud thunder
The sky itself does not obey
பாட்டன்
பூட்டன் பூமிய யாரும்
பட்டா போடக் கூடாது
Forefathers and ancestors
No one has the right to put
A land title on the earth!
{ ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே } (2)
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey (2)
பாம்பு கூட
பழகி பசும் பால
ஊத்தும் சாதி தப்பு
தண்டா செஞ்சா அட
அப்பத் தெரியும் சேதி
Living closely alongside snakes
We are the clan that feeds them fresh cow milk
If anyone commits a wrongdoing
Hey, then you will see what happens
கள்ளிக்காட்டு
புள்ளத்தாச்சி கல்ல
பெத்தா வீரனடா
ஜல்லிக்கட்டு மாடு
கிழிச்சா சரியும் குடலே
மாலையடா
A pregnant woman of the cactus forest
Is a warrior who gave birth to a stone-hearted hero
Even if ripped open by a Jallikattu bull
The spilling intestines are like a victory garland!
செத்த கெழவன்
எழுதிவெச்ச ஒத்த
சொத்து வீரமடா
Left behind by the dead ancestors
Written down as inheritance
Valour is our only true heritage!
கோடு போட்டா
கொன்னு போடு வேலி
போட்டா ஹே வெட்டி
போடு
If they draw a line.. kill them..
If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down..
ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
எங்க காத்து
மீன்சுட்ட வாசம்
அடிக்கும் எங்க தண்ணி
எரி சாராயம் போல்
உறைக்கும்
The wind in our land
Smells of grilled fish
The water in our land
Hits strong like arrack liquor
வத்திப் போன
உசுரோட வாழ்வானே
சம்சாரி ஒரு சப்பாத்திகள்ளி
வாழ வேணாமே மும்மாரி
Even with a withered soul
The farmer continues to live on
For a prickly pear cactus to grow
Three seasonal rains are not needed!
எட்டுக்கானி
போனா அட எவனும்
ஏழை இல்ல மானம்
மட்டும் போனா நீ
மக்கா நாளே ஏழை
If eight acres of land are lost
Hey, no man becomes truly poor
But if honor alone is lost
You remain poor for four generations
மனைவி மாதா
மட்டும் இல்ல மண்ணும்
கூட மானம்தான் சீயான்
காட்ட தோண்டிப் பாத்தா
செம்மண் ஊத்து ரத்தம்தான்
Not just a wife or mother
The land itself is our honor and dignity
If you dig up Chiyaan's forest and look
The red earth springs out like blood!
கோ கோ
கோ கோடு போட்டா
ஹே ஹே கொன்னு
போடு ஹே ஹே
வேலி போட்டா ஹே
ஹே ஹே வெட்டி போடு
ஹே ஹே நேத்துவரைக்கும்
உங்க சட்டம் இன்னைக்கிருந்து
எங்க சட்டம்
Ko ko ko
If they draw a line.. hey hey
Kill them.. hey hey
If they build a fence.. hey hey
Hey, chop it down..hey hey
Until yesterday, it was your law
From today, it is our law
ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே ஹே
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
கோடு போட்டா
ஹே ஹே ஹே கொன்னு
போடு ஹே ஹே ஹே
வேலி போட்டா ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே வெட்டி போடு
ஹே ஹே ஹே
If they draw a line.. hey hey hey
Kill them.. hey hey hey
If they build a fence.. hey hey hey
Hey, chop it down..hey hey hey
நேத்துவரைக்கும்
உங்க சட்டம் நேத்துவரைக்கும்
உங்க சட்டம் நேத்துவரைக்கும்
உங்க சட்டம் இன்னைக்கிருந்து
எங்க சட்டம்
Until yesterday, it was your law
Until yesterday, it was your law
Until yesterday, it was your law
From today, it is our law
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Kodu potta.. konnu podu..
If they draw a line.. kill them..
Veli potta.. hey vetti podu..
If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down..
Nethuvaraikum unga sattam
Until yesterday, it was your law
Innaikirunthu enga sattam
From today, it is our law
Kodu potta.. konnu podu..
If they draw a line.. kill them..
Veli potta.. hey vetti podu..
If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down..
Villa pola valanja kootam
The group that bent like a bow
Vela pola nimirnthu vittom
Has now stood up straight like a spear
Sothula pangu ketta
If someone asks for a share of property
Ada ellayapodu ellaya
Hey, lay out a leaf for them to eat
Soththula pangu ketta
If someone asks for a share of land
Avan thalaya podu thalaya
Chop off his head!
Ooraan veetu sattathukku
To the laws made by outsiders
Ooru naadu masiyathu
This land and town will never bow down
Megam vanthu satham potta
When clouds make loud thunder
Aagayamdhan ketkathu
The sky itself does not obey
Paatan pootan
Forefathers and ancestors
Boomiya yaarum
No one has the right to put
Patta poda koodathu
A land title on the earth!
{Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey} (2)
Hey hey hey hey (2)
Pambu kooda pazhagi
Living closely alongside snakes
Pasum paala oothum saathi
We are the clan that feeds them fresh cow milk
Thappu thanda sencha
If anyone commits a wrongdoing
Ada appa theriyum sedhi
Hey, then you will see what happens
Kalli kaatu pullathaachi
A pregnant woman of the cactus forest
Kalla petha veeranada
Is a warrior who gave birth to a stone-hearted hero
Jalli kaatu madu kizhicha
Even if ripped open by a Jallikattu bull
Sariyum kudalae maalaiyada
The spilling intestines are like a victory garland!
Setha kezhavan
Left behind by the dead ancestors
Ezhuthi vecha
Written down as inheritance
Ootha soththu veeramada
Valour is our only true heritage!
Kodu potta.. konnu podu..
If they draw a line.. kill them..
Veli potta.. hey vetti podu..
If they build a fence.. hey, chop it down..
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Enga kaathu
The wind in our land
Meensutta vaasam adikum
Smells of grilled fish
Enga thanni
The water in our land
Eri saarayam pol uraikum
Hits strong like arrack liquor
Vathi pona usuroda
Even with a withered soul
Vaazhvaanae samsari
The farmer continues to live on
Oru chappathi kalli vaazha
For a prickly pear cactus to grow
Venamae mummari
Three seasonal rains are not needed!
Ettukaani pona
If eight acres of land are lost
Ada evanum ezha illa
Hey, no man becomes truly poor
Maanam mattum pona
But if honor alone is lost
Nee maika naalae ezha
You remain poor for four generations
Manaivi maatha mattum illa
Not just a wife or mother
Mannum kooda maanamthaan
The land itself is our honor and dignity
Chiyaan kaatta thoandi paatha
If you dig up Chiyaan's forest and look
Semman oothu rathamthaan
The red earth springs out like blood!
Ko ko ko
Ko ko ko
Kodu potta.. hey hey
If they draw a line.. hey hey
Konnu podu.. hey hey
Kill them.. hey hey
Veli potta.. hey hey
If they build a fence.. hey hey
Hey vetti podu..hey hey
Hey, chop it down..hey hey
Nethuvaraikum unga sattam
Until yesterday, it was your law
Innaikirunthu enga sattam
From today, it is our law
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey
Kodu potta.. hey hey hey
If they draw a line.. hey hey hey
Konnu podu.. hey hey hey
Kill them.. hey hey hey
Veli potta.. hey hey hey
If they build a fence.. hey hey hey
Hey vetti podu..hey hey hey
Hey, chop it down..hey hey hey
Nethuvaraikum unga sattam
Until yesterday, it was your law
Nethuvaraikum unga sattam
Until yesterday, it was your law
Nethuvaraikum unga sattam
Until yesterday, it was your law
Innaikirunthu enga sattam
From today, it is our law
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kodu Potta from Mani Ratnam's film Raavanan is a fiery, rebellious anthem celebrating tribal autonomy, self-respect, and defiance against external authority. The song highlights the fierce connection the indigenous people have with their land, viewing it not as real estate to be bought and sold with land titles, but as a sacred entity tied directly to their honor and bloodline. The lyrics declare an end to oppressive foreign laws and establish self-rule driven by courage and resistance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Villa pola valanja kootam / Vela pola nimirnthu vittom”
Compares the oppressed group bending down like a bow ('Villa pola') to rising up erect like a lethal spear ('Vela pola').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Jalli kaatu madu kizhicha / Sariyum kudalae maalaiyada”
Compares falling intestines from a Jallikattu bull injury to a sacred victory garland, emphasizing extreme bravery.
Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai)
“Villa pola valanja kootam / Vela pola nimirnthu vittom”
Use of second-letter rhyming ('Villa' / 'Vela' and 'Sothula' / 'Ellaya').
Contrast (Maranpatti)
“Ettukaani pona / Ada evanum ezha illa / Maanam mattum pona / Nee maika naalae ezha”
Contrasts losing material land (which doesn't make one poor) with losing self-respect/honor (which impoverishes four generations).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Kodu Potta' features energetic vocals by Benny Dayal. The song plays during pivotal moments in Mani Ratnam's 'Raavanan', visually portraying the guerrilla defiance of Veera (played by Vikram) and his tribal community fighting against police encroachment into their forest terrain.
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