Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kottaiya Vittu (Female)

From Chinna Thayee · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Thayee1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogumOh Lord Sudalai Maadan, who leaves the fort to go hunting,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Ezha ponnu kookkural kettuHearing the cry of distress from a poor girl,
Kaaththida venumYou must protect her,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Female
Thikku dhisai yethuHaving no direction or destination,
Anbu theivam uthavaathuThe loving God does not help,
Thannanthaniyaga nirkkumStanding all alone,
Kanni ilamaathuIs this young maiden.
Female
Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogumOh Lord Sudalai Maadan, who leaves the fort to go hunting,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Ezha ponnu kookkural kettuHearing the cry of distress from a poor girl,
Kaaththida venumYou must protect her,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Female
Illatha ezhaigalThe impoverished poor people,
ThaazhnthaalumEven if they fall low,
VeezhnthaalumEven if they perish,
Enn endru kettkaTo ask what happened,
Or naadhi illaiThere is nobody around.
Female
Selvaakku meviyaPossessing influence and wealth,
Ooraarkku maattumOnly to those villagers,
Nee nalvaakku solvathuYou giving good blessings,
Needhi illaiIs not justice.
Female
Deivaththin paarvaiyilIn the eyes of God,
Jaathi illaiThere is no caste.
Deivaththai pola nee irukkaWhile you remain like God,
Unnaithaan nambi naan irukkaWhile I stay here trusting only you,
Nalvaakku engae koori viduTell me good words right here,
Nambikkai vaiththen vaazhvu koduI placed my faith, grant me a life.
Female
Eppothu theerumWhen will it end,
Ippothu kaanumThe pain I am experiencing right now,
En vedhanaiMy agony?
Ammaadi innumOh dear, still,
Thaalaathu inguUnbearable here,
Un sodhanai….Is your test....
Female
Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogumOh Lord Sudalai Maadan, who leaves the fort to go hunting,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Ezha ponnu kookkural kettuHearing the cry of distress from a poor girl,
Kaaththida venumYou must protect her,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Female
Pon maalai velaiyilIn the golden evening time,
Kai sera mei seraHands joined, bodies joined,
Ondraana kaatchchiyumWas that scene of togetherness,
NaadagamaJust a drama?
Female
Veveru moolaiyilIn different corners,
Nee vaazha naan vaazhaFor you to live and for me to live,
Kai pillaithaan oru gnayabagamaIs this child in hand just a memory?
Kai vitta kaadhalin saatchchiyamaIs it a witness to abandoned love?
Female
Innoru tholil maalai idaTo place a garland on another shoulder,
En uyir ingae thaangidumaWill my life withstand it here?
Unnudan vaazhntha kaalamelaamAll the time lived with you,
Soppanam polae aagidumaHas it turned into a mere dream?
Female
Kandavai yaavumEverything that was seen,
Karpanai kolam endraagumaHas it become an imaginary pattern?
Ullangal meendumWill hearts once again,
Vellangal pola ondraagumaBecome one like merging floods?
Female
Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogumOh Lord Sudalai Maadan, who leaves the fort to go hunting,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Ezha ponnu kookkural kettuHearing the cry of distress from a poor girl,
Kaaththida venumYou must protect her,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sodala Maada Saami!
Female
Thikku dhisai yethuHaving no direction or destination,
Anbu theivam uthavaathuThe loving God does not help,
Thannanthaniyaga nirkkumStanding all alone,
Kanni ilamaathuIs this young maiden.
Female
Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogumOh Lord Sudalai Maadan, who leaves the fort to go hunting,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!
Ezha ponnu kookkural kettuHearing the cry of distress from a poor girl,
Kaaththida venumYou must protect her,
Sodala maada saamiOh deity Sudalai Maadan!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinna Thayee is a poignant cry of distress from a helpless young woman facing abandonment and social injustice. She appeals to the fierce village deity, Sudalai Maadan, seeking protection and questioning why the divine seems to favor the wealthy while ignoring the plight of the poor. She asserts that before God, there should be no caste or social division, pleading for a sign of hope to end her torment. In the second half of the song, her lament shifts to her personal pain of broken love. She reflects on her past closeness with her lover, holding their child who serves as a poignant reminder of abandoned promises. Fearing his union with another, she wonders if their entire past was merely a dream, yet clings to a desperate hope that their hearts might one day reunite like surging rivers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe / Direct Address

Kottaiya vittu vettaikku pogum Sodala maada saami

The entire refrain directly addresses the local guardian deity, Sudalai Maadan, pleading for divine intervention.

Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Thaazhnthaalum / Veezhnthaalum

The second consonant 'tzh' / 'zhn' matches across successive lines to create rhythmic flow.

Simile (Upamai)

Soppanam polae aagiduma / Vellangal pola ondraaguma

Compares the temporal nature of past happiness to a dream ('soppanam polae') and the hoped-for reunion of hearts to merging floods ('vellangal pola').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the user prompt lists the music director and singers as unknown, 'Chinna Thayee' (1992) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by the legendary Vaali. The film stars Vignesh and Padmashri.

Keep listening

More from Chinna Thayee