Kotti Vecha Muthe
From Karakattakari · 2004
- Lyricist
- Mu. Metha
- Singer
- Dr. Lavanya
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Karakattakari2004
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kotti vecha muthae… | Oh spilled pearl... |
| Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae… | Oh precious gemstone I gathered... |
| Female | |
| Kotti vecha muthae… | Oh spilled pearl... |
| Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae… | Oh precious gemstone I gathered... |
| Etti paakkum kanneeru | The tears that peek through |
| Nenjil eetti pola kuthudhammaa | Pierce my heart like a spear, my dear |
| Female | |
| Kotti vecha muthae… | Oh spilled pearl... |
| Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae… | Oh precious gemstone I gathered... |
| Female | |
| Kurinji poo pootha | In this garden where |
| Indha thottathula | Kurinji flowers once bloomed, |
| Nerunji poo pookka | For thorn-flowers to bloom now |
| Oru niyaayam illa | Is simply unjust. |
| Thanneeru vathi pona | In the dry canal |
| Vaaikkaalula | Where water has drained away, |
| Kanneeraa odudhadi kanmaniyae | Tears are flowing, my darling. |
| Female | |
| Thaniyaaga tharuga pola… | Like a solitary palmyra tree... |
| Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa… | Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa… |
| Thaniyaaga tharuga pola | Like a solitary palmyra tree, |
| Naan aadum aattam | The dance that I dance, |
| Sari thaanaa sollu sollu | Tell me, tell me, is it right? |
| Vaazhkkai poraattam | Life is a constant struggle, |
| Nellammaa sogam endru pogum | Dear Nellamma, when will sorrow end? |
| Sollammaa sollammaa | Tell me, tell me. |
| Female | |
| Kotti vecha muthae… | Oh spilled pearl... |
| Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae… | Oh precious gemstone I gathered... |
| Female | |
| Nambikkai illaiyinnaa | If there is no hope, |
| Vaazhkkai illa | There is no life. |
| Nambikkai vaikka ingae | To place trust in here, |
| Yaarum illa | There is no one. |
| Pogindra paadhaikkaedhum | For the path we walk, |
| Poottu illa | There is no lock. |
| Pottaaga vaazhkka poova | Is life like a wasted flower |
| Kaattukkulla | Inside a wild forest? |
| Female | |
| Ezhaikku ulla selvam… | The wealth that the poor possess... |
| Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa… | Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa… |
| Ezhaikku ulla selvam | The wealth that the poor possess |
| Nambikkai onnu thaan | Is hope alone. |
| Namakkenna pangu adhil | What is our share in this? |
| Nal ennam onnu thaan | Good intentions alone. |
| Chinnammaa kaalam maarum | Dear girl, time will change, |
| Chellammaa chellammaa | My precious darling, my dear. |
| Female | |
| Kotti vecha muthae… | Oh spilled pearl... |
| Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae… | Oh precious gemstone I gathered... |
| Etti paakkum kanneeru | The tears that peek through |
| Nenjil eetti pola kuthudhammaa | Pierce my heart like a spear, my dear |
| Female | |
| Kotti vecha muthae… | Oh spilled pearl... |
| Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae… | Oh precious gemstone I gathered... |
கொட்டி வெச்ச முத்தே...
நான் குவிச்சு வெச்ச ரத்தினமே...
Oh spilled pearl...
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
கொட்டி வெச்ச முத்தே
நான் குவிச்சு வெச்ச ரத்தினமே
எட்டிப் பாக்கும் கண்ணீரு
நெஞ்சில் ஈட்டி போல குத்துதம்மா
Oh spilled pearl...
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
The tears that peek through
Pierce my heart like a spear, my dear
கொட்டி வெச்ச முத்தே
நான் குவிச்சு வெச்ச ரத்தினமே
Oh spilled pearl...
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
குறிஞ்சிப் பூ பூத்த
இந்த தோட்டத்துல
நெருஞ்சிப் பூ பூக்க
ஒரு நியாயம் இல்ல
தண்ணீரு வத்திப் போன
வாய்க்காலுல
கண்ணீரா ஓடுதடி கண்மணியே
In this garden where
Kurinji flowers once bloomed,
For thorn-flowers to bloom now
Is simply unjust.
In the dry canal
Where water has drained away,
Tears are flowing, my darling.
தனியாக தருகப் போல......
ஆஆ...ஆஆ......ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆ....ஆ....
தனியாக தருகப் போல
நான் ஆடும் ஆட்டம்
சரி தானா சொல்லு சொல்லு
வாழ்க்கை போராட்டம்
நெல்லம்மா சோகம் என்று போகும்
சொல்லம்மா சொல்லம்மா
Like a solitary palmyra tree...
Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa…
Like a solitary palmyra tree,
The dance that I dance,
Tell me, tell me, is it right?
Life is a constant struggle,
Dear Nellamma, when will sorrow end?
Tell me, tell me.
கொட்டி வெச்ச முத்தே....
நான் குவிச்சு வெச்ச ரத்தினமே.....
Oh spilled pearl...
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
நம்பிக்கை இல்லையின்னா
வாழ்க்கை இல்ல
நம்பிக்கை வைக்க இங்கே
யாரும் இல்ல
போகின்ற பாதைக்கேதும்
பூட்டு இல்ல
போட்டாக வாழ்க்கப் பூவ
காட்டுக்குள்ள
If there is no hope,
There is no life.
To place trust in here,
There is no one.
For the path we walk,
There is no lock.
Is life like a wasted flower
Inside a wild forest?
ஏழைக்கு உள்ள செல்வம்...
ஆஆ...ஆஆ......ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆ....ஆ....
ஏழைக்கு உள்ள செல்வம்
நம்பிக்கை ஒன்னுதான்
நமக்கென்ன பங்கு அதில்
நல் எண்ணம் ஒன்னுதான்
சின்னம்மா காலம் மாறும்
செல்லம்மா செல்லம்மா
The wealth that the poor possess...
Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa…
The wealth that the poor possess
Is hope alone.
What is our share in this?
Good intentions alone.
Dear girl, time will change,
My precious darling, my dear.
கொட்டி வெச்ச முத்தே.....
நான் குவிச்சு வெச்ச ரத்தினமே....
எட்டிப் பாக்கும் கண்ணீரு
நெஞ்சில் ஈட்டி போல குத்துதம்மா
Oh spilled pearl...
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
The tears that peek through
Pierce my heart like a spear, my dear
கொட்டி வெச்ச முத்தே
நான் குவிச்சு வெச்ச ரத்தினமே
Oh spilled pearl...
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Kotti vecha muthae…
Oh spilled pearl...
Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Kotti vecha muthae…
Oh spilled pearl...
Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Etti paakkum kanneeru
The tears that peek through
Nenjil eetti pola kuthudhammaa
Pierce my heart like a spear, my dear
Kotti vecha muthae…
Oh spilled pearl...
Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Kurinji poo pootha
In this garden where
Indha thottathula
Kurinji flowers once bloomed,
Nerunji poo pookka
For thorn-flowers to bloom now
Oru niyaayam illa
Is simply unjust.
Thanneeru vathi pona
In the dry canal
Vaaikkaalula
Where water has drained away,
Kanneeraa odudhadi kanmaniyae
Tears are flowing, my darling.
Thaniyaaga tharuga pola…
Like a solitary palmyra tree...
Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa…
Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa…
Thaniyaaga tharuga pola
Like a solitary palmyra tree,
Naan aadum aattam
The dance that I dance,
Sari thaanaa sollu sollu
Tell me, tell me, is it right?
Vaazhkkai poraattam
Life is a constant struggle,
Nellammaa sogam endru pogum
Dear Nellamma, when will sorrow end?
Sollammaa sollammaa
Tell me, tell me.
Kotti vecha muthae…
Oh spilled pearl...
Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Nambikkai illaiyinnaa
If there is no hope,
Vaazhkkai illa
There is no life.
Nambikkai vaikka ingae
To place trust in here,
Yaarum illa
There is no one.
Pogindra paadhaikkaedhum
For the path we walk,
Poottu illa
There is no lock.
Pottaaga vaazhkka poova
Is life like a wasted flower
Kaattukkulla
Inside a wild forest?
Ezhaikku ulla selvam…
The wealth that the poor possess...
Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa…
Aaaa… aaa…aaa…aaa…aa…aa…
Ezhaikku ulla selvam
The wealth that the poor possess
Nambikkai onnu thaan
Is hope alone.
Namakkenna pangu adhil
What is our share in this?
Nal ennam onnu thaan
Good intentions alone.
Chinnammaa kaalam maarum
Dear girl, time will change,
Chellammaa chellammaa
My precious darling, my dear.
Kotti vecha muthae…
Oh spilled pearl...
Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Etti paakkum kanneeru
The tears that peek through
Nenjil eetti pola kuthudhammaa
Pierce my heart like a spear, my dear
Kotti vecha muthae…
Oh spilled pearl...
Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…
Oh precious gemstone I gathered...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply emotional lamentation filled with affection, sorrow, and ultimate hope. The singer affectionately addresses a loved one using precious metaphors like 'spilled pearls' and 'gathered gems,' expressing how seeing their tears pierces the heart like a sharp spear. The lyrics contrast past joy with present hardship, comparing their plight to thorn-flowers blooming in a garden that once bore rare Kurinji blossoms. Despite the isolation and life struggles likened to a lonely tree standing against adversities, the song transitions into a message of resilience. It highlights that hope and good intentions are the truest wealth for the poor, reassuring that times will inevitably change and despair will give way to better days.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kotti vecha muthae / Naan kuvichu vecha rathinamae…”
Addressing the beloved as 'Kotti vecha muthu' (spilled pearl) and 'Kuvichu vecha rathinam' (gathered ruby/gemstone) metaphorically equates human worth and affection with precious jewels.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Etti paakkum kanneeru / Nenjil eetti pola kuthudhammaa”
The line uses 'pola' (like) to compare the piercing grief of tears to a sharp spear thrust into the heart ('eetti pola kuthudhammaa').
Antithesis / Contrast
“Kurinji poo pootha / Indha thottathula / Nerunji poo pookka”
Contrasting 'Kurinji poo' (a rare, precious blossom) with 'Nerunji poo' (a thorny flower) symbolizes the tragic shift from happy times to painful adversity.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Thaniyaaga tharuga pola / Naan aadum aattam”
Comparing oneself to 'Thaniyaaga tharuga' (a lonely palm tree/sprout) illustrates solitude, vulnerability, and endurance amidst life's struggles.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the renowned Tamil lyricist and poet Mu. Metha, this song showcases his signature style of using deep poetic imagery, social consciousness, and folk-inspired emotional depth to portray human sorrow and hope.
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