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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kovanatha Irukki Kattu

From Chinna Pasanga Naanga · 1992

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Pasanga Naanga1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Onnae onnu edhir paarthuExpecting just one thing
Odi vandha maamanukku…For uncle who came running…
Onnum kettu rendum kettuLosing one, losing two
Moonu naalu anjum kettuLosing three, four, and five
Ada aarum kettu ezhum kettuAh, losing six, losing seven
Ettum kettu onbadhaa kedachudhappaa durrr…Losing eight, and got ruined at nine, durrr…
Male
Kovanatha irukki kattuTie the loincloth tight
Machaan kooda ninnu paattu padippomWe will stand with brother-in-law and sing songs
Poo manatha nenachukittuThinking of floral fragrance
Vandha kuttugala pottu udaippomWe will smash open the wrongdoings that come
Chorus
Pondugala paathaa buthi kedalaamaaShould your mind get corrupted on seeing women?
Sendugala poosi suthi varalaamaaIs it right to roam around wearing perfume?
Engalukku thaeva dandanakku dandanakkuAll we need is a joyful rhythm!
Male
Kovanatha…The loincloth…
Kovanatha irukki kattuTie the loincloth tight
Machaan kooda ninnu paattu padippomWe will stand with brother-in-law and sing songs
Poo manatha nenachukittuThinking of floral fragrance
Vandha kuttugala pottu udaippomWe will smash open the wrongdoings that come
Male
Endha ponnum edhukka vandhaaWhenever any woman approaches
Kanni vekka paakkuriyaeYou try to lay a trap for her
Manmadhan pol nenachu nee thaanThinking of yourself as Cupid
Collora thaan thookkuriyaeYou pop up your collar in pride
Male
Sinnanchirusaa paathu paathuLooking at young girls repeatedly
Jollu vittu alaiyiriyaeYou roam around drooling over them
Poovu vedicha saedhi therinjaaKnowing the news that a flower has bloomed
Daavadikka kelamburiyaeYou set out to flirt with her
Male
Pollaadhu machaan indha nenappuBrother, this thought process is bad
Sellaadhu ingae unga kozhuppuYour arrogance will not work here
Suttaakka theriyum satti neruppuYou realize the pot's heat only when burnt
Pattaa thaan theriyum unga pozhappuYou will know your true life state only when hit by trouble
Male
Ippdhae route ah neeRight now your path, you
Chorus
Maathanum maathanum maathidaanumMust change, must change, must change!
Male
Illaatti veembulaOtherwise out of stubbornness
Chorus
Maattida maattida maattidanumYou will get trapped, trapped, trapped!
Male
Haa ithodu podhumaa innum venumaaHa, is this enough or do you need more?
Aiyaa aiyaa aiyaa yayaiyaaAiyaa aiyaa aiyaa yayaiyaa
Male
Kovanatha…The loincloth…
Kovanatha irukki kattuTie the loincloth tight
Machaan kooda ninnu paattu padippomWe will stand with brother-in-law and sing songs
Poo manatha nenachukittuThinking of floral fragrance
Vandha kuttugala pottu udaippom ahaaWe will smash open the wrongdoings that come, aha
Male
Chinna pasanga naangalellaamAll of us young boys
Seer thirutthakkaaranga thaanAre indeed social reformers
Mandram vachu oora kaakkaSetting up youth clubs to protect the town
Vandhirukkum sooranga thaanWe are the brave heroes who have arrived
Male
Onna pola minoraalaeBecause of playboys like you
Ooru kettu pogumappaaThe entire village gets spoiled, man
Kannagi pol irukkum pennumEven a virtuous woman like Kannagi
Maadhaviyaa aagumappaaBecomes forced into a life like Madhavi's, man
Male
Unnaattam aala kandu pudippomWe will catch people like you
Ukkaathi vechu bend eduppomMake you sit down and thrash you
Vandaattam neeyum vattamadichuIf you buzz around like a beetle
Kondaattam pottaa kaala odippomAnd make merry, we will break your legs
Male
Vaalaatta enninaaIf you think of wagging your tail
Chorus
Vettuvom vettuvom vettiduvomWe will cut it, cut it, cut it down!
Male
Saetaigal panninaaIf you do mischievous antics
Chorus
Kuttuvom kuttuvom kuttiduvomWe will rap your head, rap your head!
Male
Haa machaan un maanam thaanHa, brother-in-law, your honor
Kappal yaeridumWill get boarded on a ship and sail away
Aiyaa aiyaa aiyaa yayaiyaaAiyaa aiyaa aiyaa yayaiyaa
Male
Kovanatha…The loincloth…
Haa.. kovanatha irukki kattuHa.. tie the loincloth tight
Machaan kooda ninnu paattu padippomWe will stand with brother-in-law and sing songs
Poo manatha nenachukittuThinking of floral fragrance
Vandha kuttugala pottu udaippom aahaaWe will smash open the wrongdoings that come, aahaa
Chorus
Pondugala paathaaSeeing women
Buthi kedalaamaaShould your mind get corrupt?
Sendugala poosi suthi varalaamaaIs it right to roam around wearing perfume?
Engalukku thaeva dandanakku dandanakkuAll we need is a joyful rhythm!
Male
Kovanatha… ahaa ahaahaaThe loincloth… aha ahaahaa
Kovanatha irukki kattuTie the loincloth tight
Machaan kooda ninnu paattu padippomWe will stand with brother-in-law and sing songs
Poo manatha nenachukittuThinking of floral fragrance
Vandha kuttugala pottu udaippomWe will smash open the wrongdoings that come
Aa ahaa ahaa haaAa ahaa ahaa haa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Chinna Pasanga Naanga is an energetic Tamil folk song where local village youth proclaim themselves as moral guardians and social reformers. They deliver a stern, rhythmic warning to reckless flirts and local playboys who corrupt the atmosphere and disrespect young women in the village.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edukku (Second Letter Rhyme)

Pollaadhu machaan indha nenappu / Sellaadhu ingae unga kozhuppu

Harmonious second-letter agreement across consecutive lines (l/tt) creates rhythmic folk cadence.

Cultural Allusion

Kannagi pol irukkum pennum / Maadhaviyaa aagumappaa

References Kannagi and Madhavi from the epic Silappatikaram to contrast chastity and social downfall caused by irresponsible men.

Repetition for Emphasis (Adukkuthodar)

Vettuvom vettuvom vettiduvom / Kuttuvom kuttuvom kuttiduvom

Repetition of action verbs creates urgency, rhythm, and threat.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1992 Tamil film 'Chinna Pasanga Naanga', directed by Raj Kapoor, featuring music composed by Deva with lyricist Gangai Amaran penning the upbeat folk track.

Keep listening

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