Kozhi Onnu
From Seethakaathi · 2018
- Lyricist
- Yugabharathi
- Singer
- Pushpavanam Kuppusamy
- Music director
- Govind Vasantha
- Details
- Seethakaathi2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Haan kozhi onnu kaal eduthu | Ah, a hen lifting its leg |
| Boomi pandha thorkadikka | To defeat the earth globe |
| Adugindra naatiyaththa | The dance that it performs |
| Ninnu paarunga | Stop and watch! |
| Male | |
| Paambu puththu thaanum | An anthill thinking of itself |
| Utchchi koburatha pola enni | As a towering temple spire |
| Podugindra nadagaththa | The drama that it puts on |
| Konjum kelunga | Listen to it a little! |
| Male | |
| Nool arunthu pona pattam | A kite whose string has snapped |
| Vaanam etta thaavugindra | Leaping to reach the sky |
| Kedu ketta kevalaththa | Such rotten ignominy |
| Solla venunga | Needs to be spoken of! |
| Male | |
| Kaalam namma kaalaminnu | Saying 'This time is our time' |
| Aanavathil pesi nikkum | Standing and speaking in arrogance |
| Ezharaikku egapatta | For a bringer of bad luck |
| Lollu thaanunga | Such immense attitude! |
| Male | |
| Vesham potta | Even if disguised |
| Ara nellikaaiyum | A half gooseberry |
| Apple agaathae | Will not become an apple |
| Oosi koorvaalaga maaridathae | A needle will not turn into a sharp sword |
| Male | |
| Kozhi onnu kaal eduthu | A hen lifting its leg |
| Boomi pandha thorkadikka | To defeat the earth globe |
| Adugindra naatiyaththa | The dance that it performs |
| Ninnu paarunga | Stop and watch! |
| Male | |
| Paambu puththu thaanum | An anthill thinking of itself |
| Utchchi koburatha pola enni | As a towering temple spire |
| Podugindra nadagaththa | The drama that it puts on |
| Konjum kelunga | Listen to it a little! |
| Male | |
| Nool arunthu pona pattam | A kite whose string has snapped |
| Vaanam etta thaavugindra | Leaping to reach the sky |
| Kedu ketta kevalaththa | Such rotten ignominy |
| Solla venunga | Needs to be spoken of! |
| Male | |
| Kaalam namma kaalaminnu | Saying 'This time is our time' |
| Aanavathil pesi nikkum | Standing and speaking in arrogance |
| Ezharaikku egapatta | For a bringer of bad luck |
| Lollu thaanunga | Such immense attitude! |
| Male | |
| Kurukaththi poovum roosavaa | A wild jasmine flower |
| Thanna ennikolla koodathae | Should not consider itself a rose |
| Kayir illaama ennaalum | Without a rope, never can |
| Ponnana oonjal aadathae | A golden swing sway |
| Male | |
| Podi matta naalum peengaana | Even if a useless coir blames fine porcelain |
| Pazhi solla oorum ketkkathae | The village will not listen to such blame |
| Rasam illaatha kannadi | A mirror without quicksilver coating |
| Nammoda moonja kaattathae | Will not reflect our face |
| Male | |
| Neer vaththi pona pinnaalae | After the water has completely dried up |
| Meen vattam poda ennaathae | A fish should not expect to swim around in circles |
| Ee mochcha pandam kettaalae | If a fly-ridden snack gets spoiled |
| Nee kooru katti vikkathae | Do not bundle it up and sell it |
| Male | |
| Thaana yaarum | No one came into this world |
| Varavillai neeyum aattam podathae | All on their own, so do not dance in vanity |
| Verai vittu ooru naalum neengidathae | Do not stray away leaving your roots behind |
| Male | |
| Kozhi onnu kaal eduthu | A hen lifting its leg |
| Boomi pandha thorkadikka | To defeat the earth globe |
| Adugindra naatiyaththa | The dance that it performs |
| Ninnu paarunga | Stop and watch! |
| Male | |
| Paambu puththu thaanum | An anthill thinking of itself |
| Utchchi koburatha pola enni | As a towering temple spire |
| Podugindra nadagaththa | The drama that it puts on |
| Konjum kelunga | Listen to it a little! |
| Male | |
| Nool arunthu pona pattam | A kite whose string has snapped |
| Vaanam etta thaavugindra | Leaping to reach the sky |
| Kedu ketta kevalaththa | Such rotten ignominy |
| Solla venunga | Needs to be spoken of! |
| Male | |
| Kaalam namma kaalaminnu | Saying 'This time is our time' |
| Aanavathil pesi nikkum | Standing and speaking in arrogance |
| Ezharaikku egapatta | For a bringer of bad luck |
| Lollu thaanunga | Such immense attitude! |
ஹான் கோழி ஒன்னு கால் எடுத்து
பூமி பந்த தோற்கடிக்க
ஆடுன்கின்ற நாட்டியத்த
நின்னு பாருங்க
Ah, a hen lifting its leg
To defeat the earth globe
The dance that it performs
Stop and watch!
பாம்பு புத்து தானும்
உச்சி கோபுரத்த போல எண்ணி
போடுகின்ற நாடக்கத்த
கொஞ்சம் கேளுங்க
An anthill thinking of itself
As a towering temple spire
The drama that it puts on
Listen to it a little!
நூல் அறுந்து போன பட்டம்
வானம் எட்ட தாவுகின்ற
கேடு கெட்ட கேவலத்த
சொல்ல வேணுங்க
A kite whose string has snapped
Leaping to reach the sky
Such rotten ignominy
Needs to be spoken of!
காலம் நம்ம காலமின்னு
ஆணவத்தில் பேசி நிக்கும்
ஏழரைக்கு ஏகப்பட்ட
லொள்ளு தானுங்க
Saying 'This time is our time'
Standing and speaking in arrogance
For a bringer of bad luck
Such immense attitude!
வேஷம் போட்ட
அர நெல்லிகாயும்
ஆப்பிள் ஆகாதே
ஊசி கூர்வாளாக மாறிடாதே
Even if disguised
A half gooseberry
Will not become an apple
A needle will not turn into a sharp sword
கோழி ஒன்னு கால் எடுத்து
பூமி பந்த தோற்கடிக்க
ஆடுன்கின்ற நாட்டியத்த
நின்னு பாருங்க
A hen lifting its leg
To defeat the earth globe
The dance that it performs
Stop and watch!
பாம்பு புத்து தானும்
உச்சி கோபுரத்த போல எண்ணி
போடுகின்ற நாடக்கத்த
கொஞ்சம் கேளுங்க
An anthill thinking of itself
As a towering temple spire
The drama that it puts on
Listen to it a little!
நூல் அறுந்து போன பட்டம்
வானம் எட்ட தாவுகின்ற
கேடு கெட்ட கேவலத்த
சொல்ல வேணுங்க
A kite whose string has snapped
Leaping to reach the sky
Such rotten ignominy
Needs to be spoken of!
காலம் நம்ம காலமின்னு
ஆணவத்தில் பேசி நிக்கும்
ஏழரைக்கு ஏகப்பட்ட
லொள்ளு தானுங்க
Saying 'This time is our time'
Standing and speaking in arrogance
For a bringer of bad luck
Such immense attitude!
குருக்கத்தி பூவும் ரோசாவா
தன்ன எண்ணிக்கொள்ள கூடாதே
கயிர் இல்லாமா எந்நாளும்
பொன்னான ஊஞ்சல் ஆடாதே
A wild jasmine flower
Should not consider itself a rose
Without a rope, never can
A golden swing sway
பொடி மட்ட நாளும் பீங்கான
பழி சொல்ல ஊரும் கேட்காதே
ரசம் இல்லாத கண்ணாடி
நம்மோட மூஞ்ச காட்டாதே
Even if a useless coir blames fine porcelain
The village will not listen to such blame
A mirror without quicksilver coating
Will not reflect our face
நீர் வத்தி போன பின்னாலே
மீன் வட்டம் போட எண்ணாதே
ஈ மொச்ச பண்டம் கெட்டாலே
நீ கூரு கட்டி விக்காதே
After the water has completely dried up
A fish should not expect to swim around in circles
If a fly-ridden snack gets spoiled
Do not bundle it up and sell it
தானா யாரும்
வரவில்லை நீயும் ஆட்டம் போடாதே
வேரை விட்டு ஊரு நாளும் நீங்கிடாதே
No one came into this world
All on their own, so do not dance in vanity
Do not stray away leaving your roots behind
கோழி ஒன்னு கால் எடுத்து
பூமி பந்த தோற்கடிக்க
ஆடுன்கின்ற நாட்டியத்த
நின்னு பாருங்க
A hen lifting its leg
To defeat the earth globe
The dance that it performs
Stop and watch!
பாம்பு புத்து தானும்
உச்சி கோபுரத்த போல எண்ணி
போடுகின்ற நாடக்கத்த
கொஞ்சம் கேளுங்க
An anthill thinking of itself
As a towering temple spire
The drama that it puts on
Listen to it a little!
நூல் அறுந்து போன பட்டம்
வானம் எட்ட தாவுகின்ற
கேடு கெட்ட கேவலத்த
சொல்ல வேணுங்க
A kite whose string has snapped
Leaping to reach the sky
Such rotten ignominy
Needs to be spoken of!
காலம் நம்ம காலமின்னு
ஆணவத்தில் பேசி நிக்கும்
ஏழரைக்கு ஏகப்பட்ட
லொள்ளு தானுங்க
Saying 'This time is our time'
Standing and speaking in arrogance
For a bringer of bad luck
Such immense attitude!
Haan kozhi onnu kaal eduthu
Ah, a hen lifting its leg
Boomi pandha thorkadikka
To defeat the earth globe
Adugindra naatiyaththa
The dance that it performs
Ninnu paarunga
Stop and watch!
Paambu puththu thaanum
An anthill thinking of itself
Utchchi koburatha pola enni
As a towering temple spire
Podugindra nadagaththa
The drama that it puts on
Konjum kelunga
Listen to it a little!
Nool arunthu pona pattam
A kite whose string has snapped
Vaanam etta thaavugindra
Leaping to reach the sky
Kedu ketta kevalaththa
Such rotten ignominy
Solla venunga
Needs to be spoken of!
Kaalam namma kaalaminnu
Saying 'This time is our time'
Aanavathil pesi nikkum
Standing and speaking in arrogance
Ezharaikku egapatta
For a bringer of bad luck
Lollu thaanunga
Such immense attitude!
Vesham potta
Even if disguised
Ara nellikaaiyum
A half gooseberry
Apple agaathae
Will not become an apple
Oosi koorvaalaga maaridathae
A needle will not turn into a sharp sword
Kozhi onnu kaal eduthu
A hen lifting its leg
Boomi pandha thorkadikka
To defeat the earth globe
Adugindra naatiyaththa
The dance that it performs
Ninnu paarunga
Stop and watch!
Paambu puththu thaanum
An anthill thinking of itself
Utchchi koburatha pola enni
As a towering temple spire
Podugindra nadagaththa
The drama that it puts on
Konjum kelunga
Listen to it a little!
Nool arunthu pona pattam
A kite whose string has snapped
Vaanam etta thaavugindra
Leaping to reach the sky
Kedu ketta kevalaththa
Such rotten ignominy
Solla venunga
Needs to be spoken of!
Kaalam namma kaalaminnu
Saying 'This time is our time'
Aanavathil pesi nikkum
Standing and speaking in arrogance
Ezharaikku egapatta
For a bringer of bad luck
Lollu thaanunga
Such immense attitude!
Kurukaththi poovum roosavaa
A wild jasmine flower
Thanna ennikolla koodathae
Should not consider itself a rose
Kayir illaama ennaalum
Without a rope, never can
Ponnana oonjal aadathae
A golden swing sway
Podi matta naalum peengaana
Even if a useless coir blames fine porcelain
Pazhi solla oorum ketkkathae
The village will not listen to such blame
Rasam illaatha kannadi
A mirror without quicksilver coating
Nammoda moonja kaattathae
Will not reflect our face
Neer vaththi pona pinnaalae
After the water has completely dried up
Meen vattam poda ennaathae
A fish should not expect to swim around in circles
Ee mochcha pandam kettaalae
If a fly-ridden snack gets spoiled
Nee kooru katti vikkathae
Do not bundle it up and sell it
Thaana yaarum
No one came into this world
Varavillai neeyum aattam podathae
All on their own, so do not dance in vanity
Verai vittu ooru naalum neengidathae
Do not stray away leaving your roots behind
Kozhi onnu kaal eduthu
A hen lifting its leg
Boomi pandha thorkadikka
To defeat the earth globe
Adugindra naatiyaththa
The dance that it performs
Ninnu paarunga
Stop and watch!
Paambu puththu thaanum
An anthill thinking of itself
Utchchi koburatha pola enni
As a towering temple spire
Podugindra nadagaththa
The drama that it puts on
Konjum kelunga
Listen to it a little!
Nool arunthu pona pattam
A kite whose string has snapped
Vaanam etta thaavugindra
Leaping to reach the sky
Kedu ketta kevalaththa
Such rotten ignominy
Solla venunga
Needs to be spoken of!
Kaalam namma kaalaminnu
Saying 'This time is our time'
Aanavathil pesi nikkum
Standing and speaking in arrogance
Ezharaikku egapatta
For a bringer of bad luck
Lollu thaanunga
Such immense attitude!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kozhi Onnu Kaal Eduthu' from Seethakaathi is a sharp, satirical commentary on human vanity, hubris, and delusional grandeur. Through a series of vivid folk allegories and metaphors, lyricist Yugabharathi mocks individuals who overestimate their own significance—comparing them to a hen trying to kick the earth, an anthill pretending to be a temple tower, or a snapped kite believing it is conquering the sky.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)
“Utchchi koburatha pola enni”
Comparing an anthill pretending to be a grand temple spire ('Utchchi koburatha pola enni') to highlight delusional self-importance.
Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Paambu puththu thaanum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'P' in 'Paambu' and 'Puththu', creating a rhythmic folk bounce.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vesham potta”
Rhyming second letters in 'Vesham' and 'Ara' / 'Oosi', maintaining classical Tamil lyric structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Govind Vasantha for the 2018 Vijay Sethupathi starrer 'Seethakaathi', this song uses traditional Tamil folk proverbs and rural idioms to mock theatrical vanity and ego, fitting perfectly with the film's meta-narrative about art and acting.
Keep listening