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Isaimozhi
Seethakaathi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kozhi Onnu

From Seethakaathi · 2018

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Pushpavanam Kuppusamy
Music director
Govind Vasantha
Movie name
Seethakaathi
Movie release year
2018
Lyrics added on
21 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haan kozhi onnu kaal eduthu
Boomi pandha thorkadikka
Adugindra naatiyaththa
Ninnu paarunga
Paambu puththu thaanum
Utchchi koburatha pola enni
Podugindra nadagaththa
Konjum kelunga
Nool arunthu pona pattam
Vaanam etta thaavugindra
Kedu ketta kevalaththa
Solla venunga
Kaalam namma kaalaminnu
Aanavathil pesi nikkum
Ezharaikku egapatta
Lollu thaanunga
Vesham potta
Ara nellikaaiyum
Apple agaathae
Oosi koorvaalaga maaridathae
Kozhi onnu kaal eduthu
Boomi pandha thorkadikka
Adugindra naatiyaththa
Ninnu paarunga
Paambu puththu thaanum
Utchchi koburatha pola enni
Podugindra nadagaththa
Konjum kelunga
Nool arunthu pona pattam
Vaanam etta thaavugindra
Kedu ketta kevalaththa
Solla venunga
Kaalam namma kaalaminnu
Aanavathil pesi nikkum
Ezharaikku egapatta
Lollu thaanunga
Kurukaththi poovum roosavaa
Thanna ennikolla koodathae
Kayir illaama ennaalum
Ponnana oonjal aadathae
Podi matta naalum peengaana
Pazhi solla oorum ketkkathae
Rasam illaatha kannadi
Nammoda moonja kaattathae
Neer vaththi pona pinnaalae
Meen vattam poda ennaathae
Ee mochcha pandam kettaalae
Nee kooru katti vikkathae
Thaana yaarum
Varavillai neeyum aattam podathae
Verai vittu ooru naalum neengidathae
Kozhi onnu kaal eduthu
Boomi pandha thorkadikka
Adugindra naatiyaththa
Ninnu paarunga
Paambu puththu thaanum
Utchchi koburatha pola enni
Podugindra nadagaththa
Konjum kelunga
Nool arunthu pona pattam
Vaanam etta thaavugindra
Kedu ketta kevalaththa
Solla venunga
Kaalam namma kaalaminnu
Aanavathil pesi nikkum
Ezharaikku egapatta
Lollu thaanunga
Look, a chicken lifts its leg,
to conquer the entire earth—
the dance it performs,
just stop and watch!
A humble snake-burrow,
thinking it is a towering temple spire,
the drama it stages,
just listen to it!
A kite with its string snapped,
leaping to touch the sky—
what a disgraceful,
pathetic sight to tell!
Boasting that "This is our time,"
standing tall in pure arrogance,
this walking disaster has
so much shameless attitude!
Even in disguise,
a sour gooseberry
will never become an apple.
A needle will never turn into a sharp sword.
A chicken lifts its leg,
to conquer the entire earth—
the dance it performs,
just stop and watch!
A humble snake-burrow,
thinking it is a towering temple spire,
the drama it stages,
just listen to it!
A kite with its string snapped,
leaping to touch the sky—
what a disgraceful,
pathetic sight to tell!
Boasting that "This is our time,"
standing tall in pure arrogance,
this walking disaster has
so much shameless attitude!
A wild bush flower
should not think of itself as a rose.
Without strong ropes,
even a golden swing will never sway.
If cheap clay tries to insult fine porcelain,
the town will never pay heed.
A mirror without its silver coating
will never reflect our face.
Once the water has completely dried up,
a fish should not dream of swimming in circles.
When fly-infested food turns rotten,
do not pack it in portions to sell!
No one ever made it
all on their own, so do not show off!
Never abandon your roots and wander off!
A chicken lifts its leg,
to conquer the entire earth—
the dance it performs,
just stop and watch!
A humble snake-burrow,
thinking it is a towering temple spire,
the drama it stages,
just listen to it!
A kite with its string snapped,
leaping to touch the sky—
what a disgraceful,
pathetic sight to tell!
Boasting that "This is our time,"
standing tall in pure arrogance,
this walking disaster has
so much shameless attitude!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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