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Puthu Paatu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kutthalathil Thanni

From Puthu Paatu · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Gangai Amaran, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Puthu Paatu
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
2 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pab pappaa pab
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum
Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa
Namakku pacha molagaa
Pazhaiya sorum thaan
Hae… akkaavukku
Happy birth day
Party irukku oru paattu padichu
Paadi dhoolu kelappu
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum
Akkaa aasai akkaa
Akkaa america vula
Oru kammaa karai irukkudhaa
Naan aasa pattu thaechu kulikka
Nalla manja kezhangirukkudhaa
Ae akkaa america vula
Oru kammaak karai irukkudhaa
Ae aitha mava kalai edukka
Oru vaaikkaa varappirukkudhaa
Kokku parakkudhaa
Kozhiyum thaan koovudhaa
Kokku parakkudhaa
Kozhiyum thaan koovudhaa
Kaakkaa irukkudhaa
Adhu karuppaa irukkudhaa
Idhu mattum illaiyinnaa
Andha ooru enna periya oorukkaa
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum
Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa
Namakku pacha molagaa
Pazhaiya sorum thaan
Hae… akkaavukku
Happy birth day
Party irukku oru paattu padichu
Paadi dhoolu kelappu
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum padikkum
Modern dress irukkudhu
Nalla mallu vaetti thaan kedaikkudhaa
Maadi pala irukkudhu
Mamma mann kudisai irukkudhaa
Night club thaan irukkudhu
Namma nair kada thaan irukkudhaa
Angae pallikkoodam irukkudhu
Aanaa sathunavu thaan kedaikkudhaa
Yakkaa yakkaa kozhi irukkudhaa
Nalla kuruvi kedaikkudhaa
Chorus :Kozhi irukkudhaa
Kuruvi kiruvi kedaikkudhaa
Sandhu monaiyila
Saadhi sanda nadakkudhaa
Chorus :Idhu kooda illaiyinnaa
Andha ooru enna periya oorukkaa
Yekkaaa
{Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum} (2)
Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa
Namakku pacha molagaa
Pazhaiya sorum thaan
Hae… akkaavukku
Happy birth day
Party irukku oru paattu padichu
Paadi dhoolu kelappu
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
Verum paara mattum thaan
Paattu padikkum padikkum
Paap-paa pap-pen
Paap-paa pap-pen
Paap-paa pap paap-paa pap
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing songs!
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing songs!
If our sister is not right here,
all we will get are green chilies
and cold leftover rice!
Hey... for sister,
it's Happy Birthday!
There is a party, so sing a song,
sing and bring the house down!
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing songs!
Sister, dearest sister,
sister, in America,
is there an irrigation lake bank?
For me to happily rub on and bathe,
is there fresh turmeric root?
Hey sister, in America,
is there an irrigation lake bank?
For my cousin to weed the fields,
is there a path along the canal?
Do storks fly there?
Do roosters crow too?
Do storks fly there?
Do roosters crow too?
Are there crows?
And are they black?
If they don't even have this,
what is so great about that place, sister?
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing songs!
If our sister is not right here,
all we will get are green chilies
and cold leftover rice!
Hey... for sister,
it's Happy Birthday!
There is a party, so sing a song,
sing and bring the house down!
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing and sing!
They have modern clothes,
but can you get a fine cotton dhoti?
They have many tall buildings,
but sister, do they have a thatched mud hut?
They have night clubs,
but do they have our corner tea stall?
There are schools over there,
but do they get free nutritious meals?
Sister, oh sister, are there chickens?
Can you find little sparrows?
Chorus: Are there chickens?
Can you find sparrows or birds?
At the street corner,
do they fight over caste?
Chorus: If they don't even have this,
what is so great about that place, sister?
Hey sister!
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing songs!
If our sister is not right here,
all we will get are green chilies
and cold leftover rice!
Hey... for sister,
it's Happy Birthday!
There is a party, so sing a song,
sing and bring the house down!
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing songs!
If there is no water in Courtallam,
only the bare rocks
will sing and sing!
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and folk-infused song from the film 'Puthu Paatu' (1990) revolves around a lighthearted birthday celebration for an elder sister ('Akkaa'). The singers compare rural Indian village life with modern American lifestyle through satirical and humorous questions. They ask whether Westernized places possess simple, native rural comforts—such as turmeric for bathing, canal ridges, local teashops, mid-day school meals, and native birds. Through energetic rhythm and folk humor, the lyrics emphasize that grand modern cities lack the authentic warmth and earthy simplicity of home.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa

Matching second consonant 't' ('த்') in adjacent lines 'Kuthaalathil' and 'Pattakaram/Verum' style structural harmony.

Metaphor / Hyperbole

Verum paara mattum thaan / Paattu padikkum

Describing bare rocks singing if water dries up in Courtallam waterfalls as a folk exaggeration.

Irony / Satire

Night club thaan irukkudhu / Namma nair kada thaan irukkudhaa

Comically juxtaposing high-end Western developments like night clubs and skyscrapers with simple rural needs like mud huts and tea stalls.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Puthu Paatu' (1990), directed by Seeman (or written/directed by R. Aravindraj starring Ramarajan), featured music composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by the legendary Vaali. The song uses playful folk banter to contrast traditional Tamil village life against Western modernization.

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