Kutthalathil Thanni
From Puthu Paatu · 1990
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Gangai Amaran, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Puthu Paatu1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Pappaa pabpaen | Pappaa pabpaen |
| Pappaa pabpaen | Pappaa pabpaen |
| Pappaa pab pappaa pab | Pappaa pab pappaa pab |
| Male | |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum | Will sing a song |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum | Will sing a song |
| Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa | If our elder sister is not here |
| Namakku pacha molagaa | For us, green chillies |
| Pazhaiya sorum thaan | And old leftover rice are the only food |
| Chorus | |
| Hae… akkaavukku | Hey... for elder sister |
| Happy birth day | Happy birthday |
| Party irukku oru paattu padichu | There is a party, sing a song |
| Paadi dhoolu kelappu | Sing and rock the stage! |
| Male | |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum | Will sing a song |
| Female | |
| Akkaa aasai akkaa | Sister, dear sister |
| Akkaa america vula | In America, sister, |
| Oru kammaa karai irukkudhaa | Is there a lake bank? |
| Naan aasa pattu thaechu kulikka | For me to happily rub and bathe, |
| Nalla manja kezhangirukkudhaa | Is there good raw turmeric? |
| Chorus | |
| Ae akkaa america vula | Hey sister, in America, |
| Oru kammaak karai irukkudhaa | Is there a lake bank? |
| Ae aitha mava kalai edukka | For aunt's son to weed the field, |
| Oru vaaikkaa varappirukkudhaa | Is there a canal ridge? |
| Female | |
| Kokku parakkudhaa | Does a crane fly there? |
| Kozhiyum thaan koovudhaa | Does a rooster crow too? |
| Kokku parakkudhaa | Does a crane fly there? |
| Kozhiyum thaan koovudhaa | Does a rooster crow too? |
| Kaakkaa irukkudhaa | Is there a crow? |
| Adhu karuppaa irukkudhaa | Is it black in color? |
| Chorus | |
| Idhu mattum illaiyinnaa | If even these are not present, |
| Andha ooru enna periya oorukkaa | Is that big town really worth anything? |
| Male | |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum | Will sing a song |
| Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa | If our elder sister is not here |
| Namakku pacha molagaa | For us, green chillies |
| Pazhaiya sorum thaan | And old leftover rice are the only food |
| Chorus | |
| Hae… akkaavukku | Hey... for elder sister |
| Happy birth day | Happy birthday |
| Party irukku oru paattu padichu | There is a party, sing a song |
| Paadi dhoolu kelappu | Sing and rock the stage! |
| Male | |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum padikkum | Will sing a song, sing a song |
| Female | |
| Modern dress irukkudhu | There are modern dresses available |
| Nalla mallu vaetti thaan kedaikkudhaa | Do you get comfortable handloom veshtis there? |
| Maadi pala irukkudhu | There are multi-storey buildings |
| Mamma mann kudisai irukkudhaa | Mother, is there a mud hut there? |
| Chorus | |
| Night club thaan irukkudhu | There are night clubs |
| Namma nair kada thaan irukkudhaa | Is our local Nair tea shop there? |
| Angae pallikkoodam irukkudhu | There are schools over there |
| Aanaa sathunavu thaan kedaikkudhaa | But do they serve nutritious mid-day meals? |
| Male | |
| Yakkaa yakkaa kozhi irukkudhaa | Hey sister, hey sister, are there chickens? |
| Nalla kuruvi kedaikkudhaa | Do you get good birds there? |
| Chorus :Kozhi irukkudhaa | Chorus: Are there chickens? |
| Kuruvi kiruvi kedaikkudhaa | Do you get birds or small creatures there? |
| Male | |
| Sandhu monaiyila | At the corner of the alley |
| Saadhi sanda nadakkudhaa | Do caste fights happen? |
| Chorus :Idhu kooda illaiyinnaa | Chorus: If even this is not there, |
| Andha ooru enna periya oorukkaa | Is that town really worth anything? |
| Yekkaaa | Hey sister! |
| Male | |
| {Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | {If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum} (2) | Will sing a song} (2) |
| Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa | If our elder sister is not here |
| Namakku pacha molagaa | For us, green chillies |
| Pazhaiya sorum thaan | And old leftover rice are the only food |
| Chorus | |
| Hae… akkaavukku | Hey... for elder sister |
| Happy birth day | Happy birthday |
| Party irukku oru paattu padichu | There is a party, sing a song |
| Paadi dhoolu kelappu | Sing and rock the stage! |
| Male | |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum | Will sing a song |
| Chorus | |
| Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa | If there is no water in Courtallam |
| Verum paara mattum thaan | Only the bare rocks |
| Paattu padikkum padikkum | Will sing a song, sing a song |
பபபாபா பான்
பபபாபா பான்
பபபாபா பான் பபபாபப்
பபபாபப்
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pab pappaa pab
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song
If our elder sister is not here
For us, green chillies
And old leftover rice are the only food
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
Hey... for elder sister
Happy birthday
There is a party, sing a song
Sing and rock the stage!
நம்ம அக்கா மட்டும்
இங்கே இல்லையின்னா
நமக்கு பச்ச மொளகா
பழைய சோறும்தான்
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song
ஹே ஹே ஹே...
அக்காவுக்கு ஹேப்பி பர்த் டே
பார்டி இருக்கு
ஒரு பாட்டு படிச்சு
பாடி தூளு கெளப்பு
Sister, dear sister
In America, sister,
Is there a lake bank?
For me to happily rub and bathe,
Is there good raw turmeric?
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
Hey sister, in America,
Is there a lake bank?
For aunt's son to weed the field,
Is there a canal ridge?
அக்கா ஆசை அக்கா
அக்கா அமெரிக்காவுல
ஒரு கம்மாக் கரை இருக்குதா
நான் ஆசப் பட்டு தேச்சு குளிக்க
நல்ல மஞ்சக் கெழங்கு இருக்குதா
Does a crane fly there?
Does a rooster crow too?
Does a crane fly there?
Does a rooster crow too?
Is there a crow?
Is it black in color?
ஏ அக்கா அமெரிக்காவுல
ஒரு கம்மாக் கரை இருக்குதா
ஏ அத்தை மக களை எடுக்க
ஒரு வாய்க்கா வரப்பு இருக்குதா
If even these are not present,
Is that big town really worth anything?
கொக்கு பறக்குதா
கோழியும்தான் கூவுதா
கொக்கு பறக்குதா
கோழியும்தான் கூவுதா
காக்கா இருக்குதா
அது கருப்பா இருக்குதா
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song
If our elder sister is not here
For us, green chillies
And old leftover rice are the only food
இது மட்டும் இல்லையின்னா
அந்த ஊரு என்ன பெரிய ஊருக்கா
Hey... for elder sister
Happy birthday
There is a party, sing a song
Sing and rock the stage!
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song, sing a song
நம்ம அக்கா மட்டும்
இங்கே இல்லையின்னா
நமக்கு பச்ச மொளகா
பழைய சோறும்தான்
There are modern dresses available
Do you get comfortable handloom veshtis there?
There are multi-storey buildings
Mother, is there a mud hut there?
ஹே ஹே ஹே...
அக்காவுக்கு ஹேப்பி பர்த் டே
பார்டி இருக்கு
ஒரு பாட்டு படிச்சு
அடி தூளு கெளப்பு
There are night clubs
Is our local Nair tea shop there?
There are schools over there
But do they serve nutritious mid-day meals?
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
படிக்கும்
Hey sister, hey sister, are there chickens?
Do you get good birds there?
Chorus: Are there chickens?
Do you get birds or small creatures there?
மாடர்ன் டிரஸ் இருக்குது
நல்ல மல்லு
வேட்டிதான் கெடைக்குதா
மாடி பல இருக்குது நம்ம
மண் குடிசை இருக்குதா
At the corner of the alley
Do caste fights happen?
Chorus: If even this is not there,
Is that town really worth anything?
Hey sister!
நைட் கிளப்பு தான் இருக்குது
நம்ம நாயர் கடதான் இருக்குதா
அங்கே பள்ளிக்கூடம் இருக்குது
ஆனா சத்துணவுதான் கெடைக்குதா
{If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song} (2)
If our elder sister is not here
For us, green chillies
And old leftover rice are the only food
யக்கா யக்கா
கோழி இருக்குதா
நல்ல குருவி கெடைக்குதா
Hey... for elder sister
Happy birthday
There is a party, sing a song
Sing and rock the stage!
கோழி இருக்குதா குருவி
கிருவி கெடைக்குதா
சந்து மொனையில
சாதி சண்ட நடக்குதா
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song
இது கூட இல்லையின்னா
அந்த ஊரு என்ன பெரிய ஊருக்கா யக்கா
If there is no water in Courtallam
Only the bare rocks
Will sing a song, sing a song
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
நம்ம அக்கா மட்டும்
இங்கே இல்லையின்னா
நமக்கு பச்ச மொளகா
பழைய சோறும்தான்
ஹே ஹே ஹே...
அக்காவுக்கு ஹேப்பி பர்த் டே
பார்டி இருக்கு
ஒரு பாட்டு படிச்சு
அடி தூளு கெளப்பு
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
குத்தாலத்தில் தண்ணி
இல்லையின்னா
வெறும் பாறை
மட்டும்தான் பாட்டுப் படிக்கும்
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pabpaen
Pappaa pab pappaa pab
Pappaa pab pappaa pab
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum
Will sing a song
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum
Will sing a song
Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa
If our elder sister is not here
Namakku pacha molagaa
For us, green chillies
Pazhaiya sorum thaan
And old leftover rice are the only food
Hae… akkaavukku
Hey... for elder sister
Happy birth day
Happy birthday
Party irukku oru paattu padichu
There is a party, sing a song
Paadi dhoolu kelappu
Sing and rock the stage!
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum
Will sing a song
Akkaa aasai akkaa
Sister, dear sister
Akkaa america vula
In America, sister,
Oru kammaa karai irukkudhaa
Is there a lake bank?
Naan aasa pattu thaechu kulikka
For me to happily rub and bathe,
Nalla manja kezhangirukkudhaa
Is there good raw turmeric?
Ae akkaa america vula
Hey sister, in America,
Oru kammaak karai irukkudhaa
Is there a lake bank?
Ae aitha mava kalai edukka
For aunt's son to weed the field,
Oru vaaikkaa varappirukkudhaa
Is there a canal ridge?
Kokku parakkudhaa
Does a crane fly there?
Kozhiyum thaan koovudhaa
Does a rooster crow too?
Kokku parakkudhaa
Does a crane fly there?
Kozhiyum thaan koovudhaa
Does a rooster crow too?
Kaakkaa irukkudhaa
Is there a crow?
Adhu karuppaa irukkudhaa
Is it black in color?
Idhu mattum illaiyinnaa
If even these are not present,
Andha ooru enna periya oorukkaa
Is that big town really worth anything?
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum
Will sing a song
Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa
If our elder sister is not here
Namakku pacha molagaa
For us, green chillies
Pazhaiya sorum thaan
And old leftover rice are the only food
Hae… akkaavukku
Hey... for elder sister
Happy birth day
Happy birthday
Party irukku oru paattu padichu
There is a party, sing a song
Paadi dhoolu kelappu
Sing and rock the stage!
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum padikkum
Will sing a song, sing a song
Modern dress irukkudhu
There are modern dresses available
Nalla mallu vaetti thaan kedaikkudhaa
Do you get comfortable handloom veshtis there?
Maadi pala irukkudhu
There are multi-storey buildings
Mamma mann kudisai irukkudhaa
Mother, is there a mud hut there?
Night club thaan irukkudhu
There are night clubs
Namma nair kada thaan irukkudhaa
Is our local Nair tea shop there?
Angae pallikkoodam irukkudhu
There are schools over there
Aanaa sathunavu thaan kedaikkudhaa
But do they serve nutritious mid-day meals?
Yakkaa yakkaa kozhi irukkudhaa
Hey sister, hey sister, are there chickens?
Nalla kuruvi kedaikkudhaa
Do you get good birds there?
Chorus :Kozhi irukkudhaa
Chorus: Are there chickens?
Kuruvi kiruvi kedaikkudhaa
Do you get birds or small creatures there?
Sandhu monaiyila
At the corner of the alley
Saadhi sanda nadakkudhaa
Do caste fights happen?
Chorus :Idhu kooda illaiyinnaa
Chorus: If even this is not there,
Andha ooru enna periya oorukkaa
Is that town really worth anything?
Yekkaaa
Hey sister!
{Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
{If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum} (2)
Will sing a song} (2)
Namma akkaa mattum ingae illannaa
If our elder sister is not here
Namakku pacha molagaa
For us, green chillies
Pazhaiya sorum thaan
And old leftover rice are the only food
Hae… akkaavukku
Hey... for elder sister
Happy birth day
Happy birthday
Party irukku oru paattu padichu
There is a party, sing a song
Paadi dhoolu kelappu
Sing and rock the stage!
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum
Will sing a song
Kuthaalathil thanni illannaa
If there is no water in Courtallam
Verum paara mattum thaan
Only the bare rocks
Paattu padikkum padikkum
Will sing a song, sing a song
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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