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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kuttugalai Sollanuma

From Kalyanikku Kalyanam · 1959

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Leela, K. Jamunarani, Chorus
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Kalyanikku Kalyanam
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
4 Jun 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pattinam kettakaettukku
Pattikaadu mattaminnu
Paraparappa kaiyai thatti pazhikkudhu
Pattinam kettakaettukku
Pattikaadu mattaminnu
Paraparappa kaiyai thatti pazhikkudhu
Pagal veshakkararai pol
Mogaraigalai maathikkida
Podariyilae purandu ezhundhu varuvangha
Pagal veshakkararai pol
Mogaraigalai maathikkida
Podariyilae purandu ezhundhu varuvangha
Sagalamaana valigalum
Saanthi thaedum marunthirukkum
Sappi potta maangottaipol
Melivaangha
Sagalamaana valigalum
Saanthi thaedum marunthirukkum
Sappi potta maangottaipol
Melivaangha
Silar sadhaiyai thookka sathillaama vizhuvangha
Silar sadhaiyai thookka sathillaama vizhuvangha
Angae thanakku porandha kuzhandhaiyai thaan
Thaalatta mudiyaamae sambalam koduthu
Aal pidippaa pombala
Angae thanakku porandha kuzhandhaiyai thaan
Thaalatta mudiyaamae sambalam koduthu
Aal pidippaa pombala
Adiyae pendugala
Oru peru rakkaayi oru peru mookaaiyii
Innum yeva perai kettaalum
Kaathaayii karupaayii
Indha oorukkum perukkum
Onga oldu muraigalum
Paar pugalum chennai nagar
Endha pakkam koranjirukku..haei
Unga kuttugalai sollanuma
Koodaiyil allanuma
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappamma
Unga bavusai konjam
Padam pudicha pappamma
Unga kuttugalai sollanuma
Koodaiyil allanuma
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappamma
Unga bavusai konjam
Padam pudicha pappamma
Ingae thalai valiyum noiyum vandha
Saamigalai kumbiduvingha
Innum jaathagathai paathuputtu
Aadu kozhi vettuvingha
Palavidha vaithiyamum padichirukkum doctoridam
Udal nilaiyai solla maattingha
Moochu ninnu ponaa kathuvingha
Unga kuttugalai sollanuma
Koodaiyil allanuma
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappamma
Unga bavusai konjam
Padam pudicha pappamma
Unga kuttugalai sollanuma
Koodaiyil allanuma
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappamma
Unga bavusai konjam
Padam pudicha pappamma
Kai ezhuthu poda kooda kalvi arivu illaamae
Kattai virl muthiraiyil oongh
Ungha kadhaigal ellaam nadakkudhadi
Kaalam pora veghthilae vaanil
Kappal pora veghthilae ingae
Kanmoodi velaigalil kanakku perugudhadi
Unga kuttugalai sollanuma
Koodaiyil allanuma
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappamma
Unga bavusai konjam
Padam pudicha pappamma
Unga kuttugalai sollanuma
Koodaiyil allanuma
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappamma
Unga bavusai konjam
Padam pudicha pappamma
Despite its own ruined state,
the city calls the village inferior,
and excitedly claps its hands to mock us!
Despite its own ruined state,
the city calls the village inferior,
and excitedly claps its hands to mock us!
Like daylight street actors in disguise,
painting and altering their faces,
they come tumbling in head over heels!
Like daylight street actors in disguise,
painting and altering their faces,
they come tumbling in head over heels!
Though all kinds of medicines exist
to bring comfort and relief to pain,
they waste away and grow thin
like sucked-out mango seeds!
Though all kinds of medicines exist
to bring comfort and relief to pain,
they waste away and grow thin
like sucked-out mango seeds!
Some collapse, lacking the strength to carry their own flesh!
Some collapse, lacking the strength to carry their own flesh!
Over there, unable to soothe to sleep
the very child born to her,
a woman hires a maid for wages!
Over there, unable to soothe to sleep
the very child born to her,
a woman hires a maid for wages!
Hey you village women!
One is named Rakkayi, another is Mookkayi,
and whichever other woman's name you ask,
it is only Kaathayi or Karuppayi!
With these towns, these names,
and your old-fashioned ways,
in what way is world-renowned Chennai city
any lesser than you? Hey!
Shall I expose all your secrets?
Shall I shovel them out by the basketful?
Oh Pappamma, who mocks the city,
shall I capture a true picture
of your so-called grandeur, Pappamma?
Shall I expose all your secrets?
Shall I shovel them out by the basketful?
Oh Pappamma, who mocks the city,
shall I capture a true picture
of your so-called grandeur, Pappamma?
If a headache or illness strikes here,
you just bow down to the deities!
And after consulting your horoscopes,
you sacrifice goats and chickens!
To a doctor educated in all medical treatments,
you will not even explain your condition!
Only when the breath stops do you scream and wail!
Shall I expose all your secrets?
Shall I shovel them out by the basketful?
Oh Pappamma, who mocks the city,
shall I capture a true picture
of your so-called grandeur, Pappamma?
Shall I expose all your secrets?
Shall I shovel them out by the basketful?
Oh Pappamma, who mocks the city,
shall I capture a true picture
of your so-called grandeur, Pappamma?
Without even the literacy to sign your name,
with just a thumbprint stamp—humph!
All your daily affairs are run!
At the speed time is moving forward,
at the speed aeroplanes fly across the sky,
your blind, ignorant deeds only keep piling up!
Shall I expose all your secrets?
Shall I shovel them out by the basketful?
Oh Pappamma, who mocks the city,
shall I capture a true picture
of your so-called grandeur, Pappamma?
Shall I expose all your secrets?
Shall I shovel them out by the basketful?
Oh Pappamma, who mocks the city,
shall I capture a true picture
of your so-called grandeur, Pappamma?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Pattinam Kettakaettukku from the 1959 film Kalyanikku Kalyanam is a lively, satirical debate song written by the celebrated poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. The song pit urban and rural lifestyles against each other in a humorous 'Pattimandram' (debate) style. One perspective mocks the artificial makeup, poor health habits, superficial pride, and reliance on paid help in city life, comparing fragile urbanites to sucked mango seeds. In response, the opposing view calls out rural backwardness, blind faith in horoscopes, animal sacrifices, illiteracy, and hesitation to seek proper medical care. Through sharp lyrical wit and infectious folk rhythms composed by G. Ramanathan, the song exposes the hypocrisies of both worlds, championing modern education, social progress, and rational thinking over blind traditionalism or superficial urban vanity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Sappi potta maangottaipol Melivaangha

Compares physically frail city dwellers who suffer from health issues despite modern remedies to a dry, sucked-out mango seed.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Pattinam / Pattikaadu / Paraparappa

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' across consecutive words creates rhythmic momentum.

Metaphor / Contrast

Kaalam pora veghthilae vaanil Kappal pora veghthilae ingae

Juxtaposes the rapid technological advancement of modern times ('ships flying in the sky') with rural illiteracy and superstitious backwardness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for bringing socialist reform ideals and rationalist satire into Tamil cinema lyrics. This song uses a classic folk debate format that contrasts city vs. village life, a recurring and popular trope in mid-20th century Tamil Cinema.

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