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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
Details
Kalyanikku Kalyanam1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pattinam kettakaettukkuDespite its own flaws, the city
Pattikaadu mattaminnuClaims the village is inferior,
Paraparappa kaiyai thatti pazhikkudhuAnd eagerly claps its hands in mock disdain.
Pattinam kettakaettukkuDespite its own flaws, the city
Pattikaadu mattaminnuClaims the village is inferior,
Paraparappa kaiyai thatti pazhikkudhuAnd eagerly claps its hands in mock disdain.
Female
Pagal veshakkararai polLike masqueraders in broad daylight,
Mogaraigalai maathikkidaTo disguise their true faces,
Podariyilae purandu ezhundhu varuvanghaThey toss and turn out of bed in the morning.
Pagal veshakkararai polLike masqueraders in broad daylight,
Mogaraigalai maathikkidaTo disguise their true faces,
Podariyilae purandu ezhundhu varuvanghaThey toss and turn out of bed in the morning.
Female
Sagalamaana valigalumEven though remedies are available
Saanthi thaedum marunthirukkumTo soothe all kinds of pain,
Female
Sappi potta maangottaipolLike a sucked-out mango seed,
MelivaanghaThey grow thin and frail.
Female
Sagalamaana valigalumEven though remedies are available
Saanthi thaedum marunthirukkumTo soothe all kinds of pain,
Female
Sappi potta maangottaipolLike a sucked-out mango seed,
MelivaanghaThey grow thin and frail.
Silar sadhaiyai thookka sathillaama vizhuvanghaSome fall weak trying to build flesh without nutrition.
Silar sadhaiyai thookka sathillaama vizhuvanghaSome fall weak trying to build flesh without nutrition.
Female
Angae thanakku porandha kuzhandhaiyai thaanOver there, unable to even sing a lullaby
Thaalatta mudiyaamae sambalam koduthuTo the child born to them,
Aal pidippaa pombalaThe woman hires a nanny for a wage.
Female
Angae thanakku porandha kuzhandhaiyai thaanOver there, unable to even sing a lullaby
Thaalatta mudiyaamae sambalam koduthuTo the child born to them,
Aal pidippaa pombalaThe woman hires a nanny for a wage.
Male
Adiyae pendugalaHey women!
Oru peru rakkaayi oru peru mookaaiyiiOne named Rakkayi, another named Mookkayi,
Innum yeva perai kettaalumAnd if you ask anyone else's name,
Kaathaayii karupaayiiIt is Kathayi or Karupayi!
Indha oorukkum perukkumFor this place and name,
Onga oldu muraigalumWith your old-fashioned ways,
Paar pugalum chennai nagarIn world-renowned Chennai city,
Endha pakkam koranjirukku..haeiIn what way is it lacking? Hey!
Male
Unga kuttugalai sollanumaShould I list all your blunders?
Koodaiyil allanumaShould I scoop them up in baskets?
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappammaOh Pappamma, who criticizes the city,
Unga bavusai konjamShall I take a picture
Padam pudicha pappammaOf your grand status, Pappamma?
Male
Unga kuttugalai sollanumaShould I list all your blunders?
Koodaiyil allanumaShould I scoop them up in baskets?
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappammaOh Pappamma, who criticizes the city,
Unga bavusai konjamShall I take a picture
Padam pudicha pappammaOf your grand status, Pappamma?
Male
Ingae thalai valiyum noiyum vandhaHere, if you get a headache or illness,
Saamigalai kumbiduvinghaYou pray to deities,
Innum jaathagathai paathuputtuAnd looking at horoscopes,
Aadu kozhi vettuvinghaYou sacrifice goats and chickens.
Palavidha vaithiyamum padichirukkum doctoridamTo the doctor who studied various treatments,
Udal nilaiyai solla maattinghaYou won't reveal your health condition,
Moochu ninnu ponaa kathuvinghaBut when breath stops, you scream and cry!
Male
Unga kuttugalai sollanumaShould I list all your blunders?
Koodaiyil allanumaShould I scoop them up in baskets?
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappammaOh Pappamma, who criticizes the city,
Unga bavusai konjamShall I take a picture
Padam pudicha pappammaOf your grand status, Pappamma?
Male
Unga kuttugalai sollanumaShould I list all your blunders?
Koodaiyil allanumaShould I scoop them up in baskets?
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappammaOh Pappamma, who criticizes the city,
Unga bavusai konjamShall I take a picture
Padam pudicha pappammaOf your grand status, Pappamma?
Male
Kai ezhuthu poda kooda kalvi arivu illaamaeWithout even basic literacy to sign your name,
Kattai virl muthiraiyil oonghRelying on thumbprints,
Ungha kadhaigal ellaam nadakkudhadiAll your stories unfold!
Kaalam pora veghthilae vaanilAt the speed of modern times, when ships fly
Kappal pora veghthilae ingaeIn the sky, right here,
Kanmoodi velaigalil kanakku perugudhadiExploitation multiplies in superstitious blind acts!
Male
Unga kuttugalai sollanumaShould I list all your blunders?
Koodaiyil allanumaShould I scoop them up in baskets?
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappammaOh Pappamma, who criticizes the city,
Unga bavusai konjamShall I take a picture
Padam pudicha pappammaOf your grand status, Pappamma?
Male
Unga kuttugalai sollanumaShould I list all your blunders?
Koodaiyil allanumaShould I scoop them up in baskets?
Pattanathai pazhichu kattum pappammaOh Pappamma, who criticizes the city,
Unga bavusai konjamShall I take a picture
Padam pudicha pappammaOf your grand status, Pappamma?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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