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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maattikitta Maattikitta

From Chinna Durai · 1999

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Durai1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Male
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Sikkikkittaa sikkikkittaaShe got trapped, she got trapped
Vaalaattum kannu kuttiTail-wagging little calf
Pattanatthil kathadhellaamAll that you learned in the city
Pattikkaattil kotturiyaeYou are displaying in the village
Retta jeda pottukkittuStyling yourself with double braids
Aatti aatti kaatturiyaeYou swing around showing off
Pant satta maattura kuttikkuFor a girl wearing pants and a shirt
Vaandu pasanga koottu edhukkuWhy have a gang of little boys around?
Vaakka padura vayasuYou are at an age to get married
Kannu kandangathiri sizeEyes the size of wild eggplant berries
Thadukki vidudhu varappuThe pathway ridge makes you trip
Adi en kitta ennadi morappuHey girl, why are you showing attitude to me?
Male
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Sikkikkittaa sikkikkittaaShe got trapped, she got trapped
Vaalaattum kannu kuttiTail-wagging little calf
Male
Thanniyila meenuA fish in the water
Tharaiyila kaanjaaIf it dries up on land
KaruvaadammaaBecomes dried fish, dear
Male
Adada dadada daaAdada dadada daa
Pattanathu kaakkaa pattikkaadu vandhaaIf a city crow comes to the village
Kuyil aagumaaWill it become a cuckoo?
Male
Suthugira mayilae sutterikkum veyilaeOh wandering peacock, oh scorching sun
Kaettukkadi kiliyae kaezhvaragu kaliyaeListen here oh parrot, oh finger-millet porridge
Otha maattu vandiyila onna ippa thookkattumaaShall I pick you up now in a single-bullock cart?
Vambu thumbu senjaeyinnaa saatta kondu ottattumaaIf you cause trouble, shall I drive with a whip?
Ponnunnaa paeyum irangumEven a ghost submits to a woman
Paeiya pola ponnirukku paathukkoLook, here is a woman acting like a ghost!
Chorus
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Male
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Chorus
Sikkikkittaa sikkikkittaaShe got trapped, she got trapped
Male
Vaalaattum kannu kuttiTail-wagging little calf
Pattanatthil kathadhellaamAll that you learned in the city
Pattikkaattil kotturiyaeYou are displaying in the village
Retta jeda pottukkittuStyling yourself with double braids
Aatti aatti kaatturiyaeYou swing around showing off
Pant satta maattura kuttikkuFor a girl wearing pants and a shirt
Vaandu pasanga koottu edhukkuWhy have a gang of little boys around?
Male
Kannu kandangathiri sizeEyes the size of wild eggplant berries
Male
Adi en kitta ennadi morappu haeiHey girl, why are you showing attitude to me, haei
Chorus
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Male
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Chorus
Sikkikkittaa sikkikkittaaShe got trapped, she got trapped
Male
Vaalaattum kannu kuttiTail-wagging little calf
Male
Oorukkulla namakkuIn our town
Satta thittam irukkuThere are laws and customs
Meeraadhammaa adha meeraadhammaaDo not break them, dear, do not break them
Male
Pombalaikku adhulae concession irukkuFor women, there are concessions in them
DhaaraalamaaGenerously given
Male
Ponnu ennum powerThe power called 'woman'
Romba romba perusuIs very, very huge
Ponnu seiyum thavaru pen inathin izhukkuA mistake made by a woman brings shame to womanhood
Achathaiyum naanathaiyumCasting aside fear and shyness
Vittu puttu suthuriyaeYou wander around freely
Vekkathaiyum maanathaiyumYour modesty and dignity
Yaelam pottu vikkuriyaaeYou are putting up for auction
Alli nee raani illaeYou are not Queen Alli
Kalliyinnu solludhdi ooru thaanThe whole town says you are a rogue girl
Chorus
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Male
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Chorus
Sikkikkittaa sikkikkittaaShe got trapped, she got trapped
Male
Vaalaattum kannu kuttiTail-wagging little calf
Pattanatthil kathadhellaamAll that you learned in the city
Pattikkaattil kotturiyaeYou are displaying in the village
Retta jeda pottukkittuStyling yourself with double braids
Aatti aatti kaatturiyaeYou swing around showing off
Pant satta maattura kuttikkuFor a girl wearing pants and a shirt
Vaandu pasanga koottu edhukkuWhy have a gang of little boys around?
Male
Kannu kandangathiri sizeEyes the size of wild eggplant berries
Male
Adi en kitta ennadi morappu haeiHey girl, why are you showing attitude to me, haei
Chorus
Maattikkittaa maattikkittaaShe got caught, she got caught
Singaara chinna kuttiBeautiful little girl
Sikkikkittaa sikkikkittaaShe got trapped, she got trapped
Vaalaattum kannu kuttiTail-wagging little calf

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Maattikkittaa Maattikkittaa is a lively, humorous song from the 1999 Tamil movie Chinna Durai. In this track, the protagonist playfully teases a modern, city-educated girl who has returned to her native village. He pokes fun at her urban attire, westernized attitude, and reluctance to follow traditional rural customs, comparing her actions to various rustic elements and proverbs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaayi (Initial Alliteration)

Pattanatthil kathadhellaam / Pattikkaattil kotturiyae

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound across adjacent words in the line.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Suthugira mayilae sutterikkum veyilae / Kaettukkadi kiliyae kaezhvaragu kaliyae

Rhyming line endings using matching vowel sounds ('mayilae', 'veyilae', 'kiliyae', 'kaliyae').

Metaphor / Analogy

Pattanathu kaakkaa pattikkaadu vandhaa / Kuyil aagumaa

Comparing a city person attempting to fit into rural simplicity to a crow pretending to be a cuckoo.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Chinna Durai (1999) stars R. Sarathkumar and Roja, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Pazhani Bharathi.

Keep listening

More from Chinna Durai