Maattu Mani Saththam
From Endraavathu Oru Naal · 2021
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Namitha Babu
- Music director
- N. R. Raghunanthan
- Details
- Endraavathu Oru Naal2021
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hmmm mm mmm mm mm | Humming sounds |
| Hm mm mm hmm mm mm hmm mm mm | Humming sounds |
| Maattu mani saththam | The sound of the cowbell |
| Enga koyil mani saththam | Is like the sound of our temple bell |
| Maattu saani vaasam | The smell of cow dung |
| Enga parambaraya suththum | Surrounds and purifies our generations |
| Female | |
| Maattu mani saththam | The sound of the cowbell |
| Enga koyil mani saththam | Is like the sound of our temple bell |
| Maattu saani vaasam | The smell of cow dung |
| Enga parambaraya suththum | Surrounds and purifies our generations |
| Female | |
| Veedillaama iruppathundu | Human kind may exist |
| Manusha saadhi | Even without a house |
| Aana maadillaadha iruppadhilla | But the farming community cannot exist |
| Ozhavar saadhi… | Without cattle... |
| Female | |
| Sella pillaiyodu moththam | Including our beloved child |
| Rendu peru naanga | We are two humans |
| Sevala kaala rendum | Along with the two red bulls |
| Serthu naalu peruthaanga | Together we are a family of four |
| Female | |
| Eesan thandha maadu | These two cattle given by God |
| Rendum enga pillaiyaachu | Have become our own children |
| Ration card ezhuthum bothu | Only when writing the ration card |
| Peru vittu pochu | Were their names left out! |
| Female | |
| Maattu mani saththam | The sound of the cowbell |
| Enga koyil mani saththam | Is like the sound of our temple bell |
| Maattu saani vaasam | The smell of cow dung |
| Enga parambaraya suththum | Surrounds and purifies our generations |
| Female | |
| Veedillaama iruppathundu | Human kind may exist |
| Manusha saadhi | Even without a house |
| Aana maadillaadha iruppadhilla | But the farming community cannot exist |
| Ozhavar saadhi… | Without cattle... |
| Female | |
| Sella pillaiyodu moththam | Including our beloved child |
| Rendu peru naanga | We are two humans |
| Sevala kaala rendum | Along with the two red bulls |
| Serthu naalu peruthaanga | Together we are a family of four |
| Female | |
| Eesan thandha maadu | These two cattle given by God |
| Rendum enga pillaiyaachu | Have become our own children |
| Ration card ezhuthum bothu | Only when writing the ration card |
| Peru vittu pochu | Were their names left out! |
| Female | |
| Katti vacha kaala maattu | At the sound of the neck bell |
| Kazhuthu mani osayilae | Of the tethered bull |
| Satti vechu thanni thelippaa | Sprinkling water holding a pot |
| Thaai oruthi vaasayilae | A mother stands at the doorstep |
| Female | |
| Katti vacha kaala maattu | At the sound of the neck bell |
| Kazhuthu mani osayilae | Of the tethered bull |
| Satti vechu thanni thelippaa | Sprinkling water holding a pot |
| Thaai oruthi vaasayilae | A mother stands at the doorstep |
| Female | |
| Peththa pulla pasiyaara..aa.. | To satisfy her child's hunger... |
| Peththa pulla pasiyaara | To satisfy her child's hunger |
| Oththamaiyu ottayila | Through the gap in the roof tile |
| Sevala maadu thinguthaanu | To check if the red bull is eating |
| Etti paappa aasayila | She peeks eagerly out of love |
| Female | |
| Kodi panam venaamae | We do not need crores of money |
| Ponnum porulum venaamae | We do not need gold and riches |
| Maadimane venaamae | We do not need multi-storeyed mansions |
| Sodi maadu randu podhumae…. | Just a pair of bulls is enough for us.... |
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம் ம்ம்.....
Humming sounds
Humming sounds
The sound of the cowbell
Is like the sound of our temple bell
The smell of cow dung
Surrounds and purifies our generations
மாட்டு மணி சத்தம்
எங்க கோயில் மணி சத்தம்
மாட்டு சாணி வாசம்
எங்க பரம்பரய சுத்தும்
The sound of the cowbell
Is like the sound of our temple bell
The smell of cow dung
Surrounds and purifies our generations
மாட்டு மணி சத்தம்
எங்க கோயில் மணி சத்தம்
மாட்டு சாணி வாசம்
எங்க பரம்பரய சுத்தும்
Human kind may exist
Even without a house
But the farming community cannot exist
Without cattle...
வீடில்லாம இருப்பதுண்டு
மனுச சாதி
ஆனா மாடில்லாம இருப்பதில்ல
உழவு சாதி
Including our beloved child
We are two humans
Along with the two red bulls
Together we are a family of four
செல்ல பிள்ளையோடு மொத்தம்
ரெண்டு பேரு நாங்க
செவல காள ரெண்டும்
சேத்து நாலு பேருதாங்க
These two cattle given by God
Have become our own children
Only when writing the ration card
Were their names left out!
ஈசன் தந்த மாடு
ரெண்டும் எங்க பிள்ளையாச்சு
ரேஷன் கார்டு எழுதும்போது
பேரு விட்டு போச்சு
The sound of the cowbell
Is like the sound of our temple bell
The smell of cow dung
Surrounds and purifies our generations
மாட்டு மணி சத்தம்
எங்க கோயில் மணி சத்தம்
மாட்டு சாணி வாசம்
எங்க பரம்பரய சுத்தும்
Human kind may exist
Even without a house
But the farming community cannot exist
Without cattle...
மாட்டு மணி சத்தம்
எங்க கோயில் மணி சத்தம்
மாட்டு சாணி வாசம்
எங்க பரம்பரய சுத்தும்
Including our beloved child
We are two humans
Along with the two red bulls
Together we are a family of four
வீடில்லாம இருப்பதுண்டு
மனுச சாதி
ஆனா மாடில்லாம இருப்பதில்ல
உழவு சாதி
These two cattle given by God
Have become our own children
Only when writing the ration card
Were their names left out!
செல்ல பிள்ளையோடு மொத்தம்
ரெண்டு பேரு நாங்க
செவல காள ரெண்டும்
சேத்து நாலு பேருதாங்க
At the sound of the neck bell
Of the tethered bull
Sprinkling water holding a pot
A mother stands at the doorstep
ஈசன் தந்த மாடு
ரெண்டும் எங்க பிள்ளையாச்சு
ரேஷன் கார்டு எழுதும்போது
பேரு விட்டு போச்சு
At the sound of the neck bell
Of the tethered bull
Sprinkling water holding a pot
A mother stands at the doorstep
கட்டி வச்ச காள மாட்டு
கழுத்து மணி ஓசையிலே
சட்டி வச்சு தண்ணி தொளிப்பா
தாய் ஒருத்தி வாசலில
To satisfy her child's hunger...
To satisfy her child's hunger
Through the gap in the roof tile
To check if the red bull is eating
She peeks eagerly out of love
கட்டி வச்ச காள மாட்டு
கழுத்து மணி ஓசையிலே
சட்டி வச்சு தண்ணி தளிப்பா
தாய் ஒருத்தி வாசலில
We do not need crores of money
We do not need gold and riches
We do not need multi-storeyed mansions
Just a pair of bulls is enough for us....
பெத்த புள்ள பசியாற
பெத்த புள்ள பசியாற
ஒத்தமயி ஓட்டயில
செவல மாடு திங்குதாணு
எட்டி பாப்பா ஆசையில
கோடி பணம் வேணாமே
பொன்னும் பொருளும் வேணாமே
மாடி மன வேணாமே
சோடி மாடு ரெண்டு போதுமே
Hmmm mm mmm mm mm
Humming sounds
Hm mm mm hmm mm mm hmm mm mm
Humming sounds
Maattu mani saththam
The sound of the cowbell
Enga koyil mani saththam
Is like the sound of our temple bell
Maattu saani vaasam
The smell of cow dung
Enga parambaraya suththum
Surrounds and purifies our generations
Maattu mani saththam
The sound of the cowbell
Enga koyil mani saththam
Is like the sound of our temple bell
Maattu saani vaasam
The smell of cow dung
Enga parambaraya suththum
Surrounds and purifies our generations
Veedillaama iruppathundu
Human kind may exist
Manusha saadhi
Even without a house
Aana maadillaadha iruppadhilla
But the farming community cannot exist
Ozhavar saadhi…
Without cattle...
Sella pillaiyodu moththam
Including our beloved child
Rendu peru naanga
We are two humans
Sevala kaala rendum
Along with the two red bulls
Serthu naalu peruthaanga
Together we are a family of four
Eesan thandha maadu
These two cattle given by God
Rendum enga pillaiyaachu
Have become our own children
Ration card ezhuthum bothu
Only when writing the ration card
Peru vittu pochu
Were their names left out!
Maattu mani saththam
The sound of the cowbell
Enga koyil mani saththam
Is like the sound of our temple bell
Maattu saani vaasam
The smell of cow dung
Enga parambaraya suththum
Surrounds and purifies our generations
Veedillaama iruppathundu
Human kind may exist
Manusha saadhi
Even without a house
Aana maadillaadha iruppadhilla
But the farming community cannot exist
Ozhavar saadhi…
Without cattle...
Sella pillaiyodu moththam
Including our beloved child
Rendu peru naanga
We are two humans
Sevala kaala rendum
Along with the two red bulls
Serthu naalu peruthaanga
Together we are a family of four
Eesan thandha maadu
These two cattle given by God
Rendum enga pillaiyaachu
Have become our own children
Ration card ezhuthum bothu
Only when writing the ration card
Peru vittu pochu
Were their names left out!
Katti vacha kaala maattu
At the sound of the neck bell
Kazhuthu mani osayilae
Of the tethered bull
Satti vechu thanni thelippaa
Sprinkling water holding a pot
Thaai oruthi vaasayilae
A mother stands at the doorstep
Katti vacha kaala maattu
At the sound of the neck bell
Kazhuthu mani osayilae
Of the tethered bull
Satti vechu thanni thelippaa
Sprinkling water holding a pot
Thaai oruthi vaasayilae
A mother stands at the doorstep
Peththa pulla pasiyaara..aa..
To satisfy her child's hunger...
Peththa pulla pasiyaara
To satisfy her child's hunger
Oththamaiyu ottayila
Through the gap in the roof tile
Sevala maadu thinguthaanu
To check if the red bull is eating
Etti paappa aasayila
She peeks eagerly out of love
Kodi panam venaamae
We do not need crores of money
Ponnum porulum venaamae
We do not need gold and riches
Maadimane venaamae
We do not need multi-storeyed mansions
Sodi maadu randu podhumae….
Just a pair of bulls is enough for us....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Endraavathu Oru Naal' expresses the deep emotional and spiritual bond between rural agrarian families and their cattle. The lyrics highlight how farmers treat their bulls not as mere livestock or working animals, but as sacred, integral family members who deserve as much love and care as their own children. The song contrasts material wealth like gold and mansions with the true contentment derived from living a simple, harmonious life alongside faithful farm animals.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Maattu mani saththam / Enga koyil mani saththam”
Comparing the sound of the cattle's bell to the divine bell of a sacred temple.
Personification / Familial Imagery
“Eesan thandha maadu / Rendum enga pillaiyaachu / Ration card ezhuthum bothu / Peru vittu pochu”
Treating the pair of bulls as equal family members and children, noting with poignant irony that only the ration card excludes them.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Katti vacha kaala maattu ... Satti vechu thanni thelippaa”
Rhyming of the second consonants 'tti' in 'Katti' and 'Satti' across consecutive lines.
Anaphora / Repetition
“Kodi panam venaamae / Ponnum porulum venaamae / Maadimane venaamae”
Repetition of 'venaamae' (don't want) at line endings to emphasize contentment and rejection of material wealth.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the critically acclaimed Tamil film 'Endraavathu Oru Naal' (2021), which centers on the hardships and emotional resilience of rural cattle rearers in Tamil Nadu facing drought and economic distress.
Keep listening
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