Maattu Vandi Pootti
From Veerapandiya Kattabomman · 1959
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, T. V. Rathinam
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Veerapandiya Kattabomman1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi pootikittu | Hitching the bullock cart |
| Maappillaiya kootikittu | Taking along the groom |
| Maattu vandi pootikittu | Hitching the bullock cart |
| Maappillaiya kootikittu | Taking along the groom |
| Kaattu vazhi poravalae | O maiden traveling through the forest path |
| Kaattu vazhi poravalae kanniyamma | O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma |
| Un kaasu maala pathirama pathukkama | Safely guard your gold coin necklace |
| Male | |
| Nallavarai pola sila kallarum iruppanga | There will be thieves dressed like good people |
| Nambhi varum paadhaiyilae | On the path you trustingly travel |
| Kollaiyum adipaanga | They will loot you |
| Nallavarai pola sila kallarum iruppanga | There will be thieves dressed like good people |
| Nambhi varum paadhaiyilae | On the path you trustingly travel |
| Kollaiyum adipaanga | They will loot you |
| Naattai kooda kaasukaaga vippanga | They will even sell the country for money |
| Naattai kooda kaasukaaga vippanga | They will even sell the country for money |
| Indha nalaiyilae thanimai velaiyilae | In these present times, in this lonely hour |
| Nalaiyilae thanimai velaiyilae | In these times, in this lonely hour |
| Ponnaana maalai ellam pottikullae vaiyemma | Keep all your golden garlands inside the box, dear lady |
| Purushanaiyum pathirama pathukkamma | Also guard your husband safely, dear lady |
| Ponnaana maalai ellam pottikullae vaiyemma | Keep all your golden garlands inside the box, dear lady |
| Purushanaiyum pathirama pathukkamma | Also guard your husband safely, dear lady |
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi pootikittu | Hitching the bullock cart |
| Maappillaiya kootikittu | Taking along the groom |
| Kaattu vazhi poravalae kanniyamma | O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma |
| Un kaasu maala pathirama pathukkama | Safely guard your gold coin necklace |
| Female | |
| Saettaigalai pannikittu | Doing mischiefs |
| Nottangalai paathukittu | Looking for flaws and judging |
| Saettaigalai pannikittu | Doing mischiefs |
| Nottangalai paathukittu | Looking for flaws and judging |
| Pattugalum paadanuma pachaiyappa | Must you sing songs, Pachaiyappa? |
| Un paadhaiyai thaan pathirama pathukkappa | Just guard your path safely, my man |
| Female | |
| Aalugalai saikka inage | To bring down people here |
| Aazham vetti veipaanga | They will dig deep traps |
| Annan thambhi aayirundhum | Even if they are brothers |
| Kattiyae koduppanga | They will betray and tie you up |
| Maanathaiyum yelam poda nippanga | They will stand ready to auction off honor itself |
| Maanathaiyum yelam poda nippanga | They will stand ready to auction off honor itself |
| Indha nerathilae saalai orathilae | At this time, by the roadside |
| Indha nerathilae saalai orathilae | At this time, by the roadside |
| Munnaerum paadhaiyilae kann konjam veiyappa | Keep an eye on the path ahead, my man |
| Katti sorum pathiarma pathukkappa | Keep your packed food safe, my man |
| Male | |
| Maattu vandi pootikittu | Hitching the bullock cart |
| Maappillaiya kootikittu | Taking along the groom |
| Kaattu vazhi poravalae kanniyamma | O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma |
| Un kaasu maala pathirama pathukkama | Safely guard your gold coin necklace |
மாட்டு வண்டி பூட்டிக்கிட்டு
மாப்பிள்ளைய கூட்டிக்கிட்டு
மாட்டு வண்டி பூட்டிக்கிட்டு
மாப்பிள்ளைய கூட்டிக்கிட்டு
காட்டு வழி போறவளே
காட்டு வழி போறவளே கன்னியம்மா
உன் காசு மால பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கம்மா
Hitching the bullock cart
Taking along the groom
Hitching the bullock cart
Taking along the groom
O maiden traveling through the forest path
O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma
Safely guard your gold coin necklace
நல்லவரை போல சில கள்ளரும் இருப்பாங்க
நம்பி வரும் பாதையிலே
கொள்ளையும் அடிப்பாங்க
நல்லவரை போல சில கள்ளரும் இருப்பாங்க
நம்பி வரும் பாதையிலே
கொள்ளையும் அடிப்பாங்க
நாட்டைக் கூட காசுக்காக விப்பாங்க
நாட்டைக் கூட காசுக்காக விப்பாங்க
இந்த நாளையிலே தனிமை வேளையிலே
நாளையிலே தனிமை வேளையிலே
பொன்னான மாலை எல்லாம் பொட்டிக்குள்ளே வையம்மா
புருஷனையும் பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கம்மா
பொன்னான மாலை எல்லாம் பொட்டிக்குள்ளே வையம்மா
புருஷனையும் பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கம்மா
There will be thieves dressed like good people
On the path you trustingly travel
They will loot you
There will be thieves dressed like good people
On the path you trustingly travel
They will loot you
They will even sell the country for money
They will even sell the country for money
In these present times, in this lonely hour
In these times, in this lonely hour
Keep all your golden garlands inside the box, dear lady
Also guard your husband safely, dear lady
Keep all your golden garlands inside the box, dear lady
Also guard your husband safely, dear lady
மாட்டு வண்டி பூட்டிக்கிட்டு
மாப்பிள்ளைய கூட்டிக்கிட்டு
காட்டு வழி போறவளே கன்னியம்மா
உன் காசு மால பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கம்மா
Hitching the bullock cart
Taking along the groom
O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma
Safely guard your gold coin necklace
சேட்டைகள பண்ணிக்கிட்டு
நோட்டங்களை பாத்துக்கிட்டு
சேட்டைகள பண்ணிக்கிட்டு
நோட்டங்களை பாத்துக்கிட்டு
பாட்டுகளும் பாடணுமா பச்சையப்பா
உன் பாதையைத் தான் பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கப்பா
Doing mischiefs
Looking for flaws and judging
Doing mischiefs
Looking for flaws and judging
Must you sing songs, Pachaiyappa?
Just guard your path safely, my man
ஆளுகளை சாய்க்க இங்கே
ஆழம் வெட்டி வைப்பாங்க
அண்ணன் தம்பி ஆயிருந்தும்
காட்டியே கொடுப்பாங்க
மானத்தையும் ஏலம் போட நிப்பாங்க
மானத்தையும் ஏலம் போட நிப்பாங்க
இந்த நேரத்திலே சாலை ஓரத்திலே
இந்த நேரத்திலே சாலை ஓரத்திலே
முன்னேறும் பாதையிலே
கண்ணு கொஞ்சம் வையப்பா
கட்டிச் சோறும் பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கப்பா
To bring down people here
They will dig deep traps
Even if they are brothers
They will betray and tie you up
They will stand ready to auction off honor itself
They will stand ready to auction off honor itself
At this time, by the roadside
At this time, by the roadside
Keep an eye on the path ahead, my man
Keep your packed food safe, my man
மாட்டு வண்டி பூட்டிக்கிட்டு
மாப்பிள்ளைய கூட்டிக்கிட்டு
காட்டு வழி போறவளே கன்னியம்மா
உன் காசு மால பத்திரமா பாத்துக்கம்மா
Hitching the bullock cart
Taking along the groom
O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma
Safely guard your gold coin necklace
Maattu vandi pootikittu
Hitching the bullock cart
Maappillaiya kootikittu
Taking along the groom
Maattu vandi pootikittu
Hitching the bullock cart
Maappillaiya kootikittu
Taking along the groom
Kaattu vazhi poravalae
O maiden traveling through the forest path
Kaattu vazhi poravalae kanniyamma
O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma
Un kaasu maala pathirama pathukkama
Safely guard your gold coin necklace
Nallavarai pola sila kallarum iruppanga
There will be thieves dressed like good people
Nambhi varum paadhaiyilae
On the path you trustingly travel
Kollaiyum adipaanga
They will loot you
Nallavarai pola sila kallarum iruppanga
There will be thieves dressed like good people
Nambhi varum paadhaiyilae
On the path you trustingly travel
Kollaiyum adipaanga
They will loot you
Naattai kooda kaasukaaga vippanga
They will even sell the country for money
Naattai kooda kaasukaaga vippanga
They will even sell the country for money
Indha nalaiyilae thanimai velaiyilae
In these present times, in this lonely hour
Nalaiyilae thanimai velaiyilae
In these times, in this lonely hour
Ponnaana maalai ellam pottikullae vaiyemma
Keep all your golden garlands inside the box, dear lady
Purushanaiyum pathirama pathukkamma
Also guard your husband safely, dear lady
Ponnaana maalai ellam pottikullae vaiyemma
Keep all your golden garlands inside the box, dear lady
Purushanaiyum pathirama pathukkamma
Also guard your husband safely, dear lady
Maattu vandi pootikittu
Hitching the bullock cart
Maappillaiya kootikittu
Taking along the groom
Kaattu vazhi poravalae kanniyamma
O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma
Un kaasu maala pathirama pathukkama
Safely guard your gold coin necklace
Saettaigalai pannikittu
Doing mischiefs
Nottangalai paathukittu
Looking for flaws and judging
Saettaigalai pannikittu
Doing mischiefs
Nottangalai paathukittu
Looking for flaws and judging
Pattugalum paadanuma pachaiyappa
Must you sing songs, Pachaiyappa?
Un paadhaiyai thaan pathirama pathukkappa
Just guard your path safely, my man
Aalugalai saikka inage
To bring down people here
Aazham vetti veipaanga
They will dig deep traps
Annan thambhi aayirundhum
Even if they are brothers
Kattiyae koduppanga
They will betray and tie you up
Maanathaiyum yelam poda nippanga
They will stand ready to auction off honor itself
Maanathaiyum yelam poda nippanga
They will stand ready to auction off honor itself
Indha nerathilae saalai orathilae
At this time, by the roadside
Indha nerathilae saalai orathilae
At this time, by the roadside
Munnaerum paadhaiyilae kann konjam veiyappa
Keep an eye on the path ahead, my man
Katti sorum pathiarma pathukkappa
Keep your packed food safe, my man
Maattu vandi pootikittu
Hitching the bullock cart
Maappillaiya kootikittu
Taking along the groom
Kaattu vazhi poravalae kanniyamma
O maiden traveling through the forest path, Kanniyamma
Un kaasu maala pathirama pathukkama
Safely guard your gold coin necklace
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This folk duet from the historic film Veerapandiya Kattabomman acts as a playful back-and-forth between travelers on a forest journey. On the surface, the couple warns each other against highway thieves, protecting gold and food. However, beneath the lighthearted travel theme lies a sharp social and political satire. The lyrics subtly highlight treachery, warning about deceitful individuals who appear virtuous, brothers who betray each other, and traitors willing to sell out their own country and honor for monetary gain, mirroring the historical betrayals surrounding Kattabomman.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Maattu vandi pootikittu / Maappillaiya kootikittu”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in words within the same line or adjacent lines, such as Maattu and Maappillaiya.
Etukai (Second-letter Harmony)
“Maattu vandi pootikittu / Kaattu vazhi poravalae”
Harmony of the second letter across lines, seen in Maattu and Kaattu.
Allegory / Political Subtext
“Naattai kooda kaasukaaga vippanga”
The lines warning about thieves selling the country metaphorically critique historical traitors like Ettappan who betrayed local rulers to foreign invaders.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although styled as a rustic folk song, Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam's lyrics slyly embed historical allegories about Ettappan and other local traitors who sold out Veerapandiya Kattabomman to British forces.
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