Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Paasavalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Mathippu Ketta Maamaa Nee Vaalai Aatalaamaa

From Paasavalai · 1956

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
P. Susheela, Chorus
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Paasavalai
Movie release year
1956
Lyrics added on
8 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hoi mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Chorus :Dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu
Mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona
Naalu kaalu maama
Chorus :Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona
Naalu kaalu maama
Mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Manasil onnu vakkil onnu
Vechirukkalaama
Veenae vambhu ilukkalaama
Chorus : Vechirukkalaama
Veenae vambhu ilukkalaama
Mannadhi mannaraalum
Pennai vella poomaa
Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona
Naalu kaalu maama
Mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Veetu vaasalai kaakanum
Velai sonna kekkanum
Pechil gavanam irukkanum
Kuppai maetil vilundhu kidakkanum
Chorus :Kuppai maetil vilundhu kidakkanum
Kottai kadandhu pona
Un seetu kilinchidum thaana
Chorus :Un seetu kilinchidum thaana
Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona
Naalu kaalu maama
Mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Kungumam sumakkira kaludhaikku
Andha kunguma magimai theriyuma
Chorus :Sangeetha inimai ariyuma
Female :Gangai kaaveri neranji ponalum
Karayil ninnu naai nakki thaan kudikkanum
Chorus :Gangai kaaveri neranji ponalum
Karayil ninnu naai nakki thaan kudikkanum
Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona
Chorus :Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona
Naalu kaalu maama
Mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu
Hoi mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu dhu
Hoi mathippu ketta maama
Nee vaalai aatta laama
Hey, you shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Chorus: Thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu
You shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Putting on an act and getting fooled,
you four-legged fellow!
Chorus: Putting on an act and getting fooled,
you four-legged fellow!
You shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
One thing in your heart, another in your words—
is it right to be two-faced like this?
Should you stir up trouble for no reason?
Chorus: Is it right to be two-faced like this?
Should you stir up trouble for no reason?
Even for the greatest of kings,
can anyone ever defeat a woman?
Putting on an act and getting fooled,
you four-legged fellow!
You shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Guard the doorway of the house,
obey when given a chore,
watch what you say,
and stay lying on the garbage heap!
Chorus: And stay lying on the garbage heap!
If you cross your limits,
your game will be up in no time!
Chorus: Your game will be up in no time!
Putting on an act and getting fooled,
you four-legged fellow!
You shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Does a donkey carrying sacred kumkum (red powder)
ever know the worth of that kumkum?
Chorus: Does it understand the sweetness of music?
Female: Even if the Ganga and Kaveri overflow with water,
a dog on the bank can only lap it up!
Chorus: Even if the Ganga and Kaveri overflow with water,
a dog on the bank can only lap it up!
Putting on an act and getting fooled,
Chorus: Putting on an act and getting fooled,
you four-legged fellow!
You shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu
Hey, you shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Thu thu thu thu thu thu thu thu
Hey, you shameless fellow,
should you be wagging your tail?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This satirical and comedic track from the 1956 Tamil film 'Paasavalai' delivers a stinging rebuke to a foolish, hypocritical man. Through lively folk-style phrasing, the song mocks his arrogance, calling him a 'four-legged uncle' and comparing him to animals that lack refined awareness or dignity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Naalu kaalu maama”

Refers to the dishonest man as a 'naalu kaalu maama' (four-legged uncle) and 'nadippu katti' (a bundle of pretense/acting), metaphorically equating his foolish behavior to that of a beast.

Proverbial Imagery (Pazhamozhi)

“Kungumam sumakkira kaludhaikku”

Uses the famous Tamil proverb about a donkey carrying saffron to illustrate that an uncultured person cannot appreciate value or quality.

Eukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Mathippu ketta maama / Nadippu katti yemaandhu pona”

Traditional Tamil poetic harmony where the second consonant matches across adjacent lines, such as 'Mathippu' and 'Nadippu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Paasavalai' (1956) featured music by the legendary Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo, with sharp, folk-inspired lyrics written by A. Maruthakasi. The song relies heavily on traditional Tamil proverbs and humor to mock an antagonistic character.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Uzhaipa Thilla1958
Nadodi MannanDignitySelf Respect
Aadi Pizhaithaalum Paadi Pizhaithaalum1960
Padikkadha MedhaiDignitySelf Respect
Aayiram Penmai Malaratume1965
Vaazhkai PadaguDignitySelf Respect
Ondre Solvaan1974
Sirithu Vazha VendumDignitySelf Respect
Moothaval Nee1973
ArangetramDignitySelf Respect
Aayiram Penmai1961
PanithiraiDignitySelf Respect

From the same album

More songs from Paasavalai

View album
Kurudarellam Koodi Koothadi1956
PaasavalaiDefiant
Ellam Alangolamo Ithuvum1956
PaasavalaiMournful
Ullasa Pattu Padi1956
PaasavalaiContemplative
Indha Aattukkum Namma1956
PaasavalaiContemplative
Kannillaiyo Manamillaiyo1956
PaasavalaiMournful
Machan Unnai Paarthu1956
PaasavalaiPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.