- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Movie name
- Vannakili
- Movie release year
- 1959
- Lyrics added on
- 6 Nov 2022
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kattu Malli Poothirukka from the 1959 film Vannakili is an allegorical folk song sung as a warning to Vela, a cowherd. His bull, Mayilakaala, is eyeing a well-guarded flower garden. The singer warns Vela that the garden is heavily protected with thick thorn fences and an alert guard wielding a staff, urging him to restrain his bull before it gets beaten.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Metaphor
“Maadaagavae manushan maara koodathu”
The song uses the straying bull trespassing into a guarded garden as an allegory for human greed, warning people not to stray into immoral paths or desire others' property.
Simile (Upamai)
“Kottai suvar pola vaeliyirukku”
Compares the sturdy garden fence to a fort wall ('kottai suvar pola') to emphasize its strength and impenetrability.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kottai suvar pola vaeliyirukku / Kuthungkaruvaela mullumirukku”
The second consonant sound 't' (ட்/த்) is repeated across adjacent lines to create rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by A. Maruthakasi, this track features the rich, classical-trained voice of Seerkazhi Govindarajan. It remains one of Tamil cinema's classic moral-instruction folk songs, famous for seamlessly blending rural imagery with practical social philosophy.
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