Melam Kotti
From Puthumai Pithan · 1957
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- C. S. Jayaraman
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Puthumai Pithan1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Melam kotti ..hahaha…thaali katti hahaha.. | Beat the drums, hahaha, tie the sacred thread, hahaha... |
| Melam kotti thaali katti | Beating the drums and tying the sacred thread, |
| Maedhai polae vaazhnthittaalum | Even if one lives like a wise scholar, |
| Paadhai vittu paadhai maari povadho | Should one stray away from the right path? |
| Kan paarvai kettu pallanthedi veezhvadho | Losing eyesight, should one fall seeking a pit? |
| Melam kotti thaali katti | Beating the drums and tying the sacred thread, |
| Maedhai polae vaazhnthittaalum | Even if one lives like a wise scholar, |
| Paadhai vittu paadhai maari povadho | Should one stray away from the right path? |
| Kan paarvai kettu pallanthedi veezhvadho | Losing eyesight, should one fall seeking a pit? |
| Male | |
| Paasa meeridum aasaiyodu nee | With desire overflowing with affection, you |
| Paalai oottida aavalaagavae | Eagerly wish to feed milk, |
| Paasa meeridum aasaiyodu nee | With desire overflowing with affection, you |
| Paalai oottida aavalaagavae | Eagerly wish to feed milk, |
| Paadupattu paambai thedalaaguma | Is it right to work hard only to search for a snake? |
| Koodu vittu koodu paayalaagumaa | Is it right to jump from body to body? |
| Male | |
| Naanum kettu neeyum kettu…aa..aa..aa… | I am ruined, you are ruined... aa..aa..aa... |
| Naanum kettu neeyum kettu | I am ruined and you are ruined, |
| Nambhi vandha aalum kettu | The person who trusted and came is also ruined, |
| Thaanum kettu thathinginathom podavaa | Destroying oneself too, shall I dance to the rhythm 'thathinginathom'? |
| Jathi thaalathodu kaalai thooki aadavaa | Shall I lift my leg and dance to the beat and rhythm? |
| Male | |
| Aanaanapatta raaja ellam | Even mighty and great kings, |
| Thaanaana padum podhu | When they face their ultimate downfall, |
| Aanaanapatta raaja ellam | Even mighty and great kings, |
| Thaanaana padum podhu | When they face their ultimate downfall, |
| Indha veena pona manushan podum | The light shed by this good-for-nothing man |
| Velichamum palikkadhu | Will not yield any useful result! |
| Indha veena pona manushan podum | The light shed by this good-for-nothing man |
| Velichamum palikkadhu | Will not yield any useful result! |
| Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana | Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana |
| Thandhanathaana thaana | Thandhanathaana thaana |
| Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana | Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana |
| Thandhanathaana thaana | Thandhanathaana thaana |
| Male | |
| Kailaasathukku pora vazhiyai | Show us the way going to Kailash, |
| Kattu konjam paarppom | Let us see it a little! |
| Kailaasathukku pora vazhiyai | Show us the way going to Kailash, |
| Kattu konjam paarppom | Let us see it a little! |
| Adhai kaanadha indha kootathaiyum | And this crowd that hasn't seen it, |
| Angae kondu serppom | We shall take and join them there! |
| Adhai kaanadha indha kootathaiyum | And this crowd that hasn't seen it, |
| Angae kondu serppom | We shall take and join them there! |
| Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana | Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana |
| Thandhanathaana thaana | Thandhanathaana thaana |
| Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana | Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana |
| Thandhanathaana thaana | Thandhanathaana thaana |
| Male | |
| Vithaarama seppadi vithaiyil | In elaborate sleight-of-hand magic tricks, |
| Mayangidathae appa engappa | Do not get mesmerized, my friend, oh my friend! |
| Vithaarama seppadi vithaiyil | In elaborate sleight-of-hand magic tricks, |
| Mayangidathae appa | Do not get mesmerized, my friend! |
| Nee sethaalum pizhaikka matte | Even if you die, you cannot escape your consequences, |
| Therinjukkadaa subba | Understand this clearly, Subba! |
| Nee sethaalum pizhaikka matte | Even if you die, you cannot escape your consequences, |
| Therinjukkadaa subba | Understand this clearly, Subba! |
| Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana | Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana |
| Thandhanathaana thaana | Thandhanathaana thaana |
| Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana | Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana |
| Thandhanathaana thaana | Thandhanathaana thaana |
மேளங் கொட்டி ..ஹாஹாஹா
தாலி கட்டி..ஹாஹாஹா
மேளங் கொட்டி தாலி கட்டி
மேதை போலே வாழ்ந்திட்டாலும்
பாதை விட்டு பாதை மாறி போவதோ
கண் பார்வை கெட்டு பள்ளந்தேடி வீழ்வதோ
மேளங் கொட்டி தாலி கட்டி
மேதை போலே வாழ்ந்திட்டாலும்
பாதை விட்டு பாதை மாறி போவதோ
கண் பார்வை கெட்டு பள்ளந்தேடி வீழ்வதோ
Beat the drums, hahaha, tie the sacred thread, hahaha...
Beating the drums and tying the sacred thread,
Even if one lives like a wise scholar,
Should one stray away from the right path?
Losing eyesight, should one fall seeking a pit?
Beating the drums and tying the sacred thread,
Even if one lives like a wise scholar,
Should one stray away from the right path?
Losing eyesight, should one fall seeking a pit?
பாச மீறிடும் ஆசையோடு நீ
பாலை ஊட்டிட ஆவலாகவே
பாச மீறிடும் ஆசையோடு நீ
பாலை ஊட்டிட ஆவலாகவே
பாடுபட்டு பாம்பை தேடலாகுமா
கூடு விட்டு கூடு பாயலாகுமா
With desire overflowing with affection, you
Eagerly wish to feed milk,
With desire overflowing with affection, you
Eagerly wish to feed milk,
Is it right to work hard only to search for a snake?
Is it right to jump from body to body?
நானும் கெட்டு நீயும் கெட்டு..ஆ....ஆ....ஆ..
நானும் கெட்டு நீயும் கெட்டு
நம்பி வந்த ஆளும் கெட்டு
தானும் கெட்டு ததிங்கினதோம் போடவா
ஜதி தாளத்தோடு காலைத் தூக்கி ஆடவா
I am ruined, you are ruined... aa..aa..aa...
I am ruined and you are ruined,
The person who trusted and came is also ruined,
Destroying oneself too, shall I dance to the rhythm 'thathinginathom'?
Shall I lift my leg and dance to the beat and rhythm?
ஆனானப்பட்ட ராஜா எல்லாம்
தானானப் படும்போது
ஆனானப்பட்ட ராஜா எல்லாம்
தானானப் படும்போது
இந்த வீணாப் போன மனுஷன் போடும்
வெளிச்சமும் பலிக்காது
இந்த வீணாப் போன மனுஷன் போடும்
வெளிச்சமும் பலிக்காது
தந்தானத்தானா தந்தானத்தானா
தந்தானத்தானா தானா
தானா தந்தானத்தானா தந்தானத்தானா
தந்தானத்தானா தானா
Even mighty and great kings,
When they face their ultimate downfall,
Even mighty and great kings,
When they face their ultimate downfall,
The light shed by this good-for-nothing man
Will not yield any useful result!
The light shed by this good-for-nothing man
Will not yield any useful result!
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
கைலாசத்துக்கு போற வழியை
காட்டு கொஞ்சம் பார்ப்போம்
கைலாசத்துக்கு போற வழியை
காட்டு கொஞ்சம் பார்ப்போம்
அதைக்காணாத இந்தக் கூட்டத்தையும்
அங்கே கொண்டு சேர்ப்போம்
அதைக்காணாத இந்தக் கூட்டத்தையும்
அங்கே கொண்டு சேர்ப்போம்
தந்தானத்தானா தந்தானத்தானா
தந்தானத்தானா தானா
தானா தந்தானத்தானா தந்தானத்தானா
தந்தானத்தானா தானா
Show us the way going to Kailash,
Let us see it a little!
Show us the way going to Kailash,
Let us see it a little!
And this crowd that hasn't seen it,
We shall take and join them there!
And this crowd that hasn't seen it,
We shall take and join them there!
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
வித்தாரமா செப்படி வித்தையில்
மயங்கிடாதே அப்பா
வித்தாரமா செப்படி வித்தையில்
மயங்கிடாதே அப்பா
நீ செத்தாலும் பிழைக்க மாட்டே
தெரிஞ்சுக்கடா சுப்பையா
நீ செத்தாலும் பிழைக்க மாட்டே
தெரிஞ்சுக்கடா சுப்பையா
தந்தானத்தானா தந்தானத்தானா
தந்தானத்தானா தானா
தானா தந்தானத்தானா தந்தானத்தானா
தந்தானத்தானா தானா
In elaborate sleight-of-hand magic tricks,
Do not get mesmerized, my friend, oh my friend!
In elaborate sleight-of-hand magic tricks,
Do not get mesmerized, my friend!
Even if you die, you cannot escape your consequences,
Understand this clearly, Subba!
Even if you die, you cannot escape your consequences,
Understand this clearly, Subba!
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Melam kotti ..hahaha…thaali katti hahaha..
Beat the drums, hahaha, tie the sacred thread, hahaha...
Melam kotti thaali katti
Beating the drums and tying the sacred thread,
Maedhai polae vaazhnthittaalum
Even if one lives like a wise scholar,
Paadhai vittu paadhai maari povadho
Should one stray away from the right path?
Kan paarvai kettu pallanthedi veezhvadho
Losing eyesight, should one fall seeking a pit?
Melam kotti thaali katti
Beating the drums and tying the sacred thread,
Maedhai polae vaazhnthittaalum
Even if one lives like a wise scholar,
Paadhai vittu paadhai maari povadho
Should one stray away from the right path?
Kan paarvai kettu pallanthedi veezhvadho
Losing eyesight, should one fall seeking a pit?
Paasa meeridum aasaiyodu nee
With desire overflowing with affection, you
Paalai oottida aavalaagavae
Eagerly wish to feed milk,
Paasa meeridum aasaiyodu nee
With desire overflowing with affection, you
Paalai oottida aavalaagavae
Eagerly wish to feed milk,
Paadupattu paambai thedalaaguma
Is it right to work hard only to search for a snake?
Koodu vittu koodu paayalaagumaa
Is it right to jump from body to body?
Naanum kettu neeyum kettu…aa..aa..aa…
I am ruined, you are ruined... aa..aa..aa...
Naanum kettu neeyum kettu
I am ruined and you are ruined,
Nambhi vandha aalum kettu
The person who trusted and came is also ruined,
Thaanum kettu thathinginathom podavaa
Destroying oneself too, shall I dance to the rhythm 'thathinginathom'?
Jathi thaalathodu kaalai thooki aadavaa
Shall I lift my leg and dance to the beat and rhythm?
Aanaanapatta raaja ellam
Even mighty and great kings,
Thaanaana padum podhu
When they face their ultimate downfall,
Aanaanapatta raaja ellam
Even mighty and great kings,
Thaanaana padum podhu
When they face their ultimate downfall,
Indha veena pona manushan podum
The light shed by this good-for-nothing man
Velichamum palikkadhu
Will not yield any useful result!
Indha veena pona manushan podum
The light shed by this good-for-nothing man
Velichamum palikkadhu
Will not yield any useful result!
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Kailaasathukku pora vazhiyai
Show us the way going to Kailash,
Kattu konjam paarppom
Let us see it a little!
Kailaasathukku pora vazhiyai
Show us the way going to Kailash,
Kattu konjam paarppom
Let us see it a little!
Adhai kaanadha indha kootathaiyum
And this crowd that hasn't seen it,
Angae kondu serppom
We shall take and join them there!
Adhai kaanadha indha kootathaiyum
And this crowd that hasn't seen it,
Angae kondu serppom
We shall take and join them there!
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Vithaarama seppadi vithaiyil
In elaborate sleight-of-hand magic tricks,
Mayangidathae appa engappa
Do not get mesmerized, my friend, oh my friend!
Vithaarama seppadi vithaiyil
In elaborate sleight-of-hand magic tricks,
Mayangidathae appa
Do not get mesmerized, my friend!
Nee sethaalum pizhaikka matte
Even if you die, you cannot escape your consequences,
Therinjukkadaa subba
Understand this clearly, Subba!
Nee sethaalum pizhaikka matte
Even if you die, you cannot escape your consequences,
Therinjukkadaa subba
Understand this clearly, Subba!
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thana thandhanathaana thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Thandhanathaana thaana
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Melam Kotti Thaali Katti from Puthumai Pithan (1957) is a philosophical and satirical Tamil film song rendered by C. S. Jayaraman, composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Styled after traditional Therukoothu (street theatre) and folk chindu songs, the song delivers a sharp commentary on human folly, moral hypocrisy, and the inescapable nature of karma. It cautions that social prestige, marriage, or scholarship are meaningless if onestrays from the path of righteousness and succumbs to deceptive illusions. Using metaphors like feeding milk to a venomous snake, the song warns that short-sighted desires lead to total destruction for oneself and those who trust them. Even powerful rulers eventually fall, emphasizing that worldly power and trickery offer no salvation in the end.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Allegory (Uvamai / Uvameyam)
“Paadupattu paambai thedalaaguma”
Searching for a snake while intending to feed milk serves as an allegory for naively nurturing destructive vices or treacherous people.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Naanum kettu neeyum kettu / Nambhi vandha aalum kettu”
The line endings repeat the word 'kettu' (ruined/corrupted) to create a rhythmic, dramatic emphasis on widespread ruin.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Thandhanathaana thandhanathaana”
Repetition of rhythmic folk refrain 'Thandhanathaana' characteristic of traditional Tamil Therukoothu storytelling.
Paradox / Sarcasm
“Nee sethaalum pizhaikka matte”
The paradoxical phrasing 'even if you die, you won't survive' satirically underlines that spiritual karma follows a person beyond death.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song showcases C. S. Jayaraman's iconic theatrical vocal style, which was highly popular in Tamil cinema during the 1950s for philosophical and reformist song sequences. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass drew heavily from folk-street play formats (Therukoothu) to make philosophical advice engaging and accessible to the general public.
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