Mettu Thedi
From Kaadhal Mannan · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- Bharathwaj
- Details
- Kaadhal Mannan1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sa ni ni sa ni da sa ni | Swaras: Sa ni ni sa ni da sa ni |
| Da pa ni da pa ma pa ga ma …clap clap | Swaras: Da pa ni da pa ma pa ga ma …clap clap |
| Da pa ni da pa ma da pa ma | Swaras: Da pa ni da pa ma da pa ma |
| Ga pa ma ga ri ma ga ri stop stop | Swaras: Ga pa ma ga ri ma ga ri stop stop |
| Jinghu chakku chakku na | Rhythmic vocal syllable: Jinghu chakku chakku na |
| Jinghu chakku chakku na | Rhythmic vocal syllable: Jinghu chakku chakku na |
| Male | |
| {Mettu thedi thavikkudhu | A song is yearning, searching for a tune |
| Oru paattu | A song |
| Andha paattukkullae thudikkudhu | Inside that song, there throbs |
| Oru mettu} (2) | A tune |
| Male | |
| Adha kannadasan | If Kannadasan finds and expresses it, |
| Kandu sonnaa rasikkaadhaa | Won't it be enjoyable? |
| Illa viswanaadhan | Or if Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonnaa rusikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delicious? |
| Messu viswanaadhan | If Mess Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful? |
| Chorus | |
| {Adha kannadasan | If Kannadasan |
| Kandu sonna rasikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable? |
| Messu viswanaadhan | If Mess Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa} (2) | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful? |
| Male | |
| Kanda kaadhalai veliya solla | To express love felt inside to the outside, |
| Nenjil dhairiyam illai palarukku | Many people lack courage in their hearts. |
| Nee iruttil nindru kan adiththaal ah.. ha | If you stand in the dark and wink... |
| Nee iruttil nindru kan adiththaal | If you stand in the dark and wink, |
| Adhu yeppadi theriyum avalukku | How will she ever know? |
| Male | |
| Vandu vandhu sollum varaikkum | Until a bee comes and tells it, |
| Than vayasu theriyaadhu malarukku | A flower does not know its age. |
| Vandu vandhu sollum varaikkum | Until a bee comes and tells it, |
| Than vayasu theriyaadhu malarukku | A flower does not know its age. |
| Male | |
| Nee undhan nenjai thenghaai pola | You should break your heart like a coconut, |
| Udaiththu kaattappaa avalukku | And show it to her, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Aaha mella mella | Aha, slowly, slowly, |
| Michcham ellaam solliththaarendaa | I will teach you everything else, friend! |
| Naan messu kissu rendum | I am the Viswanathan who has experienced |
| Kanda viswanaadhandaa | Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)! |
| Naan messu kissu rendum | I am the Viswanathan who has experienced |
| Kanda viswanaadhandaa | Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)! |
| Chorus | |
| {Adha kannadasan | If Kannadasan |
| Kandu sonna rasikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable? |
| Messu viswanaadhan | If Mess Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa} (2) | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful? |
| Male | |
| Ah ha ah ah ah ah ah ah ho ho | Vocalizations: Ah ha ah ah ah ah ah ah ho ho |
| Kanavil mattum katti anaiththaal | If you embrace someone only in your dreams, |
| Kaadhal varumaa kannikki | Will love blossom for a maiden? |
| Kavi kannadasan pol thanni adiththaal | If you drink liquor like poet Kannadasan, |
| Kavidhai varumaa kazhudhaikki | Will poetry come to a donkey? |
| Male | |
| Kanavil mattum katti anaiththaal | If you embrace someone only in your dreams, |
| Kaadhal varumaa kannikki | Will love blossom for a maiden? |
| Kavi kannadasan pol thanni adiththaal | If you drink liquor like poet Kannadasan, |
| Kavidhai varumaa kazhudhaikki | Will poetry come to a donkey? |
| Male | |
| Virumbhiya kaadhali kidaikkaavittaal | If you don't get the girl you loved, |
| Meesai valarththadhu ennaththukku | Why did you even grow a mustache? |
| Sambradhaayam kurukkae vandhaal | If tradition comes in the middle as an obstacle, |
| Saaiththu podappaa aduppukku | Push it into the stove/fire, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Aaha mella mella | Aha, slowly, slowly, |
| Michcham ellaam solliththaarendaa | I will teach you everything else, friend! |
| Naan messu kissu rendum | I am the Viswanathan who has experienced |
| Kanda viswanaadhandaa | Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)! |
| Naan messu kissu rendum | I am the Viswanathan who has experienced |
| Kanda viswanaadhandaa | Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)! |
| Male | |
| Mettu thedi thavikkudhu | Searching for a tune, yearning, |
| Oru paattu | A song, |
| Andha paattukkullae thudikkudhu | Inside that song, there throbs |
| Oru mettu | A tune. |
| Male | |
| Adha kannadasan | If Kannadasan |
| Kandu sonnaa rasikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable? |
| Illa viswanaadhan | Or if Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonnaa rusikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delicious? |
| Messu viswanaadhan | If Mess Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful? |
| Chorus | |
| {Adha kannadasan | If Kannadasan |
| Kandu sonna rasikkaadhaa | Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable? |
| Messu viswanaadhan | If Mess Viswanathan |
| Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa} (2) | Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful? |
விஷ்லிங் :
..................................
Swaras: Sa ni ni sa ni da sa ni
Swaras: Da pa ni da pa ma pa ga ma …clap clap
Swaras: Da pa ni da pa ma da pa ma
Swaras: Ga pa ma ga ri ma ga ri stop stop
Rhythmic vocal syllable: Jinghu chakku chakku na
Rhythmic vocal syllable: Jinghu chakku chakku na
..................................
A song is yearning, searching for a tune
A song
Inside that song, there throbs
A tune
{ மெட்டு தேடி தவிக்குது
ஒரு பாட்டு அந்த பாட்டுக்குள்ளே
துடிக்குது ஒரு மெட்டு } (2)
If Kannadasan finds and expresses it,
Won't it be enjoyable?
Or if Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delicious?
If Mess Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
அத கண்ணதாசன்
கண்டு சொன்னா ரசிக்காதா
இல்ல விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு
சொன்னா ருசிக்காதா மெஸ்சு
விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு சொன்னா
ருசிக்காதா
If Kannadasan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
If Mess Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
{ அத கண்ணதாசன்
கண்டு சொன்னா ரசிக்காதா
மெஸ்சு விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு
சொன்னா ருசிக்காதா } (2)
To express love felt inside to the outside,
Many people lack courage in their hearts.
If you stand in the dark and wink...
If you stand in the dark and wink,
How will she ever know?
கண்ட காதலை
வெளிய சொல்ல நெஞ்சில்
தைரியம் இல்லை பலருக்கு
நீ இருட்டில் நின்று கண்
அடித்தால் ஆஹா நீ இருட்டில்
நின்று கண் அடித்தால் அது
எப்படி தெரியும் அவளுக்கு
Until a bee comes and tells it,
A flower does not know its age.
Until a bee comes and tells it,
A flower does not know its age.
வண்டு வந்து
சொல்லும் வரைக்கும்
தன் வயசு தெரியாது
மலருக்கு வண்டு வந்து
சொல்லும் வரைக்கும்
தன் வயசு தெரியாது
மலருக்கு
You should break your heart like a coconut,
And show it to her, my friend!
நீ உந்தன் நெஞ்சை
தேங்காய் போல உடைத்து
காட்டப்பா அவளுக்கு
Aha, slowly, slowly,
I will teach you everything else, friend!
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
ஆஹா மெல்ல
மெல்ல மிச்சம் எல்லாம்
சொல்லித்தாரேன்டா நான்
மெஸ்சு கிஸ்சு ரெண்டும்
கண்ட விஸ்வநாதன்டா
நான் மெஸ்சு கிஸ்சு ரெண்டும்
கண்ட விஸ்வநாதன்டா
If Kannadasan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
If Mess Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
{ அத கண்ணதாசன்
கண்டு சொன்னா ரசிக்காதா
மெஸ்சு விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு
சொன்னா ருசிக்காதா } (2)
Vocalizations: Ah ha ah ah ah ah ah ah ho ho
If you embrace someone only in your dreams,
Will love blossom for a maiden?
If you drink liquor like poet Kannadasan,
Will poetry come to a donkey?
விஷ்லிங் :
..................................
If you embrace someone only in your dreams,
Will love blossom for a maiden?
If you drink liquor like poet Kannadasan,
Will poetry come to a donkey?
ஆ ஹா ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஹோ ஹோ
கனவில் மட்டும் கட்டி
அணைத்தால் காதல்
வருமா கன்னிக்கு
கவி கண்ணதாசன் போல்
தண்ணியடித்தால் கவிதை
வருமா கழுதைக்கு
If you don't get the girl you loved,
Why did you even grow a mustache?
If tradition comes in the middle as an obstacle,
Push it into the stove/fire, my friend!
கனவில் மட்டும் கட்டி
அணைத்தால் காதல்
வருமா கன்னிக்கு
கவி கண்ணதாசன் போல்
தண்ணியடித்தால் கவிதை
வருமா கழுதைக்கு
Aha, slowly, slowly,
I will teach you everything else, friend!
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
விரும்பிய காதலி
கிடைக்காவிட்டால் மீசை
வளர்த்தது என்னத்துக்கு
சம்பிரதாயம் குறுக்கே வந்தால்
சாய்த்து போடப்பா அடுப்புக்கு
Searching for a tune, yearning,
A song,
Inside that song, there throbs
A tune.
ஆஹா மெல்ல
மெல்ல மிச்சம் எல்லாம்
சொல்லித்தாரேன்டா நான்
மெஸ்சு கிஸ்சு ரெண்டும்
கண்ட விஸ்வநாதன்டா
நான் மெஸ்சு கிஸ்சு ரெண்டும்
கண்ட விஸ்வநாதன்டா
If Kannadasan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
Or if Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delicious?
If Mess Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
மெட்டு தேடி தவிக்குது
ஒரு பாட்டு அந்த பாட்டுக்குள்ளே
துடிக்குது ஒரு மெட்டு
If Kannadasan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
If Mess Viswanathan
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
அத கண்ணதாசன்
கண்டு சொன்னா ரசிக்காதா
இல்ல விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு
சொன்னா ருசிக்காதா மெஸ்சு
விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு சொன்னா
ருசிக்காதா
{ அத கண்ணதாசன்
கண்டு சொன்னா ரசிக்காதா
மெஸ்சு விஸ்வநாதன் கண்டு
சொன்னா ருசிக்காதா } (2)
விஷ்லிங் :
..................................
Sa ni ni sa ni da sa ni
Swaras: Sa ni ni sa ni da sa ni
Da pa ni da pa ma pa ga ma …clap clap
Swaras: Da pa ni da pa ma pa ga ma …clap clap
Da pa ni da pa ma da pa ma
Swaras: Da pa ni da pa ma da pa ma
Ga pa ma ga ri ma ga ri stop stop
Swaras: Ga pa ma ga ri ma ga ri stop stop
Jinghu chakku chakku na
Rhythmic vocal syllable: Jinghu chakku chakku na
Jinghu chakku chakku na
Rhythmic vocal syllable: Jinghu chakku chakku na
{Mettu thedi thavikkudhu
A song is yearning, searching for a tune
Oru paattu
A song
Andha paattukkullae thudikkudhu
Inside that song, there throbs
Oru mettu} (2)
A tune
Adha kannadasan
If Kannadasan finds and expresses it,
Kandu sonnaa rasikkaadhaa
Won't it be enjoyable?
Illa viswanaadhan
Or if Viswanathan
Kandu sonnaa rusikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delicious?
Messu viswanaadhan
If Mess Viswanathan
Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
{Adha kannadasan
If Kannadasan
Kandu sonna rasikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
Messu viswanaadhan
If Mess Viswanathan
Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa} (2)
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
Kanda kaadhalai veliya solla
To express love felt inside to the outside,
Nenjil dhairiyam illai palarukku
Many people lack courage in their hearts.
Nee iruttil nindru kan adiththaal ah.. ha
If you stand in the dark and wink...
Nee iruttil nindru kan adiththaal
If you stand in the dark and wink,
Adhu yeppadi theriyum avalukku
How will she ever know?
Vandu vandhu sollum varaikkum
Until a bee comes and tells it,
Than vayasu theriyaadhu malarukku
A flower does not know its age.
Vandu vandhu sollum varaikkum
Until a bee comes and tells it,
Than vayasu theriyaadhu malarukku
A flower does not know its age.
Nee undhan nenjai thenghaai pola
You should break your heart like a coconut,
Udaiththu kaattappaa avalukku
And show it to her, my friend!
Aaha mella mella
Aha, slowly, slowly,
Michcham ellaam solliththaarendaa
I will teach you everything else, friend!
Naan messu kissu rendum
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Kanda viswanaadhandaa
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
Naan messu kissu rendum
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Kanda viswanaadhandaa
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
{Adha kannadasan
If Kannadasan
Kandu sonna rasikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
Messu viswanaadhan
If Mess Viswanathan
Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa} (2)
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
Ah ha ah ah ah ah ah ah ho ho
Vocalizations: Ah ha ah ah ah ah ah ah ho ho
Kanavil mattum katti anaiththaal
If you embrace someone only in your dreams,
Kaadhal varumaa kannikki
Will love blossom for a maiden?
Kavi kannadasan pol thanni adiththaal
If you drink liquor like poet Kannadasan,
Kavidhai varumaa kazhudhaikki
Will poetry come to a donkey?
Kanavil mattum katti anaiththaal
If you embrace someone only in your dreams,
Kaadhal varumaa kannikki
Will love blossom for a maiden?
Kavi kannadasan pol thanni adiththaal
If you drink liquor like poet Kannadasan,
Kavidhai varumaa kazhudhaikki
Will poetry come to a donkey?
Virumbhiya kaadhali kidaikkaavittaal
If you don't get the girl you loved,
Meesai valarththadhu ennaththukku
Why did you even grow a mustache?
Sambradhaayam kurukkae vandhaal
If tradition comes in the middle as an obstacle,
Saaiththu podappaa aduppukku
Push it into the stove/fire, my friend!
Aaha mella mella
Aha, slowly, slowly,
Michcham ellaam solliththaarendaa
I will teach you everything else, friend!
Naan messu kissu rendum
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Kanda viswanaadhandaa
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
Naan messu kissu rendum
I am the Viswanathan who has experienced
Kanda viswanaadhandaa
Both mess (food/life) and kiss (romance)!
Mettu thedi thavikkudhu
Searching for a tune, yearning,
Oru paattu
A song,
Andha paattukkullae thudikkudhu
Inside that song, there throbs
Oru mettu
A tune.
Adha kannadasan
If Kannadasan
Kandu sonnaa rasikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
Illa viswanaadhan
Or if Viswanathan
Kandu sonnaa rusikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delicious?
Messu viswanaadhan
If Mess Viswanathan
Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
{Adha kannadasan
If Kannadasan
Kandu sonna rasikkaadhaa
Finds and expresses it, won't it be enjoyable?
Messu viswanaadhan
If Mess Viswanathan
Kandu sonna rusikkaadhaa} (2)
Finds and expresses it, won't it be delightful?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Kaadhal Mannan' is a playful, upbeat advice track directed towards a hesitant lover. Using witty metapoetic references to legendary Tamil cinema personalities like lyricist Kannadasan and music composer M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), the track urges young men not to hide their love or hesitate due to social norms.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Simile (Uvamai)
“Nee undhan nenjai thenghaai pola”
Comparing breaking open one's heart to express true love to breaking open a coconut ('nenjai thenghaai pola udaiththu').
Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhukai / Monai)
“Naan messu kissu rendum”
Matching second consonants across lines ('malla/malla', 'messu/kissu', 'kannadasan/viswanaadhan').
Metapoetic Allusion
“Adha kannadasan kandu sonnaa rasikkaadhaa”
Direct self-referential homage to legendary musician M. S. Viswanathan and lyricist Kannadasan within the song lyrics.
Did you know?
Trivia
This energetic song was sung by the legendary composer M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) himself along with S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Music for the film was composed by Bharadwaj, making it one of his breakout hit albums in Tamil cinema starring Ajith Kumar.
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