Naalu Ezhuthu Kathathille
From Bharathi Kannamma · 1997
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Gangai Amaran
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Bharathi Kannamma1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naalu ezhuththu kaththathilla naanga | We haven't learned even four letters of formal education, |
| Raagam padichcha vithvaan illa | Nor are we musical scholars who studied classical ragas. |
| Appan aaththaa potta pitchai | It is a humble blessing bestowed by our parents, |
| Chumma oori kidakku raththathillae | That lies deeply soaked within our very blood. |
| Male | |
| Hoi anthakaala vaaththiyamthaan | Hoi, those traditional musical instruments of ancient times, |
| Rompa azhinju pochchu paadhiyilae | Have mostly faded away and been destroyed midway. |
| Vaadipatti kottu mattum chummaa | Yet the vibrant Vadipatti drum beat alone, |
| Kalanthu pochchu vaazhkkaiyilae haei…. | Has seamlessly blended into our way of life, haei! |
நாலு எழுத்து கத்ததில்ல நாங்க
ராகம் படிச்ச வித்வான் இல்ல
அப்பன் ஆத்தா போட்ட பிச்ச
சும்மா ஊறிக்கிடக்கு ரத்தத்திலே......
We haven't learned even four letters of formal education,
Nor are we musical scholars who studied classical ragas.
It is a humble blessing bestowed by our parents,
That lies deeply soaked within our very blood.
ஹோய் அந்தக்கால வாத்தியம் தான்
ரொம்ப அழிஞ்சு போச்சு பாதியிலே
வாடிப்பட்டி கொட்டு மட்டும் சும்மா
கலந்து போச்சு வாழ்க்கையிலே ஹேய்...
Hoi, those traditional musical instruments of ancient times,
Have mostly faded away and been destroyed midway.
Yet the vibrant Vadipatti drum beat alone,
Has seamlessly blended into our way of life, haei!
Naalu ezhuththu kaththathilla naanga
We haven't learned even four letters of formal education,
Raagam padichcha vithvaan illa
Nor are we musical scholars who studied classical ragas.
Appan aaththaa potta pitchai
It is a humble blessing bestowed by our parents,
Chumma oori kidakku raththathillae
That lies deeply soaked within our very blood.
Hoi anthakaala vaaththiyamthaan
Hoi, those traditional musical instruments of ancient times,
Rompa azhinju pochchu paadhiyilae
Have mostly faded away and been destroyed midway.
Vaadipatti kottu mattum chummaa
Yet the vibrant Vadipatti drum beat alone,
Kalanthu pochchu vaazhkkaiyilae haei….
Has seamlessly blended into our way of life, haei!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
These lines express the raw, innate musical heritage of rural folk artists. The singers humbly acknowledge their lack of formal literary education or classical music training, attributing their musical talent entirely to ancestral blessings running through their blood. They lament the loss of ancient traditional musical instruments over time while celebrating the resilience of the famous Vadipatti folk drum beat, which remains an inseparable part of their daily life and cultural identity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Appan aaththaa potta pitchai”
Repetition of the initial 'A' sound in 'Appan' and 'aaththaa'.
Metaphor
“Chumma oori kidakku raththathillae”
Comparing inherited artistic passion to something steeped directly in one's blood.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Raagam padichcha vithvaan illa”
Juxtaposing formal classical music knowledge with organic, unlettered folk rhythm.
Cross-line Monaai
“Vaadipatti kottu mattum chummaa / Kalanthu pochchu vaazhkkaiyilae haei….”
Repetition of the 'V' sound across lines in 'Vaadipatti' and 'vaazhkkaiyilae'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Bharathi Kannamma (1997), directed by Cheran, featured iconic music composed by Deva. Lyricist Vairamuthu highlights 'Vadipatti Melam', a world-famous, high-energy Tamil folk percussion style originating from Vadipatti in the Madurai district.
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