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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naanthandi Kaathi

From Pudhiya Bhoomi · 1968

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Pudhiya Bhoomi
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
19 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haa haa haa haa haa haa haa haa
Haahhaa…
Haa haa haa haa haa haa haa haa haahhaaa
Haa haa haa haa haa haa haa haa haahhaaa
Mhum hum
Naan thaandi kaathi
Aa…
Nalla muthu paethi
Hei…
Naan thaandi kaathi
Nalla muthu paethi
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Aa… aa…
Ooo… oo…
Naan thaandi kaathi
Nalla muthu paethi
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Haa haa haa haa haa haa haa haa
Ooduruvi paanjaalum
Mmm…
Ooduruvi paanjaalum
Urutti urutti muzhichaalum
Kili kattu aattathilae
Puli kutti naanadio
Kili kattu aattathilae
Puli kutti naanadio
Adi raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Adi raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Naan thaandi kaathi
Nalla muthu paethi
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Mhum hum
Munnae vacha kaalai ingae
Neenga munnum pinnum vaikkalaamaa
Uppedukka vandhavanga
Thappeduthu pogalaamaa
Munnae vacha kaalai ingae
Neenga munnum pinnum vaikkalaamaa
Uppedukka vandhavanga
Thappeduthu pogalaamaa
Adi raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Adi raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Naan thaandi kaathi
Nalla muthu paethi
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Aa… aa… oo… oo… ooo… hoi…
Aalavattam podum kannu
Yaarai vattam podudhadi
Parivattam paathu oruu
Ilavattam thaedudhadi
Adi raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Adi raakkammaa mookkammaa
Raap pagalaa thookkamaa
Naan thaandi kaathi
Nalla muthu paethi
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Othaiyaa mothamaa
Ethanai paer vaaringa
Aa… aa… oo… oo… ooo… hoi…
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha...
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...
Mhum hum
Hey, I am Kaathi!
Ah...
The granddaughter of Nallamuthu!
Hey...
Hey, I am Kaathi!
The granddaughter of Nallamuthu!
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
Ah... ah...
Oh... oh...
Hey, I am Kaathi!
The granddaughter of Nallamuthu!
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Even if you charge straight through,
Mmm...
Even if you charge straight through,
Or glare and roll your eyes at me,
In this game of Kilikattu (traditional folk tag),
Girl, I am a fierce tiger cub!
In this game of Kilikattu (traditional folk tag),
Girl, I am a fierce tiger cub!
Hey Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Hey Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Hey, I am Kaathi!
The granddaughter of Nallamuthu!
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
Mhum hum
Once you take a step forward here,
Can you waver and pull back?
Having come to gather salt and score,
Can you make a blunder and walk away?
Once you take a step forward here,
Can you waver and pull back?
Having come to gather salt and score,
Can you make a blunder and walk away?
Hey Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Hey Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Hey, I am Kaathi!
The granddaughter of Nallamuthu!
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
Ah... ah... oh... oh... oh... hoy...
Those eyes spinning and twirling around,
Whom are they zeroing in on, girl?
Looking for a man of honour and stature,
She is searching for a handsome young lad!
Hey Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Hey Rakkamma, Mookkamma,
Why are you dozing day and night?
Hey, I am Kaathi!
The granddaughter of Nallamuthu!
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
One by one or all together,
How many of you dare to take me on?
Ah... ah... oh... oh... oh... hoy...
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song from the 1968 Tamil movie Pudhiya Bhoomi features a bold and fiery female protagonist introducing herself as Kaathi, granddaughter of Nalla Muthu. She fearlessly challenges her opponents and mockingly asks whether they dare to fight her individually or all at once. She compares herself to a brave tiger cub navigating a game designed to trap parrots, proving that intimidation tactics like rolling eyes or aggressive postures will not break her spirit. The lyrics use playful folk metaphors and rhythmic refrains addressing village companions Raakkamma and Mookkamma. The protagonist urges her adversaries not to retreat after stepping forward and chides them for making foolish mistakes when they intended to accomplish a worthwhile task. Rich in folk swagger and confidence, the song captures a spirited confrontation filled with high energy and traditional dance rhythms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Kaathi' / 'Paethi' and 'Othaiyaa' /

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagathil)

The speaker calls herself a 'Puli kutti' (tiger cub) standing fearless in a 'Kili kattu' (parrot trap).

Emonive / Contrast Wordplay

Contrast between 'Uppedukka' (taking good salt / doing the right thing) and 'Thappeduthu' (making a mistake / taking a wrong step).

Monaai (Alliteration / Initial Rhyme)

Alliteration seen in 'Raakkammaa' and 'Raap pagalaa', as well as 'Munnae' and 'Munnum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pudhiya Bhoomi (1968) starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Poovai Senguttavan. This song is sung by P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari in a vibrant folk-dance duet style.

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