Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naattamai Ponnu

From Paattali Magan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Sangeetha Rajan
Movie name
Paattali Magan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
27 Aug 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaamtha theemtha theemtha thaanaam
Thandhanna thandhanna
Haa haang
Nattaamai ponnu
Naandhaanda kannaa
Chorus :Theemtha thagathimithom
Female :Ennai naiyaandi panna
Nee yaru ingae
Chorus :Theemtha thagathimithaam
Ennoda modhathae
Naan kaasaala jayipenadaa
Nee veenaaga muraikkadhae
Un veeraappa kuraippenada
Thennatula porandhu
Naan naadu vittu naadu paranthu
Naagarigam kattru vandhava
Nattaamai ponnu
Naandhaanda kannaa
Chorus :Theemtha thagathimithom
Female :Ennai naiyaandi panna
Nee yaru ingae
Chorus :Theemtha thagathimithaam
……………………….
Yaetham thoruttula aa aa aa aa aa
Yaetham thoruttula yaeri parikalaam
Aatta maeikkuravan
Chorus :Lalalalalaa
Female :Enga oorula erumai kulikkala
Ivana paarththillae
Chorus :Lalalalalaa
Eppodhum naan thaan hoi
Eppodhum naan thaan raani ingae
Ennaalum nee vandhu vaelai seiya
Ammadi kaalam enga pakkam
Aiyaav paaru aiyooo paavam
Theemthathagatheemthaa
Theemthathagatheemthaa
Pongadi
Kondaiyillaa kozhigalae
Kokkarichu vandheegalae
Jallikattu kaalai naanga
Mallukkatti paakaathinga
……………………..
…………………………..
Oola kudisaiyila ye ye ye ye
Oola kudisaiyila koozha kudikkaravan
Naadaalum kaalamadi
Chorus :Lalalalalaa
Male :Yaedho padichadhila koondhal kuraindhadhadi
Pen dhaana sandhegam
Chorus :Lalalalalaa
Maarappu engae adi maaraappu engae
En mainaakalae
Kaapatha ingae yaarumillae
Melnaatu padippu ennachudi adi
Thenaattu panpaadu ponnaanadhu
Theemthathagatheemthaa
Male :Tharigidathom
Chorus :Theemthathagatheemthaa
Male :Dhigu dhigu dhigu
Pattaali magan thaan
Naanthaandi pulla
Chorus :Theemthathagatheemthaa aama
Male :Hoi enna naattaama panna
Nee yaaru inga
Chorus :Theemthathagatheemthaam
Male :Adi ponaana poomaeni punnaagi povaenaa
Veen vambhu izhukaadhae adivaan kozhi parakkadhae
Dhaam-dhaa dheem-dhaa dheem-dhaa dhaanaam
Thanthan-naa thanthan-naa
Ha haang!
I'm the village chief's daughter,
that's who I am, boy!
Chorus: Dheemtha thakathimithom
Female: To make fun of me,
who do you think you are here?
Chorus: Dheemtha thakathimithaam
Don't pick a fight with me,
I can beat you with my wealth!
Don't glare at me for nothing,
I will crush your arrogant pride!
Born in the southern land,
I flew across nations,
and returned learning modern ways!
I'm the village chief's daughter,
that's who I am, boy!
Chorus: Dheemtha thakathimithom
Female: To make fun of me,
who do you think you are here?
Chorus: Dheemtha thakathimithaam
...
With a water-lift pole... ah ah ah ah ah
Can you climb a well-sweep pole to pick fruit,
you goat-herder?
Chorus: La la la la laa
Female: In our village, even a bathing buffalo
has never seen someone like him!
Chorus: La la la la laa
I am always—hey!
I am always the queen here!
Every day you will have to serve and work for me!
Oh dear, time is on our side!
Look at the big man, what a pity!
Dheem tha thaka dheem thaa
Dheem tha thaka dheem thaa
Get lost, girls!
You hens without crests (bobbed-hair girls),
you've come cackling around!
We are Jallikattu bulls,
don't try to lock horns with us!
...
...
In a thatched hut... yea yea yea yea
The one who drinks porridge in a thatched hut,
it's our time now to rule the land, girl!
Chorus: La la la la laa
Male: With your bit of schooling, your hair got cut short,
it makes me doubt if you're even a woman!
Chorus: La la la la laa
Where is your saree drape? Where is it,
oh my little mynas?
There is no one here to save you!
What happened to your Western education, girl?
Southern culture is pure gold!
Dheem tha thaka dheem thaa
Male: Thari kida thom
Chorus: Dheem tha thaka dheem thaa
Male: Thigu thigu thigu
A son of the working class,
that's who I am, girl!
Chorus: Dheem tha thaka dheem thaa, yeah!
Male: Hey, to boss me around,
who are you here?
Chorus: Dheem tha thaka dheem thaam
Male: Will this golden, tender body end up bruised?
Don't stir up trouble; hey turkey, don't try to fly!
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a playful and aggressive duet showcasing a clash of egos between a wealthy, Western-educated village head's daughter ('Nattaamai ponnu') and a proud, working-class local young man ('Paattali magan'). The female protagonist boasts about her riches, foreign travels, modern lifestyle, and authority over the village, mocking the working man's humble life. In response, the male protagonist defends his working-class roots and native Tamil heritage. He criticizes Western influence for eroding traditional clothing and values, warning her that labor and native culture will ultimately prevail over empty arrogance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Nattaamai ponnu / Naandhaanda kannaa

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in lines like 'Nattaamai ponnu' and 'Naandhaanda kannaa' creates a rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor

Jallikattu kaalai naanga

The male protagonist compares working-class men to fierce Jallikattu bulls ('Jallikattu kaalai naanga') to represent untameable strength and dignity.

Cultural Contrast & Anthesis

Melnaatu padippu ennachudi adi / Thenaattu panpaadu ponnaanadhu

The lyricist contrasts Western education ('Melnaatu padippu') with native southern heritage ('Thenaattu panpaadu') to emphasize traditional pride.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by renowned lyricist Vaali, this track embodies a classic Tamil cinema trope from the late 80s and 90s where native culture and working-class pride triumph over modern Westernized arrogance.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Paattali Magan

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.