Nagareegamana Hattu
From Pattaliyin Vetri · 1960
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- S. Rajeswara Rao
- Details
- Pattaliyin Vetri1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Gate-u….en toppu kazhandathae | Oh my... the cap on my head came off! |
| Altoppu en dooppu ellaam paranthathae | My stylish cap and all my pretense flew away! |
| Male | |
| Naagareegamaana hate-u | A civilized hat, |
| Naalu peru kaanum hate-u | A hat seen and admired by everyone, |
| Enga pocho govinthaa | Where did it go? It is gone! |
| Enna seivaen govinthaa | What will I do now? It is gone! |
| Male | |
| Singaaramaana hate-u | A beautiful hat, |
| Bangalooril vaangina hate-u | A hat bought in Bangalore, |
| Englishkaaran pottu | Worn by an Englishman, |
| Erinju pottu pona hate-u | A hat thrown away and left behind, |
| Male | |
| Singaaramaana hate-u | A beautiful hat, |
| Bangalooril vaangina hate-u | A hat bought in Bangalore, |
| Englishkaaran pottu | Worn by an Englishman, |
| Erinju pottu pona hate-u | A hat thrown away and left behind, |
| Male | |
| Mangaatha salavai soottu | A unfading washed suit, |
| Mathippuke thaguntha hate-u | A hat fitting for respect, |
| Enga pocho govinthaa | Where did it go? It is gone! |
| Enna seivaen govinthaa | What will I do now? It is gone! |
| Male | |
| Naagareegamaana hate-u | A civilized hat, |
| Naalu peru kaanum hate-u | A hat seen and admired by everyone, |
| Enga pocho govinthaa | Where did it go? It is gone! |
| Enna seivaen govinthaa | What will I do now? It is gone! |
| Male | |
| Sottaiyodu mottaikkum maraippu | A cover for both bald spots and shaved heads, |
| Soodu pani mazhaikkum thaduppu | A shield against heat, frost, and rain, |
| Pattanaththil pottaal sirappu | Wearing it in the city brings grandeur, |
| Pala perkkum idhanaal pozhappu | It provides a livelihood to many people, |
| Male | |
| Sottaiyodu mottaikkum maraippu | A cover for both bald spots and shaved heads, |
| Soodu pani mazhaikkum thaduppu | A shield against heat, frost, and rain, |
| Pattanaththil pottaal sirappu | Wearing it in the city brings grandeur, |
| Pala perkkum idhanaal pozhappu | It provides a livelihood to many people, |
| Male | |
| Jaadikku moodi pola | Like a lid for a jar, |
| saamiyaarkku thaadi polae | Like a beard for a saint, |
| Jodikku lady polae | Like a lady for a pair, |
| Enakku venum thalaikku melae | I need it right above my head! |
| Male | |
| Naagareegamaana hate-u | A civilized hat, |
| Naalu peru kaanum hate-u | A hat seen and admired by everyone, |
| Engae pocho govinthaa | Where did it go? It is gone! |
| Enna seivaen govinthaa | What will I do now? It is gone! |
| Male | |
| Kaaththodu paranthu pocho | Did it fly away with the wind? |
| Kaaraeri kasangi pocho | Did a car run over it and crush it? |
| Paarththavanga padhukkalaacho | Did someone who saw it stash it away? |
| Pattaani vaangalaachcho | Was it sold off to buy roasted peas? |
| Male | |
| Eduththavan koduththiduvaano | Will the person who took it return it? |
| Illainnu verattiduvaano | Or will he chase me away saying he does not have it? |
| Enga pocho govinthaa | Where did it go? It is gone! |
| Enna seivaen govinthaa | What will I do now? It is gone! |
| Male | |
| Naagareegamaana hate-u | A civilized hat, |
| Naalu peru kaanum hate-u | A hat seen and admired by everyone, |
| Engae pocho govinthaa | Where did it go? It is gone! |
| Enna seivaen govinthaa | What will I do now? It is gone! |
ஹேட்டு........என் டாப்பு...கழண்டதே
அல்டாப்பு என் டூப்பு எல்லாம் பறந்ததே
Oh my... the cap on my head came off!
My stylish cap and all my pretense flew away!
நாகரீகமான ஹேட்டு
நாலு பேரு காணும் ஹேட்டு
எங்கே போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா
A civilized hat,
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Where did it go? It is gone!
What will I do now? It is gone!
நாகரீகமான ஹேட்டு
நாலு பேரு காணும் ஹேட்டு
எங்கே போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா
A beautiful hat,
A hat bought in Bangalore,
Worn by an Englishman,
A hat thrown away and left behind,
சிங்காரமான ஹேட்டு
பெங்களூரில் வாங்கின ஹேட்டு
இங்கிலீஷ்காரன் போட்டு
எறிஞ்சு போட்டு போன ஹேட்டு
A beautiful hat,
A hat bought in Bangalore,
Worn by an Englishman,
A hat thrown away and left behind,
சிங்காரமான ஹேட்டு
பெங்களூரில் வாங்கின ஹேட்டு
இங்கிலீஷ்காரன் போட்டு
எறிஞ்சு போட்டு போன ஹேட்டு
A unfading washed suit,
A hat fitting for respect,
Where did it go? It is gone!
What will I do now? It is gone!
மங்காத சலவை சூட்டு
மதிப்புக்கே தகுந்த ஹேட்டு
எங்கே போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா...
A civilized hat,
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Where did it go? It is gone!
What will I do now? It is gone!
நாகரீகமான ஹேட்டு
நாலு பேரு காணும் ஹேட்டு
எங்கே போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா
A cover for both bald spots and shaved heads,
A shield against heat, frost, and rain,
Wearing it in the city brings grandeur,
It provides a livelihood to many people,
சொட்டையோடு மொட்டைக்கும் மறைப்பு
சூடு பனி மழைக்கும் தடுப்பு
பட்டணத்தில் போட்டால் சிறப்பு
பல பேர்க்கும் இதனால் பொழப்பு
A cover for both bald spots and shaved heads,
A shield against heat, frost, and rain,
Wearing it in the city brings grandeur,
It provides a livelihood to many people,
சொட்டையோடு மொட்டைக்கும் மறைப்பு
சூடு பனி மழைக்கும் தடுப்பு
பட்டணத்தில் போட்டால் சிறப்பு
பல பேர்க்கும் இதனால் பொழப்பு
Like a lid for a jar,
Like a beard for a saint,
Like a lady for a pair,
I need it right above my head!
ஜாடிக்கு மூடி போல
சாமியார்க்கு தாடி போலே
ஜோடிக்கு லேடி போலே
எனக்கு வேணும் தலைக்கு மேலே.....
A civilized hat,
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Where did it go? It is gone!
What will I do now? It is gone!
நாகரீகமான ஹேட்டு
நாலு பேரு காணும் ஹேட்டு
எங்கே போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா
Did it fly away with the wind?
Did a car run over it and crush it?
Did someone who saw it stash it away?
Was it sold off to buy roasted peas?
காத்தோடு பறந்து போச்சோ
காரேறி கசங்கி போச்சோ
பார்த்தவங்க பதுக்கலாச்சோ
பட்டாணி வாங்கலாச்சோ
Will the person who took it return it?
Or will he chase me away saying he does not have it?
Where did it go? It is gone!
What will I do now? It is gone!
எடுத்தவன் கொடுத்திடுவானோ
இல்லைன்னு வெரட்டிடுவானோ
எங்க போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா....
A civilized hat,
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Where did it go? It is gone!
What will I do now? It is gone!
நாகரீகமான ஹேட்டு
நாலு பேரு காணும் ஹேட்டு
எங்கே போச்சோ கோவிந்தா
என்ன செய்வேன் கோவிந்தா
Gate-u….en toppu kazhandathae
Oh my... the cap on my head came off!
Altoppu en dooppu ellaam paranthathae
My stylish cap and all my pretense flew away!
Naagareegamaana hate-u
A civilized hat,
Naalu peru kaanum hate-u
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Enga pocho govinthaa
Where did it go? It is gone!
Enna seivaen govinthaa
What will I do now? It is gone!
Singaaramaana hate-u
A beautiful hat,
Bangalooril vaangina hate-u
A hat bought in Bangalore,
Englishkaaran pottu
Worn by an Englishman,
Erinju pottu pona hate-u
A hat thrown away and left behind,
Singaaramaana hate-u
A beautiful hat,
Bangalooril vaangina hate-u
A hat bought in Bangalore,
Englishkaaran pottu
Worn by an Englishman,
Erinju pottu pona hate-u
A hat thrown away and left behind,
Mangaatha salavai soottu
A unfading washed suit,
Mathippuke thaguntha hate-u
A hat fitting for respect,
Enga pocho govinthaa
Where did it go? It is gone!
Enna seivaen govinthaa
What will I do now? It is gone!
Naagareegamaana hate-u
A civilized hat,
Naalu peru kaanum hate-u
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Enga pocho govinthaa
Where did it go? It is gone!
Enna seivaen govinthaa
What will I do now? It is gone!
Sottaiyodu mottaikkum maraippu
A cover for both bald spots and shaved heads,
Soodu pani mazhaikkum thaduppu
A shield against heat, frost, and rain,
Pattanaththil pottaal sirappu
Wearing it in the city brings grandeur,
Pala perkkum idhanaal pozhappu
It provides a livelihood to many people,
Sottaiyodu mottaikkum maraippu
A cover for both bald spots and shaved heads,
Soodu pani mazhaikkum thaduppu
A shield against heat, frost, and rain,
Pattanaththil pottaal sirappu
Wearing it in the city brings grandeur,
Pala perkkum idhanaal pozhappu
It provides a livelihood to many people,
Jaadikku moodi pola
Like a lid for a jar,
saamiyaarkku thaadi polae
Like a beard for a saint,
Jodikku lady polae
Like a lady for a pair,
Enakku venum thalaikku melae
I need it right above my head!
Naagareegamaana hate-u
A civilized hat,
Naalu peru kaanum hate-u
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Engae pocho govinthaa
Where did it go? It is gone!
Enna seivaen govinthaa
What will I do now? It is gone!
Kaaththodu paranthu pocho
Did it fly away with the wind?
Kaaraeri kasangi pocho
Did a car run over it and crush it?
Paarththavanga padhukkalaacho
Did someone who saw it stash it away?
Pattaani vaangalaachcho
Was it sold off to buy roasted peas?
Eduththavan koduththiduvaano
Will the person who took it return it?
Illainnu verattiduvaano
Or will he chase me away saying he does not have it?
Enga pocho govinthaa
Where did it go? It is gone!
Enna seivaen govinthaa
What will I do now? It is gone!
Naagareegamaana hate-u
A civilized hat,
Naalu peru kaanum hate-u
A hat seen and admired by everyone,
Engae pocho govinthaa
Where did it go? It is gone!
Enna seivaen govinthaa
What will I do now? It is gone!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This humorous track from Pattaliyin Vetri (1960) centers on the protagonist wailing over his lost western-style hat ('hat-u'). He recounts the hat's history as an item originally discarded by an Englishman and purchased in Bangalore, serving as a symbol of status, civilization, and practical protection against extreme weather and visible baldness. He playfully compares the necessity of the hat on his head to a lid on a jar or a beard on an ascetic. Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, the song uses witty satire to mock urban vanity, Western fashion influences, and social pretense in mid-20th-century Tamil society. As the protagonist ponders various absurd scenarios of how the hat disappeared, the lighthearted composition highlights both the comedy and social observation typical of Narayanakavi's works.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Jaadikku moodi pola / saamiyaarkku thaadi polae / Jodikku lady polae”
Compares the necessity of the hat on top of his head to a jar lid, a saint's beard, and a female partner in a pair using the comparative suffix 'pola'.
Edugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Sottaiyodu mottaikkum maraippu / Soodu pani mazhaikkum thaduppu”
The second consonant 't' (ட) rhymes across consecutive lines.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Enga pocho govinthaa / Enna seivaen govinthaa”
The repetitive exclamation 'Govinthaa' highlights despair in a comical, exaggerated manner at the end of stanzas.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pattaliyin Vetri (1960) features music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao, with lyrics penned by the acclaimed reformist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi. Sung with comical expression by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, the song makes heavy use of Tamilized English loanwords ('hat-u', 'toppu', 'dooppu', 'lady') reflecting urban dialect variations of 1950s-60s Tamil Nadu.
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