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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Katta Naattukatta

From Ranga – 1982 Film · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Ranga – 1982 Film1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haan hae haa haa haaaAha, vocalizing sounds.
Nalla katta naattu kattaA fine built girl, a solid native beauty,
Namma kitta maatti kittaeGot caught right near us.
Nalla katta naattu kattaA fine built girl, a solid native beauty,
Namma kitta maatti kittaeGot caught right near us.
Kaalu rendum vaazhapattaBoth legs like plantain trunks,
Kannu rendum kozhi muttaBoth eyes like hen's eggs,
Kaalu rendum vaazhapattaBoth legs like plantain trunks,
Kannu rendum kozhi muttaBoth eyes like hen's eggs,
Female
Kumbakonam rangamuthuRangamuthu of Kumbakonam,
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthuDanced the lively dappanguthu folk dance!
Kumbakonam rangamuthuRangamuthu of Kumbakonam,
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthuDanced the lively dappanguthu folk dance!
Kalla kaattu varna mettaA colorful folk tune of the wild,
Kattinaraam ponnu kittaHe tied or sang to the girl nearby!
Kalla kaattu varna mettaA colorful folk tune of the wild,
Kattinaraam ponnu kitta haeHe tied or sang to the girl nearby, hey!
Male
Kannaadi udambae karuvattu kolambaeA body clear as glass, delicious like dried fish curry,
Kattaana poo maeni karumbae aaa aa aaA sculpted flower body, sweet sugarcane!
Kannaadi udambae karuvattu kolambaeA body clear as glass, delicious like dried fish curry,
Kattaana poo maeni karumbaeA sculpted flower body, sweet sugarcane!
Palagaaramae vella paniyaaramaeO sweet delicacy, o white paniyaaram,
Parimaarina adi pasiyaarumaeIf served, my hunger will surely be satiated!
Female :Pachakkili nenjathilae vechirukka unnathaanFemale: O green parrot, I hold you inside my heart!
Male
Nalla katta naattu kattaA fine built girl, a solid native beauty,
Namma kitta maatti kittaeGot caught right near us.
Female
Kumbakonam rangamuthuRangamuthu of Kumbakonam,
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthuDanced the lively dappanguthu!
Female
Poiyaa nethaan polladha aaldhaanGo away man, you are a clever rogue,
Unnaattum killadi naan thaanI am an even bigger champion than you!
Poiyaa nethaan polladha aaldhaanGo away man, you are a clever rogue,
Unnaattum killadi naan thaanI am an even bigger champion than you!
Kalyaana thaedhi mudivaaganumThe wedding date must be fixed,
Moonu mudi podanumThree sacred knots must be tied!
Appaalathaan en moodhaathiri namma siva raathiriOnly after that, my foolish man, comes our grand night!
Male :Thotta enna patta enna kettaa vidum pattaadaMale: What if I touch you or embrace you? A silk saree will slip away if asked!
Female
Kumbakonam rangamuthuRangamuthu of Kumbakonam,
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthuDanced the lively dappanguthu!
Male
Nalla katta naattu kattaA fine built girl, a solid native beauty,
Namma kitta maatti kittaeGot caught right near us.
Male
Haan haanHaha yes!
Female :Haan haanFemale: Haha yes!
Male
Oiyaara konda singaara sendaeStylish hairdo, beautiful flower bundle,
Vaayendi sevvaazhathandaeCome on, you red banana stem!
Oiyaara konda singaara sendaeStylish hairdo, beautiful flower bundle,
Vaayendi sevvaazhathandaeCome on, you red banana stem!
Adaiyaalama onnu koduthaa ennaWhat if you give me something as a token of love?
Idhazhooramaa rasam eduthaa ennaWhat if I taste the nectar from the corner of your lips?
Female :Ammaadiyoo appadiyoo summayiru sokkaathaeFemale: Oh my goodness, is that so? Keep quiet, don't swoon!
Male
Nalla kattaA fine built girl,
Nalla kattaA fine built girl,
Nalla katta naattu kattaA fine built girl, a solid native beauty,
Namma kitta maatti kittaeGot caught right near us.
Kaalu rendum vaazhapattaBoth legs like plantain trunks,
Kannu rendum kozhi muttaBoth eyes like hen's eggs,
Female
Kumbakonam rangamuthuRangamuthu of Kumbakonam,
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthuDanced the lively dappanguthu!
Kalla kaattu varna mettaA colorful folk tune of the wild,
Kattinaraam ponnu kittaHe tied or sang to the girl nearby!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nalla Katta Naattu Katta is a playful, upbeat folk duet from the 1982 Tamil movie Ranga, starring Rajinikanth and Radhika. The song is a fun, teasing banter between the male and female leads, loaded with colloquial Tamil slang, humorous metaphors, and rural imagery. The male lead praises the female lead's physical beauty using rustic comparisons—eyes like eggs, legs like banana bark, sweetness like dried fish curry and paniyaaram—while teasingly pursuing her affection. The female lead reciprocates with equal wit, reminding him that he must marry her with three sacred knots before enjoying their romantic night.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Kaalu rendum vaazhapatta / Kannu rendum kozhi mutta

Compares physical features to everyday rustic objects like plantain trunks and hen eggs.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Nalla katta naattu katta

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Na' across adjacent words.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kumbakonam rangamuthu / Kuthinaaraam dappanguthu

The second consonant 'th' rhymes between Rangamuthu and dappanguthu.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for this 1982 film Ranga was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh. The song was written by legendary lyricist Vaali and rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

Keep listening

More from Ranga – 1982 Film