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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
Movie name
Ranga – 1982 Film
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
17 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haan hae haa haa haaa
Nalla katta naattu katta
Namma kitta maatti kittae
Nalla katta naattu katta
Namma kitta maatti kittae
Kaalu rendum vaazhapatta
Kannu rendum kozhi mutta
Kaalu rendum vaazhapatta
Kannu rendum kozhi mutta
Kumbakonam rangamuthu
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthu
Kumbakonam rangamuthu
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthu
Kalla kaattu varna metta
Kattinaraam ponnu kitta
Kalla kaattu varna metta
Kattinaraam ponnu kitta hae
Kannaadi udambae karuvattu kolambae
Kattaana poo maeni karumbae aaa aa aa
Kannaadi udambae karuvattu kolambae
Kattaana poo maeni karumbae
Palagaaramae vella paniyaaramae
Parimaarina adi pasiyaarumae
Female :Pachakkili nenjathilae vechirukka unnathaan
Nalla katta naattu katta
Namma kitta maatti kittae
Kumbakonam rangamuthu
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthu
Poiyaa nethaan polladha aaldhaan
Unnaattum killadi naan thaan
Poiyaa nethaan polladha aaldhaan
Unnaattum killadi naan thaan
Kalyaana thaedhi mudivaaganum
Moonu mudi podanum
Appaalathaan en moodhaathiri namma siva raathiri
Male :Thotta enna patta enna kettaa vidum pattaada
Kumbakonam rangamuthu
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthu
Nalla katta naattu katta
Namma kitta maatti kittae
Haan haan
Female :Haan haan
Oiyaara konda singaara sendae
Vaayendi sevvaazhathandae
Oiyaara konda singaara sendae
Vaayendi sevvaazhathandae
Adaiyaalama onnu koduthaa enna
Idhazhooramaa rasam eduthaa enna
Female :Ammaadiyoo appadiyoo summayiru sokkaathae
Nalla katta
Nalla katta
Nalla katta naattu katta
Namma kitta maatti kittae
Kaalu rendum vaazhapatta
Kannu rendum kozhi mutta
Kumbakonam rangamuthu
Kuthinaaraam dappanguthu
Kalla kaattu varna metta
Kattinaraam ponnu kitta
Haan hey ha ha haa
A fine, well-built country girl,
You’ve fallen right into my hands!
A fine, well-built country girl,
You’ve fallen right into my hands!
Your two legs are smooth like banana stems,
Your two eyes are round like hen's eggs!
Your two legs are smooth like banana stems,
Your two eyes are round like hen's eggs!
Ranga Muthu of Kumbakonam,
Danced a wild dappankuthu (lively folk dance)!
Ranga Muthu of Kumbakonam,
Danced a wild dappankuthu (lively folk dance)!
A catchy country folk tune,
He composed and sang for his girl!
A catchy country folk tune,
He composed and sang for his girl, hey!
Body sleek as glass, spicy as dried-fish curry,
Well-shaped flower-like body, sweet sugarcane, ah!
Body sleek as glass, spicy as dried-fish curry,
Well-shaped flower-like body, sweet sugarcane!
Sweet treat, soft white paniyaram (rice pastry),
If you serve it up, girl, my hunger will be satisfied!
Female: In this green parrot's heart, I have kept only you!
A fine, well-built country girl,
You’ve fallen right into my hands!
Ranga Muthu of Kumbakonam,
Danced a wild dappankuthu (lively folk dance)!
It's no lie, you really are a cunning rogue,
And I am a clever match for you!
It's no lie, you really are a cunning rogue,
And I am a clever match for you!
The wedding date must be fixed first,
The three holy knots must be tied!
Only after that, you crazy guy, will be our sleepless night of love!
Male: What’s the harm if I touch? Your silk dress will slip away if I ask!
Ranga Muthu of Kumbakonam,
Danced a wild dappankuthu (lively folk dance)!
A fine, well-built country girl,
You’ve fallen right into my hands!
Haan haan
Female: Haan haan
With your stylish bun, lovely flower bouquet,
Come here, my sweet red banana shoot!
With your stylish bun, lovely flower bouquet,
Come here, my sweet red banana shoot!
What if you give me a kiss as a token of love?
What if I sip the nectar from the edge of your lips?
Female: Oh my, is that so? Stay calm and don't lose your senses!
A fine girl,
A fine girl,
A fine, well-built country girl,
You’ve fallen right into my hands!
Your two legs are smooth like banana stems,
Your two eyes are round like hen's eggs!
Ranga Muthu of Kumbakonam,
Danced a wild dappankuthu (lively folk dance)!
A catchy country folk tune,
He composed and sang for his girl!
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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