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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nottam Kanda Evarukkum

From Rathapasam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Rathapasam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
28 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ottam kanda kudhiraikku aasai
Katta kanda kazhudhaikku aasai
Patta kettingala
Patta ketta payalukku aasai
Notta kanda evarkkum aasai
Nottam pottingala
Ottam kanda kudhiraikku aasai
Katta kanda kazhudhaikku aasai
Patta kettingala
Patta ketta payalukku aasai
Notta kanda evarkkum aasai
Nottam pottingala
Ada engooru sambaaru
Indhooru vandhaachu
Engaachum paartheengala
Paartheengala kettingala
Adhai kandaakka kondaanga
Kandaangi naan thaaren
Kattayam vaareengala vaareengala pooringala
Ada engooru sambaaru
Indhooru vandhaachu
Engaachum paartheengala
Paartheengala kettingala
Adhai kandaakka kondaanga
Kandaangi naan thaaren
Kattayam vaareengala vaareengala pooringala
Naayai kanda kallai kanoom
Kallai kanda naaiyai kaanoom
Mattai kanda kaiyirai kanoom
Kayirai kanda mattai kanoom
Enga povaan parthikkuren naan
Ingae varuvaan maathikkiren paaru
Ottam kanda kudhiraikku aasai
Katta kanda kazhudhaikku aasai
Patta kettingala
Female :Patta ketta payalukku aasai
Notta kanda evarkkum aasai
Nottam pottingala
Adadaa poologam kailaasam ponaalum pogattum
Pennaachi paaarthukkiren
Paathukkiren theethukkiren
En poopola kaiyaalae podaati nallaalae
En peyarai maathikkiren paathukkiren theethukkiren
Tumkur raaja roattukku vandhaan
Dum dum dappa pattukku vandhaan
Nattai vittu naattuku vandhaan
Nalla thaaane maattika vandhaan
London enna parrys enna
Emtan engum emtan thaanadi
Ottam kanda kudhiraikku aasai
Katta kanda kazhudhaikku aasai
Patta kettingala
Patta ketta payalukku aasai
Notta kanda evarkkum aasai
Nottam pottingala
Ada vandhaaru maapillai
Pen engae poo engae
Kondaanthu veiyungalae
Veiyungalae..seiyungalaen
Konjam punnakku podunga
Nallavae thinbaaru
Engaachum thedungalen
Thedungalen odungalen
Singamunna singam thanda
Seeri paaayum thangamthaandaa
Naayum vandhadhu kallaum vandhadhu
Nallathaanae ellaam vandhadhu
Kayirai podu sittadi sittu
Kazhuthai suthi kattadi kattu
There is desire for a running horse,
There is desire for a donkey fit to be tied,
Did you ask for the title deed?
That good-for-nothing rogue desires a deed!
Anyone desires money once they see currency notes,
Did you test and check it out?
There is desire for a running horse,
There is desire for a donkey fit to be tied,
Did you ask for the title deed?
That good-for-nothing rogue desires a deed!
Anyone desires money once they see currency notes,
Did you test and check it out?
Hey, our town's "Sambar",
Has arrived in this town!
Have you seen him anywhere?
Did you see him? Did you hear about him?
If you spot him, bring him over!
I will reward you with a Kandangi (traditional cotton saree)!
Will you definitely come? Are you coming or going?
Hey, our town's "Sambar",
Has arrived in this town!
Have you seen him anywhere?
Did you see him? Did you hear about him?
If you spot him, bring him over!
I will reward you with a Kandangi (traditional cotton saree)!
Will you definitely come? Are you coming or going?
When you spot a dog, there is no stone,
When you find a stone, there is no dog!
When you find the stick, the rope is missing,
When you find the rope, the stick is missing!
Let me see where he tries to run,
He will come right here, watch me teach him a lesson!
There is desire for a running horse,
There is desire for a donkey fit to be tied,
Did you ask for the title deed?
That good-for-nothing rogue desires a deed!
Anyone desires money once they see currency notes,
Did you test and check it out?
Ah, even if this world drifts all the way to heaven, let it!
As a woman, I will handle this,
I will handle him and settle the score!
If I do not give him a proper thrashing with my flower-soft hands,
I will change my name! I will handle him and settle the score!
The King of Tumkur has hit the road,
He arrived dancing to the beat of drums!
Leaving his own country, he entered this land,
Only to walk straight into a trap!
What does London or Paris matter?
An Emden (cunning mastermind) is an Emden anywhere, girl!
There is desire for a running horse,
There is desire for a donkey fit to be tied,
Did you ask for the title deed?
That good-for-nothing rogue desires a deed!
Anyone desires money once they see currency notes,
Did you test and check it out?
Ah, here comes the bridegroom!
Where is the bride? Where are the flowers?
Bring them along and place them here!
Place them here, get on with it!
Feed him a little oil-cake fodder,
He will gobble it up happily!
Go search for him somewhere!
Search around and run fast!
If you call him a lion, he is a true lion,
A roaring hero of pure gold!
Now the dog has arrived, and so has the stone,
Everything has fallen nicely into place!
Cast the rope, my sprightly bird,
Tie it tightly around his neck!
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic folk-pop song from 'Rathapasam' (1980) features playful, fast-paced banter between two witty characters engaged in a comedic chase. Using traditional Tamil proverbs, rural idioms, and sharp metaphors, the singer parodies human desire, greed, and cleverness. The lyrics humorously comment on how people act when money or opportunity is involved, comparing characters to horses, donkeys, lions, and masterminds. Throughout the track, the female and male leads attempt to outwit each other—one setting a trap and asserting her authority, while the other playfully boasts of his trickery and worldly wisdom. The dynamic back-and-forth captures a theatrical cat-and-mouse game, culminating in a festive resolution where all missing pieces come together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pazhamozhi (Proverb Usage)

“Naayai kanda kallai kanoom / Kallai kanda naaiyai kaanoom”

Incorporates a famous Tamil proverb meaning 'When you see a dog, there are no stones to throw; when you find a stone, the dog is gone', symbolizing situational bad timing or missing pieces.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Paathukkiren theethukkiren / En peyarai maathikkiren paathukkiren theethukkiren”

The repetitive suffix ending '-kkiren' creates a catchy verbal rhythm and rhyming pattern at the end of consecutive clauses.

Muran (Antithesis)

“Naayai kanda kallai kanoom / Kallai kanda naaiyai kaanoom”

Contrasts presence and absence using paired opposites (Dog vs. Stone, Seen vs. Missing).

Hyperbole / Metaphor

“Singamunna singam thanda / Seeri paaayum thangamthaandaa”

Exaggerates the male character's stature by comparing him to a roaring lion and pouncing gold.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Rathapasam' (1980) featured music composed by the legendary M. S. Vishwanathan, with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Kannadasan. The high-energy duet brought together S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and L. R. Eswari, a playback singing pair renowned in Tamil cinema for their expressive, theatrical folk-style banter numbers.

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