Nottu Kaattu Udane
From Nanayam Illatha Nanayam · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Vijay Anand
- Details
- Nanayam Illatha Nanayam1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Note-u | Money note |
| Chorus :Note-u | Chorus: Money note |
| Male :Kaattu | Male: Show it |
| Chorus :Kaattu | Chorus: Show it |
| Male :Haei….udane kedaikkuthu seettu… | Male: Hey... you immediately get an admission seat... |
| Chorus :Seettu | Chorus: An admission seat |
| Male | |
| Adi note-u kaattu udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Hey girl, show the money note and you immediately get an admission seat! |
| Naan padikka idamilla oru vela namakkilla | There is no seat for us to study, no job for us to work. |
| Ada iruttaa irunthaa vidivathu eppothadaa hoi | Ah, if everything remains dark, when will the dawn break, hey? |
| Male | |
| Note-u kaattu hae udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat! |
| Chorus :Haei udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat! |
| Male | |
| Neeyellaam ba padichchu | All of you earn a B.A. degree, |
| Kalyaanam udane mudichchu povae soraakka | Get married immediately and go cook food! |
| Male :Ho hoi | Male: Ho hoi! |
| Chorus :Ho hoi | Chorus: Ho hoi! |
| Male | |
| Neeyellaam ba padichchu | All of you earn a B.A. degree, |
| Kalyaanam udane mudichchu povae soraakka | Get married immediately and go cook food! |
| Male :Ho hoi | Male: Ho hoi! |
| Chorus :Ho hoi | Chorus: Ho hoi! |
| Male | |
| Palliyarai bommaikkoru | For a doll made for the bedroom, |
| Pallikkoodam ennaththukku | Why on earth is a school needed? |
| Pala pulla peththukka pattam edhukkadi hoi | Why do you need a university degree just to give birth to many kids, hey? |
| Male | |
| Note-u kaattu hae udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat! |
| Chorus :Haei udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat! |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Day night-u cinimaa selavu | Spending day and night watching movies, |
| Adhanaala silukku kanavu ellaam veenaachchu | Because of that, dreams about Silk Smitha all went to waste! |
| Male :Ho hoi | Male: Ho hoi! |
| Chorus :Ho hoi | Chorus: Ho hoi! |
| Male | |
| Day night-u cinimaa selavu | Spending day and night watching movies, |
| Adhanaala silukku kanavu ellaam veenaachchu | Because of that, dreams about Silk Smitha all went to waste! |
| Male :Ho hoi | Male: Ho hoi! |
| Chorus :Ho hoi | Chorus: Ho hoi! |
| Male | |
| Kasttapatta ungappan thuttu kandapadi vittuputtu | Squandering your hardworking father's money recklessly, |
| Edhirakaalm pudhiraa irunthaa ennaavathu haei | If your future turns into a baffling puzzle, what will happen, hey? |
| Male | |
| Note-u | Money note |
| Chorus :Note-u | Chorus: Money note |
| Male :Kaattu | Male: Show it |
| Chorus :Kaattu | Chorus: Show it |
| Male :Haei….udane kedaikkuthu seettu… | Male: Hey... you immediately get an admission seat... |
| Chorus :Seettu | Chorus: An admission seat |
| Male | |
| Adi note-u kaattu udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Hey girl, show the money note and you immediately get an admission seat! |
| Naan padikka idamilla oru vela namakkilla | There is no seat for us to study, no job for us to work. |
| Ada iruttaa irunthaa vidivathu eppothadaa hoi | Ah, if everything remains dark, when will the dawn break, hey? |
| Male | |
| Note-u kaattu hae udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat! |
| Chorus :Haei udane kedaikkuthu seettu | Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat! |
நோட்டு
குழு :
நோட்டு
காட்டு
குழு :
காட்டு
ஹேய்....உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு.....
குழு :
சீட்டு
Money note
Chorus: Money note
Male: Show it
Chorus: Show it
Male: Hey... you immediately get an admission seat...
Chorus: An admission seat
அடி நோட்டு காட்டு உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
நான் படிக்க இடமில்ல ஒரு வேல நமக்கில்ல
அட இருட்டா இருந்தா விடிவது எப்போதடா ஹோய்
Hey girl, show the money note and you immediately get an admission seat!
There is no seat for us to study, no job for us to work.
Ah, if everything remains dark, when will the dawn break, hey?
நோட்டு காட்டு ஹே உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
குழு :
ஹேய் உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat!
Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat!
நீயெல்லாம் பி.ஏ.படிச்சு
கல்யாணம் உடனே முடிச்சு போவே சோறாக்க
ஹோ ஹோய்
குழு :
ஹோ ஹோய்
All of you earn a B.A. degree,
Get married immediately and go cook food!
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus: Ho hoi!
நீயெல்லாம் பி.ஏ.படிச்சு
கல்யாணம் உடனே முடிச்சு போவே சோறாக்க
ஹோ ஹோய்
குழு :
ஹோ ஹோய்
All of you earn a B.A. degree,
Get married immediately and go cook food!
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus: Ho hoi!
பள்ளியறை பொம்மைக்கொரு
பள்ளிக்கூடம் என்னத்துக்கு
பல புள்ள பெத்துக்க பட்டம் எதுக்கடி ஹோய்...
For a doll made for the bedroom,
Why on earth is a school needed?
Why do you need a university degree just to give birth to many kids, hey?
நோட்டு காட்டு ஹே உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
குழு :
ஹேய் உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat!
Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat!
........................
...
டே நைட்டு சினிமா செலவு
அதனால சிலுக்கு கனவு எல்லாம் வீணாச்சு
ஹோ ஹோய்
குழு :
ஹோ ஹோய்
Spending day and night watching movies,
Because of that, dreams about Silk Smitha all went to waste!
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus: Ho hoi!
டே நைட்டு சினிமா செலவு
அதனால சிலுக்கு கனவு எல்லாம் வீணாச்சு
ஹோ ஹோய்
குழு :
ஹோ ஹோய்
Spending day and night watching movies,
Because of that, dreams about Silk Smitha all went to waste!
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus: Ho hoi!
கஷ்ட்டபட்ட உங்கப்பன் துட்டு கண்டபடி விட்டுபுட்டு
எதிர்காலம் புதிரா இருந்தா என்னாவது ஹேய்......
Squandering your hardworking father's money recklessly,
If your future turns into a baffling puzzle, what will happen, hey?
நோட்டு
குழு :
நோட்டு
காட்டு
குழு :
காட்டு
ஹேய்....உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு.....
குழு :
சீட்டு
Money note
Chorus: Money note
Male: Show it
Chorus: Show it
Male: Hey... you immediately get an admission seat...
Chorus: An admission seat
அடி நோட்டு காட்டு உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
நான் படிக்க இடமில்ல ஒரு வேல நமக்கில்ல
அட இருட்டா இருந்தா விடிவது எப்போதடா ஹோய்
Hey girl, show the money note and you immediately get an admission seat!
There is no seat for us to study, no job for us to work.
Ah, if everything remains dark, when will the dawn break, hey?
நோட்டு காட்டு ஹே உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
குழு :
ஹேய் உடனே கெடைக்குது சீட்டு
Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat!
Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat!
Note-u
Money note
Chorus :Note-u
Chorus: Money note
Male :Kaattu
Male: Show it
Chorus :Kaattu
Chorus: Show it
Male :Haei….udane kedaikkuthu seettu…
Male: Hey... you immediately get an admission seat...
Chorus :Seettu
Chorus: An admission seat
Adi note-u kaattu udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Hey girl, show the money note and you immediately get an admission seat!
Naan padikka idamilla oru vela namakkilla
There is no seat for us to study, no job for us to work.
Ada iruttaa irunthaa vidivathu eppothadaa hoi
Ah, if everything remains dark, when will the dawn break, hey?
Note-u kaattu hae udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat!
Chorus :Haei udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat!
Neeyellaam ba padichchu
All of you earn a B.A. degree,
Kalyaanam udane mudichchu povae soraakka
Get married immediately and go cook food!
Male :Ho hoi
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus :Ho hoi
Chorus: Ho hoi!
Neeyellaam ba padichchu
All of you earn a B.A. degree,
Kalyaanam udane mudichchu povae soraakka
Get married immediately and go cook food!
Male :Ho hoi
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus :Ho hoi
Chorus: Ho hoi!
Palliyarai bommaikkoru
For a doll made for the bedroom,
Pallikkoodam ennaththukku
Why on earth is a school needed?
Pala pulla peththukka pattam edhukkadi hoi
Why do you need a university degree just to give birth to many kids, hey?
Note-u kaattu hae udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat!
Chorus :Haei udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat!
……………….
...
Day night-u cinimaa selavu
Spending day and night watching movies,
Adhanaala silukku kanavu ellaam veenaachchu
Because of that, dreams about Silk Smitha all went to waste!
Male :Ho hoi
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus :Ho hoi
Chorus: Ho hoi!
Day night-u cinimaa selavu
Spending day and night watching movies,
Adhanaala silukku kanavu ellaam veenaachchu
Because of that, dreams about Silk Smitha all went to waste!
Male :Ho hoi
Male: Ho hoi!
Chorus :Ho hoi
Chorus: Ho hoi!
Kasttapatta ungappan thuttu kandapadi vittuputtu
Squandering your hardworking father's money recklessly,
Edhirakaalm pudhiraa irunthaa ennaavathu haei
If your future turns into a baffling puzzle, what will happen, hey?
Note-u
Money note
Chorus :Note-u
Chorus: Money note
Male :Kaattu
Male: Show it
Chorus :Kaattu
Chorus: Show it
Male :Haei….udane kedaikkuthu seettu…
Male: Hey... you immediately get an admission seat...
Chorus :Seettu
Chorus: An admission seat
Adi note-u kaattu udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Hey girl, show the money note and you immediately get an admission seat!
Naan padikka idamilla oru vela namakkilla
There is no seat for us to study, no job for us to work.
Ada iruttaa irunthaa vidivathu eppothadaa hoi
Ah, if everything remains dark, when will the dawn break, hey?
Note-u kaattu hae udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Show the money note, hey, you immediately get a seat!
Chorus :Haei udane kedaikkuthu seettu
Chorus: Hey, you immediately get a seat!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Note-u Kaattu' is a sharp, satirical commentary on capitation fees, corruption in the educational system, unemployment, and youth lifestyle in 1980s Tamil Nadu. The song highlights how money (bribes/donations) easily secures college seats ('seettu') regardless of merit, leaving poor and qualified students without education or jobs. Through lively beat and colloquial language, the narrator questions when this darkness of corruption will end. At the same time, the lyrics humorously mock contemporary youth trends—such as wasting parents' hard-earned money on late-night movies and daydreaming about glamorous film stars like Silk Smitha—while sarcastically poking fun at patriarchal attitudes towards women's higher education. Vaali's witty pen paired with Malaysia Vasudevan's energetic rendering turns social critique into a catchy, memorable rhythm.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Adi note-u kaattu udane kedaikkuthu seettu”
The words 'kaattu' and 'seettu' rhyme at the middle and end of the lines, creating a bouncy, rhythmic chorus.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Palliyarai bommaikkoru / Pallikkoodam ennaththukku”
The repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' ('Palliyarai', 'Pallikkoodam', 'Pala', 'Pattam') creates strong rhythmic momentum in these lines.
Metaphor
“Ada iruttaa irunthaa vidivathu eppothadaa hoi”
'Iruttu' (Darkness) is used as a metaphor for widespread corruption, bribery, and social injustice, while 'vidivathu' (dawn) represents hope and reform.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kasttapatta ungappan thuttu / Edhirakaalm pudhiraa irunthaa”
Though cross-line, the rhythm is maintained through second-letter consonant matches in key spoken beats throughout the stanza.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song references 'Silukku kanavu' (dreams of Silk), an explicit pop-culture nod to Silk Smitha, who was an iconic siren and massive box-office draw in Tamil cinema during the 1980s. Lyricist Vaali was famous for effortlessly weaving current pop-culture references and everyday slang into film songs to resonate immediately with young audiences.
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