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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pacha Kili Paadum

From Karuththamma · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Shahul Hameed, Minmini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Karuththamma1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pachchakili paadum ooruA village where green parrots sing
Panju meththa bullock paaruLook at the bullock cart soft as a cotton bed
Manjal aaru paayum andha ooruThat village where a river flowing with turmeric waters flows
Kutti potta aatu koottamA flock of goats with newly born kids
Kondayaatum kozhi koottamA flock of roosters shaking their crests
Sondham ulla saadhi sanam paaruLook at the loving kith and kin, the people of the community
Chorus
{Pasu maattukku oru paattu{A song for the cow
Velinaattukku adhu vilayaattu} (2)Is a game or amusement for foreign countries} (2)
Female
Pachchakili paadum ooruA village where green parrots sing
Panju meththa bullock paaruLook at the bullock cart soft as a cotton bed
Manjal aaru paayum andha ooruThat village where a river flowing with turmeric waters flows
Kutti potta aatu koottamA flock of goats with newly born kids
Kondayaatum kozhi koottamA flock of roosters shaking their crests
Sondham ulla saadhi sanam paaruLook at the loving kith and kin, the people of the community
Chorus
Kokkara ko… kokkara koCock-a-doodle-doo... cock-a-doodle-doo
Kokkara ko ko kok kok koCock-a-doodle-doo cluck cluck cluck
Kokkara ko ko kok kok koCock-a-doodle-doo cluck cluck cluck
Kok kok kok kok kok kok kok ko koCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck doo doo
Kokkara ko ko kok kok koCock-a-doodle-doo cluck cluck cluck
Kokkara ko ko kok kok koCock-a-doodle-doo cluck cluck cluck
Kok kok kok kok kok kok kok ko koCluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck cluck doo doo
Male
Thanni kudam kondaCarrying a pot of water
Pombalaya polaLike a woman
Ooru kadhai pesikonduGossiping about village tales
Nadhi nadakkumThe river flows along
Pachchakili mella pallaviya sollaAs the green parrot softly hums the refrain
Kuyil vandhu saranaththilThe cuckoo comes during the stanza
Kural kodukkumAnd lends its vocal voice
Female
KondaattamA grand celebration!
Ingu thendralukku dhinam dhinamFor the southern breeze here, every day
ThaerottamIs a temple chariot procession
Ada pattanaththil illai indhaAh, the city does not have this kind of
KaatrottamFree flow of fresh breeze
Andha nandavana poovaeThat flower from the garden
NaakaaliIs my chair
Adhil amarven vandaattamOn which I will sit like a bee
Female
Pachchakili paadum ooruA village where green parrots sing
Panju meththa bullock paaruLook at the bullock cart soft as a cotton bed
Manjal aaru paayum andha ooruThat village where a river flowing with turmeric waters flows
Kutti potta aatu koottamA flock of goats with newly born kids
Kondayaatum kozhi koottamA flock of roosters shaking their crests
Sondham ulla saadhi sanam paaruLook at the loving kith and kin, the people of the community
Chorus
{Pasu maattukku oru paattu{A song for the cow
Velinaattukku adhu vilayaattu} (2)Is a game or amusement for foreign countries} (2)
Male
Kuttai kaama thaeverLord Kama Thevar of the pond
Katti vechathammaBuilt and set this up, oh mother
Koondhal varum munnaalae kulikattumaMay I bathe before long hair grows?
Othayadi paadhai pogumThe narrow single-footpath goes
Idam yengaeWhere is that place?
Othayilae naanaaga nadakattumaMay I walk alone on it by myself?
Female
SangeedhamMusic!
Ingu kozhi aadu kaththum saththamThe sound of roosters and goats crying here is
SangeedhamMusic!
Konjam thalli ninnu rasippadhuStanding a bit away and enjoying it is
SandhosamHappiness!
Engal jannal pakkam yeppozhudhumBy our window, at all times, there is
Poo vaasamThe fragrance of flowers
Andha sugamoo paravasamThat joy is sheer ecstasy
Female
Pachchakili paadum ooruA village where green parrots sing
Panju meththa bullock paaruLook at the bullock cart soft as a cotton bed
Manjal aaru paayum andha ooruThat village where a river flowing with turmeric waters flows
Kutti potta aatu koottamA flock of goats with newly born kids
Kondayaatum kozhi koottamA flock of roosters shaking their crests
Sondham ulla saadhi sanam paaruLook at the loving kith and kin, the people of the community
Chorus
{Pasu maattukku oru paattu{A song for the cow
Velinaattukku adhu vilayaattu} (2)Is a game or amusement for foreign countries} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pachchakili Paadum Ooru from Karuththamma (1994) is an idyllic celebration of rural Tamil life, capturing the serene beauty, natural rhythms, and simple joys of village existence. Lyricist Vairamuthu paints a colorful landscape filled with singing parrots, flowing streams, livestock, and close-knit community bonds, contrasting the pure bliss of village nature against city living.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thanni kudam konda Pombalaya pola / Nadhi nadakkum

Compares the flowing motion of the river to a village woman walking while carrying a water pot and chatting.

Personification (Uruvagam)

Pachchakili mella pallaviya solla / Kuyil vandhu saranaththil / Kural kodukkum

Attributes human musical roles to birds, describing the parrot singing the main refrain (pallavi) and the cuckoo rendering the stanza (charanam).

Onomatopoeia (Oli-kkurippu)

Kokkara ko… kokkara ko

Uses rhythmic phonetic sounds imitating rooster calls to evoke a natural countryside morning atmosphere.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ingu thendralukku dhinam dhinam / Thaerottam / Ada pattanaththil illai indha / Kaatrottam

Rhyming structure across lines using end-rhymes like Kondaattam, Thaerottam, and Kaatrottam.

Did you know?

Trivia

Karuththamma (1994), directed by Bharathiraja, featured a iconic score by A. R. Rahman. Although set against a dramatic theme addressing female infanticide, 'Pachchakili Paadum Ooru' stands out as a joyful folk-pop anthem sung by Shahul Hameed and Minmini.

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