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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Padikattuma

From Veera Thalattu · 1998

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Veera Thalattu1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Anjila onnariyumKnowing one out of five,
Naan ariyaatha chinna pullaI am an innocent young girl who doesn't know much,
Male :YammaaMale: Oh my!
Female :HeheheheFemale: Hehehehe
Female
Pathula rendariyumKnowing two out of ten,
Naan pazhagaadha pachcha pullaI am an inexperienced, naive girl,
Male :AamaaththaaMale: Yes, mother!
Female :Haan…Female: Haan...
Male :Illa illa paattu superunnenMale: No no, I said the song is super!
Female :HaanFemale: Haan
Female
Vaathiyaara paarthathillaI haven't seen a school teacher,
Male :AaaMale: Aaa
Female :Vakkanaiyaa padichathillaFemale: The words spoken by elders,
Male :AaaI have stayed awake and listened to,
Female :Moothavaga sonna sollaMmm ah my mmhahahha
Muzhichirunthu kettirukkenShall I sing? Shall I sing?
Female
Mmm ada da mmhahahhaLifting up and tuning,
Female
Padikattuma padikattumaA song from the southern direction,
EduthukattiShall I compose? Shall I compose?
Thekku dhisa paattu onnuBinding it tightly,
Female
Thodukkattuma thodukkattumaA rustic village melody,
Izhuthu kattiA desire inside my heart,
Pattikkaattu raagam onnuThere is one,
Female
Manasukkulla aasaiThe time to express it,
Onnu irukkuIs right here,
Eduthu solla neramMy song,
Ingu irukkuDoes it come through the wind, does it come?
Female
En paattuInto your ear, love itself,
Kaathu vazhi varudha varudhaDoes it tell? Does it tell?
On kaadhil kaadhala thaanBlack soil land... a hut house,
Solludhaa solludhaaWe must take shelter when twilight dims,
Female
Karisa kaadu…kudisa veeduShall I sing? Shall I sing?
Masangum neram odhunga venumLifting up and tuning,
Female
Padikattuma padikattumaA song from the southern direction,
EduthukattiShall I compose? Shall I compose?
Thekku dhisa paattu onnuBinding it tightly,
Female
Thodukkattuma thodukkattumaA rustic village melody,
Izhuthu katti{At the doorstep during morning time,
Pattikkaattu raagam onnuWhen drawing a kolam pattern,
Female
{Vaasalil kaala neramMy beloved's name becomes visible...} (2)
Kolam pottaReeds by the river bank,
Maaman peru theriyudhu…uuu} (2)And wild thorns inside them,
Female
Aaththoram naanappulluBrushing against my ankle,
Adhukkulla seema mulluCaused a small wound,
Kanukkaalil mela pattuOn the pretext of a thorn prick,
Siru kaayam aayiruchuI lean upon my beloved,
Female
Mullu thecha saakkulaI lie down in a dizzy spell,
En maaman mela saayurenIs there a spell for this,
Mayakkama kedakkurenOr some magic at work?
Idhukku oru mandhiramoShall I sing? Shall I sing?
Maayamo irukkaLifting up and tuning,
Female
Padikattuma padikattumaA song from the southern direction,
EduthukattiShall I compose? Shall I compose?
Thekku dhisa paattu onnuBinding it tightly,
Female
Thodukkattuma thodukkattumaA rustic village melody,
Izhuthu katti{In the threshing floor, ragi ears,
Pattikkaattu raagam onnuWhile winnowing, my beloved's,
Female
{Kalathula keppakarudhuLonging arises} (2)
Thoothum bodhu maamanIn the middle of the midnight hour,
Yekkam thonudhu} (2)I stayed awake longing for you,
Female
Nadu saama nerathulaAs gusty winds blew continuously,
Unakkaaga muzhichirunthenA heavy seasonal rain fell,
Saramaaga kaathadichiFloods rush and leap,
Ganamaana kaala mazhaiMy eyes search for you,
Female
Vellam thulli paayudhuMy whole body trembles,
En kannu unna theduthuAs youth arrives and stirs up trouble,
Udambellaam padharuthuTightening my heart,
Vayasu vandhu vambhu panniShall I sing? Shall I sing?
Murukkudhu manasuLifting up and tuning,
Female
Padikattuma padikattumaA song from the southern direction,
EduthukattiShall I compose? Shall I compose?
Thekku dhisa paattu onnuBinding it tightly,
Female
Thodukkattuma thodukkattumaA rustic village melody,
Izhuthu kattiA desire inside my heart,
Pattikkaattu raagam onnuThere is one,
Female
Manasukkulla aasaiThe time to express it,
Onnu irukkuIs right here,
Eduthu solla neramMy song,
Ingu irukkuDoes it come through the wind, does it come?
Female
En paattuInto your ear, love itself,
Kaathu vazhi varudha varudhaDoes it tell? Does it tell?
On kaadhil kaadhala thaanBlack soil land... a hut house,
Solludhaa solludhaaWe must take shelter when twilight dims,
Female
Karisa kaadu…kudisa veeduShall I sing? Shall I sing?
Masangum neram odhunga venumLifting up and tuning,
Female
Padikattuma padikattumaA song from the southern direction,
EduthukattiShall I compose? Shall I compose?
Thekku dhisa paattu onnuBinding it tightly,
Female
Thodukkattuma thodukkattumaA rustic village melody
Izhuthu katti
Pattikkaattu raagam onnu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-infused romantic song expresses the playful, candid emotions of a rural girl singing about her budding love and desires. She acknowledges her lack of formal education, stating that her wisdom comes directly from the oral traditions and life lessons passed down by village elders. Through folk metaphors—such as drawing threshold patterns (kolam), getting pricked by thorns on riverbanks, and winnowing grain in harvest fields—she describes her subtle flirtations and growing passion for her beloved uncle/suitor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Padikattuma padikattuma / Thodukkattuma thodukkattuma

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Padikattuma' and 'Thodukkattuma', creating a rhythmic bounce characteristic of Tamil folk poetry.

Monaayi (Alliteration)

Kaathu vazhi varudha varudha / On kaadhil kaadhala thaan

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Kaathal' and 'Kaathu', enhancing melodic flow.

Metaphor / Folk Imagery

Mullu thecha saakkula / En maaman mela saayuren

Uses agricultural and domestic rural imagery—such as ragi winnowing, river reeds, and morning kolams—to symbolize romantic longing and playful excuses to lean on her beloved.

Did you know?

Trivia

Veera Thalattu (1998) was directed by Kasthuri Raja, who also wrote the lyrics for songs in the film. The movie starred Murali, Vineeth, and Kushboo, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

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