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Lyrics & meaning

Pattapagal

From Veera Thalattu · 1998

Lyricist
Kasthuri Raja
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Swarnalatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Veera Thalattu1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Patta pagal nerathulaIn the broad daylight,
Singaarichu minukki vanthaaIf you come dolled up and glowing,
Kaadu kara vela aagumaWill the field and farm work get done?
Ada naachi muthuOh Naachimuthu,
Pombalaikku nyaayamaagumaIs this fair for a woman?
Male
Hey patta pagal nerathulaHey, in the broad daylight,
Singaarichu minukki vanthaaIf you come dolled up and glowing,
Kaadu kara vela aagumaWill the field and farm work get done?
Ada naachi muthuOh Naachimuthu,
Pombalaikku nyaayamaagumaIs this fair for a woman?
Female
Akkam pakkam kannu pottuGlancing around left and right,
Aasaiyathaan alaiya vittuLetting desires wander about,
Male :Eppadi eppadiMale: How is that, how is that?
Female
Akkam pakkam kannu pottuGlancing around left and right,
Aasaiyathaan alaiya vittuLetting desires wander about,
Pombalaiya paakkuravugaThose who look at women like that...
Male :Adi aaththiMale: Oh my goodness!
Female
Meesa mela kaiya pottuPlacing a hand on the mustache,
Rosamaaga murukki kittuTwirling it with pride,
Aambalainu peethalaagumaIs it right to boast about being a man?
Ada pechiammaOh Pechiamma,
Sabala buththi vittu pogumaaWill fickle desires ever leave?
Paliya mattum enga mela podalaagumaIs it fair to just put the blame on us?
Male
Purushan kitta konji pesaTo cuddle and talk with your husband,
Veedu vaasal illaiyaaIs there no home and doorstep?
Female :Nerangetta nerathulaFemale: At an odd hour,
Neenga mattum vallaiyaaDidn't you also come?
Male
Ada vetti pechu pesa venamHey, don't talk idle gossip,
Pozhuthu saayuthu ikllaiyaaIsn't the sun setting already?
Female :Raathirikku kitta vandhaaFemale: When coming close at night,
Appa theriyavillaiyaaDidn't you realize it then?
Male
Vela vetti seiyalainnaIf we don't do hard labor,
Payiru pakka velaiyalainnaIf the crops do not grow well,
Sothu sugam vanthu serumaaWill prosperity and comfort arrive?
Ada naachimuthu mathathu ellaamOh Naachimuthu, will everything else,
Odi pogumaJust run away?
Female
Kitta vandhu konja neramComing close for a little while,
Thottu pesavillaingaWe didn't touch and talk!
Male :Etti ninnu paartha pothumMale: Looking from a distance,
Ekku thappa sollalainngaDon't speak inappropriately!
Female
Naanga onnum singaarichuWe didn't dress up fancy,
Aal mayakka vallaingaTo entice or charm anyone!
Male :Naanga kooda velai kettuMale: We didn't come around,
Suthi suthi vallaingaAsking for work, wandering around!
Female
Velai velainnu solliSaying work, work all the time,
Pondaatiya kaakka vechuMaking the wife wait endlessly,
Female
Mm…velai velainnu solliMm... saying work, work all the time,
Pondaatiya kaakka vechuMaking the wife wait endlessly,
Sambaaricha mattum podhumaIs it enough to just earn money?
{Adi pechiyamma kaasu panamOh Pechiamma, can cash and wealth,
Kudumbam aaguma} (2)Ever make a loving family?
Male
Adi ippathaandi unmaiOh, only now the truth,
Purinjuchu pondaati thaayaeHas been understood, my dear wife,
Unnaala thaan buththi vandhuchuOnly because of you did good sense return!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-style duet features playful banter between a husband and wife working in rural agricultural fields. The song begins with friendly teasing about dressing up during working hours and letting romantic distractions interfere with agricultural labor. The conversation shifts as both partners exchange humorous arguments about manhood, female vanity, hard work, and romantic affection. As the song progresses, the dialogue deepens into a meaningful message about marital balance. The wife reminds the husband that while hard work and money are necessary to sustain a household, spending time together and nurturing love are equally vital. The husband ultimately realizes his mistake, acknowledging that wealth alone cannot build a true family, concluding with affection and mutual understanding.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Patta pagal nerathula

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'p' across adjacent words ('Patta pagal').

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Akkam pakkam kannu pottu

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'kk' across consecutive lines ('Akkam' and 'Eppadi').

Conversational Folk Structure (Santham)

Purushan kitta konji pesa

Rhythmic call-and-response pattern typical of Tamil village folk work songs (Ettappattu / Karagattam style).

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were written by Kasthuri Raja, known for his rustic rural storytelling and folk-influenced songwriting in Tamil cinema. 'Veera Thalattu' (1998) stars Murali, Rajkiran, and Vineetha, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

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