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Lyrics & meaning

Pattikada Pattanamma

From Maattukara Velan · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Maattukara Velan1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Durrrr……….rrrr…..Durrrr.... rrr... (cattle call sound)
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Female
Aattam paarthuBy watching the dance moves,
Nottam paarthuBy observing the sharp glares,
Aalai mudivu kattanumaaShould one judge a person's true character?
Pattikaada ….pattanamaIs it a village... or a city...
Rendunkettaan ….letchanamaaIs it a confused... halfway character...
Female
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Female
{Indha maama nethu varai{This uncle was just a cowherd until yesterday, girl,
Maatukaaran thaandiIndeed a cowherd, girl!
Ippo thaan maa coatum suitumOnly now has he arrived wearing a coat and suit,
Maati vanthaaraandi} (2)Put on a suit and arrived, girl!} (2)
Female
Paakalaama kitta vandhaShall we see if you come close,
Mookum muzhiyum thondiPiercing through nose and eyes?
Paakalaama kitta vandhaShall we see if you come close,
Mookum muzhiyum thondiPiercing through nose and eyes?
Female
Ithu kaangeyam kaalaiyadiThis is a fierce Kangeyam bull, dear girl!
Thumba vittu ..vaala pudiYou let go of the rope, now try catching the tail!
Ethukka ninna muttumadiIf you stand in opposition, it will gore you!
Kaoyatha pottu kattungadiTie up your anger properly, girls!
Female
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Aattam paarthuBy watching the dance moves,
Nottam paarthuBy observing the sharp glares,
Aalai mudivu kattanumaaShould one judge a person's true character?
Pattikaada ….pattanamaIs it a village... or a city...
Rendunkettaan ….letchanamaaIs it a confused... halfway character...
Female
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Male
Ennai maamaanu koopidugiraOh young women calling me 'uncle',
Mangaiyarae vaarumammaaPlease come here, ladies!
Yemaantha sonagiri yaarunnuWho is the easily fooled, gullible person here?
Paarum amma paarum ammaLook and see, ladies, look and see!
Durrrr….rrr..ah …durrruuDurrrr.... rrr... ah... durrruu...
Male
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Male
Aattam paarthuBy watching the dance moves,
Nottam paarthuBy observing the sharp glares,
Aalai mudivu kattanumaaShould one judge a person's true character?
Pattikaada ….pattanamaIs it a village... or a city...
Rendunkettaan ….letchanamaaIs it a confused... halfway character...
Male
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Durrrr…..rrr……durrruu…Durrrr..... rrr...... durrruu...
Male
{Amma neenga kunijiruntha{Madam, if you bend down,
Kuttu poduvingaYou will rap someone on the head;
Summa vaanga kodukattumaCome quietly, shall I give you one
Kannam rendum veenga} (2)So both your cheeks swell up?} (2)
Male
Aiyae yenga collegeukkuHey, to our college
Poninngala thoongaDid you go just to sleep?
Yenga collegeukkuTo our college
Poninngala thoongaDid you go just to sleep?
Male
Ada PUC Bsc, Msc, SSLCHey, PUC, B.Sc., M.Sc., SSLC...
ABC theriyumaaDo you even know the ABCs?
Eduthu chonna puriyumaaIf explained, will you understand?
Male
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Male
{Thatti ketka aal illatha{Are you young girls with no one to discipline you?
Kuttigal thaanoAre you just unruly girls?
Verum vetti pechuJust empty idle talk,
Patti vaayil suttigal thaano} (2)Are you mischievous kids with chatterbox mouths?} (2)
Male
{Marathai vittu{Leaving the trees
Nilathil vanthaAnd coming down to the ground,
Manthigal thaanoo} (2)Are you monkeys?} (2)
Neenga mooku veluthuYou whose noses turn pale
Naakku neenda piravigal thaanoAnd tongues grow long, are you creatures like that?
Male
Ada kaalu arai mukkaHey, quarter, half, three-quarters,
Mulusu …Full...
Edatha paarthu ninnukanumStand according to the worth of the place!
Ethukka ninna muttikanumIf you stand opposed, we will lock horns and fight!
Male
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?
Aattam paarthuBy watching the dance moves,
Nottam paarthuBy observing the sharp glares,
Aalai mudivu kattanumaaShould one judge a person's true character?
Pattikaada ….pattanamaIs it a village... or a city...
Rendunkettaan ….letchanamaaIs it a confused... halfway character...
Female
Pattikaada pattanamaIs it a village or a city?
Rendunkettaan letchanamaaIs it a confused, halfway character?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pattikaada Pattanama is a playful, high-energy confrontation song from the 1970 Tamil film Maattukara Velan. In this scene, the protagonist Velan (played by M.G. Ramachandran), a village cattle herder dressed up in modern suit attire, responds to urban, modern women who attempt to mock his rural roots. Through witty rhymes, cattle-herding calls, and sharp retorts, Velan questions their superficiality and challenges their assumptions about city life versus village culture. He asserts that true character cannot be evaluated merely by clothing or dance moves, comparing himself to an untamable Kangeyam bull that will lock horns with anyone who disrespects rural integrity. The song playfully critiques empty westernization and arrogance while celebrating native pride and wisdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ithu kaangeyam kaalaiyadi

The protagonist compares himself to a 'Kangeyam Kaalai' (a famous breed of strong Tamil Nadu bull) to emphasize his untamable native strength and pride.

Onomatopoeia

Durrrr……….rrrr…..

The song begins and uses cattle-herding calls like 'Durrrr... rrr...' to instantly establish the cowherd persona and add rhythmic flavor.

Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Pattikaada pattanama

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' creates a musical beat across words in the opening line.

Metaphor / Sarcasm

Marathai vittu Nilathil vantha Manthigal thaanoo

Comparing arrogant, idle chatterboxes to monkeys coming down from trees to mock their unruly behavior.

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Trivia

trivia

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