Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pattu Onna

From Kumbakarai Thangaiah · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kumbakarai Thangaiah1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………….....
Chorus :……………………..Chorus: ...
Female
Paattu onna izhukkuthaDoes a song pull you in?
Chorus :Aama aamaChorus: Yes, yes
Female :Adha kettu… nenjam mayangudhaFemale: Hearing it... does the heart get swooned?
Chorus :Aama aamaChorus: Yes, yes
Female :Enna pootti pudichi vekkaFemale: There is no caged parrot to lock me up,
Koottu kiliyum illaNor a wild cuckoo...
Kaattu kuyilum illa…Upon hearing it, doesn't it make one dizzy?
Ketta kiranguthillaThantha nantha nantha naa
Thantha nantha nantha naaDoes a song pull you in?
Female
Paattu onna izhukkuthaChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaFemale: Hearing it... does the heart get swooned?
Female :Adha kettu… nenjam mayangudhaChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaI am the one who bathed in the flowing Vaigai river,
Female
Neerodum vaigaiyila neeraanavaI am the majestic chariot walking upright,
Nimindhu nadandhu vandha theraanavaI am the dignified one who keeps her word,
Maaraatha vaakku sollum seeraanavaI am the unique root that no medicine can match,
Maruthu evarum sonna veraanavaRed screw-pine flowers are lovely...
Female
Senthaazhampoo nallaarukkum…Will the touching thorn prick?
Thotta mullu kuthaathaWhether coming or going,
Vandhaalum than ponaalum thaanDoes the beetle-like eye spin around?
Vanda kannu suthaathaI am an unpicked guava fruit, my dear girl,
Koiyaatha koiya kani naanthaanadiMany men everywhere long to celebrate me,
Kondaada yengum pala aan thaanadiAcross seven villages... where is a woman like me?
Yezh oorilum… en pola.. pen yedhuWhere... tell me... woman, right now!
Engae… sollu… pennae ippodhuO song-singing cuckoo!
Male
Paattu… padikkum kuyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaMale: Stop your song, o stylish one!
Male :Un paatta nippaattu oyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaMale: I will lock you up...
Male :Pootti… pudichi vaippen…My house parrot, I will lock you up,
Veettu kiliyae onnaChasing you into the forest and giving you two...
Kaattil thorathi rendu…I will make you swoon with affection!
Pottu kiranga vaippenThantha nantha nantha naa
Thantha nantha nantha naaO song-singing cuckoo!
Male
Paattu… padikkum kuyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaMale: Stop your song, o stylish one!
Male :Un paatta nippaattu oyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaHey deceitful woman, look at her,
Male
Hey pithaarakalli ivala konjam paaruIf she touches you, mud sticks to your body!
Iva thotta odambil ottikollum seruDeceitful woman, look at her,
Pithaarakalli ivala konjam paaruIf she touches you, mud sticks to your body!
Iva thotta odambil ottikollum seruIs she a cactus thorn... or a non-stinging small scorpion?
Kathaala mulluthaanaa… illa kottaadha siru thaelaThanthaana parrot... thanthaana parrot... thantha naa
Thanthaana kili… thanthaana kili… thantha naaAh, thanthaana parrot... thanthaana parrot thantha naa
Ada thanthaana kili… thanthaana kili thantha naaGrrrrr... grrrrr...
Male
Urrrrr…..urrrrrr….Are you the queen of Southern Madurai?
Nee enna thenmadhura arasaaniyaAre you Queen Alli come in reality?
Nesamaaga vanthirukkum alli raaniyaDo not walk around filled with ego, my lady,
Naan endra ennam kondu nadakkaathammaIt won't work with Thangaiah when you walk like that!
Nadantha thangaiya kitta nadakkaathammaDon't utter nonexistent wicked things to everyone,
Male
Illaadhadha pollaadhadha ellaarukkum sollaadhaHey woman, don't jump around needlessly here and there!
Yemma yemma summa summa angae ingae thullaadhaTo be born as a woman is a great fortune,
Pennaaga vandhaalae perum baakkiyamOur ancestors spoke a wise saying, dear,
Munnorgal sonnaaradi oru vaakkiyamBecause of a talkative woman like you,
Vaayaadiyae… om polae.. pennaalaeA woman's honor dims automatically!
Pennin… pugazh… mangum thaannaalaeO song-singing cuckoo!
Male
Paattu… padikkum kuyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaMale: Stop your song, o stylish one!
Male :Un paatta nippaattu oyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaMale: I will lock you up...
Male :Pootti… pudichi vaippen…My house parrot, I will lock you up,
Veettu kiliyae onnaChasing you into the forest and giving you two...
Kaattil thorathi rendu…I will make you swoon with affection!
Pottu kiranga vaippenThantha nantha nantha naa
Thantha nantha nantha naaO song-singing cuckoo!
Male
Paattu… padikkum kuyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aamaMale: Stop your song, o stylish one!
Male :Un paatta nippaattu oyilaeChorus: Yes, yes
Chorus :Aama aama

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful, banter-filled duet set in a rural context. The female protagonist boastfully sings about her beauty, pride, independence, and captivating charm, comparing herself to an untouchable fruit and a majestic chariot along the Vaigai river. The chorus continuously echoes agreement to her playful statements.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Koiyaatha koiya kani naanthaanadi

The female speaker compares herself to an unpicked fruit ('Koiyaatha koiya kani') and a wild cuckoo ('Kaattu kuyil'), symbolizing her untamed beauty and independence.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhukai / Monai)

Neerodum vaigaiyila neeraanava / Nimindhu nadandhu vandha theraanava

Second-letter rhyming (Edhukai) is seen in lines like 'Neerodum', 'Nimindhu', 'Maaraatha', 'Maruthu', establishing a smooth rhythmic flow typical of folk lyrics.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track features playful folk rhythm patterns ('Thanthaana kili') typical of South Tamil Nadu rural folk duets, highlighting competitive banter between male and female leads.

Keep listening

More from Kumbakarai Thangaiah