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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Peththi Sutta

From Sakthivel · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sakthivel1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppadhu yaaruWho will reach their hand in to take it?
Female
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppadhu yaaruWho will reach their hand in to take it?
Potti vechen adhukkuI have placed a challenge for it
Ethana per idhukkuHow many people are up for this?
Paethi kitta jeyippadhu yaaruWho will win against the granddaughter?
Male
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppavan naanaeI am the one who will reach in and take it
Paethi kitta jeyippenI will win against the granddaughter
Pottiyaiyum mudippenI will win the competition as well
Potti vechu paakkuradhum veenuSetting up a challenge to see is futile
Female
Thaalam ellaam pottuBeating the rhythm
Nee paadu enna paattuSing whatever song you want
Veeriyatha kaattuShow your strength
Un vettaiya thaan thookki kattuPack up your hunt and tie it tight
Female
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppadhu yaaruWho will reach their hand in to take it?
Potti vechen adhukkuI have placed a challenge for it
Ethana per idhukkuHow many people are up for this?
Paethi kitta jeyippadhu yaaruWho will win against the granddaughter?
Male
Maeni minukkiPolishing your appearance
Mmella mella thalukkiSwaying gently and gracefully
Thaenaa inikkira chinna kuyilaeLittle cuckoo that tastes sweet as honey
Aadi alukki alli yena kulukkiDancing, swaying, shaking and enchanting me
Enna izhukkura pulli mayilaeSpotted peacock pulling me towards you
Female
Neera kalakkiMuddying the water
Kuttaiya thaan kozhappiStirring up the pond
Meena pudichida thittam iduraYou plan to catch the fish
Aala asathi aasaiyathaan kelappiExhausting the man and stoking desire
Thola anachida vattamiduraYou circle around to embrace my shoulders
Male
Kadanaa vaangi ponaaIf you take a loan and leave
Adha udanae kodukkanumYou must return it immediately
Kanakkae paakka venaaNo need to calculate accounts
Nee enakkae irukkanumYou must belong only to me
Female
Adi aaththi aala paaruOh my, look at this person
Manasa usuppum pecha paaruLook at the speech that stirs the heart
Male
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppavan naanaeI am the one who will reach in and take it
Paethi kitta jeyippenI will win against the granddaughter
Pottiyaiyum mudippenI will win the competition as well
Potti vechu paakkuradhum veenuSetting up a challenge to see is futile
Female
Ponnu sirichaaIf a girl smiles
Pogailaiya virichaaOr spreads out tobacco leaves
Pochu ammammammaaIt is gone, oh dear me
Maanam thaanaeHonor is at stake
Chinnanjirusu punnupadum manasuYoung minds with wounded hearts
Nillu appa pappaa dhooram thaanaeWait, father and child, it is far away
Male
Thaena kozhachuMixing honey
Maambazhatha puzhinjuSqueezing ripe mangoes
Munnaal padachittu kanni mayilaeServing it in front, oh maiden peacock
Kai meedhu koduthuGiving it into the hand
Thinnaama thaduthaaIf you prevent eating it
Ennaalum nyaayam illae andhi veyilaeIt is never fair, oh evening sun
Female
Manasu elagi pochuThe heart has melted
Nee padicha paattulaIn the song that you sang
Elasum kirangi pochuThe young ones have gone swooning
On inikkum pechulaIn your sweet speech
Male
Adiyaathi aala paaruOh my, look at this person
Kolusa aattum kaala paaruLook at the leg shaking the anklet
Female
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppadhu yaaruWho will reach their hand in to take it?
Potti vechen adhukkuI have placed a challenge for it
Ethana per idhukkuHow many people are up for this?
Paethi kitta jeyippadhu yaaruWho will win against the granddaughter?
Male
Ada paethi sutta murukkuOh, the murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppavan naanaeI am the one who will reach in and take it
Paethi kitta jeyippenI will win against the granddaughter
Pottiyaiyum mudippenI will win the competition as well
Potti vechu paakkuradhum veenuSetting up a challenge to see is futile
Female
Thaalam ellaam pottuBeating the rhythm
Nee paadu enna paattuSing whatever song you want
Veeriyatha kaattuShow your strength
Un vettaiya thaan thookki kattuPack up your hunt and tie it tight
Female
Paethi sutta murukkuThe murukku fried by the granddaughter
Paathirathil irukkuIs inside the vessel
Kaiya vittu eduppadhu yaaruWho will reach their hand in to take it?
Potti vechen adhukkuI have placed a challenge for it
Ethana per idhukkuHow many people are up for this?
Paethi kitta jeyippadhu yaaruWho will win against the granddaughter?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Paethi Sutta Murukku' is a lively folk-style duet from the movie Sakthivel (1994), featuring lyrics written by the prolific Vaali. The song revolves around a playful, competitive banter between a young woman and her lover, structured metaphorically around a snack (murukku) baked by a 'granddaughter' and placed as a prize in a vessel. The male lead confidently asserts his capability to win her love and beat any challenge set before him. Throughout the song, rich rural imagery—such as muddying waters to catch fish, squeezed mangoes mixed with honey, and peacocks dancing—is used to represent romantic pursuit, tease each other, and express mutual attraction. The energetic refrain reinforces the playful rivalry and affection between the leads.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Paethi sutta murukku / Paathirathil irukku / Potti vechen adhukku

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Pa') in 'Paethi', 'Paathirathil', and 'Potti'.

Edugai (Rhyme)

Paethi sutta murukku / Paathirathil irukku

Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('thi' in 'Paethi' and 'thirathil').

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)

Paethi sutta murukku / Paathirathil irukku / Kaiya vittu eduppadhu yaaru

Using 'murukku' inside a pot as a playful metaphor for a prize or heart to be won in a romantic challenge.

Personification / Apostrophe

Enna izhukkura pulli mayilae

Addressing a young maiden directly as a peacock ('pulli mayilae', 'kanni mayilae') and cuckoo ('chinna kuyilae').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sakthivel' (1994) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and stars Selva and Kasthuri. The lyrics by Vaali are filled with authentic folk idioms and rhythmic wordplay characteristic of 90s Tamil rural cinema.

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