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Isaimozhi
Illam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Puttu Puttu Vaikkattuma

From Illam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Illam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
27 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Gamagam gamagamaa pudikkattumaa
Swaratha pirichu thaan odhukkattumaa
Indha mayiluchaami gownder enna kokkaa
Andha kuyilu kural janaki engakkaa
Indha mayiluchaami gownder enna kokkaa
Andha kuyilu kural janaki engakkaa
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Thottaa erangavae erangaadhu
Raagam thappaa thaalam
Vittaa maelum keezhum padiyaadhu
Idhu muttaa payalukku pudikkaadhu
Paatta ippo kaettaa
Vittu poga kooda mudiyaadhu
Thappaa paada maatten
Ippodhu em paatta kaettukko
Vittu poga maatten
Thaalatta pottu paathukko
Ponnaalum pogaadhu
Raagam baavam thaalam saethu
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
…………………………
Suthi varugudhu en paattu
Melae summaa kelu idha pootti poda aal yaedhu
Kammaa karaiyilum varum paattu
Veedu city road namma naadu engum nee kelu
Maedai yaera poren
Munnaala okkaandhu kettukko
Varnam paada poren
Poo maala ponnaada porthikko
Eppodhum nikkaadhu potti paattu paadi paaru
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Gamagam gamagamaa pudikkattumaa
Swaratha pirichu thaan odhukkattumaa
Indha mayiluchaami gownder enna kokkaa
Andha kuyilu kural janaki engakkaa
Indha mayiluchaami gownder enna kokkaa
Andha kuyilu kural janaki engakkaa
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa
Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Shall I capture the rich fragrant melody?
Shall I separate the notes and arrange them neatly?
Is this Mayilusaami Gounder an easy target?
That cuckoo-voiced Janaki is my elder sister!
Is this Mayilusaami Gounder an easy target?
That cuckoo-voiced Janaki is my elder sister!
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Once touched, it will not come down at all
If rhythm and melody go wrong
If left alone, it won't settle up or down
A foolish guy won't appreciate this
If you listen to this song now
You won't even be able to walk away
I will not sing out of tune
Listen to my song right now
I won't leave you and go
Play a lullaby and see for yourself
Even as time passes, it won't fade away
Combining melody, emotion, and rhythm
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
………………………………………………
My song circles around everywhere
Just listen further, who is there to lock this away?
The song echoes even along the lake banks
Homes, city roads, across our whole land, you listen
I am going to step onto the stage
Sit right in front and listen
I am going to sing a Varnam
Adorn me with a flower garland and a golden shawl
It never stops, try singing a song in competition
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Shall I capture the rich fragrant melody?
Shall I separate the notes and arrange them neatly?
Is this Mayilusaami Gounder an easy target?
That cuckoo-voiced Janaki is my elder sister!
Is this Mayilusaami Gounder an easy target?
That cuckoo-voiced Janaki is my elder sister!
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Shall I break it down piece by piece?
Shall I tear it apart and stitch it back together?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic song from the movie Illam is a playful, folk-infused celebration of music and vocal prowess. The singer humorously boasts about their deep musical understanding, mastery over ragas, rhythm, and swaras, while playfully asserting that their music is far too captivating for anyone to walk away from once heard.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Andha kuyilu kural janaki engakkaa

Comparing S. Janaki's sweet voice to that of a cuckoo (kuyilu kural).

Rhetorical Question / Idiomatic Expression

Indha mayiluchaami gownder enna kokkaa

Using the colloquial phrase 'enna kokkaa' (am I an ordinary crane?) to assert superiority and pride.

Onomatopoeia / Sensory Imagery

Gamagam gamagamaa pudikkattumaa

Using 'gamagam gamagamaa' to associate musical beauty with a rich, blooming fragrance.

Rhyme (Edhukai / Iyaibu)

Puttu puttu vaikkattumaa / Pichipputtu thaikkattumaa

Consistent rhyming verb endings '-attumaa' across consecutive lines to build a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics directly pay tribute to the legendary playback singer S. Janaki ('kuyilu kural Janaki engakkaa'). The film Illam (1988) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran.

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Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.