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Lyrics & meaning

Seettu Kattu Raja

From Vettaikaaran (1964) Film · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Vettaikaaran (1964) Film1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Seettu kattu raaja raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Ingae thirumbi paaru laesa laesaLook back here just a little bit.
Male
Ootti malai roja rojaOoty mountain rose,
Unnai paarkkalaamo laesa laesaCan I look at you just a little bit?
Female
Seettu kattu raaja raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Ingae thirumbi paaru lae..sa laesaLook back here just a little bit.
Male
Ootti malai roja rojaOoty mountain rose,
Unnai paarkkalaamo laesa laesaCan I look at you just a little bit?
Female
Seettu kattu raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Aaa haa haa haaAaa haa haa haa
Male :Hmm mm mmmMale: Hmm mm mmm
Female
Kottu melam kottum munnaeBefore the wedding drums start beating,
Thottu pesalaagumaaIs it proper to touch and speak?
Kovam kondaal un udambuIf you get angry, do you know
Ennavaagum theriyumaaWhat will happen to your health?
Female
Kottu melam kottum munnaeBefore the wedding drums start beating,
Thottu pesalaagumaaIs it proper to touch and speak?
Kovam kondaal un udambuIf you get angry, do you know
Ennavaagum theriyumaaWhat will happen to your health?
Male
Katta pogum purushan konjamIf the husband-to-be touches you a little,
Thottaal enna dhoshamaaIs there any fault or sin in that?
Kai pattadhukkum paarthadhukkumFor mere touch and glance,
Bathrakaali veshamaaWhy assume the fierce avatar of Goddess Bhadrakali?
Kai pattadhukkum paarthadhukkumFor mere touch and glance,
Bathrakaali veshamaaWhy assume the fierce avatar of Goddess Bhadrakali?
Kai pattadhukkum paarthadhukkumFor mere touch and glance,
Bathrakaali veshamaaWhy assume the fierce avatar of Goddess Bhadrakali?
Female
Seettu kattu raaja raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Ingae thirumbi paaru laesaLook back here just a little,
Lae lae lae laesaA little, little, little.
Male
Ootti malai roja rojaOoty mountain rose,
Unnai paarkkalaamo laesaCan I look at you just a little,
Lae lae lae laesaA little, little, little?
Female
Seettu kattu raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Aa…aaa…haa…Aa…aaa…haa…
Male :Aahaa… haa… aa…Male: Aahaa… haa… aa…
Female
Odamba konjam thaethikkoImprove your health a bit,
Panatha konjam saerthukkoSave up some money,
Male
Adutha maasam paathukkoLet us see next month,
Alli thaaraen vaangikkoI will give generously, take it!
Female
Odamba konjam thaethikkoImprove your health a bit,
Panatha konjam saerthukkoSave up some money,
Male
Adutha maasam paathukkoLet us see next month,
Alli thaaraen vaangikkoI will give generously, take it!
Female
Sabaash sabaash maappillaeBravo, bravo, bridegroom!
Ippa thaan nee aambilaeNow you are truly a man!
Male
Thani thaniyaa nadandhu vandhomWe walked here separately,
Saerndhu povom veettilaeLet us return home together!
Female
Sabaash sabaash maappillaeBravo, bravo, bridegroom!
Ippa thaan nee aambilaeNow you are truly a man!
Hoi sabaash sabaash maappillaeHoi bravo, bravo, bridegroom!
Ippa thaan nee aambilaeNow you are truly a man!
Male
Aamaa… sabaash sabaash maappillaeYes… bravo, bravo, bridegroom!
Ippa thaan nee aambilaeNow you are truly a man!
Female
Seettu kattu raaja raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Ingae thirumbi paaru laesaLook back here just a little,
Lae lae lae laesaA little, little, little.
Male
Ootti malai roja rojaOoty mountain rose,
Unnai paarkkalaamo laesaCan I look at you just a little,
Lae lae lae laesaA little, little, little?
Female
Seettu kattu raajaKing of the deck of cards,
Aa…aaa…haa…Aa…aaa…haa…
Male :Aahaa… haa… aa…Male: Aahaa… haa… aa…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a charming, lighthearted romantic banter between a couple. The heroine teases the hero by calling him the king of playing cards, while he admiringly compares her to a rose from the Ooty hills. Their dialogue touches upon traditional boundaries before marriage, teasing about touch and temperaments, and humorously setting conditions for wedding preparations like saving money and getting healthy before tying the knot.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Ootti malai roja roja

Comparing the hero to 'Seettu kattu raaja' (King of playing cards) and the heroine to 'Ootti malai roja' (Rose of Ooty mountains).

Alliteration & Rhyme (Eshai / Anuprasam)

Kottu melam kottum munnae

Repetition of sound patterns in 'Kottu melam kottum munnae / Thottu pesalaagumaa' creating a bouncy, rhythmic meter.

Hyperbole (Ushana Alangaram)

Bathrakaali veshamaa

Comparing mild female anger or hesitation to taking the fierce avatar of 'Bathrakaali'.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the classic 1964 Tamil film 'Vettaikaaran' starring M. G. Ramachandran and Saroja Devi, with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics written by Kannadasan. The track is renowned for its lively rhythm and playful vocal renditions by A. L. Raghavan and L. R. Eswari.

Keep listening

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