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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Seetu Kattu

From Iyarkai · 2003

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Karthik, Manikka Vinayagam
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Iyarkai2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adikka pattai irukku…uuu…There is liquor to drink...
Pudikka beedi irukku…There is a bidi to smoke...
Kulikka kadal irukku…uuuu….There is the ocean to bathe in...
Urangaaa…aa… arai irukku…There is a room to sleep...
Vidinju ezhundha paisa…Once morning comes, there is money...
Ada vilakku vachcha jalsa..aa…Hey, once lights are lit, there's a party...
Male
{Seettu kattu{Deck of cards
Seettu kattu namma vaazhkkadaaOur life is a deck of cards, my friend
Adhil konjam luck-uIn it, a little luck
Konjam budhi rendum irukkudaa} (2)And a little intelligence are both present} (2)
Male
Luck-u unakkirundhaIf you have luck
Nee vandha seetta jeippaeYou will win the card that comes your way
Budhi unakkirundhaIf you have intelligence
Nee vitta seetta jeippaeYou will win back the card you lost
Male
Ada seettu maari pona piragumHey, even after the card game changes
Jeyichchu kaattuvendaaI will prove myself by winning
Naan route-u maari vaazhndha bodhumEven though I lived taking a different route
Polandhu kattuvendaaI will tear it apart and win
Male
Seettu kattuDeck of cards
Seettu kattu……Deck of cards……
Hey…seettu kattuHey… deck of cards
Seettu kattu namma vaazhkkadaaOur life is a deck of cards, my friend
Adhil konjam luck-uIn it, a little luck
Konjam budhi rendum irukkudaaAnd a little intelligence are both present
Male
Kaadhal keedhal pannaadhappaaDon't do things like love, my friend
Kanneer vittu saagaadhappaaDon't shed tears and die, my friend
Buddhargalum sithargalumBuddhas and Siddhas
SonnaarappaaHave said this, my friend
Male
Kaadhal tholvi kanda nenjuA heart that has faced love failure
Kattaiyilum vegaadhappaaWon't even burn on the funeral pyre, my friend
Kaiyya kaala neetta venaamDon't stretch your hands and legs
SummaruppaaJust stay calm, my friend
Chorus
Paiyyodu venumadaaIn your bag, you need
Rokkam rokkamCash, cash
Kaiyyodu serumadaaIn your hand will join
Sorgam sorgamHeaven, heaven
Sevvaaikku budhankizhamaiWednesday is next to
Pakkam pakkamTuesday, side by side
Kai kaattu inbam vandhuJust show your hand, pleasure will come
Nikkum nikkumAnd stand right there
Male
Oru sattam ozhungilIn law and order
Vaazhum manushan yaarumA human who lives strictly by rules
IllaiyadaaIs not present anywhere, my friend
Ada sadhuramaana muttai podumLook, a hen that lays square eggs
Kozhi illaiyadaaDoes not exist, my friend
Male
Seettu kattuDeck of cards
Seettu kattu……Deck of cards……
Seettu kattuDeck of cards
Seettu kattu namma vaazhkkadaaOur life is a deck of cards, my friend
Adhil konjam luck-uIn it, a little luck
Konjam budhi rendum irukkudaaAnd a little intelligence are both present
Male
Seettu kattuDeck of cards
Seettu kattu namma vaazhkkadaaOur life is a deck of cards, my friend
Adhil konjam luck-uIn it, a little luck
Konjam budhi rendum irukkudaa (Dialogue)And a little intelligence are both present (Dialogue)
Male
Kuththaalaththil irundhaalumEven in Courtallam
Kulikkaadha kurangunduThere is a monkey that doesn't bathe
Sirikkaadha aalumA person who doesn't laugh
Indha ooril unduExists in this town too
Male
Joli joli konja neramWork for a little while
Jolly jolly konja neramFun for a little while
Rendum ingae illaadhavanAnyone here who lacks both
Mannil manduIs a dunce on this earth
Male
Innaikkae selavazhikkumSpend it all today
dabbu dabbuCash, cash
Naalaikku seththu vachchaSaving it for tomorrow is
Thappu thappuWrong, wrong
Padagin edhir thisaiyoThe direction opposite to the boat is
Therkku therkkuSouth, south
Vaazhvil inbamellaamAll the joy in life
Nokku nokuuLook towards it, look towards it
Male
Oru sattam ozhungilIn law and order
Vaazhum manushan yaarumA human who lives strictly by rules
IllaiyadaaIs not present anywhere, my friend
Ada sadhuramaana muttai podumLook, a hen that lays square eggs
Kozhi illaiyadaaDoes not exist, my friend
Male
Seettu kattuDeck of cards
Seettu kattu……Deck of cards……

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Seettu Kattu' from the movie Iyarkai is a philosophical, carefree song celebrating a bohemian and pragmatic approach to life. Comparing human life to a deck of cards, the lyrics emphasize that navigating life requires a balance of luck and intelligence. The song urges the listener to avoid falling into despair over love and to live fully in the present rather than stressing over rigid societal ideals, noting that absolute perfection in humans is as non-existent as a hen laying square eggs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Seettu kattu namma vaazhkkadaa

Life is directly compared to a deck of cards, where outcomes depend on a mix of luck and strategy.

Hyperbole / Analogy

Ada sadhuramaana muttai podum Kozhi illaiyadaa

The non-existence of a perfectly rule-abiding human is humorously compared to the impossibility of a hen laying square eggs.

Repetition / Epizeuxis

Rokkam rokkam

Words like 'rokkam' and 'sorgam' are repeated back-to-back for rhythmic emphasis and urgency.

Did you know?

Trivia

Iyarkai (2003), directed by S. P. Jananathan, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The film's soundtrack was composed by Vidyasagar, with lyrics for this track written by Na. Muthukumar and sung by Manikka Vinayagam.

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