Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sonna Petcha Kekkamattom

From Thalattu Ketkuthamma · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Minmini, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thalattu Ketkuthamma1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Urrrrr…..Urrrrr…
Thaanaa thanaThaanaa thana
Thandhanana thandhanana thaanaa oh hoiThandhanana thandhanana thaanaa oh hoi
Thaanaa thanaThaanaa thana
Thandhanana thandhanana thaanaa ah hoiThandhanana thandhanana thaanaa ah hoi
Thandhanana thandhananaa hoiThandhanana thandhananaa hoi
Thandhanana thandhanaa hoiThandhanana thandhanaa hoi
Thandhanana thandhananaThandhanana thandhanana
Thandhanana thandhanana naanaaThandhanana thandhanana naanaa
Female :Sabaash…Female: Bravo!
Chorus :Thakadhimi thom tharikida thomChorus: Rhythm beats thakadhimi thom tharikida thom
Tharikida thomTharikida thom
Female
Sonna paecha kaekka maattomWe will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Chorus :Sonna paecha kaekka maattomChorus: We will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Female
Naanga pudhusaa paatteduththuWe pick up new songs
Nittham paadum poonguruththuWe are young tender shoots who sing every day
Chorus
Ada kaatta suththi maetta suththiWandering around the forest and hills
Road-tta suththuvomWe roam around the roads
Vandhu maattikkitta kaadhukkellaamAnd to all the ears that get caught near us
Poovai suththuvomWe trick them playfully with sweet words
Chorus
Ada kaatta suththi maetta suththiWandering around the forest and hills
Road-tta suththuvomWe roam around the roads
Vandhu maattikkitta kaadhukkellaamAnd to all the ears that get caught near us
Poovai suththuvom hoiWe trick them playfully with sweet words, hoi!
Chorus
Sonna paechai kaekka maattomWe will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Female
Koodhalukku ongkooraiyilaeJust to warm ourselves against the chilly winter wind
Kulir kaaya theeya keeya vekka maattomWe won't set fire beneath your roof
Vekkirappo paarthuputtaaIf we get caught while setting it
Odhai vaanga onga kaiyil sikka maattomWe won't stay around to get beaten up by your hands
Chorus
Enga mael complaint onnaa rendaaAre complaints against us just one or two?
Undunnaa list yeduththu kondaa kondaaIf you have a list, bring it on, bring it on!
Female
Thalaimaela kudi thanneeSister Muniyakka carrying drinking water
Thookki varum muniyakkaaOn top of her head
Neenga kudikkum thanneeThe water you drink
Naanga kulicha thannikkaaIs the water we used to bathe!
Female
Adi en sakkalatthi unna…Hey my co-wife, you...
Chorus :Ada ulladhai sonnaaChorus: Oh, if you tell the truth
Ooru odhaikkum aiyappo saranamThe town will kick you, oh Lord Ayyappa preserve us!
Female
Sonna paecha kaekka maattomWe will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Chorus :Sonna paecha kaekka maattomChorus: We will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Female
Annaachikku setup thaan undunnuThat brother has an affair on the side
Anni kaadhil solla maattomWe won't tell sister-in-law in her ear
Anju pathu kaasu thandhaaIf you give us five or ten coins
On veettu pakkam naanga sella maattomWe won't even go near your house
Female
Anjula lanjam vaangu annae annaeAccept a bribe at age five, brother, brother!
Female :Annae…Female: Brother...
Female :Aimbadhil mandhiri aagu sonnaen sonnaenFemale: Become a minister at fifty, I told you, I told you!
Chorus
Pattaasu polaththaanLike firecrackers
Paechai konjam kaettukkoListen to our words for a moment
Mittaayi polaththaanLike sweet candies
Kaadhil vaangi pottukkoTake them into your ears
Urrr….ada ulladha sonnaaUrrr... oh, if you tell the truth
Ooru odhaikkum aiyappo saranamThe town will kick you, oh Lord Ayyappa preserve us!
Female
Sonna paecha kaekka maattomWe will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Naanga pudhusaa paatteduththuWe pick up new songs
Nittham paadum poonguruththuWe are young tender shoots who sing every day
Chorus
Ada kaatta suththi maetta suththiWandering around the forest and hills
Road-tta suththuvomWe roam around the roads
Vandhu maattikkitta kaadhukkellaamAnd to all the ears that get caught near us
Poovai suththuvomWe trick them playfully with sweet words
Chorus
Ada kaatta suththi maetta suththiWandering around the forest and hills
Road-tta suththuvomWe roam around the roads
Vandhu maattikkitta kaadhukkellaamAnd to all the ears that get caught near us
Poovai suththuvom hoiWe trick them playfully with sweet words, hoi!
Chorus
Sonna paechai kaekka maattomWe will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattomWe will not commit any wrongdoing
Sonna paechai kaekka maattomWe will not listen to what we are told
Oru thappu thandaa panna maattom…..We will not commit any wrongdoing...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful, high-energy folk song presents a group of rebellious, carefree village youths expressing their mischievous philosophy of life. They openly declare that while they refuse to follow rules or listen to advice, they do not commit real harm or serious crime. Instead, they sing daily, roam the hills and roads, tease gullible townspeople with tall tales, and poke harmless fun at village authority figures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Pattaasu polaththaan / Mittaayi polaththaan

Comparing words to firecrackers ('Pattaasu polaththaan') and sweet candies ('Mittaayi polaththaan') to emphasize their explosive yet sweet nature.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ada kaatta suththi maetta suththi

Rhyming second consonants across adjacent lines ('kaatta' and 'maetta').

Metaphor / Idiom

Vandhu maattikkitta kaadhukkellaam / Poovai suththuvom

'Poovai suththuvom' (literally 'wrapping flowers around ears') is a popular Tamil idiom meaning to fool or bamboozle someone.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1991 Tamil film 'Thalattu Ketkuthamma', directed by Raj Kapoor and starring Prabhu and Kanaka. Lyricist Vaali uses colloquial village slang and rhythmic folk meters to convey the playful nature of rural youth.

Keep listening

More from Thalattu Ketkuthamma