Sottu Sottai
From Varnajalam · 2004
- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singer
- Mathangi
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Varnajalam2004
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sottu sottu sottu sottaai | Drop by drop, bit by bit |
| Pulli vaithaai | You placed dots |
| Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai | Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep? |
| Veetukullae vida cholli kettu paarthaai | You asked to be allowed inside the house and tried |
| Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai | When refused, you scolded endlessly like thunder |
| Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..oh wow | Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..oh wow |
| Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa.. | Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa.. |
| Female | |
| Oh vaanathin deepavaligal | Oh, the festival of lights in the sky |
| Paarthaen paarthenae | I saw, I saw! |
| Nerathin thaenbavanigal ketten kettenae | I listened and listened to the sweet procession of time |
| Kettenae……. | I listened... |
| Female | |
| Nadhigalin kathakali | The Kathakali dance of the rivers |
| Maragadha vayalveli | The emerald-green crop fields |
| Paarthen indru ..paarthen indru | Today I saw, today I saw |
| Alaigalai kaayamaai | Seeing the waves turn into wound-like folds |
| Murukidum kadalidam | from the twisting ocean |
| Kanden kanden kavidhai ondru | I saw, I saw a piece of poetry |
| Female | |
| Poovil naettru thaalpaal pottu | Should I steal the honey that slept |
| Thoongum thaenae thirudidavaa | locked inside the flower yesterday? |
| Vaayai vaayai moodi thirenthae | Opening and closing your mouth, |
| Pesum meenae badhil tharava | talking fish, shall I give an answer? |
| Thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae | Thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae |
| Mayil thoghai mayil thoghai | Peacock feather, peacock feather |
| Pattu selai mundhaanai…mundhaanai | The pallu of the silk saree... pallu |
| Female | |
| Sottu sottu sottu sottaai | Drop by drop, bit by bit |
| Pulli vaithaai | You placed dots |
| Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai | Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep? |
| Female | |
| Pournami paayilae | On the full moon mat |
| Paduthidum aasaiyil | In the desire to lie down |
| Thookam endren thookam endren | I lost my sleep, I lost my sleep |
| Vaanavil paalama tharaivarai neeluma | Will the rainbow extend down to the ground as a bridge? |
| Yekkam konden yekkam konden | I longed, I longed |
| Female | |
| Vinmeen kinnam pongum vannam | Like a bowl overflowing with colorful stars |
| Vaazhvil vazhiyum vennilavae | Oh white moon spilling into life! |
| Kaalai neram kaatril eeram | Morning time, moisture in the breeze |
| Sombal murikkum sooriyanae | Oh sun stretching away its laziness! |
| Oh thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae | Oh thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae |
| Theeradhu theeradhu inbam ellam kandenae | I found endless, unending joy |
| Iyarkayilae….. | In nature... |
| Female | |
| Sottu sottu sottu sottaai | Drop by drop, bit by bit |
| Pulli vaithaai | You placed dots |
| Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai | Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep? |
| Veetukullae vida cholli kettu paarthaai | You asked to be allowed inside the house and tried |
| Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai | When refused, you scolded endlessly like thunder |
| Female | |
| Vaanathin deepavaligal | The festival of lights in the sky |
| Paarthaen paarthenae | I saw, I saw! |
| Nerathin thaenbavanigal ketten kettenae | I listened and listened to the sweet procession of time |
| Kettenae……. | I listened... |
சொட்டு சொட்டு சொட்டு சொட்டாய்
புள்ளி வைத்தாய்
யாரை கேட்டு வாசலிலே கோலம் போட்டாய்
வீட்டுக்குள்ளே விட சொல்லி கேட்டு பார்த்தாய்
மறுத்ததும் இடியென திட்டி தீர்த்தாய்
ஹுலா ஹுலாலல ஹுலா ஹுலா....ஓ வாவ்
ஹுலா ஹுலாலல ஹுலா ஹுலா...
Drop by drop, bit by bit
You placed dots
Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep?
You asked to be allowed inside the house and tried
When refused, you scolded endlessly like thunder
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..oh wow
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..
ஹே வானத்தின் தீபாவளிகள்
பார்த்தேன் பார்த்தேனே
நேரத்தின் தேம்பாவனிகள் கேட்டேன் கேட்டேனே
கேட்டேனே.......
Oh, the festival of lights in the sky
I saw, I saw!
I listened and listened to the sweet procession of time
I listened...
நதிகளின் கதகளி
மரகத வயல்வெளி
பார்த்தேன் இன்று.....பார்த்தேன் இன்று
அலைகளை காயமாய்
முறுக்கிடும் கடலிடம்
கண்டேன் கண்டேன் கவிதை ஒன்று
The Kathakali dance of the rivers
The emerald-green crop fields
Today I saw, today I saw
Seeing the waves turn into wound-like folds
from the twisting ocean
I saw, I saw a piece of poetry
பூவில் நேற்று தாழ்பாள் போட்டு
தூங்கும் தேனே திருடிடவா
வாயை வாயை மூடி திறந்தேன்
பேசும் மீனே பதில் தரவா
தையாரே தையாரே தையா தையா தையாரே
மயில் தொகை மயில் தொகை
பட்டு சேலை முந்தானை.....முந்தானை
Should I steal the honey that slept
locked inside the flower yesterday?
Opening and closing your mouth,
talking fish, shall I give an answer?
Thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Peacock feather, peacock feather
The pallu of the silk saree... pallu
சொட்டு சொட்டு சொட்டு சொட்டாய்
புள்ளி வைத்தாய்
யாரை கேட்டு வாசலிலே கோலம் போட்டாய்
Drop by drop, bit by bit
You placed dots
Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep?
பௌர்ணமி பாயிலே
படுத்திடும் ஆசையில்
தூக்கம் என்றேன் தூக்கம் என்றேன்
வானவில் பாலாமா தரைவரி நீளுமா
ஏக்கம் கொண்டேன் ஏக்கம் கொண்டேன்
On the full moon mat
In the desire to lie down
I lost my sleep, I lost my sleep
Will the rainbow extend down to the ground as a bridge?
I longed, I longed
விண்மீன் கிண்ணம் பொங்கும் வண்ணம்
வாழ்வில் வழியும் வெண்ணிலவே
காலை நேரம் காற்றில் ஈரம்
சோம்பல் முறிக்கும் சூரியனே
ஓ தையாரே தையாரே தையா தையா தையாரே
தீராது தீராது இன்பம் எல்லாம் கண்டேனே
இயற்கையிலே....
Like a bowl overflowing with colorful stars
Oh white moon spilling into life!
Morning time, moisture in the breeze
Oh sun stretching away its laziness!
Oh thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
I found endless, unending joy
In nature...
சொட்டு சொட்டு சொட்டு சொட்டாய்
புள்ளி வைத்தாய்
யாரை கேட்டு வாசலிலே கோலம் போட்டாய்
வீட்டுக்குள்ளே விட சொல்லி கேட்டு பார்த்தாய்
மறுத்ததும் இடியென திட்டி தீர்த்தாய்
Drop by drop, bit by bit
You placed dots
Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep?
You asked to be allowed inside the house and tried
When refused, you scolded endlessly like thunder
ஓ வானத்தின் தீபாவளிகள்
பார்த்தேன் பார்த்தேனே
நேரத்தின் தேம்பாவனிகள் கேட்டேன் கேட்டேனே
கேட்டேனே.......
The festival of lights in the sky
I saw, I saw!
I listened and listened to the sweet procession of time
I listened...
Sottu sottu sottu sottaai
Drop by drop, bit by bit
Pulli vaithaai
You placed dots
Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai
Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep?
Veetukullae vida cholli kettu paarthaai
You asked to be allowed inside the house and tried
Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai
When refused, you scolded endlessly like thunder
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..oh wow
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..oh wow
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..
Oh vaanathin deepavaligal
Oh, the festival of lights in the sky
Paarthaen paarthenae
I saw, I saw!
Nerathin thaenbavanigal ketten kettenae
I listened and listened to the sweet procession of time
Kettenae…….
I listened...
Nadhigalin kathakali
The Kathakali dance of the rivers
Maragadha vayalveli
The emerald-green crop fields
Paarthen indru ..paarthen indru
Today I saw, today I saw
Alaigalai kaayamaai
Seeing the waves turn into wound-like folds
Murukidum kadalidam
from the twisting ocean
Kanden kanden kavidhai ondru
I saw, I saw a piece of poetry
Poovil naettru thaalpaal pottu
Should I steal the honey that slept
Thoongum thaenae thirudidavaa
locked inside the flower yesterday?
Vaayai vaayai moodi thirenthae
Opening and closing your mouth,
Pesum meenae badhil tharava
talking fish, shall I give an answer?
Thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Mayil thoghai mayil thoghai
Peacock feather, peacock feather
Pattu selai mundhaanai…mundhaanai
The pallu of the silk saree... pallu
Sottu sottu sottu sottaai
Drop by drop, bit by bit
Pulli vaithaai
You placed dots
Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai
Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep?
Pournami paayilae
On the full moon mat
Paduthidum aasaiyil
In the desire to lie down
Thookam endren thookam endren
I lost my sleep, I lost my sleep
Vaanavil paalama tharaivarai neeluma
Will the rainbow extend down to the ground as a bridge?
Yekkam konden yekkam konden
I longed, I longed
Vinmeen kinnam pongum vannam
Like a bowl overflowing with colorful stars
Vaazhvil vazhiyum vennilavae
Oh white moon spilling into life!
Kaalai neram kaatril eeram
Morning time, moisture in the breeze
Sombal murikkum sooriyanae
Oh sun stretching away its laziness!
Oh thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Oh thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Theeradhu theeradhu inbam ellam kandenae
I found endless, unending joy
Iyarkayilae…..
In nature...
Sottu sottu sottu sottaai
Drop by drop, bit by bit
Pulli vaithaai
You placed dots
Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai
Whose permission did you ask to draw a kolam at the doorstep?
Veetukullae vida cholli kettu paarthaai
You asked to be allowed inside the house and tried
Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai
When refused, you scolded endlessly like thunder
Vaanathin deepavaligal
The festival of lights in the sky
Paarthaen paarthenae
I saw, I saw!
Nerathin thaenbavanigal ketten kettenae
I listened and listened to the sweet procession of time
Kettenae…….
I listened...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
"Sottu Sottu" from Varnajalam is a whimsical celebration of rain, nature, and romantic enchantment. The lyricist personifies falling raindrops as a mischievous visitor drawing patterns (kolam) on the doorstep and grumbling like thunder when locked outside. The protagonist marvells at nature's splendor, framing natural phenomena—such as rivers dancing like Kathakali performers, emerald fields, moonlight, and morning breezes—as romantic metaphors. Through lush imagery, the song conveys a sense of boundless joy and peaceful surrender to nature's beauty. The blend of playful rhythms, vivid depictions of nature, and romantic yearning creates a celebratory, atmospheric tone.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagapaduthal)
“Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai”
Raindrops are personified as a playful human guest who draws a kolam at the doorstep and scolds like thunder when denied entry inside.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Oh vaanathin deepavaligal”
'Vaanathin deepavaligal' compares the glittering stars and lightning in the night sky directly to the festival of lights (Deepavali).
Simile (Uwamai)
“Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai”
'Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai' compares the sound of thunder accompanying the rain to someone angrily shouting.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Sottu sottu sottu sottaai”
Repetition of words like 'Sottu sottu sottu sottaai' and 'Kettenae / Paarthenae' creates rhythmic emphasis and musical cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although credited as unknown in some song listings, the music for Varnajalam (2004) was composed by Vidyasagar, featuring lead performances by Srikanth and Sadha. Lyricist Pazhani Bharathi extensively used nature-inspired imagery in this soundtrack to reflect the rural backdrop of key film sequences.
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