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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sottu Sottai

From Varnajalam · 2004

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singer
Mathangi
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Varnajalam
Movie release year
2004
Lyrics added on
2 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sottu sottu sottu sottaai
Pulli vaithaai
Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai
Veetukullae vida cholli kettu paarthaai
Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..oh wow
Hulaa hulaalala huulaa hulaaa..
Oh vaanathin deepavaligal
Paarthaen paarthenae
Nerathin thaenbavanigal ketten kettenae
Kettenae…….
Nadhigalin kathakali
Maragadha vayalveli
Paarthen indru ..paarthen indru
Alaigalai kaayamaai
Murukidum kadalidam
Kanden kanden kavidhai ondru
Poovil naettru thaalpaal pottu
Thoongum thaenae thirudidavaa
Vaayai vaayai moodi thirenthae
Pesum meenae badhil tharava
Thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Mayil thoghai mayil thoghai
Pattu selai mundhaanai…mundhaanai
Sottu sottu sottu sottaai
Pulli vaithaai
Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai
Pournami paayilae
Paduthidum aasaiyil
Thookam endren thookam endren
Vaanavil paalama tharaivarai neeluma
Yekkam konden yekkam konden
Vinmeen kinnam pongum vannam
Vaazhvil vazhiyum vennilavae
Kaalai neram kaatril eeram
Sombal murikkum sooriyanae
Oh thaiyaarae thaiyaarae thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Theeradhu theeradhu inbam ellam kandenae
Iyarkayilae…..
Sottu sottu sottu sottaai
Pulli vaithaai
Yaarai kettu vaasalilae kolam pottaai
Veetukullae vida cholli kettu paarthaai
Maruthathum idiyena thitti theerthaai
Vaanathin deepavaligal
Paarthaen paarthenae
Nerathin thaenbavanigal ketten kettenae
Kettenae…….
Drop by drop, drop by drop,
you placed the dots,
whose permission did you ask before drawing a kolam (pattern) at my doorstep?
You asked to be let inside the house,
and when I refused, you scolded me like thunder!
Hula hulalala hula hula... oh wow
Hula hulalala hula hula...
Hey, the sky's Diwali lights,
I saw them, oh I saw them!
The sweet melodies of time, I heard them, oh I heard them!
I heard them...
The Kathakali dance of the rivers,
the emerald green fields,
I saw today... I saw today!
From the sea that twists
its waves into ropes,
I found, I found a poem!
Locked inside a flower last night,
shall I steal the sleeping honey?
Opening and closing my mouth,
talking fish, will you give me an answer?
Thaiyaare thaiyaare thaiya thaiya thaiyaare
Like a peacock's spread feathers,
is the drape of my silk saree... my silk saree!
Drop by drop, drop by drop,
you placed the dots,
whose permission did you ask before drawing a kolam (pattern) at my doorstep?
On the mat woven of full-moon light,
wishing to lie down,
I called out for sleep, I called for sleep!
Is the rainbow a bridge reaching down to the ground?
I wondered with longing, I wondered with longing!
Like a bowl of stars brimming over,
oh white moon overflowing into my life,
in the morning chill carried by the breeze,
oh sun that stretches away my laziness!
Oh thaiyaare thaiyaare thaiya thaiya thaiyaare
Endless, never-ending joys I discovered
in nature...
Drop by drop, drop by drop,
you placed the dots,
whose permission did you ask before drawing a kolam (pattern) at my doorstep?
You asked to be let inside the house,
and when I refused, you scolded me like thunder!
Oh, the sky's Diwali lights,
I saw them, oh I saw them!
The sweet melodies of time, I heard them, oh I heard them!
I heard them...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

"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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