Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

The Vatti

From Kattappava kanoom · 2016

Lyricist
Muthamil
Singer
Anthony Daasan
Music director
Santhosh Dhayanidhi
Details
Kattappava kanoom2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan vatti vittu vechaaIf money is lent out on interest,
Thaanaagaautomatically
Kutti pottu nikkumit multiplies on its own,
Neeyaagajust like you.
Kannil pattathellaamEverything that caught the eye,
Veenaagagoes completely to waste.
Thottaa nee kettaaIf you touch it, you ruin it.
Male
Motta thalaikkumBetween a bald head
Mutti kaalukkumand a knee,
Mudicha izhuthu poduraandahe awkwardly ties a knot between unrelated things!
Male
Viththa kaatturaanHe displays tricks,
Thittam theetturaandevises schemes,
Vitta yedatha theduraandaaand searches for the place he lost!
Male
Ucha katta aasadhaan aasadhaanIt is peak level desire, pure desire,
Otthakkaalil nikkuraandaahe stands stubborn on one leg!
Otti vechi namba vaikkaTo make people believe his patched-up lies,
Odi poraandaa…oh oh ohhe goes running around... oh oh oh.
Male
Vatti vittu vechaaIf money is lent out on interest,
Thaanaagaautomatically
Kutti pottu nikkumit multiplies on its own,
Neeyaagajust like you.
Kannil pattathellaamEverything that caught the eye,
Veenaagagoes completely to waste.
Thottaa nee kettaaIf you touch it, you ruin it.
Male
Aarambam veeran thaanIn the beginning, he acts like a hero,
Aaah aahaa..sooranthaanAaah aahaa.. a valiant brave man.
Kaalaikku poga pogaAs the day progresses,
Kaalu nadunguthadaahis legs start trembling, man!
Male
Hey naan onnu ninaikkirenHey, I think one thing,
Nee onnu ninaikkirayou think another thing,
Yaarukkum adangaamathaanuncontrolled by anyone,
Yetho nadakkuthadaasomething unexpected is happening, man!
Male
Uralukku oru pakkamFor the mortar, from one side,
Idi thaandaait takes the pounding!
Unna sutthi unna sutthiAll around you, all around you,
Adi thaandaablows are landing, man!
Pullaiya killivittuPinching the sleeping baby,
Vettiyaagapointlessly,
Thottila aattura daahe then rocks the cradle, man!
Male
Motta thalaikkumBetween a bald head
Mutti kaalukkumand a knee,
Mudicha izhuthu poduraandahe awkwardly ties a knot between unrelated things!
Male
Viththa kaatturaanHe displays tricks,
Thittam theetturaandevises schemes,
Vitta yedatha theduraandaaand searches for the place he lost!
Male
Ye yaanaikku thumbikkaAn elephant relies on its trunk,
Ivanukko nambikkawhile this guy relies purely on confidence.
Yeriththaan poga pogaAs he keeps climbing higher,
Yeni sarukkudhadaathe ladder slips beneath him, man!
Male
Muttaalaa yosichuBy thinking like a fool,
Kettaanae ippothuhe got ruined now.
Mun vecha kaala pinnaThe step taken forward,
Yedukka mudiyalaiyaehe can no longer take back!
Male
Badhilukku badhiluA proper response for a response,
Theriyaladaais nowhere to be found, man!
PathungippaatthumEven hiding and trying,
Mudiyaladaahe cannot succeed, man!
Chinnathaa chinnathaa setthu vechuSaving up bit by bit,
Sikkalaa seeruthadaait boils over into a massive mess!
Male
Motta thalaikkumBetween a bald head
Mutti kaalukkumand a knee,
Mudicha izhuthu poduraandahe awkwardly ties a knot between unrelated things!
Male
Viththa kaatturaanHe displays tricks,
Thittam theetturaandevises schemes,
Vitta yedatha theduraandaaand searches for the place he lost!
Male
Thaanaaga…neeyaagha..veenaaghaAutomatically... yourself... in vain...
Thaanaaga…neeyaagha..veenaagha…Automatically... yourself... in vain...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic comedic song from 'Kattappava Kanoom' highlights the chaotic attempts of a protagonist trying to scheme his way out of difficult situations. Through humorous metaphors and traditional Tamil colloquial proverbs, lyricist Muthamil paints a vivid portrait of someone who makes bold moves without foresight, only to find himself in deeper trouble as every plan slips from his grasp.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Assonance)

Motta thalaikkum / Mutti kaalukkum

Matching second consonants across lines like 'Motta' and 'Mutti' creates a rhythmic cadence.

Pazhamozhi (Proverb / Idiom)

Pullaiya killivittu Vettiyaaga Thottila aattura daa

Uses the popular Tamil proverb 'Pullaiya killi vittu thottila aatturadhu' (pinching the child and then rocking the cradle) to convey hypocrisy and double-dealing.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thittam theetturaan

Alliteration of the initial consonant sounds ('Th' in Thittam and Theetturaan).

Metaphor

Ye yaanaikku thumbikka / Ivanukko nambikka

Compares an elephant's reliance on its strong trunk with the protagonist's blind overconfidence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kattappava Kanoom' (2017) stars Sibiraj and revolves around a lucky Arowana fish named Kattappa. Santhosh Dhayanidhi composed the film's musical score.

Keep listening

More from Kattappava kanoom