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Lyrics & meaning

Valaiyai Veesi Paappom

From Pattikattan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
C. S. Jayaraman
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Pattikattan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
…………………....
Chorus
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Male
Kalyaana maappilla thedumSearching for a groom for marriage
Kannaana penn pillai seekkiramA precious bride, quickly
Chorus :Pidikkanum pidikkanumChorus: Must catch, must catch
Male :ThaaliyaMale: The sacred thread (Thali)
Chorus :Mudikkanum mudikkanumChorus: Must tie, must tie
Male :Munnaala vanthinu thannaala maattumMale: She comes forward and gets caught on her own
Chorus
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Male
Mella kuzhukkikittu maeni thalukkikittuSwaying gently and flaunting her figure
Sellum paruva chittu paaruLook at that young bird of a girl passing by
Male
Appappaa ammamma kottaap paakku kannuOh my, eyes round like betel nuts!
Male
Needhaan veluththukatta naattupuraththu kattaYou are truly a sturdy, fine country beauty
Bus stop maraththu kitta paaru annaeLook near the bus stop tree, brother
Male
Thottaalae ottikkum attakkari ponnuA dark-complexioned girl who sticks close if touched
Male
Begi pant t-shirt-tu potta ponna nee kattuMarry the girl wearing baggy pants and a T-shirt
Ponnu romba kuttadaa mookku kozhi muttadaaShe is very short, with a nose shaped like a hen's egg
Sarithaan viduppaa manam pol kidaikkum varunthaathaeAlright, leave it man, you will get what your heart desires, don't worry
Chorus
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Male
Kalyaana maappila thedumSearching for a groom for marriage
Kannaana penn pillai seekkiramA precious bride, quickly
Chorus :Pidikkanum pidikkanumChorus: Must catch, must catch
Male :ThaaliyaMale: The sacred thread (Thali)
Chorus :Mudikkanum mudikkanumChorus: Must tie, must tie
Male :Munnaala vanthinu thannaala maattumMale: She comes forward and gets caught on her own
Chorus
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Chorus
……………….....
Male
Theater veliyil nikkumStanding outside the theater
Block-il ticket edukkumBuying ticket in the black market
Beauty ivala konjam paaruLook at this beauty for a bit
Male : Kitta poe etti paarMale: Go close and take a peek
Muppaththainthu vayasuShe is thirty-five years old
Male
Soda kudichchukkittu beedaa kodhappikkittuDrinking soda and chewing betel leaf
Poraa kavarchchi kanni paaru pudingadaaLook at that glamorous maiden passing, snatch her guys!
Male :Anjukkum paththukkum aala thaedum case-uMale: A case looking for customers for five or ten rupees
Male :AahMale: Aah!
Male :Anga paaru college adhula ellaam teenage-uMale: Look at that college over there, everyone is a teenager
Male
Uththu paaththaen sariyillaI stared closely, none of them are right
Onnukooda sagikkallaNot even one is tolerable
Male :Kedaikkum varaikkum padaithaanMale: Until we find one, we will form a search party
Edupom vidamaattomWe will keep looking and won't give up
Chorus
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it
Valaiyai veesi paapomLet us cast the net and see
Vanthu vizhura meena pidipomLet us catch the fish that falls into it

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous and playful song from the 1990 movie Pattikattan revolves around young men lightheartedly searching for a suitable bride. Using fishing as a central metaphor, they talk about 'casting a net' to find a girl who will willingly fall into marriage. The song playfully critiques different women they encounter in various everyday settings, such as bus stops, cinema halls, and college campuses, while poking fun at their looks, attire, and quirks. Throughout their humorous search and comedic rejections of various candidates, the protagonists remain optimistic, reassuring each other that they will eventually find the perfect bride as long as they do not give up their search. Written by Vaali, the lyrics rely heavily on folk rhythm, colloquial Tamil slang, and comic exaggeration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uruvagam)

Valaiyai veesi paapom / Vanthu vizhura meena pidipom

Comparing the search for a bride to throwing a fishing net (Valaiyai veesi) and catching fish (meena pidipom).

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Sellum paruva chittu paaru

Comparing a young woman to a swift, graceful bird (paruva chittu).

Simile (Uvamai)

Appappaa ammamma kottaap paakku kannu

Describing round eyes using the shape of betel nut (kottaap paakku kannu).

Simile (Uvamai)

Ponnu romba kuttadaa mookku kozhi muttadaa

Describing a short woman's nose using a chicken's egg as a humorous comparison.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Emoni & Ethirai)

Mella kuzhukkikittu maeni thalukkikittu

Use of rhythmic rhyming end-syllables and matching initial consonants across phrases like 'kuzhukkikittu' and 'thalukkikittu'.

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Trivia

Pattikattan is a 1990 Tamil rural comedy drama film featuring comic legend Goundamani, Senthil, and Vijayakanth/Rajan in lead roles, showcasing traditional folk-style comic tracks penned by veteran lyricist Vaali.

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