Vambukkara Paatti
From Adharmam · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- K. S. Chithra, S. Sundari
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Adharmam1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vambukkaara paatti paatti | Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother! |
| Aadudhu un thangatti | Your gold ear pendant is swinging! |
| Mokka palla kaatti kaatti | Showing your blunt-toothed smile, |
| Paaduriyae dhum katti | You are singing with all your effort! |
| Andha kaala pechellaam oramaa kootti | Gather all the talk of olden times to the side, |
| Vechu pudu pesaama moolaiyil kootti | Put it away silently, swept into a corner! |
| Yaechugala vaangaadhae en kitta maatti | Don't get scolded by getting caught with me, |
| Kundhikka nee thinnaiyila kaal kaiya neetti | Sit on the veranda, stretching your hands and legs! |
| Female | |
| Vambukkara paethi paethi | Mischievous granddaughter, granddaughter! |
| Minnudhu un mookkuthi | Your nose stud shines bright! |
| Pallaviya maathi maathi | Changing the tune again and again, |
| Paaduriyae raasaathi | You are singing, my princess! |
| Indha kaala paechellaam morathula thaan yaethi | Loading all this modern talk into a winnowing basket, |
| Paakkattumaa naan konjam kaathula thaan thoothi | Shall I winnow it away slightly in the wind? |
| Paatti kitta venaandi veembugal aathi | Don't pick fights with grandmother! |
| Paaradi naan veppen un moolaiya thaethi | Look, I will search and sharp-tune your mind! |
| Female | |
| Vambukkaara paatti paatti | Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother! |
| Aadudhu un thangatti | Your gold ear pendant is swinging! |
| Mokka palla kaatti kaatti | Showing your blunt-toothed smile, |
| Paaduriyae dhum katti | You are singing with all your effort! |
| Female | |
| Unnoda kaalathula | In your time, |
| Nellu kutha maavaraikka | To husk paddy and grind flour, |
| Annaadam pombalainga | Everyday, women |
| Avadhi pattaanga | Suffered a lot. |
| Ippa yenga kaalathula | Now in our time, |
| Ellaathukkum machine irukku | There is a machine for everything. |
| Pothaana amuthi vela mudichukkittaanga | Just pushing a button, they finish the work! |
| Female | |
| Nellu kuthum ponnu | The girl who husks paddy |
| Karum kallaarundhaa appo | Was as strong as black stone back then! |
| Pallu kuthak kooda | Now, even to pick teeth, |
| Oru thembu illa ippo | There is no strength left! |
| Female | |
| Appa koondu kili pola | Back then, like a caged parrot, |
| Ponnu sirai irundhaa paaru | Look how the girl was imprisoned! |
| Scooterilae yaeri ippa suthuraalae ooru | Riding on a scooter now, she roams the whole town! |
| Female | |
| Oorum kettadhu perum kettadhu | The town has gone bad, reputation has gone bad, |
| Vaeru ennaachu..hakkaan | What else happened... Oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Vambukkaara paatti paatti | Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother! |
| Aadudhu un thangatti | Your gold ear pendant is swinging! |
| Mokka palla kaatti kaatti | Showing your blunt-toothed smile, |
| Paaduriyae dhum katti | You are singing with all your effort! |
| Female | |
| Indha kaala paechellaam | All this modern talk, |
| Morathula thaan yaethi | Loading into a winnowing basket, |
| Paakkattumaa naan konjam | Shall I test it a bit, |
| Kaathula thaan thoothi | Winnowing it in the wind? |
| Female | |
| Appodhu purushan kitta | In those days, with her husband, |
| Pathu pulla pethukkittu | Giving birth to ten children, |
| Ponjaadhi iduppodinju paduthiruppaalae | The wife would lie down with a broken back! |
| Ippodhu pathu pulla pethaalae | Nowadays, if she gives birth to ten children, |
| Sambalam thaan | Saying the salary |
| Pathalannu purushan kitta sidu siduppaalae | Is not enough, she snaps at her husband! |
| Female | |
| Pathu pulla pethum | Giving birth to ten children, |
| Appa panjam illa veettil | Back then there was no famine in the house! |
| Arasu potta thottil | The cradle set up by the government, |
| Ippa aadudhammaa naattil | Is now swinging in the country! |
| Female | |
| Unga nallathangaal kaalam | Your era of Nalla Thangaal |
| Ippa naatta vittu pochu | Has now left the country! |
| Naadhiyatra pulla | Unclaimed children |
| Ingu arasudamai aachu | Have become state property here! |
| Female | |
| Adi yaaru pethadhu | Oh, who gave birth to whom? |
| Yaaru kandadhu oorum kettaachu | Who knows? The town has gone bad! |
| Hummkumm | Hummkumm! |
| Female | |
| Vambukkaara paatti paatti | Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother! |
| Aadudhu un thangatti | Your gold ear pendant is swinging! |
| Mokka palla kaatti kaatti | Showing your blunt-toothed smile, |
| Paaduriyae dhum katti | You are singing with all your effort! |
| Female | |
| Indha kaala paechellaam | All this modern talk, |
| Morathula thaan yaethi | Loading into a winnowing basket, |
| Paakkattumaa naan konjam | Shall I test it a bit, |
| Kaathula thaan thoothi thootthi | Winnowing it in the wind? |
| Female | |
| Yaechugala vaangaadhae en kitta maatti | Don't get scolded by getting caught with me, |
| Kundhikka nee thinnaiyila kaal kaiya neetti | Sit on the veranda, stretching your hands and legs! |
| Female | |
| Vambukkaara paatti paatti | Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother! |
| Aadudhu un thangatti | Your gold ear pendant is swinging! |
| Female :Vambukkara paethi paethi | Female: Mischievous granddaughter, granddaughter! |
| Minnudhu un mookkuthi | Your nose stud shines bright! |
வம்புக்கார பாட்டி பாட்டி
ஆடுது உன் தங்கட்டி
பொக்கப் பல்லக் காட்டி காட்டி
பாடுறியே தம்கட்டி
அந்தக்கால பேச்செல்லாம் ஓரமா கூட்டி
வச்சிபுடு பேசாம மூலையில் கூட்டி
ஏச்சுகளை வாங்காதே எங்கிட்ட மாட்டி....
குந்திக்க நீ திண்ணையிலே கால் கையை நீட்டி....
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
You are singing with all your effort!
Gather all the talk of olden times to the side,
Put it away silently, swept into a corner!
Don't get scolded by getting caught with me,
Sit on the veranda, stretching your hands and legs!
வம்புக்கார பேத்தி பேத்தி
மின்னுது உன் மூக்குத்தி
பல்லவியை மாத்தி மாத்தி
பாடுறியே ராசாத்தி
இந்தக் கால பேச்செல்லாம்
மொறத்துலதான் ஏத்தி
பாக்கட்டுமா நான் கொஞ்சம் காத்துலதான் தூத்தி
பாட்டிக்கிட்ட வேணாண்டி வீம்புகள் ஆத்தி
பாரடி நான் வைப்பேன் உன் மூளையைத் தீட்டி
Mischievous granddaughter, granddaughter!
Your nose stud shines bright!
Changing the tune again and again,
You are singing, my princess!
Loading all this modern talk into a winnowing basket,
Shall I winnow it away slightly in the wind?
Don't pick fights with grandmother!
Look, I will search and sharp-tune your mind!
வம்புக்கார பாட்டி பாட்டி
ஆடுது உன் தங்கட்டி
பொக்கப் பல்லக் காட்டி காட்டி
பாடுறியே தம்கட்டி
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
You are singing with all your effort!
உன்னோட காலத்தில
நெல்லு குத்த மாவரைக்க
அன்னாடம் பொம்பளைங்க
அவதி பட்டாங்க
இப்ப எங்க காலத்துல
எல்லாத்துக்கும் மிஷின் இருக்கு
பொத்தான அமுத்தி வேலை முடிச்சிக்கிட்டாங்க
In your time,
To husk paddy and grind flour,
Everyday, women
Suffered a lot.
Now in our time,
There is a machine for everything.
Just pushing a button, they finish the work!
நெல்லு குத்தும் பொண்ணு
அறுங்கல்லா இருந்தா அப்போ
பல்லுக் குத்தக் கூட
ஒரு தெம்பு இல்ல இப்போ
The girl who husks paddy
Was as strong as black stone back then!
Now, even to pick teeth,
There is no strength left!
அப்ப கூண்டுக்கிளி போல
பொண்ணு சிறை இருந்தா பாரு
ஸ்கூட்டருல ஏறி இப்ப சுத்துறாளே ஊரு
Back then, like a caged parrot,
Look how the girl was imprisoned!
Riding on a scooter now, she roams the whole town!
ஊரும் கெட்டது பேரும் கெட்டது
வேறு என்னாச்சு....ஹக்கான்
The town has gone bad, reputation has gone bad,
What else happened... Oh dear!
வம்புக்கார பாட்டி பாட்டி
ஆடுது உன் தங்கட்டி
பொக்கப் பல்லக் காட்டி காட்டி
பாடுறியே தம்கட்டி
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
You are singing with all your effort!
இந்த கால பேச்செல்லாம்
மொறத்துலதான் ஏத்தி
பாக்கட்டுமா நான் கொஞ்சம்
காத்துலதான் தூத்தி
All this modern talk,
Loading into a winnowing basket,
Shall I test it a bit,
Winnowing it in the wind?
அப்போது புருஷன் கிட்ட
பத்து புள்ள பெத்துகிட்டு
பொஞ்சாதி இடுப்பொடுஞ்சி படுத்திருப்பாளே
இப்போது பத்து புள்ள பெத்தாளே
சம்பளம்தான்
பத்தலன்னு புருஷன்கிட்ட சிடுசிடுப்பாளே
In those days, with her husband,
Giving birth to ten children,
The wife would lie down with a broken back!
Nowadays, if she gives birth to ten children,
Saying the salary
Is not enough, she snaps at her husband!
பத்து புள்ள பெத்தும்
அப்ப பஞ்சமில்ல வீட்டில்
அரசு போட்ட தொட்டில்
இப்ப ஆடுதம்மா நாட்டில்
Giving birth to ten children,
Back then there was no famine in the house!
The cradle set up by the government,
Is now swinging in the country!
உங்க நல்ல தங்கா காலம்
இப்ப நாட்ட விட்டு போச்சு
நாதியற்ற புள்ள
இங்கு அரசுடமையாச்சு
Your era of Nalla Thangaal
Has now left the country!
Unclaimed children
Have become state property here!
அடி யாரு பெத்தது
யாரு கண்டது ஊரும் கெட்டாச்சு
ஹ்ம்ம்ஹும்ம்
Oh, who gave birth to whom?
Who knows? The town has gone bad!
Hummkumm!
வம்புக்கார பாட்டி பாட்டி
ஆடுது உன் தங்கட்டி
பொக்கப் பல்லக் காட்டி காட்டி
பாடுறியே தம்கட்டி
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
You are singing with all your effort!
இந்த கால பேச்செல்லாம்
மொறத்துலதான் ஏத்தி
பாக்கட்டுமா நான் கொஞ்சம்
காத்துலதான் தூத்தி
All this modern talk,
Loading into a winnowing basket,
Shall I test it a bit,
Winnowing it in the wind?
ஏச்சுகளை வாங்காதே எங்கிட்ட மாட்டி....
குந்திக்க நீ திண்ணையிலே கால் கையை நீட்டி....
Don't get scolded by getting caught with me,
Sit on the veranda, stretching your hands and legs!
வம்புக்கார பாட்டி பாட்டி
ஆடுது உன் தங்கட்டி
வம்புக்கார பேத்தி பேத்தி
மின்னுது உன் மூக்குத்தி
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Female: Mischievous granddaughter, granddaughter!
Your nose stud shines bright!
Vambukkaara paatti paatti
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Aadudhu un thangatti
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Mokka palla kaatti kaatti
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
Paaduriyae dhum katti
You are singing with all your effort!
Andha kaala pechellaam oramaa kootti
Gather all the talk of olden times to the side,
Vechu pudu pesaama moolaiyil kootti
Put it away silently, swept into a corner!
Yaechugala vaangaadhae en kitta maatti
Don't get scolded by getting caught with me,
Kundhikka nee thinnaiyila kaal kaiya neetti
Sit on the veranda, stretching your hands and legs!
Vambukkara paethi paethi
Mischievous granddaughter, granddaughter!
Minnudhu un mookkuthi
Your nose stud shines bright!
Pallaviya maathi maathi
Changing the tune again and again,
Paaduriyae raasaathi
You are singing, my princess!
Indha kaala paechellaam morathula thaan yaethi
Loading all this modern talk into a winnowing basket,
Paakkattumaa naan konjam kaathula thaan thoothi
Shall I winnow it away slightly in the wind?
Paatti kitta venaandi veembugal aathi
Don't pick fights with grandmother!
Paaradi naan veppen un moolaiya thaethi
Look, I will search and sharp-tune your mind!
Vambukkaara paatti paatti
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Aadudhu un thangatti
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Mokka palla kaatti kaatti
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
Paaduriyae dhum katti
You are singing with all your effort!
Unnoda kaalathula
In your time,
Nellu kutha maavaraikka
To husk paddy and grind flour,
Annaadam pombalainga
Everyday, women
Avadhi pattaanga
Suffered a lot.
Ippa yenga kaalathula
Now in our time,
Ellaathukkum machine irukku
There is a machine for everything.
Pothaana amuthi vela mudichukkittaanga
Just pushing a button, they finish the work!
Nellu kuthum ponnu
The girl who husks paddy
Karum kallaarundhaa appo
Was as strong as black stone back then!
Pallu kuthak kooda
Now, even to pick teeth,
Oru thembu illa ippo
There is no strength left!
Appa koondu kili pola
Back then, like a caged parrot,
Ponnu sirai irundhaa paaru
Look how the girl was imprisoned!
Scooterilae yaeri ippa suthuraalae ooru
Riding on a scooter now, she roams the whole town!
Oorum kettadhu perum kettadhu
The town has gone bad, reputation has gone bad,
Vaeru ennaachu..hakkaan
What else happened... Oh dear!
Vambukkaara paatti paatti
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Aadudhu un thangatti
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Mokka palla kaatti kaatti
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
Paaduriyae dhum katti
You are singing with all your effort!
Indha kaala paechellaam
All this modern talk,
Morathula thaan yaethi
Loading into a winnowing basket,
Paakkattumaa naan konjam
Shall I test it a bit,
Kaathula thaan thoothi
Winnowing it in the wind?
Appodhu purushan kitta
In those days, with her husband,
Pathu pulla pethukkittu
Giving birth to ten children,
Ponjaadhi iduppodinju paduthiruppaalae
The wife would lie down with a broken back!
Ippodhu pathu pulla pethaalae
Nowadays, if she gives birth to ten children,
Sambalam thaan
Saying the salary
Pathalannu purushan kitta sidu siduppaalae
Is not enough, she snaps at her husband!
Pathu pulla pethum
Giving birth to ten children,
Appa panjam illa veettil
Back then there was no famine in the house!
Arasu potta thottil
The cradle set up by the government,
Ippa aadudhammaa naattil
Is now swinging in the country!
Unga nallathangaal kaalam
Your era of Nalla Thangaal
Ippa naatta vittu pochu
Has now left the country!
Naadhiyatra pulla
Unclaimed children
Ingu arasudamai aachu
Have become state property here!
Adi yaaru pethadhu
Oh, who gave birth to whom?
Yaaru kandadhu oorum kettaachu
Who knows? The town has gone bad!
Hummkumm
Hummkumm!
Vambukkaara paatti paatti
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Aadudhu un thangatti
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Mokka palla kaatti kaatti
Showing your blunt-toothed smile,
Paaduriyae dhum katti
You are singing with all your effort!
Indha kaala paechellaam
All this modern talk,
Morathula thaan yaethi
Loading into a winnowing basket,
Paakkattumaa naan konjam
Shall I test it a bit,
Kaathula thaan thoothi thootthi
Winnowing it in the wind?
Yaechugala vaangaadhae en kitta maatti
Don't get scolded by getting caught with me,
Kundhikka nee thinnaiyila kaal kaiya neetti
Sit on the veranda, stretching your hands and legs!
Vambukkaara paatti paatti
Troublemaking grandmother, grandmother!
Aadudhu un thangatti
Your gold ear pendant is swinging!
Female :Vambukkara paethi paethi
Female: Mischievous granddaughter, granddaughter!
Minnudhu un mookkuthi
Your nose stud shines bright!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Vambukkaara Paatti Paatti' from Adharmam (1994) is a playful, humorous banter song structured as a generational debate between a grandmother and her granddaughter. The granddaughter argues that modern advances and machines have liberated women from grueling physical domestic labor and granted them newfound social freedom to ride scooters and explore the world. In response, the grandmother defends traditional resilience, lamenting the perceived decline in physical strength, moral discipline, and family stability in modern society. Through clever and lighthearted lyrics by Vaali, the song contrasts traditional rural lifestyles with contemporary modern changes in an engaging musical folk dialogue format.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vambukkaara paatti paatti / Aadudhu un thangatti / Mokka palla kaatti kaatti / Paaduriyae dhum katti”
Rhyming ending syllables across consecutive lines such as paatti, thangatti, kaatti, and dhum katti.
Simile / Metaphor (Upamanas)
“Appa koondu kili pola ponnu sirai irundhaa paaru”
Comparing women restricted to traditional household roles to parrots trapped inside cages.
Antithesis (Contrast)
“Nellu kutha maavaraikka... / Ellaathukkum machine irukku / Pothaana amuthi vela mudichukkittaanga”
Juxtaposition of traditional manual labor suffering against modern push-button automation.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Adharmam' (1994) stars Sathyaraj and features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali. The song uses the traditional Tamil folk song convention of a dialogue debate (Samvaadam) between two generations, combining humor with social commentary on modern vs. traditional lifestyles.
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