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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vatta Vatta Paaththi

From Thazhampoo · 1965

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Thazhampoo1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vatta vatta paathi kattiMaking round garden plots,
Vanna vanna chaelai kattiWearing colorful sarees,
Kattazhagi nadappadhu naattiyamaaIs the walk of this shapely beauty a classical dance?
Aval kannaalae suttruvadhu raattinamaaIs her playful gaze a spinning giant wheel?
Female
Vatta vatta paathi kattiMaking round garden plots,
Vanna vanna chaelai kattiWearing colorful sarees,
Chorus
Kattazhagi nadappadhu naattiyamaaIs the walk of this shapely beauty a classical dance?
Aval kannaalae suttruvadhu raattinamaaIs her playful gaze a spinning giant wheel?
Female
Pandhodu pandhadithu kulungaBouncing and swaying as she plays ball with a ball,
Paavaiyaval kannadithu mayangaAs the young maiden winks her eyes and gets enchanted,
Pandhodu pandhadithu kulungaBouncing and swaying as she plays ball with a ball,
Paavaiyaval kannadithu mayangaAs the young maiden winks her eyes and gets enchanted,
Chorus
MayangaGetting enchanted,
Female
Mundhi mundhi oduraal raadhaiRadha runs ahead and ahead,
RaadhaiRadha,
Aval mundhaanai pattaalae bodhaiEven the mere touch of her saree end brings an intoxication,
Chorus
Aval mundhaanai pattaalae bodhaiEven the mere touch of her saree end brings an intoxication.
Female
Vatta vatta paathi kattiMaking round garden plots,
Vanna vanna chaelai kattiWearing colorful sarees,
Chorus
Kattazhagi nadappadhu naattiyamaaIs the walk of this shapely beauty a classical dance?
Aval kannaalae suttruvadhu raattinamaaIs her playful gaze a spinning giant wheel?
Female
Oiyaara pennae odivaa odivaaOh stylish girl, come running, come running,
OdivaaCome running,
Ullaasa mayilae aadivaa aadivaa aadivaaOh joyous peacock, come dancing, come dancing, come dancing!
Oiyaara pennaeOh stylish girl,
Chorus
Odivaa odivaa odivaaCome running, come running, come running,
Female
Ullaasa mayilaeOh joyous peacock,
Chorus
Aadivaa aadivaa aadivaaCome dancing, come dancing, come dancing!
Female
Mai theetti vizhiyai chimitti vaaApply kohl to your eyes, blink them and come,
Maappillaiyai thunaikku kootti vaaBring the groom along as your companion and come,
Mai theetti vizhiyai chimitti vaaApply kohl to your eyes, blink them and come,
Maappillaiyai thunaikku kootti vaaBring the groom along as your companion and come.
Chorus
Vatta vatta paathi kattiMaking round garden plots,
Vanna vanna chaelai kattiWearing colorful sarees,
Female
Kattazhagi nadappadhu naattiyamaaIs the walk of this shapely beauty a classical dance?
Aval kannaalae suttruvadhu raattinamaaIs her playful gaze a spinning giant wheel?
Female
Sembaruthi poothirukkum idhazhoAre her lips like blooming hibiscus flowers?
Sevvaanam saaindhirukkum udaloIs her body resembling the crimson evening sky?
Sembaruthi poothirukkum idhazhoAre her lips like blooming hibiscus flowers?
Sevvaanam saaindhirukkum udaloIs her body resembling the crimson evening sky?
Pambaramaa suthuraa meenaa meenaaDoes Meena spin around like a top?
Odum pandhayathil thulli varum maanaaIs she a deer leaping forward in a running race?
Chorus
Odum pandhayathil thulli varum maanaaIs she a deer leaping forward in a running race?
Female
Vatta vatta paathi kattiMaking round garden plots,
Vanna vanna chaelai kattiWearing colorful sarees,
Kattazhagi nadappadhu naattiyamaaIs the walk of this shapely beauty a classical dance?
Aval kannaalae suttruvadhu raattinamaaIs her playful gaze a spinning giant wheel?
Chorus
{ Vatta vatta paathi katti{ Making round garden plots,
Vanna vanna chaelai kattiWearing colorful sarees,
Kattazhagi nadappadhu naattiyamaaIs the walk of this shapely beauty a classical dance?
Aval kannaalae suttruvadhu raattinamaa}Is her playful gaze a spinning giant wheel? }
Female
{Oho oho oo oo{ Oho oho oo oo,
Oho oho oo ooOho oho oo oo,
Ahaahaahaahaahaa } (Overlap)Ahaahaahaahaahaa } (Overlap)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a joyful celebration of a young maiden's charm, grace, and vibrant energy. The lyrics vividly describe her elegant gait compared to dance, her expressive eyes compared to a spinning wheel, and her youthful beauty framed in colorful sarees. The singer affectionately urges her to come forward, playful as a peacock and agile as a deer in a race, while highlighting her alluring features like hibiscus-red lips and a radiant composure.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Vatta vatta paathi katti

Words like 'Vatta vatta' and 'Vanna vanna' repeat continuously for rhythmic effect and emphasis.

Simile (Uwamai)

Pambaramaa suthuraa meenaa meenaa / Odum pandhayathil thulli varum maanaa

Compares her spinning or energetic movement to a top ('Pambaramaa') and her leaps to a deer ('maanaa').

Metaphor (Uruwagam)

Sembaruthi poothirukkum idhazho

Compares her radiant lips to blooming red hibiscus flowers ('Sembaruthi poothirukkum idhazho').

Second Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Vatta vatta paathi katti / Vanna vanna chaelai katti

The second consonant sound matches across adjacent lines ('Vatta' and 'Vanna').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Aalangudi Somu for the 1965 Tamil film 'Thazhampoo', this track showcases classic folk-inspired rhythmic lyric patterns characteristic of mid-1960s Tamil cinema dance sequences.

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