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Lyrics & meaning

Vethala Vethala

From Nattupura Nayagan · 1997

Lyricist
E. S. Moorthy
Singers
Mano, Swarnalatha
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Movie name
Nattupura Nayagan
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
19 Aug 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Veththala veththala kozhunthu veththala
Eduththu eduththu kaattu
Yaei veththala veththala kozhunthu veththala
Eduththu eduththu kaattu
Paththala paththala orappu paththaa
Marutha sunnaampa poosu
Male : Nadaiya surukki pottu
Adi edaiya kuzhukki aattu
Entha padaiyum thaandi
Enna jeyikkaathu
Ada pazhaiya kadhaiya maaththu
Naan malaiyai kadantha kaaththu
Intha sabaiya meeri
Kurukka nikkaathu
Veththala veththala kozhunthu veththala
Eduththu eduththu kaatt
Female : Paththala paththala orappu paththaa
Marutha sunnaampa poosu
Anjukkuzhi nilam koduththu
Ambathu poun-nu podattumaa
Paththukkuzhi vayala thanthu
Pangalaa tharattumaa
Anjukkuzhi nilam koduththu
Ambathu poun-nu podattumaa
Paththukkuzhi vayala thanthu
Pangalaa tharattumaa
Ola mookkuththi thaaraen
Nee seela munthiyathaa
Sola kaattukku poyi
Konjam sodi seruvom vaa
Nisamaaththaan sugangkettu yaemaaththurae
Vasamaaththaan idam paarththu valai veesurae
Adi uzhutha nailamum kaanji
Ippa pozhuthu masangi pochchu
Nalla kinaththau thanniyai
Erachchi kattattumaa
Haa veththala veththala kozhunthu veththala
Male : Eduththu eduththu kaattu
Male : Paththala paththala orappu paththala
Female : Marutha sunnaampa poosu
Sakkaalaththi perai solli
Saamaththula nee pulampurae
Sampaarichcha kaasu panaththai
Avalukkuth thaanae
Anjukkuzhi ava kodukkura
Sugaththai ingu nee kedukkura
Kitta vathaa kattaathunnu
Thalliththaan padukkura
Kaara veettukku povom
Oru porvai paaitta kondaa
Kaala maalaiyum vanthaa
Varum bodhai unakkuththaan
Adi unnai maatta
Oru vaarththai poithaan sonnaen
Unakkaaga inimaela
Thavamaa kidappen
Kovam koranju lesaa
Ippa aasai paduthu rosaa
Un manasu pola saeththikka rasa
Male : Adi sakka
Veththala veththala kozhunthu veththala
Eduththu eduththu kaatt
Female : Paththala paththala orappu paththaa
Marutha sunnaampa poosu
Nadaiya surukki pottu
Adi edaiya kuzhukki aattu
Entha padaiyum thaandi
Enna jeyikkaathu
Ada pazhaiya kadhaiya maaththu
Naan malaiyai kadantha kaaththu
Intha sabaiya meeri
Kurukka nikkaathu
Hae…yae….hae….
Betel leaf, betel leaf, tender betel leaf,
Take them out and show them!
Hey, betel leaf, betel leaf, tender betel leaf,
Take them out and show them!
It's not enough, not enough, is the heat not enough?
Smear some limestone paste from Madurai!
Male: Quickening your steps,
Hey girl, sway and shake your waist!
Even with any army marching in,
Nothing can conquer me!
Ah, change that old story!
I am the wind that sweeps over mountains!
Do not defy this gathering,
And stand in my way!
Betel leaf, betel leaf, tender betel leaf,
Take them out and show them!
Female: It's not enough, not enough, is the heat not enough?
Smear some limestone paste from Madurai!
Giving five kuzhis (plots) of land,
Shall I gift you fifty sovereigns of gold?
Giving ten kuzhis of paddy fields,
Shall I give you a bungalow?
Giving five kuzhis of land,
Shall I gift you fifty sovereigns of gold?
Giving ten kuzhis of paddy fields,
Shall I give you a bungalow?
I will give you a palm-leaf nose ring,
Just give me the edge of your sari!
Let's go into the cornfield,
Come, let's pair up for a while!
Honestly, you seek mere pleasure and fool me,
Finding a convenient spot, you cast your net!
Hey girl, the ploughed field has gone dry,
And now twilight has faded into dusk,
Shall I draw sweet well water,
And irrigate the land?
Ah, betel leaf, betel leaf, tender betel leaf,
Male: Take them out and show them!
Male: It's not enough, not enough, the heat is not enough!
Female: Smear some limestone paste from Madurai!
Muttering that other woman's name,
You whine in the middle of the night!
All the money and earnings you made,
Isn't it all for her?
She only gives you five kuzhis of land,
While you ruin the pleasure right here!
Claiming it is improper if I come near,
You keep your distance and sleep away!
Let's go to the sturdy brick house,
Bring along a blanket and a mat!
Once day and night roll in,
The sweet intoxication will be all yours!
Hey girl, just to catch your reaction,
I only told a single little lie!
For your sake, from this moment on,
I will wait in total devotion!
With my anger slowly melting away,
Your rose longs for you now,
Embrace me just as your heart desires, my king!
Male: Oh, wonderful!
Betel leaf, betel leaf, tender betel leaf,
Take them out and show them!
Female: It's not enough, not enough, is the heat not enough?
Smear some limestone paste from Madurai!
Quickening your steps,
Hey girl, sway and shake your waist!
Even with any army marching in,
Nothing can conquer me!
Ah, change that old story!
I am the wind that sweeps over mountains!
Do not defy this gathering,
And stand in my way!
Hey... yeah... hey...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Vethala Vethala is an upbeat, rustic romantic duet featuring spirited bantering and affectionate negotiation between two lovers. Using the extended metaphor of betel leaf, slaked lime, and agricultural motifs like dry fields and well water, the male lover entices his partner with playful promises of wealth, land, and intimacy in the cornfield. The female lover responds with feigned suspicion, playful jealousy about rivals, and teasing demands. As the exchanges unfold, the male speaker placates her doubts with earnest declarations of affection, prompting her anger to melt away into loving reconciliation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Naan malaiyai kadantha kaaththu

The male speaker compares his unstoppable passion to wind that traverses mountains.

Extended Metaphor

Adi uzhutha nailamum kaanji / Ippa pozhuthu masangi pochchu

Compares romantic desire to parched ploughed land awaiting fresh well water.

Rhyme and Assonance (Ethugai/Monai)

Veththala veththala kozhunthu veththala / Eduththu eduththu kaattu

Uses repetitive alliteration and initial sound matches characteristic of Tamil folk metres.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by E. S. Moorthy with music by S. A. Rajkumar for the 1997 film Nattupura Nayagan, this track showcases the traditional Tamil folk duet format built around betel leaf imagery and energetic call-and-response verses.

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