Vethalai Vethalai
From Anbu Kattalai · 1989
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Anbu Kattalai1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Vethala vethala | Betel leaf, betel leaf |
| Kozhundhu vethala | Tender betel leaf |
| Pathala pathala | Not enough, not enough |
| Enakku pathala sathiyamaa | Truly, it is not enough for me |
| Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura | Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around |
| Vithaiya marandhu | Forgetting your skill |
| Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa | Are you standing foolishly idle? |
| Killi eduthu iduchu | Plucking and crushing it |
| Onakkidhu kathu kodukkiren | I will teach this to you |
| Ulla inikkum sevakkum | It will be sweet inside and turn red |
| Manakkum maamaa | And be fragrant, uncle |
| Female | |
| Vethala vethala | Betel leaf, betel leaf |
| Kozhundhu vethala | Tender betel leaf |
| Pathala pathala | Not enough, not enough |
| Enakku pathala sathiyamaa | Truly, it is not enough for me |
| Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura | Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around |
| Vithaiya marandhu | Forgetting your skill |
| Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa | Are you standing foolishly idle? |
| Female | |
| Konjam porunga azhagu yuvaraasaa | Wait a little, handsome prince |
| Manjam virippen onakku pudhu dhinusaa | I will lay a bed for you in a brand new style |
| Konjam porunga azhagu yuvaraasaa | Wait a little, handsome prince |
| Manjam virippen onakku pudhu dhinusaa | I will lay a bed for you in a brand new style |
| Female | |
| Allavum killavum nee thaanae vaaraayo | Aren't you the one to gather and pinch? Won't you come? |
| Kannatha thottu kailaasam paakkaliyo | Touching the cheek, haven't you seen heaven? |
| Allavum killavum nee thaanae vaaraayo | Aren't you the one to gather and pinch? Won't you come? |
| Kannatha thottu kailaasam paakkaliyo | Touching the cheek, haven't you seen heaven? |
| Female | |
| Vandhanam undu | There is a greeting |
| Unakkoru sangadhi undu | There is news for you |
| Mandhiram undu | There is a mantra |
| Adhukkoru thandhiram undu | There is a trick for it |
| Ada eduthu koduthu padichu mudichu | Oh, taking, giving, and finishing the lessons |
| Pudicha kadhaiya padichu padichu | Reading again and again the favorite story |
| Paappom nee vaa vaa raasaa | Let us see, come, come, my king |
| Female | |
| Vethala vethala | Betel leaf, betel leaf |
| Kozhundhu vethala | Tender betel leaf |
| Pathala pathala | Not enough, not enough |
| Enakku pathala sathiyamaa | Truly, it is not enough for me |
| Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura | Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around |
| Vithaiya marandhu | Forgetting your skill |
| Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa | Are you standing foolishly idle? |
| Female | |
| Vethala potti irukku madi melae | The betel box is on my lap |
| Mathadhu ellaam unga manam polae | Everything else is as your heart desires |
| Vethala potti irukku madi melae | The betel box is on my lap |
| Mathadhu ellaam unga manam polae | Everything else is as your heart desires |
| Male | |
| Katti mudikkanum joraaga nee thaanae | You must tie the wedding knot grandly, shouldn't you? |
| Atha maganukku mothamum ingae naan thaanae | I am everything here for my aunt's son |
| Katti mudikkanum joraaga nee thaanae | You must tie the wedding knot grandly, shouldn't you? |
| Atha maganukku mothamum ingae naan thaanae | I am everything here for my aunt's son |
| Othiga vechu manasula onnaiyum vechu | Setting aside and keeping one thing in mind |
| Nithira kettu pakkatthula nikkiren sittu | Losing sleep, I stand nearby like a little bird |
| Ada velakku edhukku velicham irukku | Oh, why a lamp when there is light? |
| Onakkum enakkum vazhakku irukku | There is a playful dispute between you and me |
| Paapaa thee poo paa rasaaa | Look, touch, go, come, my king |
| Female | |
| Vethala vethala | Betel leaf, betel leaf |
| Kozhundhu vethala | Tender betel leaf |
| Pathala pathala | Not enough, not enough |
| Enakku pathala sathiyamaa | Truly, it is not enough for me |
| Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura | Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around |
| Vithaiya marandhu | Forgetting your skill |
| Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa | Are you standing foolishly idle? |
{ஹா....ஆஆ.....
ஹா....ஆஆ.....
ஹா....ஆஆ.....
ஹா....ஆஆ.....} (2)
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Tender betel leaf
Not enough, not enough
Truly, it is not enough for me
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Forgetting your skill
Are you standing foolishly idle?
Plucking and crushing it
I will teach this to you
It will be sweet inside and turn red
And be fragrant, uncle
வெத்தலை வெத்தலை
கொழுந்து வெத்தலை
பத்தல பத்தல
எனக்கு பத்தல சத்தியமா
குத்தகை எடுத்து சுத்துற சுத்துற
வித்தைய மறந்து
வெட்டியா நிக்குற பத்தியமா
கிள்ளி எடுத்து இடிச்சு
உனக்கிதை கத்து கொடுக்கிறேன்
உள்ள இனிக்கும் சிவக்கும்
மணக்கும் மாமா
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Tender betel leaf
Not enough, not enough
Truly, it is not enough for me
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Forgetting your skill
Are you standing foolishly idle?
வெத்தலை வெத்தலை
கொழுந்து வெத்தலை
பத்தல பத்தல
எனக்கு பத்தல சத்தியமா
குத்தகை எடுத்து சுத்துற சுத்துற
வித்தைய மறந்து
வெட்டியா நிக்குற பத்தியமா
Wait a little, handsome prince
I will lay a bed for you in a brand new style
Wait a little, handsome prince
I will lay a bed for you in a brand new style
கொஞ்சம் பொறுங்க அழகு யுவராசா
மஞ்சம் விரிப்பேன் உனக்கு புது தினுசா
கொஞ்சம் பொறுங்க அழகு யுவராசா
மஞ்சம் விரிப்பேன் உனக்கு புது தினுசா
Aren't you the one to gather and pinch? Won't you come?
Touching the cheek, haven't you seen heaven?
Aren't you the one to gather and pinch? Won't you come?
Touching the cheek, haven't you seen heaven?
அள்ளவும் கிள்ளவும் நீதானே வாராயோ
கன்னத்த தொட்டு கைலாசம் பாக்கலையோ
அள்ளவும் கிள்ளவும் நீதானே வாராயோ
கன்னத்த தொட்டு கைலாசம் பாக்கலையோ
There is a greeting
There is news for you
There is a mantra
There is a trick for it
Oh, taking, giving, and finishing the lessons
Reading again and again the favorite story
Let us see, come, come, my king
சந்தனம் உண்டு
உனக்கொரு சங்கதி உண்டு
மந்திரம் உண்டு
அதுக்கொரு தந்திரம் உண்டு
அட எடுத்து கொடுத்து படிச்சு முடிச்சு
புடிச்ச கதைய படிச்சு படிச்சு
பார்ப்போம் சேர்ப்போம் வா ராசா
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Tender betel leaf
Not enough, not enough
Truly, it is not enough for me
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Forgetting your skill
Are you standing foolishly idle?
வெத்தலை வெத்தலை
கொழுந்து வெத்தலை
பத்தல பத்தல
எனக்கு பத்தல சத்தியமா
குத்தகை எடுத்து சுத்துற சுத்துற
வித்தைய மறந்து
வெட்டியா நிக்குற பத்தியமா
The betel box is on my lap
Everything else is as your heart desires
The betel box is on my lap
Everything else is as your heart desires
வெத்தலைப் பொட்டி இருக்கு மடிமேலே
மத்தது எல்லாம் உங்க மனம் போலே
வெத்தலைப் பொட்டி இருக்கு மடிமேலே
மத்தது எல்லாம் உங்க மனம் போலே
You must tie the wedding knot grandly, shouldn't you?
I am everything here for my aunt's son
You must tie the wedding knot grandly, shouldn't you?
I am everything here for my aunt's son
Setting aside and keeping one thing in mind
Losing sleep, I stand nearby like a little bird
Oh, why a lamp when there is light?
There is a playful dispute between you and me
Look, touch, go, come, my king
கட்டி முடிக்கணும் ஜோரா நீதானே
அத்த மகனுக்கு மொத்தமும் இங்கே நான்தானே
கட்டி முடிக்கணும் ஜோரா நீதானே
அத்த மகனுக்கு மொத்தமும் இங்கே நான்தானே
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Tender betel leaf
Not enough, not enough
Truly, it is not enough for me
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Forgetting your skill
Are you standing foolishly idle?
ஒத்திகை வச்சு மனசுல ஒன்னையும் வச்சு
நித்திரை கெட்டு பக்கத்துல நிக்குற சிட்டு
அட விளக்கு முழுக்க முழிச்சு இருக்கு
ஒனக்கும் எனக்கும் பழக்கம் இருக்கு
பார்ப்போம் தீர்ப்போம் வா ராசா
வெத்தலை வெத்தலை
கொழுந்து வெத்தலை
பத்தல பத்தல
எனக்கு பத்தல சத்தியமா
குத்தகை எடுத்து சுத்துற சுத்துற
வித்தைய மறந்து
வெட்டியா நிக்குற பத்தியமா
கிள்ளி எடுத்து இடிச்சு
உனக்கிதை கத்து கொடுக்கிறேன்
உள்ள இனிக்கும் சிவக்கும்
மணக்கும் மாமா
வெத்தலை வெத்தலை
கொழுந்து வெத்தலை
பத்தல பத்தல
எனக்கு பத்தல சத்தியமா
குத்தகை எடுத்து சுத்துற சுத்துற
வித்தைய மறந்து
வெட்டியா நிக்குற பத்தியமா
Vethala vethala
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Kozhundhu vethala
Tender betel leaf
Pathala pathala
Not enough, not enough
Enakku pathala sathiyamaa
Truly, it is not enough for me
Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Vithaiya marandhu
Forgetting your skill
Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa
Are you standing foolishly idle?
Killi eduthu iduchu
Plucking and crushing it
Onakkidhu kathu kodukkiren
I will teach this to you
Ulla inikkum sevakkum
It will be sweet inside and turn red
Manakkum maamaa
And be fragrant, uncle
Vethala vethala
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Kozhundhu vethala
Tender betel leaf
Pathala pathala
Not enough, not enough
Enakku pathala sathiyamaa
Truly, it is not enough for me
Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Vithaiya marandhu
Forgetting your skill
Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa
Are you standing foolishly idle?
Konjam porunga azhagu yuvaraasaa
Wait a little, handsome prince
Manjam virippen onakku pudhu dhinusaa
I will lay a bed for you in a brand new style
Konjam porunga azhagu yuvaraasaa
Wait a little, handsome prince
Manjam virippen onakku pudhu dhinusaa
I will lay a bed for you in a brand new style
Allavum killavum nee thaanae vaaraayo
Aren't you the one to gather and pinch? Won't you come?
Kannatha thottu kailaasam paakkaliyo
Touching the cheek, haven't you seen heaven?
Allavum killavum nee thaanae vaaraayo
Aren't you the one to gather and pinch? Won't you come?
Kannatha thottu kailaasam paakkaliyo
Touching the cheek, haven't you seen heaven?
Vandhanam undu
There is a greeting
Unakkoru sangadhi undu
There is news for you
Mandhiram undu
There is a mantra
Adhukkoru thandhiram undu
There is a trick for it
Ada eduthu koduthu padichu mudichu
Oh, taking, giving, and finishing the lessons
Pudicha kadhaiya padichu padichu
Reading again and again the favorite story
Paappom nee vaa vaa raasaa
Let us see, come, come, my king
Vethala vethala
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Kozhundhu vethala
Tender betel leaf
Pathala pathala
Not enough, not enough
Enakku pathala sathiyamaa
Truly, it is not enough for me
Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Vithaiya marandhu
Forgetting your skill
Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa
Are you standing foolishly idle?
Vethala potti irukku madi melae
The betel box is on my lap
Mathadhu ellaam unga manam polae
Everything else is as your heart desires
Vethala potti irukku madi melae
The betel box is on my lap
Mathadhu ellaam unga manam polae
Everything else is as your heart desires
Katti mudikkanum joraaga nee thaanae
You must tie the wedding knot grandly, shouldn't you?
Atha maganukku mothamum ingae naan thaanae
I am everything here for my aunt's son
Katti mudikkanum joraaga nee thaanae
You must tie the wedding knot grandly, shouldn't you?
Atha maganukku mothamum ingae naan thaanae
I am everything here for my aunt's son
Othiga vechu manasula onnaiyum vechu
Setting aside and keeping one thing in mind
Nithira kettu pakkatthula nikkiren sittu
Losing sleep, I stand nearby like a little bird
Ada velakku edhukku velicham irukku
Oh, why a lamp when there is light?
Onakkum enakkum vazhakku irukku
There is a playful dispute between you and me
Paapaa thee poo paa rasaaa
Look, touch, go, come, my king
Vethala vethala
Betel leaf, betel leaf
Kozhundhu vethala
Tender betel leaf
Pathala pathala
Not enough, not enough
Enakku pathala sathiyamaa
Truly, it is not enough for me
Kuthaga eduthu suthura suthura
Taking a lease and roaming around, roaming around
Vithaiya marandhu
Forgetting your skill
Vettiya nikkira pathiyamaa
Are you standing foolishly idle?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vethala Vethala from Anbu Kattalai (1989) is a playful, romantic Tamil folk song written by Gangai Amaran. Using the cultural metaphor of preparing and offering betel leaf (vethala), the heroine teasingly invites her hero to embrace romance and stop wasting time in idle hesitation. She lightheartedly mocks his shyness, reminding him that he has forgotten his charms and needs her guidance in the art of love. Throughout the track, she expresses her total devotion to him as her cousin (atha magan) and promises a life full of sweetness, warmth, and grand celebration. The song combines traditional rural humor, romantic teasing, and rhythmic folk poetry to portray a lively interaction between young lovers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vethala vethala / Kozhundhu vethala”
Repetition of the initial 'Ve' sound creates a rhythmic beat characteristic of Tamil folk music.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vandhanam undu / Mandhiram undu”
The second letter 'ndh' in 'Vandhanam' matches 'Mandhiram', giving structural harmony to the couplet.
Metaphor and Double Entendre
“Vethala potti irukku madi melae / Mathadhu ellaam unga manam polae”
Preparing and chewing betel leaf ('vethala potti') is used as a sensual metaphor for intimacy and romantic readiness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist Gangai Amaran, this track employs traditional Tamil folk motifs centered around 'vethala' (betel leaf), which is culturally associated with hospitality, auspicious beginnings, and romantic courtship in South Indian cinema.
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