Vetri Petra Maamanukku
From Ellorum Innaattu Mannar · 1960
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singers
- P. Susheela, K. Rani
- Music director
- T. G. Lingappa
- Details
- Ellorum Innaattu Mannar1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hoi hoi hoiyaaa | Hoi hoi hoiyaaa |
| Female | |
| Vetri pettra maamanukku | For the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Chorus :Ohoo ohoo ooo oo ooo oo | Chorus :Ohoo ohoo ooo oo ooo oo |
| Female | |
| Vetri pettra maamanukku | For the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Vaeppa maalai podungadi | Put a garland of neem leaves on him, girls! |
| Vilagi ninnae aadungadi angae | Stand back and dance over there, girls! |
| Vetti vetti kuvichu potta | Cut and gathered in a heap |
| Veveramellaam kelungadi | Listen to all the details, girls! |
| Female | |
| Vetri pettra maamanukku | For the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Chorus | |
| Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa… | Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa… |
| Aaa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…. | Aaa….aaa….aaaa….aaa…. |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…. | Aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…. |
| Female | |
| Hoo oo ooo | Hoo oo ooo |
| Hoo oo ooo | Hoo oo ooo |
| Hoo ooo oo ooo ooo | Hoo ooo oo ooo ooo |
| Vaal yendhi poraadum singamadi | He is a lion that fights holding a sword, girls! |
| Chorus :Singamadi | Chorus :A lion, girls! |
| Female :Aana vaalu mattum pinnalae | Female :But only the tail at the back |
| Thongaathadi | Doesn't hang down, girls! |
| Female :Vanangamudi | Female :Unbowed crown! |
| Female :Ivarthaanadi | Female :He is the one, girls! |
| Female | |
| Vallamai ellam sollungadi | Tell all about his might, girls! |
| Female :Varisaiyilae nillungadi | Stand in a line, girls! |
| Poosanikkaaya thalaikku suthi | Warding off evil eyes with an ash gourd around his head |
| Poththendru keezhae podungadi | Smash it down on the ground, girls! |
| Female | |
| Hoi vetri pettra maamanukku | Hoi, for the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Female | |
| Aangaara pechodu ponaaradi | He went with fierce words, girls! |
| Chorus :Ponaaradi | Chorus :He went, girls! |
| Female :Poosai thaangaama thalladi | Female :Unable to bear the beating, stumbling |
| Vandhaaradi | He came back, girls! |
| Chorus :Aiyaa vandhaaradi | Chorus :Sir came back, girls! |
| Female | |
| Alungamalae nerunganmalae | Without disturbing or going near |
| Female | |
| Aiyaa mudhugai paarungadi | Look at sir's back, girls! |
| Female :Agalam pannathu yaarungadi | Female :Who made it so broad, girls? |
| Female :Araicha manjalai kodhikka vechu | Female :Boil ground turmeric |
| Alli alli poosungadi | Scoop it up and apply generously, girls! |
| Chorus | |
| Vetri pettra maamanukku | For the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Hoo oo hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo ooo | Hoo oo hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo ooo |
| Vetri pettra maamanukku | For the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Vaeppa maalai podungadi | Put a garland of neem leaves on him, girls! |
| Vilagi ninnae aadungadi angae | Stand back and dance over there, girls! |
| Vetti vetti kuvichu potta | Cut and gathered in a heap |
| Veveramellaam kelungadi | Listen to all the details, girls! |
| Chorus | |
| Vetri pettra maamanukku | For the uncle who achieved victory |
| Veera vaazhthu paadungadi | Sing a heroic praise, girls! |
| Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiyaaa…… | Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiyaaa…… |
ஹோய் ஹோய் ஹொய்யா
Hoi hoi hoiyaaa
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
குழு :
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ ஓஒ ஓ ஓஒ ஓ
For the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Chorus :Ohoo ohoo ooo oo ooo oo
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
வேப்பமாலை போடுங்கடி
விலகி நின்னே ஆடுங்கடி அங்கே
வெட்டி வெட்டி குவிச்சுப் போட்ட
விவரமெல்லாம் கேளுங்கடி
For the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Put a garland of neem leaves on him, girls!
Stand back and dance over there, girls!
Cut and gathered in a heap
Listen to all the details, girls!
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
For the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa….aaa….aaaa….aaa….
Aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
கைதட்டல்கள் :
........................................
Hoo oo ooo
Hoo oo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo ooo
He is a lion that fights holding a sword, girls!
Chorus :A lion, girls!
Female :But only the tail at the back
Doesn't hang down, girls!
Female :Unbowed crown!
Female :He is the one, girls!
ஹோ ஓ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓ ஓஒ ஓஒ ஓஒ
வாளேந்தி போராடும் சிங்கமடி
குழு :
சிங்கமடி
ஆனா வாலு மட்டும் பின்னாலே
தொங்காதடி
வணங்காமுடி
இவர்தானடி
Tell all about his might, girls!
Stand in a line, girls!
Warding off evil eyes with an ash gourd around his head
Smash it down on the ground, girls!
வல்லமை எல்லாம் சொல்லுங்கடி
வரிசையிலே நில்லுங்கடி
பூசணிக்காய தலைக்கு சுத்தி
பொத்தென்று கீழே போடுங்கடி
Hoi, for the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
He went with fierce words, girls!
Chorus :He went, girls!
Female :Unable to bear the beating, stumbling
He came back, girls!
Chorus :Sir came back, girls!
ஆங்காரப் பேச்சோடு போனாரடி
குழு :
போனாரடி
பூசை தாங்காம தள்ளாடி
வந்தாரடி
குழு :
அய்யா வந்தாரடி
Without disturbing or going near
அலுங்காமலே நெருங்காமலே
Look at sir's back, girls!
Female :Who made it so broad, girls?
Female :Boil ground turmeric
Scoop it up and apply generously, girls!
ஐயா முதுகப் பாருங்கடி
அகலம் பண்ணது யாருங்காடி
அரைச்ச மஞ்சள் கொதிக்க வெச்சு
அள்ளி அள்ளி பூசுங்கடி
For the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Hoo oo hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo ooo
For the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Put a garland of neem leaves on him, girls!
Stand back and dance over there, girls!
Cut and gathered in a heap
Listen to all the details, girls!
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
ஹோ ஓ ஹோ ஓ ஹோ ஓஒ ஓஒ ஓஒ
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
வேப்பமாலை போடுங்கடி
விலகி நின்னே ஆடுங்கடி அங்கே
வெட்டி வெட்டி குவிச்சுப் போட்ட
விவரமெல்லாம் கேளுங்கடி
For the uncle who achieved victory
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiyaaa……
வெற்றி பெற்ற மாமனுக்கு
வீர வாழ்த்துப் பாடுங்கடி
ஹோய் ஹோய் ஹோய் ஹோய் ஹொய்யா
Hoi hoi hoiyaaa
Hoi hoi hoiyaaa
Vetri pettra maamanukku
For the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Chorus :Ohoo ohoo ooo oo ooo oo
Chorus :Ohoo ohoo ooo oo ooo oo
Vetri pettra maamanukku
For the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Vaeppa maalai podungadi
Put a garland of neem leaves on him, girls!
Vilagi ninnae aadungadi angae
Stand back and dance over there, girls!
Vetti vetti kuvichu potta
Cut and gathered in a heap
Veveramellaam kelungadi
Listen to all the details, girls!
Vetri pettra maamanukku
For the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa….aaa….aaaa….aaa….
Aaa….aaa….aaaa….aaa….
Aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
Aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….
Hoo oo ooo
Hoo oo ooo
Hoo oo ooo
Hoo oo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo ooo
Vaal yendhi poraadum singamadi
He is a lion that fights holding a sword, girls!
Chorus :Singamadi
Chorus :A lion, girls!
Female :Aana vaalu mattum pinnalae
Female :But only the tail at the back
Thongaathadi
Doesn't hang down, girls!
Female :Vanangamudi
Female :Unbowed crown!
Female :Ivarthaanadi
Female :He is the one, girls!
Vallamai ellam sollungadi
Tell all about his might, girls!
Female :Varisaiyilae nillungadi
Stand in a line, girls!
Poosanikkaaya thalaikku suthi
Warding off evil eyes with an ash gourd around his head
Poththendru keezhae podungadi
Smash it down on the ground, girls!
Hoi vetri pettra maamanukku
Hoi, for the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Aangaara pechodu ponaaradi
He went with fierce words, girls!
Chorus :Ponaaradi
Chorus :He went, girls!
Female :Poosai thaangaama thalladi
Female :Unable to bear the beating, stumbling
Vandhaaradi
He came back, girls!
Chorus :Aiyaa vandhaaradi
Chorus :Sir came back, girls!
Alungamalae nerunganmalae
Without disturbing or going near
Aiyaa mudhugai paarungadi
Look at sir's back, girls!
Female :Agalam pannathu yaarungadi
Female :Who made it so broad, girls?
Female :Araicha manjalai kodhikka vechu
Female :Boil ground turmeric
Alli alli poosungadi
Scoop it up and apply generously, girls!
Vetri pettra maamanukku
For the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Hoo oo hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo oo hoo ooo hoo ooo ooo ooo
Vetri pettra maamanukku
For the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Vaeppa maalai podungadi
Put a garland of neem leaves on him, girls!
Vilagi ninnae aadungadi angae
Stand back and dance over there, girls!
Vetti vetti kuvichu potta
Cut and gathered in a heap
Veveramellaam kelungadi
Listen to all the details, girls!
Vetri pettra maamanukku
For the uncle who achieved victory
Veera vaazhthu paadungadi
Sing a heroic praise, girls!
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiyaaa……
Hoi hoi hoi hoi hoiyaaa……
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Vetri Pettra Maamanukku from the 1960 film Ellorum Innaattu Mannar is a satirical folk song that mockingly celebrates a coward's exaggerated victory. A group of women feign admiration for the protagonist's uncle, addressing him as a fighting lion, while humorously pointing out that he ran away from battle and returned covered in bruises on his back. The lyricist Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam weaves traditional Tamil celebratory customs—such as placing neem garlands, smashing ash gourds to ward off evil eyes, and applying boiled turmeric paste to wounds—into a sharp parody. The song highlights thematic irony and comedic storytelling characteristic of early 1960s Tamil cinema.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Satire (Vanchi Pugazhchi)
“Vetri pettra maamanukku Veera vaazhthu paadungadi”
Praising a cowardly man as a victorious heroic lion while subtly mocking his retreat from battle.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Vaal yendhi poraadum singamadi”
Comparing the uncle to a brave lion wielding a sword in combat.
Alliteration (Emonai / Monai)
“Vetti vetti kuvichu potta Veveramellaam kelungadi”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'Ve' across the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar (1960) starred Gemini Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi, with music composed by T. G. Lingappa. The song uses traditional folk rhythms like Kummi and Nayyandi Melam to accentuate the rustic, playful ribbing of the characters.
Keep listening
More from Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar
Ellorum Innaattu Mannar