Vetti Katti Velicham
From Aankalai Nambathey · 1987
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Devandran
- Details
- Aankalai Nambathey1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ponga veikkirom poosa veikkirom | We make the sweet rice boil over and offer worship |
| Engalukku vazhvu kodu muthumaariamma | Grant us a prosperous life, Goddess Muthumariamma |
| Chorus :……………………….. | Chorus :................... |
| Female | |
| Thottadhellaam tholangidanum | May whatever we touch flourish |
| Nattadhellam molachidanum | May whatever we plant sprout and grow |
| Ettu thikkum aalbavalae muthumaariamma | O Muthumariamma who rules all eight directions |
| Chorus :……………………………. | Chorus :........................ |
| Female | |
| Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga | Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light |
| Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga | On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache |
| Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan | Hey girl, today or any day |
| Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom | Let's see how it is to live without getting married |
| Female | |
| Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga | Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light |
| Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga | On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache |
| Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan | Hey girl, today or any day |
| Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom | Let's see how it is to live without getting married |
| Female | |
| Loveunnu solvanungha | They will say they love you |
| Adi lailavae enbaanunga | They will call you 'Oh Laila' |
| Appathaan sokkathingha | Don't get mesmerized then |
| Pinbu amboonnu nikkathingha | Don't end up standing helpless later |
| Female | |
| Kannalam thaan katta sonna | If you ask them to marry you |
| Ketti melam thaan kotta sonna | If you ask them to play the wedding drums |
| Ennaagum yedhaagum naan paarthen | I have seen what happens |
| Saayam veluthu pogum | Their true colors fade away |
| Female | |
| Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga | Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light |
| Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga | On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache |
| Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan | Hey girl, today or any day |
| Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom | Let's see how it is to live without getting married |
| Female | |
| Pen paarkka vaaranunga | They come to inspect the bride |
| Adi polladha maapillaingha | Oh, those terrible bridegrooms |
| Seer vecha kattikiraan | If dowry is offered, he marries her |
| Illa sollaama vettikkiraan | Otherwise, he cuts ties without a word |
| Female | |
| Sonnaa idhu vetkkakedu | Saying this is shameful |
| Sollatiyum maanakedu | Not saying it is dishonorable |
| Ammadi aagadhu aan vaadai | Oh girl, the influence of men is no good |
| Sonnaa kelu pulla | Listen to what I say, child |
| Female | |
| Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga | Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light |
| Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga | On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache |
| Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan | Hey girl, today or any day |
| Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom | Let's see how it is to live without getting married |
| Chorus | |
| Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga | Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light |
| Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga | On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache |
| Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan | Hey girl, today or any day |
| Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom | Let's see how it is to live without getting married |
பொங்க வைக்கிறோம் பூச வைக்கிறோம்
எங்களுக்கு வாழ்வு கொடு முத்துமாரியம்மா
குழு :
தந்தனனதானானானே தானே தந்தானா
We make the sweet rice boil over and offer worship
Grant us a prosperous life, Goddess Muthumariamma
Chorus :...................
தொட்டதெல்லாம் தொலங்கிடணும்
நட்டதெல்லாம் மொளச்சிடனும்
எட்டுத் திக்கும் ஆள்பவளே முத்துமாரியம்மா
குழு :
தந்தனனதானானானே தானே தந்தானா
தந்தனனதானானானே தானே தந்தானா
May whatever we touch flourish
May whatever we plant sprout and grow
O Muthumariamma who rules all eight directions
Chorus :........................
வேட்டிக் கட்டி வெளிச்சம் போடும் ஆணை நம்பாதீங்க
ஆக மொத்தம் மீசை வச்ச ஆள நம்பாதீங்க
அடி போடி இந்நாளும்தான் நாம என்னாளும்தான்
கண்ணாலம் பண்ணாம வாழ்ந்து பாப்போம்
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Hey girl, today or any day
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
வேட்டிக் கட்டி வெளிச்சம் போடும் ஆணை நம்பாதீங்க
ஆக மொத்தம் மீசை வச்ச ஆள நம்பாதீங்க
அடி போடி இந்நாளும்தான் நாம என்னாளும்தான்
கண்ணாலம் பண்ணாம வாழ்ந்து பாப்போம்
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Hey girl, today or any day
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
லவ்வுன்னு சொல்வானுங்க
அடி லைலாவே என்பானுங்க
அப்பத்தான் சொக்காதிங்க
பின்பு அம்போன்னு நிக்காதிங்க
They will say they love you
They will call you 'Oh Laila'
Don't get mesmerized then
Don't end up standing helpless later
கண்ணாலம் தான் கட்டச் சொன்னா
கெட்டி மேளம் கொட்டச் சொன்னா
என்னாகும் ஏதாகும் நான் பார்த்தேன்
சாயம் வெளுத்து போகும்
If you ask them to marry you
If you ask them to play the wedding drums
I have seen what happens
Their true colors fade away
வேட்டிக் கட்டி வெளிச்சம் போடும் ஆணை நம்பாதீங்க
ஆக மொத்தம் மீசை வச்ச ஆள நம்பாதீங்க
அடி போடி இந்நாளும்தான் நாம என்னாளும்தான்
கண்ணாலம் பண்ணாம வாழ்ந்து பாப்போம்
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Hey girl, today or any day
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
பெண் பார்க்க வாராணுங்க
அடி பொல்லாத மாப்பிள்ளைங்க
சீர் வச்சா கட்டிக்கிறான்
இல்ல சொல்லாம வெட்டிக்கிறான்
They come to inspect the bride
Oh, those terrible bridegrooms
If dowry is offered, he marries her
Otherwise, he cuts ties without a word
சொன்னா இது வெட்கக்கேடு
சொல்லாட்டியும் மானக்கேடு
அம்மாடி ஆகாது ஆண் வாடை
சொன்னா கேளு புள்ள
Saying this is shameful
Not saying it is dishonorable
Oh girl, the influence of men is no good
Listen to what I say, child
வேட்டிக் கட்டி வெளிச்சம் போடும் ஆணை நம்பாதீங்க
ஆக மொத்தம் மீசை வச்ச ஆள நம்பாதீங்க
அடி போடி இந்நாளும்தான் நாம என்னாளும்தான்
கண்ணாலம் பண்ணாம வாழ்ந்து பாப்போம்
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Hey girl, today or any day
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
வேட்டிக் கட்டி வெளிச்சம் போடும் ஆணை நம்பாதீங்க
ஆக மொத்தம் மீசை வச்ச ஆள நம்பாதீங்க
அடி போடி இந்நாளும்தான் நாம என்னாளும்தான்
கண்ணாலம் பண்ணாம வாழ்ந்து பாப்போம்.....
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Hey girl, today or any day
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
Ponga veikkirom poosa veikkirom
We make the sweet rice boil over and offer worship
Engalukku vazhvu kodu muthumaariamma
Grant us a prosperous life, Goddess Muthumariamma
Chorus :………………………..
Chorus :...................
Thottadhellaam tholangidanum
May whatever we touch flourish
Nattadhellam molachidanum
May whatever we plant sprout and grow
Ettu thikkum aalbavalae muthumaariamma
O Muthumariamma who rules all eight directions
Chorus :…………………………….
Chorus :........................
Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan
Hey girl, today or any day
Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan
Hey girl, today or any day
Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
Loveunnu solvanungha
They will say they love you
Adi lailavae enbaanunga
They will call you 'Oh Laila'
Appathaan sokkathingha
Don't get mesmerized then
Pinbu amboonnu nikkathingha
Don't end up standing helpless later
Kannalam thaan katta sonna
If you ask them to marry you
Ketti melam thaan kotta sonna
If you ask them to play the wedding drums
Ennaagum yedhaagum naan paarthen
I have seen what happens
Saayam veluthu pogum
Their true colors fade away
Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan
Hey girl, today or any day
Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
Pen paarkka vaaranunga
They come to inspect the bride
Adi polladha maapillaingha
Oh, those terrible bridegrooms
Seer vecha kattikiraan
If dowry is offered, he marries her
Illa sollaama vettikkiraan
Otherwise, he cuts ties without a word
Sonnaa idhu vetkkakedu
Saying this is shameful
Sollatiyum maanakedu
Not saying it is dishonorable
Ammadi aagadhu aan vaadai
Oh girl, the influence of men is no good
Sonnaa kelu pulla
Listen to what I say, child
Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan
Hey girl, today or any day
Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga
Don't trust men who wear a dhoti and parade in the light
Aaga motham meesai vechu aala nambaadhinga
On the whole, don't trust anyone with a mustache
Adi podi innaalum thaan naama ennaalum thaan
Hey girl, today or any day
Kannalam pannama vaazhnthu paarpom
Let's see how it is to live without getting married
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Aankalai Nambathey (Don't Trust Men) begins with a traditional devotional invocation to Goddess Muthumariamma, seeking her blessings for abundance, growth, and prosperity. However, the song quickly shifts into a spirited, lighthearted warning against trusting deceitful men and entering traditional marriages. It serves as a playful feminist track warning young women about male pretenses. The lyrics mock men who make grand promises of romance, only to back out when asked to commit through marriage, or those who evaluate brides purely based on dowry gifts. Vairamuthu uses witty colloquial language to suggest that women might be far better off remaining independent and living life on their own terms without getting married.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Thottadhellaam tholangidanum / Nattadhellam molachidanum”
Matching initial sounds in consecutive lines ('Thottadhellaam' and 'Nattadhellam') creating a rhythmic folk pace.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Sonnaa idhu vetkkakedu / Sollatiyum maanakedu”
Matching second consonants ('tt' in Thottadhellaam / Nattadhellam, and 'nn' in Sonnaa / Sollatiyum) standard in Tamil lyricism.
Refrain (Pallavi repetition)
“Vaetti katti velicham podum aanai nambadhinga”
Repetition of the core theme 'Vaetti katti... aanai nambadhinga' to reinforce the central warning of the song.
Idiomatic Metaphor
“Saayam veluthu pogum”
'Saayam veluthu pogum' literally means 'the dye/color will fade', an idiom referring to someone's true bad nature being exposed.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track belongs to the 1987 Tamil film 'Aangalai Nambadhe' directed by K. Alex Pandian. The song blends traditional village folk prayer structures (Muthumariamma worship) with contemporary social commentary on marriage and gender roles, which was a popular comedic/dramatic motif in late 80s Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Aankalai Nambathey
Aankalai Nambathey
Aankalai Nambathey
Aankalai Nambathey
Aankalai Nambathey
Aankalai Nambathey
Aankalai Nambathey