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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vottu Kettu Vanthaagale

From Kalavani 2 · 2018

Lyricist
Viveka
Singer
Mariyammal
Music director
V. Ronald Regan
Details
Kalavani 22018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Car-u pottu odi vanthuArriving hastily by driving a car
Kaiyeduthu salaam pottuGreeting with folded hands and a bow
Female :Car-u pottu odi vanthuFemale: Arriving hastily by driving a car
Kaiyeduthu salaam pottuGreeting with folded hands and a bow
Female
Akkaanu thangachinnuCalling us elder sister and younger sister
Avasarama urava solliHastily claiming relations with us
Female :Akkaanu thangachinnuFemale: Calling us elder sister and younger sister
Avasarama urava solliHastily claiming relations with us
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeFemale: They came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Ippa orutharaiyumNow, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female :Ippa orutharaiyumFemale: Now, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeFemale: They came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Ippa orutharaiyumNow, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female :Ippa orutharaiyumFemale: Now, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female
Thaalikku thangam thaaren"I will give gold for the marriage chain"
Thalikka vengaayam thaaren"I will give onions for cooking"
Female :Thaalikku thangam thaarenFemale: "I will give gold for the marriage chain"
Thalikka vengaayam thaaren"I will give onions for cooking"
Female
Koolikku vela thaaren"I will give work for daily wages"
Kooppitaakka odiyaaren"I will come running whenever you call"
Female :Koolikku vela thaarenFemale: "I will give work for daily wages"
Kooppitaakka odiyaaren"I will come running whenever you call"
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeFemale: They came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Ippa orutharaiyumNow, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female :Ippa orutharaiyumFemale: Now, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female
Saathi namma saathiyinnaarHe claimed our caste is his caste
Thaaimaarae saranammunnaarHe said, "Mothers, I bow to you"
Female :Saathi namma saathiyinnaarFemale: He claimed our caste is his caste
Thaaimaarae saranammunnaarHe said, "Mothers, I bow to you"
Female
Podugammaa vottuyinnaarHe asked us to cast our vote
Podalangaaya paathuyinnar"Look at the snake gourd (symbol)", he said
Female :Ammaa podugammaa vottuyinnarFemale: Oh mothers, cast your vote, he said
Podalangaaya paathuyinnar"Look at the snake gourd (symbol)", he said
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeFemale: They came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Ippa orutharaiyumNow, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female :Ippa orutharaiyumFemale: Now, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female
Ezhai eliyavanga"For the poor and downtrodden
Ellarukkum nanmaiyinnaarGood things will happen for everyone", he said
Female : Ezhai eliyavangaFemale: "For the poor and downtrodden
Ellarukkum nanmaiyinnaarGood things will happen for everyone", he said
Female
Vaazhvu malaruminnaar"Life will blossom", he said
Varumai ellaam koraiyuminnaar"Poverty will diminish", he said
Female :Vaazhvu malaruminnaarFemale: "Life will blossom", he said
Varumai ellaam koraiyuminnaar"Poverty will diminish", he said
Female
Vela kedaikkuminnaar"Jobs will be available", he said
Velaivaasi koraiyuminnaar"Prices of goods will drop", he said
Female :Vela kedaikkuminnaarFemale: "Jobs will be available", he said
Velaivaasi koraiyuminnaar"Prices of goods will drop", he said
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeFemale: They came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Ippa orutharaiyumNow, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female :Ippa orutharaiyumFemale: Now, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female
Sondhakaaran adichikiraanRelates are fighting among themselves
Sandaikaaran sirichikiraanEnemies are laughing at us
Female :Sondhakaaran adichikiraanFemale: Relatives are fighting among themselves
Sandaikaaran sirichikiraanEnemies are laughing at us
Female
Pachaiyaa pall ilichuOpenly grinning slyly
Angaalinnaa pangaalinnaaClaiming to be close kin and relations
Female :Pachaiyaa pall ilichuFemale: Openly grinning slyly
Angaalinnaa pangaalinnaaClaiming to be close kin and relations
Female
Pathu naalu koothuthaanaeIt is just a drama lasting ten days
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Pathu naalu koothuthaanaeFemale: It is just a drama lasting ten days
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Aprom paartha kudaEven if they see us afterwards
Sirikka maattaan ennaathaThey won't even smile, oh elder aunt!
Aprom paartha kudaEven if they see us afterwards
Sirikka maattaan yennaathaThey won't even smile, oh elder aunt!
Female
Mallu vetti thundu pottuWearing traditional dhoti and towel
Mike-u vechu vilambaramaCampaigning loudly with a microphone
Female :Mallu vetti thundu pottuFemale: Wearing traditional dhoti and towel
Mike-u vechu vilambaramaCampaigning loudly with a microphone
Female
Unga veettu pillai innaarHe claimed to be a child of your house
Vottu poda venum innaarHe asked everyone to cast their vote
Female :Unga veettu pillai innaarFemale: He claimed to be a child of your house
Vottu poda venum innaarHe asked everyone to cast their vote
Female
Kutty potta punai polaLike a cat that just gave birth to kittens
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Kutty potta punai polaFemale: Like a cat that just gave birth to kittens
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Avan kumbutta kaiyaThe hands he folded in plea
Erakkalaiyae ennaathaHe didn't lower at all, oh elder aunt!
Female :Avan kumbutta kaiyaFemale: The hands he folded in plea
Erakkalaiyae ennaathaHe didn't lower at all, oh elder aunt!
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female :Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeFemale: They came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Female
Ippa orutharaiyumNow, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female :Ippa orutharaiyumFemale: Now, not a single person
Kaanalaiyae ennaathaIs to be seen, oh elder aunt!
Female
Sokkaiyila dubai scentuWearing Dubai perfume on his shirt
Thoolu mela vella thunduA white towel draped over his shoulder
Female :Sokkaiyila dubai scentuFemale: Wearing Dubai perfume on his shirt
Thoolu mela vella thunduA white towel draped over his shoulder
Female
Ponavaatti president-uThe previous term's village president
Marupadiyum varanumenduWants to win again and come back
Female :Ponavaatti president-uFemale: The previous term's village president
Marupadiyum varanumenduWants to win again and come back
Female
Jeyichu vanthathumaeOnce he wins and returns
SellaathaOh Sellatha!
Female :Jeyichu vanthathumaeFemale: Once he wins and returns
SellaathaOh Sellatha!
Female
Oora singaporaa"I will turn this town into Singapore"
Maathuvennu sonnaathaHe promised to transform it like that
Female :Oora singaporaaFemale: "I will turn this town into Singapore"
Maathuvennu sonnaathaHe promised to transform it like that
Female
Vottu kekka vanthaagalaeThey came seeking our votes
ChinnaathaOh younger aunt!
Ippa orutharaiyum kaanalaiyaeNow not a single person is to be seen
EnnaathaOh elder aunt!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a sharp, satirical commentary on election politics in rural Tamil Nadu. It highlights how politicians arrive in flash cars, bow obsequiously, fabricate false kinships, and shower the villagers with grand, unrealistic promises—such as free gold, lower prices, jobs, and transforming rural villages into Singapore—just to secure votes. Through conversational dialogue addressed to village elder/younger women (Chinnaatha, Ennaatha, Sellaatha), the villagers recount how politicians act extremely humble during the short campaign period, like 'a cat that just gave birth', but completely vanish once the election ends. The song captures the skepticism, humor, and collective awareness of rural voters who see right through the temporary political drama.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kutty potta punai pola... Avan kumbutta kaiya erakkalaiyae

Compares the politician's constant begging for votes with folded hands to a restless cat that has just given birth and stays protective and agitated near her litter.

Irony / Satire (Sileda / Keali)

Oora singaporaa maathuvennu sonnaatha

Highlighting exaggerated political rhetoric where politicians unrealistically promise to turn underdeveloped rural villages into global hubs like Singapore.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Sokkaiyila dubai scentu / Thoolu mela vella thundu

Rhyming of the second consonant 'k' sound (Sokkaiyila / Thoolu) across alternating paired rhythmic phrases.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Vottu kekka vanthaagalae / Chinnaatha ... Kaanalaiyae ennaatha

The recurring chorus ends with consistent rhyming sounds ('vanthaagalae', 'kaanalaiyae', 'Chinnaatha', 'ennaatha') establishing folk song cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kalavani 2' (2019), directed by A. Sarkunam, is a romantic comedy film centered around local panchayat elections in rural Tamil Nadu. The song reflects the core plot of the film, which satirizes political maneuvering and election campaign culture.

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