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Lyrics & meaning

Yeya En Kottikara

From Papanasam · 2015

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Sundar Narayana Rao, Malavika Anilkumar
Music director
Ghibran
Details
Papanasam2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yeya en kottikkaaraaHey, my proud partner!
Ada vaaya en vettaikkaaraAh, come here, my hunter!
Kuthaala saaral polLike the cool drizzle of Courtallam,
Thalai thattum settai kaaraYou mischievous one who playfully pats my head!
Sethalum vazhndhalumWhether I die or live,
Nee thaan en chottukaaraaYou alone are the master of my wealth and life!
Male
Ae aeti en kottikkaariHey, my proud woman!
Adi yela en vettaikkaariAh, hey, my female hunter!
Kuthaala saaral polLike the cool drizzle of Courtallam,
Thalai thattum settai kaariYou mischievous girl who playfully pats my head!
Sethalum vazhndhalumWhether I die or live,
Nee thaan en chottukariYou alone are the master of my wealth and life!
Female
Thedi setha kaasai polIs love kept carefully,
Kadhal irukudhaaLike money earned through diligent searching?
Konjamaaga edukkuraTaking only a tiny bit,
Kanjam thadukudhaaDoes miserliness hold you back?
Male
Kaasai pola kadhalumUnlike money, love isn't meant
SelavukkillattiTo be spent sparingly!
Kodi mutham vangikkoTake a crore kisses,
Kanjan illattiIf you aren't a miser!
Male
Chinna pulla naandhaanI am still a young boy,
Pennae unmai alloOh woman, isn't that true?
Ennai thaanga ippoTo hold and care for me now,
Moonu ammaiyalloAren't there three mothers?
Female
Paalaruviyum thenaruviyumThe Milk Falls and the Honey Falls,
AindharuviyumAnd the Five Falls,
Un nesathin munnae munnaeIn front of your deep love,
Thothae pogumWill all lose!
Mannilae sorgamidhuThis is heaven on earth!
Female
Yeya en kottikkaaraaHey, my proud partner!
Ada vaaya en vettaikkaaraAh, come here, my hunter!
Kuthaala saaral polLike the cool drizzle of Courtallam,
Thalai thattum settai kaaraYou mischievous one who playfully pats my head!
Sethalum vazhndhalumWhether I die or live,
Nee thaan en chottukaaraaYou alone are the master of my wealth and life!
Male
Kaasai pola kadhalumUnlike money, love isn't meant
SelavukkillattiTo be spent sparingly!
Kodi mutham vangikkoTake a crore kisses,
Kanjan illattiIf you aren't a miser!
Female
Pattampoochi polaLike a butterfly,
Vannam alli thaaraeI gather colors and shower them on you!
Kannil innum veraIn my eyes, something else
Etho solli tharaIs waiting to be expressed!
Male
Naan nenachadhumWhat I thought
Nee nenachadhumAnd what you thought,
Noolizhaiyila dhaanBy just a hair's breadth,
VazhukkidaDid it slip away?
Pesi pesi innum pesiTalking, talking, and talking more,
Pesaanillai varumoWill a state beyond words ever be reached?
Female
Thedi setha kaasai polIs love kept carefully,
Kadhal irukudhaaLike money earned through diligent searching?
Konjamaaga edukkuraTaking only a tiny bit,
Kanjam thadukudhaaDoes miserliness hold you back?
Male
Kaasai pola kadhalumUnlike money, love isn't meant
SelavukkillattiTo be spent sparingly!
Kodi mutham vangikkoTake a crore kisses,
Kanjan illattiIf you aren't a miser!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Yeya En Kottikkaaraa' is a soulful and affectionate duet from the Tamil movie 'Papanasam' (2015), penned by late lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar and composed by Ghibran. The song captures the deep-rooted love, playfully romantic banter, and domestic warmth between a rustic couple (portrayed by Kamal Haasan and Gautami). Set in the Tirunelveli/Tenkasi region, the lyrics employ local geography and metaphors—referencing famous waterfalls like Kuthaalam (Courtallam), Paalaruvi, Thenaruvi, and Aindharuvi—to illustrate how boundless and overflowing their affection is compared to natural wonders. Throughout the track, the couple compares love to money and wealth, humorously urging each other not to be misers when bestowing affection and kisses. The imagery transitions from gentle rain drizzles and butterflies to a serene state of quiet emotional understanding beyond words, celebrating an enduring bond that stands strong through life and death.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Simile

Kuthaala saaral pol / Thalai thattum settai kaara

Compares the mischievous partner's gentle head-patting touch to the cool, soothing drizzle of Courtallam.

Ethirai / Metaphor

Thedi setha kaasai pol / Kadhal irukudhaa

Compares love to accumulated savings/money, contrasting material miserliness with emotional generosity.

Uvamaani / Simile

Pattampoochi pola / Vannam alli thaarae

Compares the vibrant expression of love to the colorful nature of a butterfly.

Local Topographical Imagery

Paalaruviyum thenaruviyum / Aindharuviyum

Invokes specific real waterfalls in the Courtallam area to hyperbolically prove that their love surpasses all natural wonders.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ghibran and sung by Sundar Narayana Rao and Malavika Anilkumar. The film 'Papanasam' marked the onscreen reunion of Kamal Haasan and Gautami after two decades. The song features regional Tirunelveli dialect terms like 'Kottikkaaran' (property/wealth owner or leader) and captures the lush, rainy atmosphere of the Tirunelveli-Tenkasi border region where Courtallam waterfalls are located.

Keep listening

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