Senthil Dass, Roshini, Priya Prakash, and K Ekadesi deliver ‘It Athu But Aanaal’ from Justin Prabhakaran’s album ‘Raavana Kottam.’ Lyricist K. Ekadesi structures a rapid-fire cultural debate between Tamil heritage and globalized trends.
Released: March 15, 2023
It Athu But Aanaal
Roshini | Senthil Dass • From “Raavana Kottam”
It Athu But Aanaal Lyrics Translation (from “Raavana Kottam”)
K. Ekadesi juxtaposes Tamil sweets with Western fast food, questioning unnecessary adoptions like ‘Pizza Burger Ethukku’ when local options exist. The vocal ensemble emphasizes mother tongue importance in ‘Manusan Ellathukkum Mother Tongue Is One You Know.’
It Athu But AanaalIt means ‘Athu’, but means ‘Aanaal’.
What Ena Say SolluWhat means ‘Ena’, say means ‘Sollu’.
It Athu But AanaalIt means ‘Athu’, but means ‘Aanaal’.
What Ena Say SolluWhat means ‘Ena’, say means ‘Sollu’.
It Athu But AanaalIt means ‘Athu’, but means ‘Aanaal’.
What Ena Say SolluWhat means ‘Ena’, say means ‘Sollu’.
It Athu But AanaalIt means ‘Athu’, but means ‘Aanaal’.
What Ena Say SolluWhat means ‘Ena’, say means ‘Sollu’.
English EthukkuWhy do we need English?
YeHey!
Annai Thamizh IrukkuWhen our mother Tamil is right here.
Pizza Burger EthukkuWhy crave pizza and burgers?
Adhirasam Murukku IrukkuWe have ‘adhirasam’ and ‘murukku’.
Sticker Pottu Peythu KaattuYou stick a bindi on and show off.
Sleeveless Sattai Ethana OttaHow many holes does that sleeveless shirt have?
Akkarakari Azhukku MuthammaHey, messy Muthamma from next door.
YeHey!
Unga Sekku SollathuYour old tricks won’t work.
Ithu Raavana KottaiThis is Raavana’s fortress.
English Pesatha Naadu Enga IrukkuWhere is the country that doesn’t speak English?
Manusan EllathukkumBut for all mankind,
Mother Tongue Is One You KnowThe mother tongue is the one you truly know.
Mugathula Puthara VechchiYou keep a bush on your face,
Meesaiyinnu Solluvingaand call it a mustache.
Vetti YethithanaYou lift your ‘dhoti’ up arrogantly,
Veerathaiyum Kaattuvingaand try to show off your bravery.
Moonji Poora Paint AdichuYou paint your whole face,
Makeup Nu Sollura Neengaand call it makeup.
Buttocks Theriya Pant PottuYou wear pants that reveal your buttocks,
Fashionunnu Alaiyuringaand wander around calling it fashion.
Ola Potta Cafe VarumIf you book an Ola, does a cafe arrive?
Uber Potta Noodles VarumIf you book an Uber, do noodles arrive?
Ice Cream Taste Il Auto VarumDoes an auto come in ice cream flavor?
Ac Roomil Dreamu VarumDo dreams come in an AC room?
Veppangaatril Sorgam VarumHeaven arrives in the neem breeze.
Palaiya Soru DevamirthamFermented rice is divine nectar.
Oo Nnu Sonna Oore VarumIf you just say ‘Oh’, the whole town gathers.
Uravukku Onnunna Ethukkum ThuninjiIf family is in trouble, they’ll dare anything,
Usira Kodukkumand give their very lives.
It Athu But AanaalIt means ‘Athu’, but means ‘Aanaal’.
What Ena Say SolluWhat means ‘Ena’, say means ‘Sollu’.
It Athu But AanaalIt means ‘Athu’, but means ‘Aanaal’.
What Ena Say SolluWhat means ‘Ena’, say means ‘Sollu’.
Soodhu Kazhuthu ArukkumDeceit will slit its own throat,
Sethupathi Silaiyilaby the Sethupathi statue.
Soap Mudinju VanthaWhen the fancy soap runs out,
Pappa Nattu Aiyanachithe native god rules the land.
Unna PaakkayilaWhen I look at you,
Olaiya KothikkirenI boil over like a burning palm leaf.
Kanna Nondum MunneBefore I poke your eye,
Kaana Thisaiya Poyi Varun away to an unseen land.
Podiyamma PodiyammaLittle girl, little girl.
PodiyammaLittle girl.
What Is At TheWhat is at the,
End Of A Rainbowend of a rainbow?
What Is At TheWhat is at the,
End Of A Rainbowend of a rainbow?
Hey Vanavillula KadaisiyaHey, at the very end of a rainbow,
Enna Irukkum Sollutell me what is there?
Vanavillula KadaisiyaAt the very end of a rainbow,
Enna Irukkum Sollutell me what is there?
Rainbow EndulaAt the end of ‘Rainbow’,
W Irukkumthere is a ‘W’.
Vanavillu KadaisiyilaAt the end of ‘Vanavil’,
L Irukkumthere is an ‘L’.
EppudiHow’s that?
Raman Valacha VillathanHe bears the bow bent by Rama,
Sinnamaga Kondavanas his emblem.
Kannagiya EzhuthinavanHe is the brother of the one,
Kooda Pirantha Annan Ivanwho wrote Kannagi’s epic.
Rama Nattu KaavakkaranHe is the guardian of Ramnad soil.
Rathathoda Ratham IvanHe is our blood of our blood.
Rama Nattu KaavakkaranHe is the guardian of Ramnad soil.
Rathathoda Ratham IvanHe is our blood of our blood.
Sethupathi Seemarasa VechirukkumHe is the sword wielded by,
Vaalu Avanthe Sethupathi king.
Avan YaaruWho is he?
Avan YaaruWho is he?
Avan YaaruWho is he?
It Athu But Aanaal Music Video
The ‘It Athu But Aanaal’ lyrics meaning emerges through satirical contrasts of tradition and modernity. Justin Prabhakaran’s composition uses energetic percussion to mirror the lyrical tension about cultural identity.