Aadalum Paadalum Alai Kadal
From Uthami Petra Rathinam · 1959
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- T. Chalapathi Rao
- Details
- Uthami Petra Rathinam1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum | Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean, |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Female | |
| Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum | Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean, |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Female | |
| Pattaali ezhaiyum | The poor working-class laborer, |
| Panakkara maedhaiyum | And the wealthy scholar, |
| Kootaaliyaavadhu endroo | When will they ever become companions? |
| Hoo pattaali ezhaiyum | Hoo, the poor working-class laborer, |
| Panakkara maedhaiyum | And the wealthy scholar, |
| Kootaaliyaavadhu endroo | When will they ever become companions? |
| Haa pasiyodu raava pagala | Haa, suffering with hunger day and night, |
| Pala kodi vaazhvadhu | For millions of people living their lives, |
| Female | |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Female | |
| Hoo ooo ooo aa aa | Hoo ooo ooo aa aa |
| Paavalan yettilum paradhesi ootilum | In a poet's books and in a wanderer's bowl, |
| Paarthalae puriyumae babu | If you look closely, you will understand, sir! |
| Ho paavalan yettilum paradhesi ootilum | Ho, in a poet's books and in a wanderer's bowl, |
| Paarthalae puriyumae babu | If you look closely, you will understand, sir! |
| Pagutharivodu poradi | Struggling with rational thought, |
| Muraiyodu vaazhvadhellam | Living life according to proper order, |
| Female | |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Female | |
| Ullasa maaligai oyyara kelikkai | Luxurious mansions and elegant amusements, |
| Ellaam minsaara minnal shocku | Are all like an electric lightning shock! |
| Aaa…aa ullasa maaligai oyyara kelikkai | Aaa...aa luxurious mansions and elegant amusements, |
| Ellaam minsaara minnal shocku | Are all like an electric lightning shock! |
| Shockodu poradi kaakka pidipadhellam | Struggling through shocks and flattering people, |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Female | |
| Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum | Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean, |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
| Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami | Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord! |
ஆடலும் பாடலும் அலை கடல் ஓடலும்
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
ஹோ அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean,
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
ஆடலும் பாடலும் அலை கடல் ஓடலும்
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
ஹோ அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean,
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
பாட்டாளி ஏழையும் பணக்கார மேதையும்
கூட்டாளியாவது என்றோ
பாட்டாளி ஏழையும் பணக்கார மேதையும்
கூட்டாளியாவது என்றோ
பசியோடு ராவா பகலா பல கோடி வாழ்வது
The poor working-class laborer,
And the wealthy scholar,
When will they ever become companions?
Hoo, the poor working-class laborer,
And the wealthy scholar,
When will they ever become companions?
Haa, suffering with hunger day and night,
For millions of people living their lives,
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
ஹோ அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
ஹோ...ஓ..ஓ.....ஆ...
பாவலன் ஏட்டிலும் பரதேசி ஓட்டிலும்
பார்த்தாலே புரியுமே பாபு
ஹோ பாவலன் ஏட்டிலும் பரதேசி ஓட்டிலும்
பார்த்தாலே புரியுமே பாபு
பகுத்தறிவோடு போராடி முறையோடு வாழ்வதெல்லாம்
Hoo ooo ooo aa aa
In a poet's books and in a wanderer's bowl,
If you look closely, you will understand, sir!
Ho, in a poet's books and in a wanderer's bowl,
If you look closely, you will understand, sir!
Struggling with rational thought,
Living life according to proper order,
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
ஹோ அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
உல்லாச மாளிகை ஒய்யார கேளிக்கை
எல்லாம் மின்சார மின்னல் ஷாக்கு
ஆ...ஆ...உல்லாச மாளிகை ஒய்யார கேளிக்கை
எல்லாம் மின்சார மின்னல் ஷாக்கு
ஷாக்கோடு போராடி காக்கா பிடிப்பதெல்லாம்
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
Luxurious mansions and elegant amusements,
Are all like an electric lightning shock!
Aaa...aa luxurious mansions and elegant amusements,
Are all like an electric lightning shock!
Struggling through shocks and flattering people,
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
ஆடலும் பாடலும் அலை கடல் ஓடலும்..
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
ஹோ அரை ஜாண் வயத்துக்கே சாமீ
Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean,
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum
Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean,
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum
Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean,
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Pattaali ezhaiyum
The poor working-class laborer,
Panakkara maedhaiyum
And the wealthy scholar,
Kootaaliyaavadhu endroo
When will they ever become companions?
Hoo pattaali ezhaiyum
Hoo, the poor working-class laborer,
Panakkara maedhaiyum
And the wealthy scholar,
Kootaaliyaavadhu endroo
When will they ever become companions?
Haa pasiyodu raava pagala
Haa, suffering with hunger day and night,
Pala kodi vaazhvadhu
For millions of people living their lives,
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo ooo ooo aa aa
Hoo ooo ooo aa aa
Paavalan yettilum paradhesi ootilum
In a poet's books and in a wanderer's bowl,
Paarthalae puriyumae babu
If you look closely, you will understand, sir!
Ho paavalan yettilum paradhesi ootilum
Ho, in a poet's books and in a wanderer's bowl,
Paarthalae puriyumae babu
If you look closely, you will understand, sir!
Pagutharivodu poradi
Struggling with rational thought,
Muraiyodu vaazhvadhellam
Living life according to proper order,
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Ullasa maaligai oyyara kelikkai
Luxurious mansions and elegant amusements,
Ellaam minsaara minnal shocku
Are all like an electric lightning shock!
Aaa…aa ullasa maaligai oyyara kelikkai
Aaa...aa luxurious mansions and elegant amusements,
Ellaam minsaara minnal shocku
Are all like an electric lightning shock!
Shockodu poradi kaakka pidipadhellam
Struggling through shocks and flattering people,
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum
Dancing and singing, navigating the wavy ocean,
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Hoo arai jaan vayathikkae saami
Hoo, is all for this half-span belly, oh Lord!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song, written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and composed by T. Chalapathi Rao, is a philosophical reflection on human struggle and survival. It highlights how all human endeavors—whether performing arts, seafaring, writing poetry, or flattering the wealthy—are ultimately driven by the fundamental need to satisfy the stomach ('arai jaan vayiru'). The lyrics subtly critique social inequality, pointing out the vast divide between the working poor and the rich while highlighting that basic human hunger unites everyone in struggle.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Arai jaan vayathikkae saami”
Refers to human hunger and basic survival needs as 'arai jaan' (a half-span measure), reducing complex human endeavors down to satisfying the stomach.
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Paavalan yettilum paradhesi ootilum”
'Paavalan' and 'Paradhesi' along with 'yettilum' and 'ootilum' display second-letter harmony across the poetic line.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Aadalum paadalum alai kadal oodalum”
Repetition of the initial 'A' vowel sound in 'Aadalum' and 'alai'.
Modern Imagery / Simile
“Ellaam minsaara minnal shocku”
Compares high-society luxury and modern temptations to a sudden electric lightning shock.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Arai jaan vayiru' (the half-span belly) is a legendary Tamil idiom used across literature to represent basic sustenance. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass effectively uses folk rhythms and social commentary in this 1959 track sung by S. Janaki early in her illustrious playback singing career.
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