Aadatha Aattam Ellam
From Mounam Pesiyadhe · 2002
- Lyricist
- Snehan
- Singer
- Karthik Raja
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Mounam Pesiyadhe2002
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aadaatha aatamellam | All the prideful dances |
| Pottavanga mannukulla | Those who danced them, inside the soil |
| Pona kathai unaku theriyuma … aaa aaa | Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Nee kondu vanthathenna | What did you bring with you? |
| Nee kondu povathenna | What will you take with you? |
| Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Hey vaazhkai inga yarukum sonthamillaiyae ..ae | Hey, life here belongs to no one ..ae |
| Vanthavanum varubavanum nilaipathillaiyae | Neither the one who came nor the one who is to come will stay forever |
| Yea neeum naanum nooru varusam irupathillai paru | Yeah, look, neither you nor I will live for a hundred years |
| Male | |
| Aadaatha aatamellam | All the prideful dances |
| Pottavanga mannukulla | Those who danced them, inside the soil |
| Pona kathai unaku theriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Nee kondu vanthathenna | What did you bring with you? |
| Nee kondu povathenna | What will you take with you? |
| Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa | Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa |
| Male | |
| Nitham kodi sugangal thedi | Seeking a million pleasures every day |
| Kangal moodi alaigindrom | We wander with our eyes blindly closed |
| Paavangalai melum melum | More and more sins |
| Serthukonde pogindrom | We keep accumulating as we go |
| Male | |
| Manithan ennum vedam pottu | Wearing the disguise of a human being |
| Mirugamaaga vaazhgindrom | We live like beasts |
| Theerpu ondru irupathai maranthu | Forgetting that a divine judgment exists |
| Theemaigalai seigindrom | We continue to commit evil deeds |
| Male | |
| Kaalam meendum thirumbaadhae | Time will never turn back |
| Paathai maari pogaadhae | Do not stray away from the path |
| Boomi konjam kulunginaalae | If the Earth shakes even just a little |
| Nindru pogum aatamae | This entire game of life will come to a sudden halt |
| Male | |
| Aadaatha aatamellam | All the prideful dances |
| Pottavanga mannukulla | Those who danced them, inside the soil |
| Pona kathai unaku theriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Nee kondu vanthathenna | What did you bring with you? |
| Nee kondu povathenna | What will you take with you? |
| Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Hey karuvaraikul kaanaatha | Hey, unseen inside the mother's womb |
| Kathukonda siru aatam | A small dance that was learned |
| Thottilukul sugamaaga thodarum aatamae | Comfortably continues as a dance inside the cradle |
| Paruvam pookum nerathil | At the time when youth blooms |
| Kaadhal seiya poraatam | The struggle to find love |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal vantha pinnaalae | Once love enters life |
| Bodhai aatamae | It becomes a dance of intoxication |
| Verukaaga oru aatam | One dance out of hatred |
| Kaasukaaga pala aatam | Many dances for the sake of money |
| Ettu kaalil pogumbodhu | When carried away on eight legs (pallbearers) |
| Ooru podum aatamae | The dance that the town performs for you |
| Male | |
| Aadaatha aatamellam | All the prideful dances |
| Pottavanga mannukulla | Those who danced them, inside the soil |
| Pona kathai unaku theriyuma … aaa aaa | Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Nee kondu vanthathenna | What did you bring with you? |
| Nee kondu povathenna | What will you take with you? |
| Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa |
| Male | |
| Hey vaazhkai inga yarukum sonthamillaiyae ..ae | Hey, life here belongs to no one ..ae |
| Vanthavanum varubavanum nilaipathillaiyae | Neither the one who came nor the one who is to come will stay forever |
| Yea neeum naanum nooru varusam irupathillai paru | Yeah, look, neither you nor I will live for a hundred years |
| Male | |
| Aadaatha aatamellam | All the prideful dances |
| Pottavanga mannukulla | Those who danced them, inside the soil |
| Pona kathai unaku theriyumaa … aaa aaa | Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa |
ஆடாத ஆட்டமெல்லாம்
போட்டவங்க மண்ணுக்குள்ள
போன கதை உனக்கு தொியுமா
All the prideful dances
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
நீ கொண்டு வந்ததென்ன
நீ கொண்டு போவதென்ன
உண்மை என்ன உனக்கு
புாியுமா
What did you bring with you?
What will you take with you?
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
ஹே வாழ்க்கை இங்க
யாருக்கும் சொந்தம் இல்லையே
வந்தவனும் வருபவனும்
நிலைப்பதில்லையே ஏ நீயும்
நானும் நூறு வருஷம்
இருப்பதில்லை பாரு
Hey, life here belongs to no one ..ae
Neither the one who came nor the one who is to come will stay forever
Yeah, look, neither you nor I will live for a hundred years
ஆடாத ஆட்டமெல்லாம்
போட்டவங்க மண்ணுக்குள்ள
போன கதை உனக்கு தொியுமா
All the prideful dances
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
நீ கொண்டு வந்ததென்ன
நீ கொண்டு போவதென்ன
உண்மை என்ன உனக்கு
புாியுமா
What did you bring with you?
What will you take with you?
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
ஆஆஆ..................
Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa
நித்தம் கோடி
சுகங்கள் தேடி கண்கள்
மூடி அலைகின்றோம்
பாவங்களை மேலும்
மேலும் சோ்த்து கொண்டே
போகின்றோம்
Seeking a million pleasures every day
We wander with our eyes blindly closed
More and more sins
We keep accumulating as we go
மனிதன் என்னும்
வேடம் போட்டு மிருகமாக
வாழ்கின்றோம் தீா்ப்பு ஒன்று
இருப்பதை மறந்து தீமைகள்
செய்கின்றோம்
Wearing the disguise of a human being
We live like beasts
Forgetting that a divine judgment exists
We continue to commit evil deeds
காலம் மீண்டும்
திரும்பாதே பாதை மாறி
போகாதே பூமி கொஞ்சம்
குலுங்கினாலே நின்று
போகும் ஆட்டமே
Time will never turn back
Do not stray away from the path
If the Earth shakes even just a little
This entire game of life will come to a sudden halt
ஆடாத ஆட்டமெல்லாம்
போட்டவங்க மண்ணுக்குள்ள
போன கதை உனக்கு தொியுமா
All the prideful dances
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
நீ கொண்டு வந்ததென்ன
நீ கொண்டு போவதென்ன
உண்மை என்ன உனக்கு
புாியுமா
What did you bring with you?
What will you take with you?
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
.....................................
Hey, unseen inside the mother's womb
A small dance that was learned
Comfortably continues as a dance inside the cradle
At the time when youth blooms
The struggle to find love
ஹே கருவறைக்குள்
காணாத கத்து கொண்ட சிறு
ஆட்டம் தொட்டிலுக்குள் சுகமாக
தொடரும் ஆட்டமே பருவம் பூக்கும்
நேரத்தில் காதல் செய்ய போராட்டம்
Once love enters life
It becomes a dance of intoxication
One dance out of hatred
Many dances for the sake of money
When carried away on eight legs (pallbearers)
The dance that the town performs for you
காதல் வந்த
பின்னாலே போதை
ஆட்டமே பேருக்காக
ஒரு ஆட்டம் காசுக்காக
பல ஆட்டம் எட்டு காலில்
போகும் போது ஊரு போடும்
ஆட்டமே
All the prideful dances
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
ஆடாத ஆட்டமெல்லாம்
போட்டவங்க மண்ணுக்குள்ள
போன கதை உனக்கு தொியுமா
What did you bring with you?
What will you take with you?
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
நீ கொண்டு வந்ததென்ன
நீ கொண்டு போவதென்ன
உண்மை என்ன உனக்கு
புாியுமா
Hey, life here belongs to no one ..ae
Neither the one who came nor the one who is to come will stay forever
Yeah, look, neither you nor I will live for a hundred years
ஹே வாழ்க்கை இங்க
யாருக்கும் சொந்தம் இல்லையே
வந்தவனும் வருபவனும்
நிலைப்பதில்லையே ஏ நீயும்
நானும் நூறு வருஷம்
இருப்பதில்லை பாரு
All the prideful dances
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
ஆடாத ஆட்டமெல்லாம்
போட்டவங்க மண்ணுக்குள்ள
போன கதை உனக்கு தொியுமா
Aadaatha aatamellam
All the prideful dances
Pottavanga mannukulla
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Pona kathai unaku theriyuma … aaa aaa
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
Nee kondu vanthathenna
What did you bring with you?
Nee kondu povathenna
What will you take with you?
Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
Hey vaazhkai inga yarukum sonthamillaiyae ..ae
Hey, life here belongs to no one ..ae
Vanthavanum varubavanum nilaipathillaiyae
Neither the one who came nor the one who is to come will stay forever
Yea neeum naanum nooru varusam irupathillai paru
Yeah, look, neither you nor I will live for a hundred years
Aadaatha aatamellam
All the prideful dances
Pottavanga mannukulla
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Pona kathai unaku theriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
Nee kondu vanthathenna
What did you bring with you?
Nee kondu povathenna
What will you take with you?
Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa
Aaaa aaaa aaaa aaaa
Nitham kodi sugangal thedi
Seeking a million pleasures every day
Kangal moodi alaigindrom
We wander with our eyes blindly closed
Paavangalai melum melum
More and more sins
Serthukonde pogindrom
We keep accumulating as we go
Manithan ennum vedam pottu
Wearing the disguise of a human being
Mirugamaaga vaazhgindrom
We live like beasts
Theerpu ondru irupathai maranthu
Forgetting that a divine judgment exists
Theemaigalai seigindrom
We continue to commit evil deeds
Kaalam meendum thirumbaadhae
Time will never turn back
Paathai maari pogaadhae
Do not stray away from the path
Boomi konjam kulunginaalae
If the Earth shakes even just a little
Nindru pogum aatamae
This entire game of life will come to a sudden halt
Aadaatha aatamellam
All the prideful dances
Pottavanga mannukulla
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Pona kathai unaku theriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
Nee kondu vanthathenna
What did you bring with you?
Nee kondu povathenna
What will you take with you?
Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
Hey karuvaraikul kaanaatha
Hey, unseen inside the mother's womb
Kathukonda siru aatam
A small dance that was learned
Thottilukul sugamaaga thodarum aatamae
Comfortably continues as a dance inside the cradle
Paruvam pookum nerathil
At the time when youth blooms
Kaadhal seiya poraatam
The struggle to find love
Kaadhal vantha pinnaalae
Once love enters life
Bodhai aatamae
It becomes a dance of intoxication
Verukaaga oru aatam
One dance out of hatred
Kaasukaaga pala aatam
Many dances for the sake of money
Ettu kaalil pogumbodhu
When carried away on eight legs (pallbearers)
Ooru podum aatamae
The dance that the town performs for you
Aadaatha aatamellam
All the prideful dances
Pottavanga mannukulla
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Pona kathai unaku theriyuma … aaa aaa
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
Nee kondu vanthathenna
What did you bring with you?
Nee kondu povathenna
What will you take with you?
Unmai enna unaku puriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you understand what the truth is? ... aaa aaa
Hey vaazhkai inga yarukum sonthamillaiyae ..ae
Hey, life here belongs to no one ..ae
Vanthavanum varubavanum nilaipathillaiyae
Neither the one who came nor the one who is to come will stay forever
Yea neeum naanum nooru varusam irupathillai paru
Yeah, look, neither you nor I will live for a hundred years
Aadaatha aatamellam
All the prideful dances
Pottavanga mannukulla
Those who danced them, inside the soil
Pona kathai unaku theriyumaa … aaa aaa
Do you know the story of where they went? ... aaa aaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Aadaatha Aatamellam' is a philosophical masterpiece from the movie Mounam Pesiyadhe that reflects on the impermanence of human life, ego, and worldly vanity. Lyricist Snehan uses the metaphor of 'aatam' (dance/act) to represent human actions, arrogance, and the stages of life—from the womb to the grave. It reminds listeners that humans enter this world empty-handed and depart the same way, urging humanity to realize the finality of death and abstain from greed, deceit, and malice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Urvagam)
“Verukaaga oru aatam / Kaasukaaga pala aatam”
Life is metaphorically portrayed as various stages of 'aatam' (dance), ranging from infant movements in the cradle to the final ritualistic procession on eight legs (pallbearers).
Rhetorical Question
“Nee kondu vanthathenna / Nee kondu povathenna”
The lyrics ask existential questions about what one brings into the world and takes upon death to provoke moral self-reflection.
Emoni / Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Aadaatha aatamellam / Pottavanga mannukulla”
Tamil poetic device of second-letter rhyming across consecutive lines (Aadaatha / Pottavanga / Pona).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja and sung powerfully by Shankar Mahadevan, 'Aadaatha Aatamellam' won critical acclaim and earned lyricist Snehan widespread recognition. The song's deep existential lyrics became one of the defining philosophical tracks of Tamil cinema in the early 2000s, frequently cited for its profound life lessons.
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