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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadi Pattam

From Ponnumani · 1993

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ponnumani
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
4 Mar 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
Aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
Velanjadhu nellumani
Vedhachavan ponnumani
Vedha podanum podanum podanum
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranum
Aadi pattam
Ahaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
{Karpoorathu vethalaiya
Mennu thinnu thuppaiyila
Sugama naavoram
Paatonnu oorum} (2)
Ada manushan serkkum
Panam thaan
Adhu neranja maarum
Gunam thaan
Ada oruthan vangum
Kadan thaan
Adhu usura vangum
Dhenam thaan
Katterumbu thaan kooda
Kootam koodi vazhum
Ingae buthi kettu nee pona
Vaazhkai enna aagum
Vedha podanum podanum podanum
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranum
Aadi pattam
Aaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
Thandha nana thandha nana
Thaa na naa naa..
Thandha nana thandha nana
Thaa na naa naa..
Thandhaana thandhaana thandhaana
Thandhaana thandhaana thandhaana
{Anju viral modhiramum
Panju methai seethanamum
Adadaa nee ketta
Naadenna aagum} (2)
Oru ponnu ketkkum
Varam thaan
Ava purushan manasil
Edam thaam
Ada onna sernthu
Nadantha
Karum kaadum medum
Thadam thaan
Inbam thunbam ellamae
Onnu pola ennu
Unna thanthathukku thaanaaga
Perumai pesum mannu
Vedha podanum podanum podanum
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranum
Aadi pattam
Aaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
Velanjadhu nellumani
Vedhachavan ponnumani
Vedha podanum podanum podanum
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranum
Aadi pattam
Ahaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
Aadi pattam thedi paarthu
Vedhaikanum kannaiyya
Yeru pootum ezhai kootam
Vazhanum chinnaiyya
Looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
Looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
What grew was grains of paddy,
and the one who sowed it was Ponnumani!
We must sow the seeds, sow them, sow them,
so the hunger of the whole world is satisfied!
The Aadi season...
Aha, looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
While chewing fragrant camphor betel leaves,
and spitting out the juice,
sweetly from the tip of the tongue,
a song begins to flow!
Ah, the wealth that a man
gathers and saves,
when it overflows, it only spoils
his good character!
Ah, the debt that a man
takes upon himself,
it tortures his very life
day after day!
Even the tiny black ants
live together in unity!
If you lose your senses here,
what will become of your life?
We must sow the seeds, sow them, sow them,
so the hunger of the whole world is satisfied!
The Aadi season...
Ah... Looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
Thantha nana thantha nana
Thaana naa naa...
Thantha nana thantha nana
Thaana naa naa...
Thandhaana thandhaana thandhaana
Thandhaana thandhaana thandhaana
Rings on all five fingers,
and a cotton mattress as dowry—
oh dear, if you demand all this,
what will become of our land?
The only boon
that a woman asks for,
is a place
in her husband's heart!
Ah, if we walk
together as one,
even dense forests and rugged hills
will turn into an open path!
Treat joy and sorrow
both as the same,
and for giving birth to you,
this land will proudly sing your praise!
We must sow the seeds, sow them, sow them,
so the hunger of the whole world is satisfied!
The Aadi season...
Ah... Looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
What grew was grains of paddy,
and the one who sowed it was Ponnumani!
We must sow the seeds, sow them, sow them,
so the hunger of the whole world is satisfied!
The Aadi season...
Aha, looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
Looking out for the Aadi sowing season,
we must sow the seeds, Kannayya!
The poor folk who hitch the plough
must live well, Chinnayya!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aadi Pattam Thedi Paarthu is a folk-inspired song from the 1993 Tamil movie Ponnumani. The song celebrates the life, dignity, and crucial role of agrarian laborers who sow seeds during the auspicious Aadi month to feed the world. It serves as a philosophical reflection on hard work, social equality, and living simply without greed or excessive material demands like dowry. Through vivid metaphors of village life, ants working together, and the joy of simple betel-leaf chewing, the lyrics champion community solidarity, equality between joy and sorrow, and the selfless nature of the farmer whose work nurtures humanity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Velanjadhu nellumani / Vedhachavan ponnumani

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across line starts (e.g., 'Velanjadhu' and 'Vedhachavan').

Anaphora / Repetition (Erattai Sollar)

Vedha podanum podanum podanum / Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranum

Repetition of words like 'podanum' and 'aaranum' for rhythmic emphasis on the urgency of farming and alleviating hunger.

Metaphor

Vedhachavan ponnumani

Comparing the farmer who sows seeds to 'Ponnumani' (a gold coin/gem), highlighting the intrinsic value of agricultural labor.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by director-lyricist R. V. Udhayakumar, the soundtrack of Ponnumani achieved massive commercial success, winning critical acclaim for its authentic rural orchestration and deep social commentary on farming.

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