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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadi Pattam

From Ponnumani · 1993

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponnumani1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aadi pattam thedi paarthuLooking out for the Aadi season (sowing season),
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.
Male
Aadi pattam thedi paarthuLooking out for the Aadi season,
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.
Male
Velanjadhu nellumaniWhat grew is the precious paddy grain,
Vedhachavan ponnumaniThe one who sowed it is precious like gold.
Vedha podanum podanum podanumSeeds must be sown, sown, sown,
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranumThe hunger of the world must be appeased, appeased.
Aadi pattamThe Aadi season...
Male
Ahaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthuAhaa... looking out for the Aadi season,
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.
Male
{Karpoorathu vethalaiya{Camphor betel leaf,
Mennu thinnu thuppaiyilaWhen chewed, eaten, and spit out,
Sugama naavoramPleasantly at the edge of the tongue,
Paatonnu oorum} (2)A song springs forth} (2)
Male
Ada manushan serkkumAh, the money that
Panam thaanA human accumulates,
Adhu neranja maarumIf it fills up, it changes
Gunam thaanTheir character.
Male
Ada oruthan vangumAh, the debt that
Kadan thaanOne takes,
Adhu usura vangumIt claims one's life
Dhenam thaanEvery single day.
Male
Katterumbu thaan koodaEven the black ants
Kootam koodi vazhumLive together as a group;
Ingae buthi kettu nee ponaIf you lose your mind here,
Vaazhkai enna aagumWhat will become of your life?
Vedha podanum podanum podanumSeeds must be sown, sown, sown,
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranumThe hunger of the world must be appeased, appeased.
Aadi pattamThe Aadi season...
Male
Aaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthuAaa... looking out for the Aadi season,
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.
Male
Thandha nana thandha nanaThandha nana thandha nana
Thaa na naa naa..Thaa na naa naa..
Thandha nana thandha nanaThandha nana thandha nana
Thaa na naa naa..Thaa na naa naa..
Thandhaana thandhaana thandhaanaThandhaana thandhaana thandhaana
Thandhaana thandhaana thandhaanaThandhaana thandhaana thandhaana
Male
{Anju viral modhiramum{Five-finger rings
Panju methai seethanamumAnd cotton mattress dowry,
Adadaa nee kettaAh, if you demand such things,
Naadenna aagum} (2)What will happen to the country?} (2)
Male
Oru ponnu ketkkumThe boon that a girl asks
Varam thaanIs simply
Ava purushan manasilA place in her husband's
Edam thaamHeart.
Male
Ada onna sernthuAh, if walked
NadanthaTogether as one,
Karum kaadum medumDense forests and hills
Thadam thaanWill turn into a paved path.
Male
Inbam thunbam ellamaeConsider joy and sorrow
Onnu pola ennuBoth as equal;
Unna thanthathukku thaanaagaFor giving of yourself,
Perumai pesum mannuThe soil itself will naturally sing your praise.
Vedha podanum podanum podanumSeeds must be sown, sown, sown,
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranumThe hunger of the world must be appeased, appeased.
Aadi pattamThe Aadi season...
Male
Aaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthuAaa... looking out for the Aadi season,
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.
Male
Velanjadhu nellumaniWhat grew is the precious paddy grain,
Vedhachavan ponnumaniThe one who sowed it is precious like gold.
Vedha podanum podanum podanumSeeds must be sown, sown, sown,
Ulagae pasi aaranum aaranumThe hunger of the world must be appeased, appeased.
Aadi pattamThe Aadi season...
Male
Ahaa..aadi pattam thedi paarthuAhaa... looking out for the Aadi season,
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.
Male
Aadi pattam thedi paarthuLooking out for the Aadi season,
Vedhaikanum kannaiyyaWe must sow the seeds, my dear man.
Yeru pootum ezhai kootamThe poor people who plow the fields
Vazhanum chinnaiyyaMust live well, my young master.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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