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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadura Maattai Aadi Karakkanum

From Arivaali · 1963

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Details
Arivaali1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it
Male
Arivum thiramaiyum venumKnowledge and skill are required
Edhukkum arivum thiramaiyum venumKnowledge and skill are required for everything
Arivum thiramaiyum venumKnowledge and skill are required
Edhukkum arivum thiramaiyum venumKnowledge and skill are required for everything
Male
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it
Male
Kaadu medaaga tharisaaga kidantha mannuThe land that lay as wild mounds and barren waste
Ner kalanjiyamaanathu eppadiyendru ennuPonder how it was transformed into a granary of rice
Kaadu medaaga tharisaaga kidantha mannuThe land that lay as wild mounds and barren waste
Ner kalanjiyamaanathu eppadiyendru ennuPonder how it was transformed into a granary of rice
Male
Adhu paadupadum vivasaayigal thiramaiyinaalaeIt is all due to the skill of the hard-working farmers
Adhu paadupadum vivasaayigal thiramaiyinaalaeIt is all due to the skill of the hard-working farmers
Nalla palanundu naamithai unarnthu nadappathanaalaeWe reap great benefits if we realize this and act accordingly
Male
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it
Male
Mannodu mannaaga mangi kidakkira ponnuGold that lies dull and hidden deep inside the dirt
Ilam mangaiyar aniyum nagaigalaavathai ennuPonder how it becomes glittering jewelry for young women
Mannodu mannaaga mangi kidakkira ponnuGold that lies dull and hidden deep inside the dirt
Ilam mangaiyar aniyum nagaigalaavathai ennuPonder how it becomes glittering jewelry for young women
Male
Adhu minnuvathellaam thozhilaali thiramaiyinaalaeAll that shines is because of the artisan's skill
Adhu minnuvathellaam thozhilaali thiramaiyinaalaeAll that shines is because of the artisan's skill
Pudhu merugu kidaippathum kaiyaalum muraigalinaalaeAcquiring a brilliant sheen depends on the methods applied
Pudhu merugu kidaippathum kaiyaalum muraigalinaalaeAcquiring a brilliant sheen depends on the methods applied
Male
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it
Male
Mannaiyum ponnaiyum pondravalaethaan pennumA woman too is just like the soil and gold
Aval manathai arinthaalae vasappaduththalaam aanumA man can win her over if he understands her heart
Mannaiyum ponnaiyum pondravalaethaan pennumA woman too is just like the soil and gold
Aval manathai arinthaalae vasappaduththalaam aanumA man can win her over if he understands her heart
Male
Idhai enni paaramal pesuvathaal palan illai….aa….aa…..There is no point in talking without reflecting on this...
Idhai enni paaramal pesuvathaal palan illaiThere is no point in talking without reflecting on this
Pennidam irukkum kuraigalai mattruvathu aangalin velaiIt is the man's responsibility to gently correct her flaws
Pennidam irukkum kuraigalai mattruvathu aangalin velaiIt is the man's responsibility to gently correct her flaws
Male
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it
Male
Arivum thiramaiyum venumKnowledge and skill are required
Edhukkum arivum thiramaiyum venumKnowledge and skill are required for everything
Male
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanumOne must milk a dancing cow by moving along with it
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanumOne must milk a singing cow by singing along with it

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aadura Maattai Aadi Karakkanum from the movie Arivaali (1963) is a pragmatic and philosophical folk-style song about tact, patience, and strategy. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and written by A. Maruthakasi, the song emphasizes that brute force fails where wisdom and tailored skills succeed. Using relatable agricultural and craft metaphors, the song illustrates how barren land becomes a fertile paddy field through a farmer's labor, and how dull raw ore becomes fine jewelry through a goldsmith's skill.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor & Folk Parable (Uvamai)

Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum / Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum

Uses the metaphor of dealing with restless cows (aadura maadu / paadura maadu) to illustrate adapting one's approach based on individual temperaments.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum / Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum

Rhyming endings using identical verbs and suffixes ('karakkanum', 'venum', 'ennu', 'thiramaiyinaalae') across couplets to create a rhythmic folk beat.

Etukai (Second Letter Assonance)

Kaadu medaaga tharisaaga kidantha mannu / Ner kalanjiyamaanathu eppadiyendru ennu

Matching second consonants across lines ('Kaadu' / 'Ner kalanjiyamaanathu', 'Mannoidu' / 'Ilam mangaiyar').

Did you know?

Trivia

Arivaali (1963) starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play 'The Taming of the Shrew'. This song directly plays into the central motif of the film, where the protagonist uses intelligence and tact to win over and reform an arrogant woman.

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