Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Arivaali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aadura Maattai Aadi Karakkanum

From Arivaali · 1963

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Movie name
Arivaali
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
Arivum thiramaiyum venum
Edhukkum arivum thiramaiyum venum
Arivum thiramaiyum venum
Edhukkum arivum thiramaiyum venum
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
Kaadu medaaga tharisaaga kidantha mannu
Ner kalanjiyamaanathu eppadiyendru ennu
Kaadu medaaga tharisaaga kidantha mannu
Ner kalanjiyamaanathu eppadiyendru ennu
Adhu paadupadum vivasaayigal thiramaiyinaalae
Adhu paadupadum vivasaayigal thiramaiyinaalae
Nalla palanundu naamithai unarnthu nadappathanaalae
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
Mannodu mannaaga mangi kidakkira ponnu
Ilam mangaiyar aniyum nagaigalaavathai ennu
Mannodu mannaaga mangi kidakkira ponnu
Ilam mangaiyar aniyum nagaigalaavathai ennu
Adhu minnuvathellaam thozhilaali thiramaiyinaalae
Adhu minnuvathellaam thozhilaali thiramaiyinaalae
Pudhu merugu kidaippathum kaiyaalum muraigalinaalae
Pudhu merugu kidaippathum kaiyaalum muraigalinaalae
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
Mannaiyum ponnaiyum pondravalaethaan pennum
Aval manathai arinthaalae vasappaduththalaam aanum
Mannaiyum ponnaiyum pondravalaethaan pennum
Aval manathai arinthaalae vasappaduththalaam aanum
Idhai enni paaramal pesuvathaal palan illai….aa….aa…..
Idhai enni paaramal pesuvathaal palan illai
Pennidam irukkum kuraigalai mattruvathu aangalin velai
Pennidam irukkum kuraigalai mattruvathu aangalin velai
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
Arivum thiramaiyum venum
Edhukkum arivum thiramaiyum venum
Aadura maattai aadi karakkanum
Paadura maattai paadi karakkanum
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
You need wisdom and skill,
For anything, you need wisdom and skill.
You need wisdom and skill,
For anything, you need wisdom and skill.
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
The land that once lay barren with rough mounds and wild brush,
Think about how it turned into a rich granary of grain!
The land that once lay barren with rough mounds and wild brush,
Think about how it turned into a rich granary of grain!
That is through the skill of hardworking farmers,
That is through the skill of hardworking farmers.
Great rewards will follow if we understand this and act wisely.
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
The gold that lies buried dull and hidden in the dirt,
Think of how it becomes jewels worn by young women!
The gold that lies buried dull and hidden in the dirt,
Think of how it becomes jewels worn by young women!
All its shine comes from the artisan's skill,
All its shine comes from the artisan's skill.
A fresh polish is gained by knowing how to handle it.
A fresh polish is gained by knowing how to handle it.
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
A woman too is just like the soil and the gold;
If a man understands her heart, he can win her over.
A woman too is just like the soil and the gold;
If a man understands her heart, he can win her over.
There is no use in talking without realizing this... ah... ah...
There is no use in talking without realizing this.
Smoothing out a woman's flaws is a man's task.
Smoothing out a woman's flaws is a man's task.
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
You need wisdom and skill,
For anything, you need wisdom and skill.
To milk a restless cow, you must dance along with it,
To milk a calm cow, you must sing along to it.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aadadhada Aadadhada1993
SendhoorapandiContemplativeGeneral Social Commentary
Naama Aaduvathum1956
Alibabavum 40 ThirudargalumWork And DutyPoverty
Maanam Nenjile1960
Kaithi KannayiramPovertyGeneral Social Commentary
Vaangum Panathukkum2012
DhoniResilienceContemplative
Baby2016
JigarthandaContemplativeGeneral Social Commentary
Nalla Penmani Miga Nalla1951
ManamagalWork And DutyContemplative

From the same album

More songs from Arivaali

View album
Venkataramana Pankaja Sarana1963
ArivaaliDevotional
Vazhiya Needuzhi1963
ArivaaliDevotional
Koovatha Inbakkuyil Koovum1963
ArivaaliJoyful
En Kobam Pollathu1963
ArivaaliPlayful
Arivukku Virunthagum1963
ArivaaliDevotional

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.