Aalai Paathu Maalai Maathu Title
From Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu · 1990
- Lyricist
- Muthulingam
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Aalay Pathu Malai Mathu1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the mother before exchanging garlands. |
| Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu | Examine the soil before sowing the seed. |
| Male | |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the mother before exchanging garlands. |
| Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu | Examine the soil before sowing the seed. |
| Male | |
| Medaiyila muzhakkam idum thalaivargala paaru | Look at the leaders roaring on the stage, |
| Kolgaiyin mudivuppadi nadappavanga yaaru | Who among them actually lives according to their principles? |
| Medaiyila muzhakkam idum thalaivargala paaru | Look at the leaders roaring on the stage, |
| Kolgaiyin mudivuppadi nadappavanga yaaru | Who among them actually lives according to their principles? |
| Male | |
| Sollilae pothunalam seyalilae suyanalam | Public welfare in their speech, selfishness in their actions, |
| Anaivarum nari inam ariyanum podhu janam | They are all a sly breed of foxes; the public must realize this. |
| Aringar sonna vazhaiya vittu vilagi sellaathae | Do not stray away from the path shown by wise scholars. |
| Azhagil mayangi unathu mudivai maattri kollaathae | Do not change your decisions getting mesmerized by superficial beauty. |
| Male | |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the mother before exchanging garlands. |
| Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu | Examine the soil before sowing the seed. |
| Male | |
| Pattapadippai ellaam padichavanga kodi | Crores of people have acquired degrees and education, |
| Panbai maranthavanga adhula oru paathi | Yet half of them have forgotten character and culture. |
| Pattapadippai ellaam padichavanga kodi | Crores of people have acquired degrees and education, |
| Panbai maranthavanga adhula oru paathi | Yet half of them have forgotten character and culture. |
| Male | |
| Panivudan nadappathu gunaththilae siranthathu | Conducting oneself with humility is the finest virtue, |
| Pagattilae thirivathu perumaiyai kulaippathu | Wandering in ostentation destroys one's honor. |
| Udhattil onnum manaththil onnum | Having one thing on the lips and another in the heart— |
| Uravu kollaathae | Do not form relationships with such deceitful people. |
| Inikka inikka siriththu pazhagum aala nampaathae | Do not trust a person who chats with sweet, superficial smiles. |
| Male | |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the mother before exchanging garlands. |
| Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu | Examine the soil before sowing the seed. |
| Male | |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the person before exchanging garlands. |
| Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu | Look at the mother before exchanging garlands. |
| Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu | Examine the soil before sowing the seed. |
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
தாயப் பாத்து பொண்ணத் தேடு
மண்ணைப் பாத்து வெதைய போடு
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
தாயப் பாத்து பொண்ணத் தேடு
மண்ணைப் பாத்து வெதைய போடு
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
மேடையில முழக்கம் இடும் தலைவர்கள பாரு
கொள்கையின் முடிவுப்படி நடப்பவங்க யாரு...
மேடையில முழக்கம் இடும் தலைவர்கள பாரு
கொள்கையின் முடிவுப்படி நடப்பவங்க யாரு...
Look at the leaders roaring on the stage,
Who among them actually lives according to their principles?
Look at the leaders roaring on the stage,
Who among them actually lives according to their principles?
சொல்லிலே பொதுநலம் செயலிலே சுயநலம்
அனைவரும் நரி இனம் அறியணும் பொது ஜனம்
அறிஞர் சொன்ன வழிய விட்டு விலகிச் செல்லாதே
அழகில் மயங்கி உனது முடிவை மாற்றிக் கொள்ளாதே
Public welfare in their speech, selfishness in their actions,
They are all a sly breed of foxes; the public must realize this.
Do not stray away from the path shown by wise scholars.
Do not change your decisions getting mesmerized by superficial beauty.
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
தாயப் பாத்து பொண்ணத் தேடு
மண்ணைப் பாத்து வெதைய போடு
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
பட்டப்படிப்பை எல்லாம் படிச்சவங்க கோடி
பண்பை மறந்தவங்க அதுல ஒரு பாதி
பட்டப்படிப்பை எல்லாம் படிச்சவங்க கோடி
பண்பை மறந்தவங்க அதுல ஒரு பாதி
Crores of people have acquired degrees and education,
Yet half of them have forgotten character and culture.
Crores of people have acquired degrees and education,
Yet half of them have forgotten character and culture.
பணிவுடன் நடப்பது குணத்திலே சிறந்தது
பகட்டிலே திரிவது பெருமையை குலைப்பது
உதட்டில் ஒண்ணும் மனத்தில் ஒண்ணும்
உறவுக் கொள்ளாதே
இனிக்க இனிக்க சிரித்து பழகும் ஆள நம்பாதே
Conducting oneself with humility is the finest virtue,
Wandering in ostentation destroys one's honor.
Having one thing on the lips and another in the heart—
Do not form relationships with such deceitful people.
Do not trust a person who chats with sweet, superficial smiles.
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
தாயப் பாத்து பொண்ணத் தேடு
மண்ணைப் பாத்து வெதைய போடு
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
ஆளப் பாத்து மாலை மாத்து
தாயப் பாத்து பொண்ணத் தேடு
மண்ணைப் பாத்து வெதைய போடு.....
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
Medaiyila muzhakkam idum thalaivargala paaru
Look at the leaders roaring on the stage,
Kolgaiyin mudivuppadi nadappavanga yaaru
Who among them actually lives according to their principles?
Medaiyila muzhakkam idum thalaivargala paaru
Look at the leaders roaring on the stage,
Kolgaiyin mudivuppadi nadappavanga yaaru
Who among them actually lives according to their principles?
Sollilae pothunalam seyalilae suyanalam
Public welfare in their speech, selfishness in their actions,
Anaivarum nari inam ariyanum podhu janam
They are all a sly breed of foxes; the public must realize this.
Aringar sonna vazhaiya vittu vilagi sellaathae
Do not stray away from the path shown by wise scholars.
Azhagil mayangi unathu mudivai maattri kollaathae
Do not change your decisions getting mesmerized by superficial beauty.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
Pattapadippai ellaam padichavanga kodi
Crores of people have acquired degrees and education,
Panbai maranthavanga adhula oru paathi
Yet half of them have forgotten character and culture.
Pattapadippai ellaam padichavanga kodi
Crores of people have acquired degrees and education,
Panbai maranthavanga adhula oru paathi
Yet half of them have forgotten character and culture.
Panivudan nadappathu gunaththilae siranthathu
Conducting oneself with humility is the finest virtue,
Pagattilae thirivathu perumaiyai kulaippathu
Wandering in ostentation destroys one's honor.
Udhattil onnum manaththil onnum
Having one thing on the lips and another in the heart—
Uravu kollaathae
Do not form relationships with such deceitful people.
Inikka inikka siriththu pazhagum aala nampaathae
Do not trust a person who chats with sweet, superficial smiles.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Aalai paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the person before exchanging garlands.
Thaaya paaththu maalai maaththu
Look at the mother before exchanging garlands.
Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu
Examine the soil before sowing the seed.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Aalai Paaththu Maalai Maaththu' serves as a pragmatic philosophical caution on making critical life decisions, particularly marriage and choosing leaders. Drawing traditional metaphors such as examining soil quality before planting seeds and observing a mother's character before marrying a daughter, the lyricist emphasizes the importance of evaluating intrinsic character over superficial appearances. The lyrics extend this commentary to society and politics, critiquing hypocritical political leaders who preach public welfare while pursuing self-interest, and educated individuals who lack fundamental morals. It warns against deceitful individuals who maintain a facade of sweetness while harboring ill intentions, advocating humility, wisdom, and discernment instead.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvamaanam)
“Mannai paaththu vedhaiya podu”
Comparing evaluating a partner's character/lineage to inspecting soil quality before sowing seeds.
Rhyme / Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)
“Medaiyila muzhakkam idum thalaivargala paaru / Kolgaiyin mudivuppadi nadappavanga yaaru”
The second letter 'd' (ட) rhymes between 'Medaiyila' and 'Mudivuppadi'.
Moni / Rhyming Endings (Iyaibu)
“Aringar sonna vazhaiya vittu vilagi sellaathae / Azhagil mayangi unathu mudivai maattri kollaathae”
The end rhyme pattern '-aathae' ('sellaathae', 'kollaathae') emphasizes strong prohibitions.
Imagery / Metaphorical Comparison
“Anaivarum nari inam ariyanum podhu janam”
Describing hypocritical leaders as 'foxes' (nari inam) to signify cunningness and deceit.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features Malaysia Vasudevan's signature energetic vocal delivery, which was frequently used for philosophical and moralistic songs in Tamil cinema during the 1980s and 1990s, continuing a tradition popularized by T. M. Soundararajan for MGR and Sivaji Ganesan.
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