Aandavan Potta
From Thennangkeetru · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- G. K. Venkatesh
- Details
- Thennangkeetru1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu | I do not have the worthiness |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu | I do not have the worthiness |
| Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal | Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart |
| Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu | If they swing, what sorrow is there? |
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu | I do not have the worthiness |
| Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal | Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart |
| Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu | If they swing, what sorrow is there? |
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Male | |
| Medai yaerinaen paadinaen | I climbed the stage and sang |
| Inimai illaamal | Without any sweetness |
| Maalai soodinaen kanavan aaginaen | I wore a garland and became a husband |
| Mangalam kaanaamal | Without seeing auspiciousness |
| Male | |
| Poovoduthaan pirappathu thaeae thaenae | Oh honey, born along with the flower |
| Arumpaaga nee iruppathu veenae veenae | Remaining as an unbloomed bud is in vain, in vain |
| Thanimara vaazhakkai vaazhugindromae | We are living a life like solitary trees |
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu | I do not have the worthiness |
| Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal | Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart |
| Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu | If they swing, what sorrow is there? |
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Male | |
| Kettu paarkkiraen thavikkiraen | I ask and yearn |
| Deivam tharum endru | Believing God will bestow it |
| Kootti kazhiththavan kanakkai solgiraan | The one who calculated sums says |
| Vithiyae perithendru | Fate is ultimate |
| Male | |
| Kettu paarkkiraen thavikkiraen | I ask and yearn |
| Deivam tharum endru | Believing God will bestow it |
| Kootti kazhiththavan kanakkai solgiraan | The one who calculated sums says |
| Vithiyae perithendru | Fate is ultimate |
| Male | |
| Uyir vaazha nee koduththaai piravi piravi | You gave this birth, this birth, to live |
| Ill vaazhvil naan thanimai thuravi thuravi | In domestic life, I am a lonely ascetic, an ascetic |
| Thendralin paathai thaedugindraenae | I am searching for the path of the gentle breeze |
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God |
| Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu | I do not have the worthiness |
| Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal | Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart |
| Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu | If they swing, what sorrow is there? |
| Male | |
| Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara…. | I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God.... |
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
அருகதை எனக்கு கிடையாது
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
அருகதை எனக்கு கிடையாது
ஆசைகள் நெஞ்சில் ஆயிரம் ஊஞ்சல்
ஆடிட செய்தால் துயர் ஏது
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
I do not have the worthiness
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
I do not have the worthiness
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
அருகதை எனக்கு கிடையாது
ஆசைகள் நெஞ்சில் ஆயிரம் ஊஞ்சல்
ஆடிட செய்தால் துயர் ஏது
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
I do not have the worthiness
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
மேடை ஏறினேன் பாடினேன்
இனிமை இல்லாமல்
மாலை சூடினேன் கணவன் ஆகினேன்
மங்கலம் காணாமல்
I climbed the stage and sang
Without any sweetness
I wore a garland and became a husband
Without seeing auspiciousness
மேடை ஏறினேன் பாடினேன்
இனிமை இல்லாமல்
மாலை சூடினேன் கணவன் ஆகினேன்
மங்கலம் காணாமல்
Oh honey, born along with the flower
Remaining as an unbloomed bud is in vain, in vain
We are living a life like solitary trees
பூவோடுதான் பிறப்பது தேனே தேனே
அரும்பாக நீ இருப்பது வீணே வீணே
தனிமர வாழ்க்கை வாழுகின்றோமே
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
I do not have the worthiness
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
அருகதை எனக்கு கிடையாது
ஆசைகள் நெஞ்சில் ஆயிரம் ஊஞ்சல்
ஆடிட செய்தால் துயர் ஏது
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
I ask and yearn
Believing God will bestow it
The one who calculated sums says
Fate is ultimate
கேட்டுப் பார்க்கிறேன் தவிக்கிறேன்
தெய்வம் தரும் என்று
கூட்டிக் கழித்தவன் கணக்கை சொல்கிறான்
விதியே பெரிதென்று
I ask and yearn
Believing God will bestow it
The one who calculated sums says
Fate is ultimate
கேட்டுப் பார்க்கிறேன் தவிக்கிறேன்
தெய்வம் தரும் என்று
கூட்டிக் கழித்தவன் கணக்கை சொல்கிறான்
விதியே பெரிதென்று
You gave this birth, this birth, to live
In domestic life, I am a lonely ascetic, an ascetic
I am searching for the path of the gentle breeze
உயிர் வாழ நீ கொடுத்தாய் பிறவி பிறவி
இல் வாழ்வில் நான் தனிமை துறவி துறவி
தென்றலின் பாதை தேடுகின்றேனே
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
I do not have the worthiness
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
அருகதை எனக்கு கிடையாது
ஆசைகள் நெஞ்சில் ஆயிரம் ஊஞ்சல்
ஆடிட செய்தால் துயர் ஏது
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God....
ஆண்டவன் போட்ட புள்ளியை மாற்ற
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu
I do not have the worthiness
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu
I do not have the worthiness
Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu
I do not have the worthiness
Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Medai yaerinaen paadinaen
I climbed the stage and sang
Inimai illaamal
Without any sweetness
Maalai soodinaen kanavan aaginaen
I wore a garland and became a husband
Mangalam kaanaamal
Without seeing auspiciousness
Poovoduthaan pirappathu thaeae thaenae
Oh honey, born along with the flower
Arumpaaga nee iruppathu veenae veenae
Remaining as an unbloomed bud is in vain, in vain
Thanimara vaazhakkai vaazhugindromae
We are living a life like solitary trees
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu
I do not have the worthiness
Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Kettu paarkkiraen thavikkiraen
I ask and yearn
Deivam tharum endru
Believing God will bestow it
Kootti kazhiththavan kanakkai solgiraan
The one who calculated sums says
Vithiyae perithendru
Fate is ultimate
Kettu paarkkiraen thavikkiraen
I ask and yearn
Deivam tharum endru
Believing God will bestow it
Kootti kazhiththavan kanakkai solgiraan
The one who calculated sums says
Vithiyae perithendru
Fate is ultimate
Uyir vaazha nee koduththaai piravi piravi
You gave this birth, this birth, to live
Ill vaazhvil naan thanimai thuravi thuravi
In domestic life, I am a lonely ascetic, an ascetic
Thendralin paathai thaedugindraenae
I am searching for the path of the gentle breeze
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God
Arugathai enakku kidaiyaathu
I do not have the worthiness
Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal
Desires swing like a thousand swings in my heart
Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu
If they swing, what sorrow is there?
Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara….
I do not have the worthiness to change the mark placed by God....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant philosophical song, written by Kannadasan and sung by K. J. Yesudas for 'Thennangkeetru' (1975), expresses deep helplessness and resignation to fate. The protagonist laments that no human has the power to alter the destiny written by God ('the dot placed by God'). Despite having a heart filled with a thousand desires and hopes, reality remains bitter and unyielding. The protagonist reflects on marrying and taking on life's stages without experiencing true happiness or domestic bliss, comparing the couple's existence to lonely, isolated trees. In the second stanza, the protagonist continues to plead with God and search for answers, only to be reminded that fate governs all mathematical calculations of life. Though granted a life to live, he feels like a solitary hermit trapped inside a family life, continuously searching for a gentle breeze of comfort. The song captures the quintessential Kannadasan themes of fatalism, tragic loneliness, and spiritual acceptance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal / Aadida seithaal thuyar yaedhu”
Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive or nearby words ('Aandavan' / 'Arugathai', 'Aasaigal' / 'Aadida').
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Aandavan potta pulliyai maattara”
'Aandavan potta pulli' (the dot placed by God) serves as a metaphor for divine fate and predetermined destiny.
Simile / Visual Imagery
“Aasaigal nenjil aayiram oonjal”
Desires in the heart are compared to a thousand swings swinging simultaneously, depicting restless hope.
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Ill vaazhvil naan thanimai thuravi thuravi”
Repetition of words like 'thaenae thaenae', 'veenae veenae', 'piravi piravi', and 'thuravi thuravi' for rhythmic emphasis and emotional intensity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Music director G. K. Venkatesh, who composed the soundtrack for 'Thennangkeetru', was a major mentor to Maestro Ilaiyaraaja (who worked as his assistant during this period). Kannadasan's lyrics in this track showcase his classic signature style of blending personal grief with universal fatalistic philosophy.
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