Aasaiyaaga Pesi Pesi
From Paithiyakkaran · 1947
- Lyricist
- Ambikapathi
- Singers
- T. A. Mathuram, N. S. Krishnan
- Music directors
- C. R. Subbaraman, M. S. Gnanamani
- Details
- Paithiyakkaran1947
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aasaiyaaga pesi pesi | Talking lovingly and sweetly, |
| Aalai aeikkaadhae maamaa | Do not deceive people, uncle! |
| Kaasae perisaa nenaichi | Thinking money is the most important thing, |
| Manasae kashtappaduthaadhae aamaa | Do not cause distress to your heart, yes! |
| Male | |
| Panathai enni | Counting money |
| Kanakku paakkum | And calculating continuously, |
| Manushan naanodi pennae | Am I that kind of greedy man, my girl? |
| Gunathukkaaga edhaiyum seiyum | I am one who would do anything for good character, |
| Kumanan allodi kannae | Am I not generous like King Kumanan, my darling? |
| Female | |
| Podaadha nagai enna | What rare un-worn ornament |
| Pottae yaarum | Has anyone ever worn? |
| Podaadha nagai enna | What rare un-worn ornament |
| Pottae yaarum | Has anyone ever worn? |
| Indha poi vaarthai sonnaa | If you speak these false words, |
| Porukkavae maatten | I will not tolerate it at all! |
| Paadagam thandaiyodu | With anklets and foot ornaments, |
| Kolusu peeli | Anklets and toe rings, |
| Pazhasaiyae maathi enna | Modifying the old ones, |
| Panninae pudhisu | What brand new thing did you make? |
| Kaadhilaedhaavadhum undaa | Is there anything adorning the ears? |
| Vairamundaa kandadhundaa | Have you ever seen diamonds worn? |
| Mottaar kaardhanilae pogiradhai | Riding around in a motor car, |
| Kanavil yaar kandaa | Who saw that even in a dream? |
| Naadagam cinimaavum undaa | Plays and cinema, do they exist for us? |
| Ponadhundaa | Have you ever gone? |
| Oru naalaavadhungaludan | Even for a single day, with you, |
| Naan vandhadhundaa | Have I ever come along? |
| Podaadha nagai enna | What rare un-worn ornament |
| Pottae yaarum | Has anyone ever worn? |
| Male | |
| Vivaram purinju kollanum | One must understand practical wisdom, |
| Masnushan sonna vaelaiyatha | Doing the honest labor meant for humans, |
| Panakkaara pillainga pola | Like the spoiled children of the rich, |
| Kaariyam illaamedha | Without doing useful work, |
| Naeram pokkaadhennaa | Why waste time aimlessly? |
| Vivaram purinjuk kollanum | One must understand practical wisdom, |
| Masnushan sonna vaelaiyattha | Doing the honest labor meant for humans, |
| Panakkaara pillainga pola | Like the spoiled children of the rich, |
| Kaariyam illaamedha | Without doing useful work, |
| Naeram pokkaadhennaa | Why waste time aimlessly? |
| Male | |
| Silukku pudavai kaekkudhaa | Is the body demanding a silk saree? |
| Illaa udambu kulukki nadakkaengudhaa | Or is it refusing to walk without swaying in luxury? |
| Kaadhirandum seemai kamalam kaekkudhaa | Are both ears asking for imported ear studs? |
| Podaapponaa sevidaa porenungudhaa | If you do not wear them, will you go deaf? |
| Thaaliyulla kazhuthattigai illaatti | If there is no gold necklace along with the sacred thread, |
| Sulukkikkiraenungudhaa | Will the neck get sprained? |
| Kaappillaa kai sothai | Will hands without bangles |
| Aakkamaattaengudhaa | Refuse to cook meals? |
| Kaasu koduthu vaangi | Buying with money |
| Aasaiyodu mookkil | And putting on the nose with desire, |
| Paesari podaatti | If you do not wear a nose-pin, |
| Vaasam pudikkaadhaa | Will the nose fail to smell fragrance? |
| Male | |
| Vivaram purinju kollanum | One must understand practical wisdom, |
| Masnushan sonna vaelaiyatha | Doing the honest labor meant for humans, |
| Panakkaara pillainga pola | Like the spoiled children of the rich, |
| Kaariyam illaamedha | Without doing useful work, |
| Naeram pokkaadhennaa | Why waste time aimlessly? |
| Male | |
| Nava naagareegathilae | In modern civilization, |
| Nalladhai kollonum | We must accept what is good. |
| Naalu saathiram | The scriptures |
| Puraanam padikkonum | And puranas we must study. |
| Thavaraamal thaaimozhi | Without fail, our mother tongue |
| Thamizhai valakkonum | Tamil we must nurture. |
| Dharumathai orunaalum | Righteousness and charity, never |
| Maravaaadhirukkonum | Should we ever forget. |
| Male | |
| Vivaram purinju kollanum | One must understand practical wisdom, |
| Masnushan sonna vaelaiyatha | Doing the honest labor meant for humans, |
| Panakkaara pillainga pola | Like the spoiled children of the rich, |
| Kaariyam illaamedha | Without doing useful work, |
| Naeram pokkaadhennaa | Why waste time aimlessly? |
ஆசையாக பேசிப்பேசி
ஆளை ஏய்க்காதே மாமா
காசே பெரிசா நெனைச்சி
மனசே கஷ்டப்படுத்தாதே ஆமா
Talking lovingly and sweetly,
Do not deceive people, uncle!
Thinking money is the most important thing,
Do not cause distress to your heart, yes!
பணத்தை எண்ணிக்
கணக்குப் பாக்கும்
மனுஷன் நானோடி பெண்ணே
குணத்துக்காக எதையும் செய்யும்
குமணன் அல்லோடி கண்ணே
Counting money
And calculating continuously,
Am I that kind of greedy man, my girl?
I am one who would do anything for good character,
Am I not generous like King Kumanan, my darling?
போடாத நகை என்ன
போட்டே யாரும்
போடாத நகை என்ன
போட்டே யாரும்
இந்தப் பொய் வார்த்தை சொன்னா
பொறுக்கவே மாட்டேன்
பாடகம் தண்டையோடு
கொலுசு பீலிப்
பழசையே மாத்தி என்ன
பண்ணினே புதிசு
காதிலேதாவதும் உண்டா
வைரமுண்டா கண்டதுண்டா
மோட்டார் கார்தனிலே போகிறதை
கனவில் யார் கண்டா
நாடகம் சினிமாவும் உண்டா
போனதுண்டா
ஒரு நாளாவதுங்களுடன்
நான் வந்ததுண்டா
போடாத நகை என்ன
போட்டே யாரும்
What rare un-worn ornament
Has anyone ever worn?
What rare un-worn ornament
Has anyone ever worn?
If you speak these false words,
I will not tolerate it at all!
With anklets and foot ornaments,
Anklets and toe rings,
Modifying the old ones,
What brand new thing did you make?
Is there anything adorning the ears?
Have you ever seen diamonds worn?
Riding around in a motor car,
Who saw that even in a dream?
Plays and cinema, do they exist for us?
Have you ever gone?
Even for a single day, with you,
Have I ever come along?
What rare un-worn ornament
Has anyone ever worn?
விவரம் புரிஞ்சுக் கொள்ளணும்
மனுஷன் சொன்ன வேலையத்த
பணக்காரப் பிள்ளைங்க போல
காரியம் இல்லாமேத
நேரம் போக்காதென்னா
விவரம் புரிஞ்சுக் கொள்ளணும்
மனுஷன் சொன்ன வேலையத்த
பணக்காரப் பிள்ளைங்க போல
காரியம் இல்லாமேத
நேரம் போக்காதென்னா
One must understand practical wisdom,
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Without doing useful work,
Why waste time aimlessly?
One must understand practical wisdom,
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Without doing useful work,
Why waste time aimlessly?
சிலுக்குப் புடவை கேக்குதா
இல்லா உடம்பு குலுக்கி நடக்கேங்குதா
காதிரண்டும் சீமைக் கமலம் கேக்குதா
போடாப்போனா செவிடாப் போறேனுங்குதா
தாலியுள்ள கழுத்தட்டிக்கை இல்லாட்டி
சுளுக்கிக்கிறேனுங்குதா
காப்பில்லாக் கை சோத்தை
ஆக்கமாட்டேங்குதா
காசு கொடுத்து வாங்கி
ஆசையொடு மூக்கில்
பேசரி போடாட்டி
வாசம் புடிக்காதா
Is the body demanding a silk saree?
Or is it refusing to walk without swaying in luxury?
Are both ears asking for imported ear studs?
If you do not wear them, will you go deaf?
If there is no gold necklace along with the sacred thread,
Will the neck get sprained?
Will hands without bangles
Refuse to cook meals?
Buying with money
And putting on the nose with desire,
If you do not wear a nose-pin,
Will the nose fail to smell fragrance?
விவரம் புரிஞ்சுக் கொள்ளணும்
மனுஷன் சொன்ன வேலையத்த
பணக்காரப் பிள்ளைங்க போல
காரியம் இல்லாமேத
நேரம் போக்காதென்னா
One must understand practical wisdom,
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Without doing useful work,
Why waste time aimlessly?
நவநாகரீகத்திலே
நல்லதைக் கொள்ளோணும்
நாலு சாத்திரம்
புராணம் படிக்கோணும்
தவறாமல் தாய்மொழி
தமிழை வளக்கோணும்
தருமத்தை ஒருநாளும்
மறவாதிருக்கோணும்
In modern civilization,
We must accept what is good.
The scriptures
And puranas we must study.
Without fail, our mother tongue
Tamil we must nurture.
Righteousness and charity, never
Should we ever forget.
விவரம் புரிஞ்சுக் கொள்ளணும்
மனுஷன் சொன்ன வேலையத்த
பணக்காரப் பிள்ளைங்க போல
காரியம் இல்லாமேத
நேரம் போக்காதென்னா
One must understand practical wisdom,
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Without doing useful work,
Why waste time aimlessly?
Aasaiyaaga pesi pesi
Talking lovingly and sweetly,
Aalai aeikkaadhae maamaa
Do not deceive people, uncle!
Kaasae perisaa nenaichi
Thinking money is the most important thing,
Manasae kashtappaduthaadhae aamaa
Do not cause distress to your heart, yes!
Panathai enni
Counting money
Kanakku paakkum
And calculating continuously,
Manushan naanodi pennae
Am I that kind of greedy man, my girl?
Gunathukkaaga edhaiyum seiyum
I am one who would do anything for good character,
Kumanan allodi kannae
Am I not generous like King Kumanan, my darling?
Podaadha nagai enna
What rare un-worn ornament
Pottae yaarum
Has anyone ever worn?
Podaadha nagai enna
What rare un-worn ornament
Pottae yaarum
Has anyone ever worn?
Indha poi vaarthai sonnaa
If you speak these false words,
Porukkavae maatten
I will not tolerate it at all!
Paadagam thandaiyodu
With anklets and foot ornaments,
Kolusu peeli
Anklets and toe rings,
Pazhasaiyae maathi enna
Modifying the old ones,
Panninae pudhisu
What brand new thing did you make?
Kaadhilaedhaavadhum undaa
Is there anything adorning the ears?
Vairamundaa kandadhundaa
Have you ever seen diamonds worn?
Mottaar kaardhanilae pogiradhai
Riding around in a motor car,
Kanavil yaar kandaa
Who saw that even in a dream?
Naadagam cinimaavum undaa
Plays and cinema, do they exist for us?
Ponadhundaa
Have you ever gone?
Oru naalaavadhungaludan
Even for a single day, with you,
Naan vandhadhundaa
Have I ever come along?
Podaadha nagai enna
What rare un-worn ornament
Pottae yaarum
Has anyone ever worn?
Vivaram purinju kollanum
One must understand practical wisdom,
Masnushan sonna vaelaiyatha
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Panakkaara pillainga pola
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Kaariyam illaamedha
Without doing useful work,
Naeram pokkaadhennaa
Why waste time aimlessly?
Vivaram purinjuk kollanum
One must understand practical wisdom,
Masnushan sonna vaelaiyattha
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Panakkaara pillainga pola
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Kaariyam illaamedha
Without doing useful work,
Naeram pokkaadhennaa
Why waste time aimlessly?
Silukku pudavai kaekkudhaa
Is the body demanding a silk saree?
Illaa udambu kulukki nadakkaengudhaa
Or is it refusing to walk without swaying in luxury?
Kaadhirandum seemai kamalam kaekkudhaa
Are both ears asking for imported ear studs?
Podaapponaa sevidaa porenungudhaa
If you do not wear them, will you go deaf?
Thaaliyulla kazhuthattigai illaatti
If there is no gold necklace along with the sacred thread,
Sulukkikkiraenungudhaa
Will the neck get sprained?
Kaappillaa kai sothai
Will hands without bangles
Aakkamaattaengudhaa
Refuse to cook meals?
Kaasu koduthu vaangi
Buying with money
Aasaiyodu mookkil
And putting on the nose with desire,
Paesari podaatti
If you do not wear a nose-pin,
Vaasam pudikkaadhaa
Will the nose fail to smell fragrance?
Vivaram purinju kollanum
One must understand practical wisdom,
Masnushan sonna vaelaiyatha
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Panakkaara pillainga pola
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Kaariyam illaamedha
Without doing useful work,
Naeram pokkaadhennaa
Why waste time aimlessly?
Nava naagareegathilae
In modern civilization,
Nalladhai kollonum
We must accept what is good.
Naalu saathiram
The scriptures
Puraanam padikkonum
And puranas we must study.
Thavaraamal thaaimozhi
Without fail, our mother tongue
Thamizhai valakkonum
Tamil we must nurture.
Dharumathai orunaalum
Righteousness and charity, never
Maravaaadhirukkonum
Should we ever forget.
Vivaram purinju kollanum
One must understand practical wisdom,
Masnushan sonna vaelaiyatha
Doing the honest labor meant for humans,
Panakkaara pillainga pola
Like the spoiled children of the rich,
Kaariyam illaamedha
Without doing useful work,
Naeram pokkaadhennaa
Why waste time aimlessly?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic conversational song from the 1947 film Paithiyakkaran features a playful yet philosophical debate between a couple regarding material wealth, modern luxury, and true moral virtues. The male character argues that happiness and dignity come from hard work, virtue, and simplicity rather than chasing expensive jewelry, motor cars, and cinema outings. He sarcastically questions whether lacking gold ornaments or fine silk hampers basic human functions like hearing, cooking, or smelling, highlighting the futility of superficial showmanship. In the latter part, the song shifts to a constructive message on modern living. It emphasizes taking the best aspects of modern civilization while staying rooted in traditional righteousness, ethical duties, classical literature, and the promotion of the Tamil mother tongue. Through rhythmic folk phrasing, the lyrics deliver a timeless social message advocating labor, cultural pride, and practical wisdom over mindless materialism.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ezhukai (Second-letter Rhyme / Assonance)
“Panathai enni / Kanakku paakkum”
The second consonant 'na' or 'da' matches across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic harmony.
Monaai (Alliteration / Head Rhyme)
“Nava naagareegathilae / Nalladhai kollonum”
Matching initial consonant sounds in 'Nava naagareegathilae' and 'Nalladhai kollonum'.
Allusion (Purana/Historical Reference)
“Kumanan allodi kannae”
Reference to King Kumanan, a famous ancient Tamil king known in Sangam literature for his legendary generosity.
Rhetorical Question & Sarcasm
“Kaappillaa kai sothai / Aakkamaattaengudhaa”
Using playful rhetorical questions to challenge vanity (asking if hands without bangles cannot make food).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Paithiyakkaran' (1947) was produced by NSK Films (N. S. Krishnan). The movie was a grand success and was based on a popular stage play by the T. K. S. Brothers. Lyricist Ambikapathi penned several socially conscious and satirical numbers for NSK's productions during this era, blending humor with nationalist and Tamil cultural reform ideals.
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