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Raja Malaiya Simman album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aattam Aadumbothu Nottam

From Raja Malaiya Simman · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
S. Janaki, M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Raja Malaiya Simman
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
28 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………………….
……………………………..
Chorus :Aattam aadum bothu nottam pakkadhae
Male :……………………………..
Chorus :Andharathilae irundhu vanthirukkum
Minnalukku aasai veikkadhae
Ambai polae kannaalae aalai thakkaadhae
……………………………………
Aattam aadum bothu nottam pakkadhae
Andharathilae irundhu vanthirukkum
Sirippilum nadippilum virikkira valaiyilum
Sittugal vizhumena ennaadhae
……………………………
Mandhirathalaae thandhirathaalae mayakkiduvaaru aiyaa
Manasum vechaa maapillaiyaaga aagiduvaaru meiyaa
Mandhirathalaae thandhirathaalae mayakkiduvaaru aiyaa
Manasum vechaa maapillaiyaaga aagiduvaaru meiyaa
Sooming meyibi noying vaaaming
Aattam aadum bothu nottam pakkadhae
Andharathilae irundhu vanthirukkum
Thangiduthaiyaaa melam jingidulaiyaa melam
Pangidu elaam aiyaajaalam
Langidi ennaa aanaa solladi summaa
…………………………………………
Aattam aadum bothu nottam pakkadhae
Andharathilae irundhu vanthirukkum
Minnalukku aasai veikkadhae
Ambai polae kannaalae aalai thakkaadhae
...
...
Chorus: Do not stare critically while watching the dance,
Male: ...
Chorus: That has descended from the sky above,
Do not set your heart on this bolt of lightning!
Do not strike a person with eyes sharp as arrows!
...
Do not stare critically while watching the dance,
That has descended from the sky above,
In her smile, her act, and the net she spreads,
Do not imagine that little birds will fall into her trap.
...
With spells and cunning tricks, he will charm you, sir!
If he sets his heart on it, he will truly become the bridegroom!
With spells and cunning tricks, he will charm you, sir!
If he sets his heart on it, he will truly become the bridegroom!
Sooming maybe knowing warming
Do not stare critically while watching the dance,
That has descended from the sky above,
The drum resounds with rhythm, oh sir, jingling drums!
All this fuss and magic is mere illusion, sir!
Tell me what this dance is, my friend, just tell me!
...
Do not stare critically while watching the dance,
That has descended from the sky above,
Do not set your heart on this bolt of lightning!
Do not strike a person with eyes sharp as arrows!
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aattam Aadum Bothu Nottam Pakkadhae is a vibrant folk dance song from the 1959 film Raja Malaiya Simman. The lyrics caution viewers against being captivated by the tantalizing beauty and stagecraft of the dancer, comparing her allure to unpredictable lightning and her piercing glances to sharp arrows. It playfully warns that one shouldn't assume innocent birds will fall into traps woven by theatrical smiles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Ambai polae kannaalae aalai thakkaadhae

Compares the piercing effect of the dancer's eyes directly to sharp arrows ('Ambai polae kannaalae').

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Minnalukku aasai veikkadhae

Metaphorically addresses the elusive, stunning dancer as lightning from the sky ('Minnal').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Mandhirathalaae thandhirathaalae mayakkiduvaaru aiyaa

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'n' in 'Mandhirathaalae' and 'Thandhirathaalae'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Mandhirathalaae thandhirathaalae mayakkiduvaaru aiyaa / Manasum vechaa maapillaiyaaga aagiduvaaru meiyaa

Matching ending sounds 'aiyaa' and 'meiyaa' across successive lines for musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Raja Malaiya Simman (1959) was a swashbuckling action-adventure movie produced by Modern Theatres and directed by T. R. Sundaram. The song showcases early rhythmic scat vocalizations, a signature technique that the Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo often incorporated to elevate playful dance sequences.

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