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Vetrivel album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aattam Pottu

From Vetrivel · 2016

Lyricist
Mohan Rajan
Singer
Saicharan
Music director
D. Imman
Movie name
Vetrivel
Movie release year
2016
Lyrics added on
22 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aattam pottu aarambipom
Summa nikkathae
Oru poota pottu
Potti vaikka
Kaalam sikkathae
Hey..aattam pottu aarambipom
Summa nikkathae
Oru poota pottu
Potti vaikka
Kaalam sikkathae
Adda yaaruthu
Yaaruthu vaanam
Adda poguthu
Poguthu megam
Atha patta poda
Mudiyathuda
Un pookula
Pookula oodu
Un thedala thedala seru
Enna nadakumo
Athu nadakattum
Atha appapa
Paathukalaam….
Aattam pottu aarambipom
Summa nikkathae
Oru poota pottu
Potti vaikka
Kaalam sikkathae
Pozhuthodu pozhuthaga
Un vaazhkaiya nee thedu
Siru pullum sigaramthaan
Sitherumbu nee keelu
Meegatha pola nigazhkalam
Athu oodi pogumae
Vaanatha pola ethirkalam
Thelivaga thondrumae
Ennada vazhkai
Endru neeyumae
Yengakudathu
Kanmunnae kaalam
Kaali aagumae
Thoonga koodathu
Oru aamai thaan ootil
Aada pichai vaangathae
Aattam pottu aarambipom
Summa nikkaathae
Oru poota pottu
Potti vaikka
Kaalam sikkathae
Oru poothum thalarathae
Un nambikai thoorkathu
Thenanthorum era theda
Entha paravaiyum salikaathu
Viralgalai moodum
Surukkam thaan
Kai regai enbathu
Athaivida vaada nam kaiyil
Nam veervai ullathu
Vaazhkaiyo pooga
Pooga thanada
Paadam solluthu
Vaalibam theyum munnae
Odada pathai ullathu
Poorattam illaamal
Ingu ethuvum kidaiyaathu
Hey.. hey…
Aattam pottu aarambipom
Summa nikkaathae
Oru poota pottu
Potti vaikka
Kaalam sikkathae..aaee….
Let's start with a dance,
don't just stand there doing nothing!
Even if you put a lock on
and keep it in a box,
time can't be trapped!
Hey, let's start with a dance,
don't just stand there doing nothing!
Even if you put a lock on
and keep it in a box,
time can't be trapped!
Hey, whose is it?
Whose sky is it anyway?
Look, it is drifting,
the cloud is drifting away.
To claim a title deed on it
is impossible, man!
In your own flow,
run in your own stride,
go and reach what you seek!
Whatever is going to happen,
let it happen.
We will deal with it
as it comes...
Let's start with a dance,
don't just stand there doing nothing!
Even if you put a lock on
and keep it in a box,
time can't be trapped!
With every passing day,
seek your own life.
Even a blade of grass is a mountain peak;
listen to the tiny ant!
Like a passing cloud, the present
will drift away.
Like the vast sky, the future
will appear bright and clear!
"What a life this is!"—
like that, you too
must never brood.
Right before your eyes, time
will run out,
so you must not sleep your life away!
A turtle inside its shell
never begs anyone to dance!
Let's start with a dance,
don't just stand there doing nothing!
Even if you put a lock on
and keep it in a box,
time can't be trapped!
Never lose heart at any time,
your faith will not fail.
Searching for food every day,
no bird ever gets tired!
When your fingers close,
it is just a crease—
that is all palm lines are!
More than that, come on, in our hands
we have our own sweat!
As life moves on,
as time goes by, man,
it teaches us a lesson.
Before your youth fades away,
run, man, the path is right there!
Without a struggle,
nothing can be gained here.
Hey.. hey...
Let's start with a dance,
don't just stand there doing nothing!
Even if you put a lock on
and keep it in a box,
time can't be trapped... oh!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aattam Pottu Aarambipom from the movie Vetrivel is a high-energy motivational song that urges listeners to live life actively and meaningfully. It emphasizes that time is fleeting and cannot be locked away or controlled, just as no one can claim ownership over the open sky or drifting clouds. Instead of worrying or lamenting about the future, the song encourages individuals to embrace every day with enthusiasm, work hard, and face life's challenges with confidence. Through vivid metaphors drawn from nature—such as the relentless ant, the untiring bird seeking prey, and grass reaching for the sky—the lyricist highlights the power of perseverance. It conveys that true destiny is shaped not by lines on a palm, but by the sweat of honest effort before youth passes away.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Siru pullum sigaramthaan”

Comparing a small blade of grass to a mountain peak to emphasize that even small efforts hold immense value.

Simile

“Meegatha pola nigazhkalam”

Comparing the present time to a cloud ('meegam') that quickly passes by.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Aattam pottu aarambipom / Oru poota pottu”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'tta' in 'Aattam' and 'poota'.

Analogy

“Thenanthorum era theda / Entha paravaiyum salikaathu”

Using the example of birds never tiring of seeking food every day to inspire continuous human perseverance.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Aattam Pottu Aarambipom' features motivational lyrics written by Mohan Rajan for the 2016 rural drama film Vetrivel, starring Sasikumar. The soundtrack was composed by D. Imman, known for blending uplifting folk beats with inspiring lyrics.

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