Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Nadigan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aattama Paattama

From Nadigan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nadigan
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
19 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………..
Aattamma paattamaa paaththukko vesham aarambam
Koottamma kumpalaa senthukko podu tham tham tham
Paaththaa naan thaaththaathaan
Padippaen naan paattaathaan
Oru nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
Oru nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
Aattamma paattamaa paaththukko vesham aarambam
Koottamma kumpalaa senthukko podu tham tham tham
Naadinaen thedinaen naanoru vaaththiyaar velai
Maattinaal maattalaam yaaradaa kandathu naalai
Hoi….hoi…..hoi….
Ennadaa seivathu yaavumae aandavan leelai
Nallathai enninaen soodalaam vettriyin maalai
Yaarai naan thottaalum kuththamillai
Nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
Oru nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
…………………..
Poigalai meigalaai eppavum nambidum boomi
Unmaiyai pesidum uththaman yaaradaa kaami
Haang….haang….haang….
Thapputhaan kaaranam thapputhaan seithida yaarum
Ullavan yaaraiyum nallavan aakkumae oorum
Hoi hoi hoi
Kuraththi valli ennum maanai kandu
Thuraththi vanthu nindra velan andru
Eduththa vesham pola vesham illae
Enakkum vaazhkkaithaanaa thosham illae
Yaarai naan thottaalum kuththamillai
Nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
Oru nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
Aattamma paattamaa paaththukko vesham aarambam
Koottamma kumpalaa senthukko podu tham tham tham
Paaththaa naan thaaththaathaan
Padippaen naan paattaathaan
Oru nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
Oru nadigan endru maariyaachchu
Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi
…………………
...
Watch the dance and song, the disguise begins!
Gather as a crowd, beat the rhythm tham tham tham!
To look at me, I am an old grandfather,
But I shall sing a song for you!
I have turned into an actor now,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
I have turned into an actor now,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
Watch the dance and song, the disguise begins!
Gather as a crowd, beat the rhythm tham tham tham!
I sought and searched for a teacher's job,
It may change, my friend, who knows what tomorrow holds?
Hoi... hoi... hoi...
What can one do, my friend? Everything is the Almighty's divine play!
I wished for goodness, so I may wear the garland of victory.
Whomever I touch, there is no fault,
Since I have turned into an actor,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
I have turned into an actor now,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
...
The world always believes lies as truth,
Who is the righteous person who speaks only the truth, my friend?
Haang... haang... haang...
Circumstances cause mistakes, but when anyone makes a mistake,
The town turns a wealthy man into a good man!
Hoi hoi hoi
Seeing the deer-like Valli, the gypsy maiden,
Lord Murugan chased after her in disguise long ago.
There is no disguise like the role he assumed,
So there is no flaw in my life either!
Whomever I touch, there is no fault,
Since I have turned into an actor,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
I have turned into an actor now,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
Watch the dance and song, the disguise begins!
Gather as a crowd, beat the rhythm tham tham tham!
To look at me, I am an old grandfather,
But I shall sing a song for you!
I have turned into an actor now,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
I have turned into an actor now,
Applying powder repeatedly, my shyness is gone!
...
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Aattamma Paattamaa' is a high-energy theatrical song from the 1990 Tamil movie Nadigan. In the song, the protagonist (played by Sathyaraj) justifies donning the disguise of an elderly teacher to secure employment and survival. He sings about shedding his inhibitions after putting on make-up and becoming an actor on the stage of life.\n\nThe lyricist Vaali uses witty philosophical reflections, pointing out that society often favors wealth over honesty and accepts pretenses as truth. The song draws a playful comparison to Lord Murugan taking a disguise to win Valli's heart, humorously asserting that deceiving for a good intention carries no moral sin. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja's lively tune combined with SPB's exuberant vocal delivery creates a memorable, entertaining track.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition)

“Powder poosi poosi koochcham pochchi”

The repetition of 'poosi poosi' emphasizes the repetitive act of putting on theatrical makeup.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

“Aattamma paattamaa paaththukko vesham aarambam / Koottamma kumpalaa senthukko podu tham tham tham”

The second letter 'tta' rhymes between 'Aattamma' and 'Koottamma', creating a rhythmic flow.

Monaai (Initial letter alliteration)

“Paaththaa naan thaaththaathaan / Padippaen naan paattaathaan”

Initial sound alignment with 'P' in 'Paaththaa' and 'Padippaen'.

Mythological Allusion

“Kuraththi valli ennum maanai kandu / Thuraththi vanthu nindra velan andru”

References Lord Murugan taking the disguise of an old hunter/man to court Valli, using divine mythology to justify the protagonist's disguise.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nadigan (1990), directed by P. Vasu, was a major commercial hit. Sathyaraj's comedic disguise as an elderly teacher was heavily praised by critics and audiences. Ilaiyaraaja's energetic soundtrack, particularly SPB's expressive rendition of this song, remains an iconic track in 1990s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Jin Jinukaan1973
Rajapart RangaduraiResiliencePlayful
Vadiyamma Vadiyamma1985
Needhiyin NizhalMusic And DanceCelebratory
Minnala Thendrala Medaiyil1985
IlamaiMusic And DanceCelebratory
Vaa Veliyae Ilam Poonguyile1987
Paadu NilaveMusic And DanceCelebratory
Medai Meethu1988
Aval Mella SirithalMusic And DanceCelebratory
Naan Irukken Kavalai Vidu1985
VetrikaniMusic And DanceCelebratory

From the same album

More songs from Nadigan

View album
Enge Nimmadhi Enge Nimmadhi1990
NadiganMelancholic
Deva Malligai Poove Poove1990
NadiganRomantic
Adi Veluthupochchu Thaadi1990
NadiganPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.