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Lyrics & meaning

Aattathai Aadu Puliyudan

From Sabatham · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Sabatham1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Orumaiyudan enadhuWith a unified mind, my
Thirumalaradi ninaikindraTo remember Your holy lotus feet,
Uthamar tham uravu vendumI seek the company of virtuous souls.
Ullondru vaithu puramondru pesuvaarThose who keep one thing inside and speak another outside,
Uravu kalavaamai vendumI seek to avoid their company.
Male
Thaththalaangu thagajamThaththalaangu thagajam (Rhythmic syllable)
Thaththalaangu thagajamThaththalaangu thagajam (Rhythmic syllable)
thaththalaangu thagajamThaththalaangu thagajam (Rhythmic syllable)
Female
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aaduPlay the game, play it with the tiger!
Pottikku varugindra aattam aaduPlay the game that comes for competition!
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyoduToday let the goats clash with the tiger!
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabathamThe vow of the white goat is a dangerous vow!
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabathamThe vow of the white goat is a dangerous vow!
Female
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aaduPlay the game, play it with the tiger!
Pottikku varugindra aattam aaduPlay the game that comes for competition!
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyoduToday let the goats clash with the tiger!
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabathamThe vow of the white goat is a dangerous vow!
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabathamThe vow of the white goat is a dangerous vow!
Male
Kattu kattaa thiruneeruBundles and bundles of sacred ash,
Kaluthil aadum manimaalaiGarland of beads swaying on the neck,
Male
Kattu kattaa thiruneeruBundles and bundles of sacred ash,
Kaluthil aadum manimaalaiGarland of beads swaying on the neck,
Male
Bhakthi pongum puliyai paarthuLooking at the tiger overflowing with devotion,
Bayapadathu vellaaduDo not be afraid, little white goat!
Bayamillamal nee aaduDance without any fear!
Adutha aattam nee aaduPlay the next game!
Male
Vellattin sabathamThe vow of the white goat,
Adhu polladha sabathamThat is a dangerous vow!
Vellattin sabathamThe vow of the white goat,
Adhu polladha sabathamThat is a dangerous vow!
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aaduPlay the game, play it with the tiger!
Pottikku varugindra aattam aaduPlay the game that comes for competition!
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyoduToday let the goats clash with the tiger!
Male
Thagappan puliyo thallaadudhuThe father tiger is tottering,
Andha pulikku pirantha velladidhuThat goat born to that tiger,
Male
Thagappan puliyo thallaadudhuThe father tiger is tottering,
Andha pulikku pirantha velladidhuThat goat born to that tiger,
Appavi appavum ippaavi pappavumAn innocent father and a sinful child,
Thappaana sondhangal kondaaduthuAre celebrating wrong relationships!
Mogatha paarthu nee aaduLook at the face and play your move,
Kalathai paarthu kaai poduLook at the field and make your move!
Male
Vellattin sabathamThe vow of the white goat,
Adhu polladha sabathamThat is a dangerous vow!
Vellattin sabathamThe vow of the white goat,
Adhu polladha sabathamThat is a dangerous vow!
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aaduPlay the game, play it with the tiger!
Pottikku varugindra aattam aaduPlay the game that comes for competition!
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyoduToday let the goats clash with the tiger!
Female
Uyarnthu nindraal maevaaramIf standing high, it is the top of the hill,
Urundu vanthaal adivaaramIf rolling down, it is the foothills,
Female
Uyarnthu nindraal maevaaramIf standing high, it is the top of the hill,
Urundu vanthaal adivaaramIf rolling down, it is the foothills,
Kallanaagi tholvi kandaalIf turned into a thief and defeated,
Kaiyil undu thevaaramThere is sacred hymn (Thevaaram) in hand,
Adhigam undu aadhaaramThere is plenty of proof available,
Thavanai thandhom oru vaaramWe have given a time limit of one week!
Female
Vellattin sabathamThe vow of the white goat,
Adhu polladha sabathamThat is a dangerous vow!
Vellattin sabathamThe vow of the white goat,
Adhu polladha sabathamThat is a dangerous vow!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Vellaattin Sabatham opens with lines from Ramalinga Swamigal (Vallalar) praying for pure-hearted companionship while rejecting hypocrites who preach one thing and practice another. The main song shifts to a dramatic allegory, framing a confrontation as a high-stakes duel between weak goats and a powerful tiger. Through vivid metaphors, Kannadasan exposes false piety—depicting a ruthless adversary masquerading in sacred ash and beads—and addresses complex familial ties. The song serves as a defiant battle cry, urging the underdog to stand strong, make strategic moves, and uphold a vow of retribution against deceit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Quotation / Classical Invocation

Ullondru vaithu puramondru pesuvaar

Incorporates a well-known devotional stanza from Vallalar's Arutpa to set a moral tone against hypocrisy.

Allegory & Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Indru aadugal modhattam puliyodu

Compares the innocent underdogs to goats (vellaadu) and the treacherous antagonist to a tiger (puli).

Irony / Contrast

Bhakthi pongum puliyai paarthu

Contrasts outward religious symbols (holy ash, bead garlands) with the predatory nature of the tiger.

Monorhyme & Rhyme Scheme (Etukai / Monai)

Appavi appavum ippaavi pappavum

Employs strong Tamil initial and second-letter rhyming across lines like Appavi/Ippaavi and Mogatha/Kalathai.

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Trivia

The opening lines 'Orumaiyudan enadhu...' are taken directly from Saint Ramalinga Swamigal's (Vallalar) famous work 'Thiruarutpa'. The film 'Sabatham' (1971) had music composed by G. K. Venkatesh and starred K. R. Vijaya and Ravichandran in lead roles.

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