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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aattathai Aadu Puliyudan

From Sabatham · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. L. Raghavan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Movie name
Sabatham
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
11 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Orumaiyudan enadhu
Thirumalaradi ninaikindra
Uthamar tham uravu vendum
Ullondru vaithu puramondru pesuvaar
Uravu kalavaamai vendum
Thaththalaangu thagajam
Thaththalaangu thagajam
thaththalaangu thagajam
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aadu
Pottikku varugindra aattam aadu
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyodu
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabatham
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabatham
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aadu
Pottikku varugindra aattam aadu
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyodu
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabatham
Vellaattin sabatham adhu polladha sabatham
Kattu kattaa thiruneeru
Kaluthil aadum manimaalai
Kattu kattaa thiruneeru
Kaluthil aadum manimaalai
Bhakthi pongum puliyai paarthu
Bayapadathu vellaadu
Bayamillamal nee aadu
Adutha aattam nee aadu
Vellattin sabatham
Adhu polladha sabatham
Vellattin sabatham
Adhu polladha sabatham
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aadu
Pottikku varugindra aattam aadu
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyodu
Thagappan puliyo thallaadudhu
Andha pulikku pirantha velladidhu
Thagappan puliyo thallaadudhu
Andha pulikku pirantha velladidhu
Appavi appavum ippaavi pappavum
Thappaana sondhangal kondaaduthu
Mogatha paarthu nee aadu
Kalathai paarthu kaai podu
Vellattin sabatham
Adhu polladha sabatham
Vellattin sabatham
Adhu polladha sabatham
Aattathai aadu puliyudan aadu
Pottikku varugindra aattam aadu
Indru aadugal modhattam puliyodu
Uyarnthu nindraal maevaaram
Urundu vanthaal adivaaram
Uyarnthu nindraal maevaaram
Urundu vanthaal adivaaram
Kallanaagi tholvi kandaal
Kaiyil undu thevaaram
Adhigam undu aadhaaram
Thavanai thandhom oru vaaram
Vellattin sabatham
Adhu polladha sabatham
Vellattin sabatham
Adhu polladha sabatham
With single-minded devotion
To remember your sacred lotus feet,
I seek the friendship of noble souls;
From those who think one thing within and speak another,
I pray to stay far away.
Thathalaangu thagajam
Thathalaangu thagajam
Thathalaangu thagajam
Play the game, play it with the tiger!
Play the game that throws a challenge!
Today, let the goats take on the tiger!
The white goat's vow is a fierce vow!
The white goat's vow is a fierce vow!
Play the game, play it with the tiger!
Play the game that throws a challenge!
Today, let the goats take on the tiger!
The white goat's vow is a fierce vow!
The white goat's vow is a fierce vow!
Layers and layers of sacred ash,
A bead necklace swinging around the neck,
Layers and layers of sacred ash,
A bead necklace swinging around the neck,
Looking at this tiger overflowing with devotion,
The white goat feels no fear!
Play on without any fear!
Go ahead and make your next move!
The white goat's vow,
It is a fierce vow!
The white goat's vow,
It is a fierce vow!
Play the game, play it with the tiger!
Play the game that throws a challenge!
Today, let the goats take on the tiger!
The father tiger is stumbling,
And here is the white goat born to that tiger!
The father tiger is stumbling,
And here is the white goat born to that tiger!
The gullible father and this wicked girl
Are celebrating false bonds of kinship!
Exploit his lust and play your game!
Watch the board and place your piece!
The white goat's vow,
It is a fierce vow!
The white goat's vow,
It is a fierce vow!
Play the game, play it with the tiger!
Play the game that throws a challenge!
Today, let the goats take on the tiger!
If you stand tall, you stay at the peak,
If you roll down, you end up at the foothills!
If you stand tall, you stay at the peak,
If you roll down, you end up at the foothills!
When you are exposed as a cheat and defeated,
You will still clutch holy hymns in your hand!
We have plenty of evidence,
We give you a deadline of one week!
The white goat's vow,
It is a fierce vow!
The white goat's vow,
It is a fierce vow!
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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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