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Kanniyin Sabatham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Aattatthil Sirandhadhu Pitthalaattam

From Kanniyin Sabatham · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
M. L. Vasanthakumari, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Movie name
Kanniyin Sabatham
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
28 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Enatha naattilum illaiyammaa intha koottam
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Enatha naattilum illaiyammaa intha koottam
Yaettilum illaatha….aa…aa…aa…aa…
Yaettilum illaatha
Yattilum illaatha thirukkoottam
Pallai kaattiyae yaemaattri uruttum
Mirattum pagattum kaattum
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Nampivittaal valaiyul pottiduvaar
Kani vembivittaal kambi neettiduvaar
Nampivittaal valaiyul pottiduvaar
Kani vembivittaal kambi neettiduvaar
Ampalaththil aalai kaattiduvaar
Ampalaththil aalai kaattiduvaar
Jampamaai jaadai pesi
Kai bommaiyaaga nammai vaatti thettai podum
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
……………..
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Adakki aalai madakki pesi mayakkum
Aasai kaatti pagal vesham pottu
Sathi nesamootti manam thuninthu thoopam podum
……………..
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
……………..
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Aaai kavarnthida abhinayam pidippar
Bhuvi arasan pol nadippaar nagaippaar thigaippaar
Asanthaal maranthaal yaemaattrum
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
……………..
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
You won't find a crowd like this anywhere in the world, my dear!
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
You won't find a crowd like this anywhere in the world, my dear!
Unrecorded even in books... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Unrecorded even in books,
this holy gathering is found in no pages of history!
They flash a grin, deceive you, and spin their lies,
they threaten you and put on grand, boastful airs!
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
If you trust them, they will trap you in a net;
if the fruit goes soft and spoils, they will slip right away!
If you trust them, they will trap you in a net;
if the fruit goes soft and spoils, they will slip right away!
They will expose you in the town square,
they will expose you in the town square!
Talking big with knowing glances,
they torment us like hand puppets and rob us blind!
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
...
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
Overpowering people and cornering them with smooth talk to charm them,
tempting them with desires and putting on daylight disguises,
feigning love while plotting deceit, they boldly fan the flames!
...
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
...
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
Striking theatrical poses to capture your attention,
they act like kings of the earth, laughing and pretending shock!
If you let your guard down or forget for a moment, they cheat you!
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
...
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
Of all games, the greatest is the game of deceit!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This satirical song from the 1958 movie 'Kanniyin Sabatham' humorously critiques society's hypocrites, cheats, and manipulators. Using the word play on 'aattam' (which means both 'dance' and 'game/deception'), the lyrics declare that the greatest 'dance' in the world is 'piththalaattam' (trickery and deceit). The singers mock how duplicitous people charm others, manipulate them like puppets, act as grand kings, and abandon them as soon as trouble arises or benefits wear off. Through vivid Tamil idioms and metaphors, the song warns against gullibility, highlighting how flatterers put on disguises, speak pompously in secret codes, and expose innocent people to public embarrassment once their selfish motives are served.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Wordplay (Slesai)

“Aattaththil siranthathu piththalaattam”

The word 'aattam' is cleverly used both in the sense of classical/folk dance performance and in the sense of deceitful games or trickery ('piththalaattam').

Iyaibu (Rhyme / Assonance)

“Mirattum pagattum kaattum”

Matching end-rhymes with 'uruttum', 'mirattum', and 'pagattum' creates a rhythmic, musical cadence mirroring the fast-paced nature of dance.

Simile / Metaphor (Uwamai)

“Kai bommaiyaaga nammai vaatti thettai podum”

The phrase 'Kai bommaiyaaga' compares human targets to puppet dolls controlled by deceitful manipulators.

Idiomatic Expression

“Kani vembivittaal kambi neettiduvaar”

'Kambi neettiduvaar' is a classic Tamil idiom meaning to make a quick escape or run away from responsibility.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kanniyin Sabatham' (1958) featured music by T. G. Lingappa and lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. Sung as a duet by carnatic legend M. L. Vasanthakumari and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, this dance-song is renowned for combining classical musical structures with witty, socially relevant satirical lyrics.

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