Ada Poya
From Dharma Yuddham · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Dharma Yuddham1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Ada poya poya | {Oh go away, go away |
| Ulagam perisu | The world is vast |
| Nee oru podi dappa | You are just a small box |
| Intha pena perisappa} (2) | This pen is mighty, mister} |
| Female | |
| Ada neeya | {Oh go away, go away |
| Illa naana | The world is vast |
| Verum savadaal ethukkappa | You are just a small box |
| Female | |
| Ada poya poya | This pen is mighty, mister} |
| Ulagam perisu | Is it you? |
| Nee oru podi dappa | Or is it me? |
| Intha pena perisappa | Why this empty boast, mister? |
| Female | |
| Paalaala aala kollalaam | Oh go away, go away |
| Intha penaavil oora vellalaam | The world is vast |
| Yaaraiyum yeththi vekkalaam | You are just a small box |
| Ena peraiyum maathi vekkalaam | This pen is mighty, mister |
| Female | |
| Naalaethaan kaala kannaadi | With a spear, one can kill a person |
| Vaazhvin munnodi | With this pen, one can conquer the whole town |
| Neeya killadi ..poya po | Anyone can be elevated high |
| Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu | Even a name can be rewritten |
| Ulagaththin thala ezhuththu … | Tomorrow itself is the mirror of time |
| Female | |
| Ada poya poya | The pioneer of life |
| Ulagam perisu | Are you the clever champion? Oh go away! |
| Nee oru podi dappa | In the written word resides |
| Intha pena perisappa | The destiny of the entire world... |
| Female | |
| Kaasu eppo kaiyila nikkum | Oh go away, go away |
| Peru kaalamellaam ezhuththula nikkum | The world is vast |
| Kaasala enna seiyyalaam | You are just a small box |
| Achchu thaalaala yedu seiyyalaam | This pen is mighty, mister |
| Female | |
| MLA… MP… Manthirigal | When does money ever stay in hand? |
| Ellaam ethanaalae | Fame stays forever in written words |
| Intha ithazhaalae …poya po | What can be achieved with money? |
| Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu | With printed paper, history/books are made |
| Ulagaththin thala ezhuththu | MLAs... MPs... Ministers... |
| Female | |
| Ada poya poya | How did all of them come to be? |
| Ulagam perisu | It is all because of this press/journal! Oh go away! |
| Nee oru podi dappa | In the written word resides |
| Intha pena perisappa | The destiny of the entire world |
| Female | |
| Oorengum paper irukku | Oh go away, go away |
| Aiyya un kadha inga irukku | The world is vast |
| Ellorkkum manam irukku | You are just a small box |
| Enakku iyarkkaiyilae gnyaanam irukku | This pen is mighty, mister |
| Female | |
| Pen endraal | Newspapers are everywhere across town |
| Puthumai pennaiyya | Sir, your entire story is right here |
| Naattin kannaiya | Everyone possesses a mind |
| Neengal ennaiyya …poya po | I possess natural wisdom and foresight |
| Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu | When you speak of a woman |
| Ulagaththin thala ezhuththu | She is the modern progressive woman, sir |
| Female | |
| Ada poya poya | She is the very eye of the nation, sir |
| Ulagam perisu | Who are you to question me, sir? Oh go away! |
| Nee oru podi dappa | In the written word resides |
| Intha pena perisappa | The destiny of the entire world |
| Female | |
| Ada neeya | Oh go away, go away |
| Illa naana | The world is vast |
| Verum savadaal ethukkappa | You are just a small box |
| Female | |
| Ada poya poya | This pen is mighty, mister |
| Ulagam perisu | Is it you? |
| Nee oru podi dappa | Or is it me? |
| Intha pena perisappa | Why this empty boast, mister? |
{ அட போயா போயா
உலகம் பெரிசு நீ ஒரு பொடி
டப்பா இந்த பேனா பெரிசப்பா } (2)
{Oh go away, go away
The world is vast
You are just a small box
This pen is mighty, mister}
அட நீயா இல்ல
நானா வெறும் சாவாடல்
எதுக்கப்பா
{Oh go away, go away
The world is vast
You are just a small box
அட போயா போயா
உலகம் பெரிசு நீ ஒரு பொடி
டப்பா இந்த பேனா பெரிசப்பா
This pen is mighty, mister}
Is it you?
Or is it me?
Why this empty boast, mister?
பாலால ஆள
கொல்லலாம் இந்த
பேனாவில் ஊர வெல்லலாம்
யாரையும் ஏத்தி வெக்கலாம்
என பேரையும் மாத்தி
வெக்கலாம்
Oh go away, go away
The world is vast
You are just a small box
This pen is mighty, mister
நாளே தான் கால
கண்ணாடி வாழ்வின்
முன்னோடி நீயா கில்லாடி
போயா போ எழுத்திலே
இருக்குது உலகத்தின் தல
எழுத்து
With a spear, one can kill a person
With this pen, one can conquer the whole town
Anyone can be elevated high
Even a name can be rewritten
Tomorrow itself is the mirror of time
அட போயா போயா
உலகம் பெரிசு நீ ஒரு பொடி
டப்பா இந்த பேனா பெரிசப்பா
The pioneer of life
Are you the clever champion? Oh go away!
In the written word resides
The destiny of the entire world...
காசு எப்போ கையில
நிக்கும் பேரு காலமெல்லாம்
எழுத்துல நிக்கும் காசால
என்ன செய்யலாம் அச்சு
தாளாள ஏடு செய்யலாம்
Oh go away, go away
The world is vast
You are just a small box
This pen is mighty, mister
எம்.எல்.எ எம்.பி
மந்திரிகள் எல்லாம் எதனாலே
இந்த இதழாலே போயா போ
எழுத்திலே இருக்குது உலகத்தின்
தல எழுத்து
When does money ever stay in hand?
Fame stays forever in written words
What can be achieved with money?
With printed paper, history/books are made
MLAs... MPs... Ministers...
அட போயா போயா
உலகம் பெரிசு நீ ஒரு பொடி
டப்பா இந்த பேனா பெரிசப்பா
How did all of them come to be?
It is all because of this press/journal! Oh go away!
In the written word resides
The destiny of the entire world
ஊரெங்கும் பேப்பர்
இருக்கு ஐயா உன் கத இங்க
இருக்கு எல்லோர்க்கும் மனம்
இருக்கு எனக்கு இயற்கையிலே
ஞானம் இருக்கு
Oh go away, go away
The world is vast
You are just a small box
This pen is mighty, mister
பெண் என்றால்
புதுமை பெண்ணையா
நாட்டின் கண்ணையா
நீங்கள் என்னய்யா போயா
போ எழுத்திலே இருக்குது
உலகத்தின் தல எழுத்து
Newspapers are everywhere across town
Sir, your entire story is right here
Everyone possesses a mind
I possess natural wisdom and foresight
When you speak of a woman
She is the modern progressive woman, sir
அட போயா போயா
உலகம் பெரிசு நீ ஒரு பொடி
டப்பா இந்த பேனா பெரிசப்பா
She is the very eye of the nation, sir
Who are you to question me, sir? Oh go away!
In the written word resides
The destiny of the entire world
அட நீயா இல்ல
நானா வெறும் சாவாடல்
எதுக்கப்பா
Oh go away, go away
The world is vast
You are just a small box
அட போயா போயா
உலகம் பெரிசு நீ ஒரு பொடி
டப்பா இந்த பேனா பெரிசப்பா
This pen is mighty, mister
Is it you?
Or is it me?
Why this empty boast, mister?
{Ada poya poya
{Oh go away, go away
Ulagam perisu
The world is vast
Nee oru podi dappa
You are just a small box
Intha pena perisappa} (2)
This pen is mighty, mister}
Ada neeya
{Oh go away, go away
Illa naana
The world is vast
Verum savadaal ethukkappa
You are just a small box
Ada poya poya
This pen is mighty, mister}
Ulagam perisu
Is it you?
Nee oru podi dappa
Or is it me?
Intha pena perisappa
Why this empty boast, mister?
Paalaala aala kollalaam
Oh go away, go away
Intha penaavil oora vellalaam
The world is vast
Yaaraiyum yeththi vekkalaam
You are just a small box
Ena peraiyum maathi vekkalaam
This pen is mighty, mister
Naalaethaan kaala kannaadi
With a spear, one can kill a person
Vaazhvin munnodi
With this pen, one can conquer the whole town
Neeya killadi ..poya po
Anyone can be elevated high
Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu
Even a name can be rewritten
Ulagaththin thala ezhuththu …
Tomorrow itself is the mirror of time
Ada poya poya
The pioneer of life
Ulagam perisu
Are you the clever champion? Oh go away!
Nee oru podi dappa
In the written word resides
Intha pena perisappa
The destiny of the entire world...
Kaasu eppo kaiyila nikkum
Oh go away, go away
Peru kaalamellaam ezhuththula nikkum
The world is vast
Kaasala enna seiyyalaam
You are just a small box
Achchu thaalaala yedu seiyyalaam
This pen is mighty, mister
MLA… MP… Manthirigal
When does money ever stay in hand?
Ellaam ethanaalae
Fame stays forever in written words
Intha ithazhaalae …poya po
What can be achieved with money?
Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu
With printed paper, history/books are made
Ulagaththin thala ezhuththu
MLAs... MPs... Ministers...
Ada poya poya
How did all of them come to be?
Ulagam perisu
It is all because of this press/journal! Oh go away!
Nee oru podi dappa
In the written word resides
Intha pena perisappa
The destiny of the entire world
Oorengum paper irukku
Oh go away, go away
Aiyya un kadha inga irukku
The world is vast
Ellorkkum manam irukku
You are just a small box
Enakku iyarkkaiyilae gnyaanam irukku
This pen is mighty, mister
Pen endraal
Newspapers are everywhere across town
Puthumai pennaiyya
Sir, your entire story is right here
Naattin kannaiya
Everyone possesses a mind
Neengal ennaiyya …poya po
I possess natural wisdom and foresight
Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu
When you speak of a woman
Ulagaththin thala ezhuththu
She is the modern progressive woman, sir
Ada poya poya
She is the very eye of the nation, sir
Ulagam perisu
Who are you to question me, sir? Oh go away!
Nee oru podi dappa
In the written word resides
Intha pena perisappa
The destiny of the entire world
Ada neeya
Oh go away, go away
Illa naana
The world is vast
Verum savadaal ethukkappa
You are just a small box
Ada poya poya
This pen is mighty, mister
Ulagam perisu
Is it you?
Nee oru podi dappa
Or is it me?
Intha pena perisappa
Why this empty boast, mister?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This spirited track highlights the supreme power of journalism, the written word, and the pen over brute physical force, money, and political authority. The protagonist playfully dismisses arrogance and empty boasting, emphasizing that money is temporary while written history and legacy endure forever. The song celebrates the press for shaping leaders and political destinies, while championing the intelligence, dignity, and independence of the modern woman.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast (எதிரிணை)
“Paalaala aala kollalaam / Intha penaavil oora vellalaam”
Contrasts the destructive nature of a physical weapon (spear) with the constructive, world-conquering power of the written word (pen).
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Naalaethaan kaala kannaadi / Ezhuththilae irukkkuthu ulagaththin thala ezhuththu”
Metaphorically compares the written word to the mirror of time and the architect of world destiny.
Iyaibu / Rhyming (இயைபு தொடை)
“Kaasu eppo kaiyila nikkum / Peru kaalamellaam ezhuththula nikkum”
End-rhyming with 'nikkum' creates a rhythmic cadence across consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Dharma Yuddham (1979) stars Rajinikanth and Sridevi, featuring iconic music composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song highlights Kannadasan's witty lyrical commentary celebrating the power of journalism and modern womanhood.
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