Adi Aatha Aatha
From Anbe Sangeetha · 1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanthanukku rendu | Lord Murugan (Kanthan) has two wives |
| Kannanukku rendu | Lord Krishna (Kannan) has two wives |
| Enthanukku rendu pondaatti undu… | I too have two wives... |
| Kettukkadi aathaa paathukkadi aathaa | Listen to me woman, see for yourself woman |
| Kovikkaama enna yethukkadi aathaa… | Accept me without getting angry, woman... |
| Male | |
| Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa | Oh woman, woman, woman, woman |
| Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa | Having married two wives, when I look back |
| Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa | Listen to the suffering I went through, woman |
| Male | |
| Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa | Oh woman, woman, woman, woman |
| Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa | Having married two wives, when I look back |
| Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa | Listen to the suffering I went through, woman |
| Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam | I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud |
| Kaala vachenadi aathaa | I stepped like that, woman |
| Ippa ennatha pannattum | Now what am I supposed to do? |
| Male | |
| Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa | Oh woman, woman, woman, woman |
| Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa | Having married two wives, when I look back |
| Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa | Listen to the suffering I went through, woman |
| Male | |
| Saamanthi poo onnu poothaa | When a marigold flower blooms |
| Adha suthaadho pon vandu paathaa | Won't a golden beetle hover around seeing it? |
| Onnoda innonnu saethaa | If another one is joined with the one |
| Thappu ennaannu kekkuren aathaa | I ask you woman, what is wrong with that? |
| Male | |
| Pondaatti rendaanaa thindaattam thaanaa | If wives become two, is it all struggle and plight? |
| Ennatha naan pannattum | What should I do now? |
| Ada andhanda indhanda engaeyum sanda | Hey, fights over there and fights over here, everywhere there is a fight |
| Yaar pakkan naan serattum | Which side should I join? |
| Male | |
| Poonaikkum thozhan | Friend to the cat |
| Paalukkum kaaval | And guardian to the milk |
| Aan saadhi adhu thaandi aathaa | Manhood's nature is like that, woman |
| Andha arjunan pannaadha koothaa | Is this a drama that Arjuna himself hasn't performed? |
| Male | |
| Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa | Oh woman, woman, woman, woman |
| Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa | Having married two wives, when I look back |
| Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa | Listen to the suffering I went through, woman |
| Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam | I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud |
| Kaala vachenadi aathaa | I stepped like that, woman |
| Ippa ennatha pannattum | Now what am I supposed to do? |
| Male | |
| Aasaigal veesudhu kaathaa | Desires blow like the wind |
| Adhula aadudhu en nenju naathaa | In that, my heart sways like a young sapling |
| Mogam thaan pongudhu oothaa | Passion gushes forth like a spring |
| Adha unaraama udhaikkaadhae aathaa | Without understanding that, don't kick it away, woman |
| Male | |
| Oru sodi maattukku | For a pair of oxen |
| Yer kaalu onnu | There is one plough handle |
| Ariyaayo nee thangamae | Don't you know this, my precious one? |
| Odura aathukku iru kara undu | A flowing river has two banks |
| Therinjum yen aadhangamae | Even knowing this, why do you grieve? |
| Male | |
| Adi nee thaandi moothaa | Hey, you are the elder wife |
| Naan onnu serthaa | If I join one more with you |
| Oru mogam koraiyaadhu aathaa | My love for you won't diminish, woman |
| Un azhagula radhi kooda thothaa | Before your beauty, even Rathi would lose |
| Male | |
| Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa | Oh woman, woman, woman, woman |
| Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa | Having married two wives, when I look back |
| Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa | Listen to the suffering I went through, woman |
| Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam | I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud |
| Kaala vachenadi aathaa | I stepped like that, woman |
| Ippa ennatha pannattum | Now what am I supposed to do? |
| Male | |
| Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa | Oh woman, woman, woman, woman |
| Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa | Having married two wives, when I look back |
| Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa | Listen to the suffering I went through, woman |
கந்தனுக்கு ரெண்டு
கண்ணனுக்கு ரெண்டு
எந்தனுக்கு ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி உண்டு....
கேட்டுக்கடி ஆத்தா பாத்துக்கடி ஆத்தா
கோவிக்காம என்ன ஏத்துக்கடி ஆத்தா....
Lord Murugan (Kanthan) has two wives
Lord Krishna (Kannan) has two wives
I too have two wives...
Listen to me woman, see for yourself woman
Accept me without getting angry, woman...
அடி ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி நான் கட்டிப் பாத்தா
பட்டப் பாட்டை நீ கேளேண்டி ஆத்தா
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Having married two wives, when I look back
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
அடி ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி நான் கட்டிப் பாத்தா
பட்டப் பாட்டை நீ கேளேண்டி ஆத்தா
நான் ஆத்துல கொஞ்சம் சேத்துல கொஞ்சம்
காலை வச்சேனடி ஆத்தா
இப்ப என்னத்த பண்ணட்டும்
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Having married two wives, when I look back
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud
I stepped like that, woman
Now what am I supposed to do?
அடி ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி நான் கட்டிப் பாத்தா
பட்டப் பாட்டை நீ கேளேண்டி ஆத்தா
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Having married two wives, when I look back
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
சாமந்தி பூ ஒண்ணு பூத்தா
அதை சுத்தாதோ பொன் வண்டு பார்த்தா
ஒண்ணோடு இன்னொன்னு சேர்த்தா
தப்பு என்னான்னு கேக்குறேன் ஆத்தா
When a marigold flower blooms
Won't a golden beetle hover around seeing it?
If another one is joined with the one
I ask you woman, what is wrong with that?
பொண்டாட்டி ரெண்டானா
திண்டாட்டம்தானா
என்னத்த நான் பண்ணட்டும்
அட அந்தண்டை இந்தண்டை
எங்கேயும் சண்டை
யார் பக்கம் நான் சேரட்டும்
If wives become two, is it all struggle and plight?
What should I do now?
Hey, fights over there and fights over here, everywhere there is a fight
Which side should I join?
பூனைக்கும் தோழன்
பாலுக்கும் காவல்
ஆண் ஜாதி அதுதாண்டி ஆத்தா
அந்த அர்ஜுனன் பண்ணாத கூத்தா
Friend to the cat
And guardian to the milk
Manhood's nature is like that, woman
Is this a drama that Arjuna himself hasn't performed?
அடி ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி நான் கட்டிப் பாத்தா
பட்டப் பாட்டை நீ கேளேண்டி ஆத்தா
நான் ஆத்துல கொஞ்சம் சேத்துல கொஞ்சம்
காலை வச்சேனடி ஆத்தா
இப்ப என்னத்த பண்ணட்டும்
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Having married two wives, when I look back
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud
I stepped like that, woman
Now what am I supposed to do?
ஆசைகள் வீசுது காத்தா
அதுல ஆடுது என் நெஞ்சம் நாத்தா
மோகம்தான் பொங்குது ஊத்தா
அதை உணராம உதைக்காதே ஆத்தா
Desires blow like the wind
In that, my heart sways like a young sapling
Passion gushes forth like a spring
Without understanding that, don't kick it away, woman
ஒரு ஜோடி மாட்டுக்கு
ஏர்க்காலு ஒன்னு
அறியாயோ நீ தங்கமே
ஓடுற ஆத்துக்கு இரு கரை உண்டு
தெரிஞ்சும் ஏன் ஆதங்கமே
For a pair of oxen
There is one plough handle
Don't you know this, my precious one?
A flowing river has two banks
Even knowing this, why do you grieve?
அடி நீதான்டி மூத்தா
நான் ஒண்ணு சேர்த்தா
ஒரு மோகம் குறையாது ஆத்தா
உன் அழகில் ரதி கூட தோத்தா
Hey, you are the elder wife
If I join one more with you
My love for you won't diminish, woman
Before your beauty, even Rathi would lose
அடி ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி நான் கட்டிப் பாத்தா
பட்டப் பாட்டை நீ கேளேண்டி ஆத்தா
நான் ஆத்துல கொஞ்சம் சேத்துல கொஞ்சம்
காலை வச்சேனடி ஆத்தா
இப்ப என்னத்த பண்ணட்டும்
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Having married two wives, when I look back
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud
I stepped like that, woman
Now what am I supposed to do?
அடி ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
ரெண்டு பொண்டாட்டி நான் கட்டிப் பாத்தா
பட்டப் பாட்டை நீ கேளேண்டி ஆத்தா
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Having married two wives, when I look back
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Kanthanukku rendu
Lord Murugan (Kanthan) has two wives
Kannanukku rendu
Lord Krishna (Kannan) has two wives
Enthanukku rendu pondaatti undu…
I too have two wives...
Kettukkadi aathaa paathukkadi aathaa
Listen to me woman, see for yourself woman
Kovikkaama enna yethukkadi aathaa…
Accept me without getting angry, woman...
Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa
Having married two wives, when I look back
Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa
Having married two wives, when I look back
Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam
I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud
Kaala vachenadi aathaa
I stepped like that, woman
Ippa ennatha pannattum
Now what am I supposed to do?
Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa
Having married two wives, when I look back
Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Saamanthi poo onnu poothaa
When a marigold flower blooms
Adha suthaadho pon vandu paathaa
Won't a golden beetle hover around seeing it?
Onnoda innonnu saethaa
If another one is joined with the one
Thappu ennaannu kekkuren aathaa
I ask you woman, what is wrong with that?
Pondaatti rendaanaa thindaattam thaanaa
If wives become two, is it all struggle and plight?
Ennatha naan pannattum
What should I do now?
Ada andhanda indhanda engaeyum sanda
Hey, fights over there and fights over here, everywhere there is a fight
Yaar pakkan naan serattum
Which side should I join?
Poonaikkum thozhan
Friend to the cat
Paalukkum kaaval
And guardian to the milk
Aan saadhi adhu thaandi aathaa
Manhood's nature is like that, woman
Andha arjunan pannaadha koothaa
Is this a drama that Arjuna himself hasn't performed?
Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa
Having married two wives, when I look back
Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam
I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud
Kaala vachenadi aathaa
I stepped like that, woman
Ippa ennatha pannattum
Now what am I supposed to do?
Aasaigal veesudhu kaathaa
Desires blow like the wind
Adhula aadudhu en nenju naathaa
In that, my heart sways like a young sapling
Mogam thaan pongudhu oothaa
Passion gushes forth like a spring
Adha unaraama udhaikkaadhae aathaa
Without understanding that, don't kick it away, woman
Oru sodi maattukku
For a pair of oxen
Yer kaalu onnu
There is one plough handle
Ariyaayo nee thangamae
Don't you know this, my precious one?
Odura aathukku iru kara undu
A flowing river has two banks
Therinjum yen aadhangamae
Even knowing this, why do you grieve?
Adi nee thaandi moothaa
Hey, you are the elder wife
Naan onnu serthaa
If I join one more with you
Oru mogam koraiyaadhu aathaa
My love for you won't diminish, woman
Un azhagula radhi kooda thothaa
Before your beauty, even Rathi would lose
Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa
Having married two wives, when I look back
Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam
I placed one foot in the river and one in the mud
Kaala vachenadi aathaa
I stepped like that, woman
Ippa ennatha pannattum
Now what am I supposed to do?
Adi aathaa aathaa aathaa aathaa
Oh woman, woman, woman, woman
Rendu pondaatti naan katti paathaa
Having married two wives, when I look back
Patta paatta nee kelaendi aathaa
Listen to the suffering I went through, woman
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a humorous and self-deprecating perspective of a man caught between two wives. He tries to justify his bigamous situation by referencing Hindu mythology—citing Lord Murugan, Lord Krishna, and Arjuna, all of whom had multiple wives—arguing that such desires are inherent to men. At the same time, he humorously laments the endless trouble, household fights, and dilemma he finds himself in, metaphorically describing his predicament as having one foot in a river and the other in mud. He desperately pleads with his senior wife to understand his desires, stop being angry, and accept the situation, reassuring her that his love for her remains unchanged.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaik Kalai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kanthanukku rendu / Kannanukku rendu”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in adjacent lines ('Kanthanukku' and 'Kannanukku').
Iyaiybu (End Rhyme)
“Aasaigal veesudhu kaathaa / Adhula aadudhu en nenju naathaa”
Consistent end-rhyming words across stanzas ('kaathaa', 'naathaa', 'oothaa', 'aathaa').
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamy)
“Naan aathula konjam saethula konjam / Kaala vachenadi aathaa”
Describes being trapped between two delicate situations as having 'one foot in the river and one in the mud'.
Mythological Allusion
“Kanthanukku rendu / Kannanukku rendu”
Invoking Hindu deities (Kanthan, Kannan) and epic heroes (Arjunan) to rationalize human behavior.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Anbe Sangeetha' (1979) stars Jaishankar, Jayachitra, and Sumithra. The film's soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and this lighthearted folk-style track was sung by the versatile playback singer Malaysia Vasudevan. Lyricist Vaali utilized colloquial folk idioms and playful wordplay to convey comedic marital conflict.
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