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Deiva Balam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Adicha Adi Vayithile

From Deiva Balam · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
P. B. Sreenivas, A. L. Raghavan
Music director
G. Aswathama
Movie name
Deiva Balam
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
7 Jun 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanum
Chorus :Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaa
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum
Aamaa
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanum
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaa
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum
Aasai irukku yaanaiyai thookka
Adhirshtamirukku kazhuthaiyai meikka
Aasai irukku yaanaiyai thookka
Adhirshtamirukku kazhuthaiyai meikka
Aasaiyellaam veenaagidaamalae
Yaarukkum ini anjidaamalae
Aasaiyellaam veenaagidaamalae
Yaarukkum ini anjidaamalae
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanum
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaa
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum
Kozhi koovithaan pozhuthu vidiyuthaa
Konja thuttulae vayiru niraiyuthaa
Konja thuttulae vayiru niraiyuthaa
Ooho kuruvi josiyam sonnathu pola
Kummaalam adikkalaam nayinaa
Yaaraiyum kullaavum podalaam nayinaa
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanum
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaa
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum
Thanthana thaanaathaanaa thanthinaa
Thanthinam vaasikka vendaamannaa
Takkar adikkaamal paadalaam
Ini jamba thaalam jathi podalaam
Naam dampaachchaari pola vaazhalaam
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanum
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaa
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanum
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaa
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum
If you strike a blow, strike where it counts!
Chorus: Hey buddy, if you grab hold of something,
You should grab a massive treasure!
Yeah!
If you strike a blow, strike where it counts!
Hey buddy, if you grab hold of something,
You should grab a massive treasure!
There is a desire to lift an elephant,
Yet our luck is only to herd donkeys!
There is a desire to lift an elephant,
Yet our luck is only to herd donkeys!
Without letting all our desires go to waste,
Without fearing anyone ever again,
Without letting all our desires go to waste,
Without fearing anyone ever again,
If you strike a blow, strike where it counts!
Hey buddy, if you grab hold of something,
You should grab a massive treasure!
Does the dawn break only because the rooster crows?
Does a little bit of money ever fill the belly?
Does a little bit of money ever fill the belly?
Oho, just as the bird-fortune predicted,
We can have a merry time, buddy!
We can pull a fast one on anyone, buddy!
If you strike a blow, strike where it counts!
Hey buddy, if you grab hold of something,
You should grab a massive treasure!
Thanthana thaanaathaanaa thanthinaa
No need to play that same old tune, brother,
We can sing without any hesitation,
Now we can strut about in pomp and style,
And live grandly like Dambachari (a legendary lavish spender)!
If you strike a blow, strike where it counts!
Hey buddy, if you grab hold of something,
You should grab a massive treasure!
If you strike a blow, strike where it counts!
Hey buddy, if you grab hold of something,
You should grab a massive treasure!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lighthearted and energetic folk duet from Deiva Balam (1959) expresses a humorous street-smart philosophy of ambition, cunning, and opportunistic living. The singers urge each other to aim big in life—metaphorically advising that if one strikes a blow or seizes an opportunity, it should yield a massive fortune rather than petty gains. They jest about the disparity between grand aspirations (lifting an elephant) and humble reality (grazing a donkey), while expressing a resolve to overcome fear and live extravagantly like grand showmen once luck turns in their favor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Aasai irukku yaanaiyai thookka / Adhirshtamirukku kazhuthaiyai meikka”

The second consonant 's' in 'Aasai' matches with 'Adhirshtam' in the adjacent line pattern, creating a poetic flow across contrastive ideas.

Metaphor / Contrast

“Aasai irukku yaanaiyai thookka / Adhirshtamirukku kazhuthaiyai meikka”

Lifting an elephant represents huge ambitions, while grazing a donkey symbolizes lowly, mundane reality.

Monaai (Alliteration)

“pudichchaa / Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanum”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' across 'pudichchaa' and 'Perum pudhayalai'.

Idiomatic Folk Slang

“Kummaalam adikkalaam nayinaa / Yaaraiyum kullaavum podalaam nayinaa”

Use of colloquial Madras Tamil expressions like 'Nayinaa' (pal/boss) and 'Kullaavum podalaam' (to hoodwink/fool someone).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Deiva Balam' (1959) featured music composed by G. Aswathama and lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, who was renowned for crafting witty, colloquial, and rhythmic folk lyrics in early Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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Deiva BalamPlayful

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