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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
Details
Deiva Balam1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanumIf you strike a blow, hit right at the pit of the stomach!
Chorus :Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaaChorus: Hey look here, my boy, if you grab something,
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanumYou must grab a massive hidden treasure!
AamaaYes!
Chorus
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanumIf you strike a blow, hit right at the pit of the stomach!
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaaHey look here, my boy, if you grab something,
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanumYou must grab a massive hidden treasure!
Male
Aasai irukku yaanaiyai thookkaThere is a desire to lift an elephant,
Adhirshtamirukku kazhuthaiyai meikkaYet luck only permits grazing a donkey!
Aasai irukku yaanaiyai thookkaThere is a desire to lift an elephant,
Adhirshtamirukku kazhuthaiyai meikkaYet luck only permits grazing a donkey!
Chorus
Aasaiyellaam veenaagidaamalaeWithout letting all these desires go to waste,
Yaarukkum ini anjidaamalaeWithout fearing anyone anymore,
Aasaiyellaam veenaagidaamalaeWithout letting all these desires go to waste,
Yaarukkum ini anjidaamalaeWithout fearing anyone anymore,
Chorus
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanumIf you strike a blow, hit right at the pit of the stomach!
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaaHey look here, my boy, if you grab something,
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanumYou must grab a massive hidden treasure!
Male
Kozhi koovithaan pozhuthu vidiyuthaaDoes the day dawn only because the rooster crows?
Konja thuttulae vayiru niraiyuthaaDoes the stomach get filled with just a few small coins?
Konja thuttulae vayiru niraiyuthaaDoes the stomach get filled with just a few small coins?
Male
Ooho kuruvi josiyam sonnathu polaOho, just like the bird-fortune teller predicted,
Kummaalam adikkalaam nayinaaWe can make merry and celebrate now, pal!
Yaaraiyum kullaavum podalaam nayinaaWe can fool anyone now, pal!
Chorus
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanumIf you strike a blow, hit right at the pit of the stomach!
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaaHey look here, my boy, if you grab something,
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanumYou must grab a massive hidden treasure!
Chorus
Thanthana thaanaathaanaa thanthinaaThanthana thaanaathaanaa thanthinaa...
Thanthinam vaasikka vendaamannaaNo need to play strumming tunes, brother!
Takkar adikkaamal paadalaamWe can sing without hesitation or faltering,
Ini jamba thaalam jathi podalaamNow we can dance to grand rhythm and beats,
Naam dampaachchaari pola vaazhalaamWe can live lavishly like a wealthy dandy!
Chorus
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanumIf you strike a blow, hit right at the pit of the stomach!
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaaHey look here, my boy, if you grab something,
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanumYou must grab a massive hidden treasure!
Chorus
Adichchaa adi vayiththelae adichchidanumIf you strike a blow, hit right at the pit of the stomach!
Ada ongappaaru maganae pudichchaaHey look here, my boy, if you grab something,
Perum pudhayalai pudichchidanumYou must grab a massive hidden treasure!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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