Aduthavan Potta Thaalathu
From Thenum Paalum · 1971
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Dharapuram Sundarajan, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Thenum Paalum1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam | To the beat set by another person, |
| Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae | Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance! |
| Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam | To the beat set by another person, |
| Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae | Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance! |
| Antha aattamum paattamum kudumba ponnukku | That dancing and singing, for a respectable family girl, |
| Aagaathae aagaathae aagaathae…. | Is not suitable, is not suitable, is not suitable.... |
| Female | |
| Eduththathukkellaam kurukkae vizhunthu | Falling in between for every little thing, |
| Kedukkaathae kedukkaathae kedukkaathae | Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin! |
| Eduththathukkellaam kurukkae vizhunthu | Falling in between for every little thing, |
| Kedukkaathae kedukkaathae kedukkaathae | Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin! |
| Enga paattan soththila aattam pottaal | If I dance using my grandfather's wealth, |
| Thadukkaathae thadukkaathae thadukkaathae | Do not stop me, do not stop, do not stop! |
| Male | |
| Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam | To the beat set by another person, |
| Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae | Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance, do not dance! |
| Male | |
| Veththilai pottu sivakka venum | It should turn red by chewing betel leaves, |
| Paththini ponnu udhadu | The lips of a virtuous maiden. |
| Kanda saayaththai poosi vaaya | Smearing any random dye and opening her mouth, |
| Thoranthaa panaththukku kedu | Opening it causes a loss of money. |
| Male | |
| Koththu manjalai kozhaichchu potta | Look at the face with ground turmeric paste applied, |
| Mugaththiyum paaru | Look at her face! |
| Adhil maavai araichchu poosiyirunthaa | But if flour is ground and smeared on it instead, |
| Sagikkala paaru….aahaa…..sagikkala paaru…. | Look, it is unbearable... ah, look, it is unbearable! |
| Female | |
| Koondhalukkeththa poovai soodi | Adorning flowers suitable for the hair, |
| Azhagu paarkkanum | One should admire the beauty. |
| Nalla kudumba pennum aadal kalaiyai | Even a good family girl should try learning, |
| Pazhagi paarkkanum | The art of dance and see. |
| Female | |
| Iduppa valaichchu aadumpothu | When dancing while bending the waist, |
| Rasichchu paarkkanum | One should enjoy watching it. |
| Unakku ishtamillaatti kashtapadaama | If you do not like it, without troubling yourself, |
| Odhungi irukkanum | You should step aside and stay away. |
| Male | |
| Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam | To the beat set by another person, |
| Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae | Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance, do not dance! |
| Male | |
| Mathavi potta aattaththinaalae | Because of the dance performed by Madhavi, |
| Kovalan kettaanae | Kovalan was ruined! |
| Avan mangal mangai kannagi pennai | That virtuous woman, Kannagi, |
| Maranthu ponaanae | He completely forgot her! |
| Male | |
| Sutta piragu puththi poranthu | Only after getting burned did wisdom dawn on him, |
| Sattiyai vittaanae | And he left the pan! |
| Avan pattathukkellaam kaaranam | The reason for all the suffering he endured, |
| Intha naatiyamthaanae | Was this very art of dance! |
| Female | |
| Vanna mayilgalil chinna | Among colorful peacocks and small... |
| Kuyilgalil pennum oru jaathi | ...cuckoos, women are also a unique species. |
| Aval aadi thirivathum paadi parappathum | Her dancing around and singing as she flies, |
| Iyarkkaiyin needhi | Is the natural law of justice. |
| Female | |
| Kannukkazhagaana ponnu mugamthaan | A girl's face that is beautiful to the eyes, |
| Vennilavin paathi | Is like one half of the bright full moon. |
| Adhai kattuppaduththa sattam vithippathu | Enforcing laws to restrict and control that, |
| Anthakkaala saedhi aahaahaa anthakaala saedhi | Is news from olden times... ahaha, old-time news! |
| Male | |
| Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam | To the beat set by another person, |
| Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae | Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance! |
| Female : Eduththathukkellaam kurukkae vizhunthu | Female : Falling in between for every little thing, |
| Kedukkaathae kedukkaathae kedukkaathae | Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin! |
அடுத்தவன் போட்ட தாளத்துகெல்லாம்
ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே
அடுத்தவன் போட்ட தாளத்துகெல்லாம்
ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே
அந்த ஆட்டமும் பாட்டமும் குடும்ப பொண்ணுக்கு
ஆகாதே ஆகாதே ஆகாதே....
To the beat set by another person,
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
To the beat set by another person,
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
That dancing and singing, for a respectable family girl,
Is not suitable, is not suitable, is not suitable....
எடுத்ததுக்கெல்லாம் குறுக்கே விழுந்து
கெடுக்காதே கெடுக்காதே கெடுக்காதே
எடுத்ததுக்கெல்லாம் குறுக்கே விழுந்து
கெடுக்காதே கெடுக்காதே கெடுக்காதே
எங்க பாட்டன் சொத்தில ஆட்டம் போட்டால்
தடுக்காதே தடுக்காதே தடுக்காதே.....
Falling in between for every little thing,
Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin!
Falling in between for every little thing,
Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin!
If I dance using my grandfather's wealth,
Do not stop me, do not stop, do not stop!
அடுத்தவன் போட்ட தாளத்துகெல்லாம்
ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே
To the beat set by another person,
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
வெத்திலை போட்டு சிவக்க வேணும்
பத்தினி பொண்ணு உதடு
கண்ட சாயத்தைப் பூசி வாயத்
தொறந்தா பணத்துக்கு கேடு....
It should turn red by chewing betel leaves,
The lips of a virtuous maiden.
Smearing any random dye and opening her mouth,
Opening it causes a loss of money.
கொத்து மஞ்சளை கொழைச்சு போட்ட
முகத்தையும் பாரு
அதில் மாவை அரைச்சு பூசியிருந்தா......
சகிக்கல பாரு......ஆஹா......சகிக்கல பாரு.....
Look at the face with ground turmeric paste applied,
Look at her face!
But if flour is ground and smeared on it instead,
Look, it is unbearable... ah, look, it is unbearable!
கூந்தலுக்கேத்த பூவைச் சூடி
அழகு பார்க்கணும்
நல்ல குடும்ப பெண்ணும் ஆடல் கலையை
பழகிப் பார்க்கணும்
Adorning flowers suitable for the hair,
One should admire the beauty.
Even a good family girl should try learning,
The art of dance and see.
இடுப்ப வளைச்சு ஆடும்போது
ரசிச்சுப் பார்க்கணும்
உனக்கு இஷ்டமில்லாட்டி கஷ்டப்படாம
ஒதுங்கி இருக்கணும்
When dancing while bending the waist,
One should enjoy watching it.
If you do not like it, without troubling yourself,
You should step aside and stay away.
அடுத்தவன் போட்ட தாளத்துகெல்லாம்
ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே
To the beat set by another person,
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
மாதவி போட்ட ஆட்டத்தினாலே
கோவலன் கெட்டானே
அவன் மங்கல மங்கை கண்ணகி பெண்ணை
மறந்து போனானே
Because of the dance performed by Madhavi,
Kovalan was ruined!
That virtuous woman, Kannagi,
He completely forgot her!
சுட்டப் பிறகு புத்தி பொறந்து
சட்டியை விட்டானே
அவன் பட்டதுக்கெல்லாம் காரணம்
இந்த நாட்டியம் தானே
Only after getting burned did wisdom dawn on him,
And he left the pan!
The reason for all the suffering he endured,
Was this very art of dance!
வண்ண மயில்களில் சின்னக்
குயில்களில் பெண்ணும் ஒரு ஜாதி
அவள் ஆடித் திரிவதும் பாடிப் பறப்பதும்
இயற்கையின் நீதி
Among colorful peacocks and small...
...cuckoos, women are also a unique species.
Her dancing around and singing as she flies,
Is the natural law of justice.
கண்ணுக்கழகான பொண்ணு முகம்தான்
வெண்ணிலவின் பாதி
அதை கட்டுப்படுத்த சட்டம் விதிப்பது
அந்தக்கால சேதி ஆஹாஹா அந்தக்கால சேதி
A girl's face that is beautiful to the eyes,
Is like one half of the bright full moon.
Enforcing laws to restrict and control that,
Is news from olden times... ahaha, old-time news!
அடுத்தவன் போட்ட தாளத்துகெல்லாம்
ஆடாதே ஆடாதே ஆடாதே
எடுத்ததுக்கெல்லாம் குறுக்கே விழுந்து
கெடுக்காதே கெடுக்காதே கெடுக்காதே
To the beat set by another person,
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
Female : Falling in between for every little thing,
Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin!
Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam
To the beat set by another person,
Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam
To the beat set by another person,
Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
Antha aattamum paattamum kudumba ponnukku
That dancing and singing, for a respectable family girl,
Aagaathae aagaathae aagaathae….
Is not suitable, is not suitable, is not suitable....
Eduththathukkellaam kurukkae vizhunthu
Falling in between for every little thing,
Kedukkaathae kedukkaathae kedukkaathae
Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin!
Eduththathukkellaam kurukkae vizhunthu
Falling in between for every little thing,
Kedukkaathae kedukkaathae kedukkaathae
Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin!
Enga paattan soththila aattam pottaal
If I dance using my grandfather's wealth,
Thadukkaathae thadukkaathae thadukkaathae
Do not stop me, do not stop, do not stop!
Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam
To the beat set by another person,
Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
Veththilai pottu sivakka venum
It should turn red by chewing betel leaves,
Paththini ponnu udhadu
The lips of a virtuous maiden.
Kanda saayaththai poosi vaaya
Smearing any random dye and opening her mouth,
Thoranthaa panaththukku kedu
Opening it causes a loss of money.
Koththu manjalai kozhaichchu potta
Look at the face with ground turmeric paste applied,
Mugaththiyum paaru
Look at her face!
Adhil maavai araichchu poosiyirunthaa
But if flour is ground and smeared on it instead,
Sagikkala paaru….aahaa…..sagikkala paaru….
Look, it is unbearable... ah, look, it is unbearable!
Koondhalukkeththa poovai soodi
Adorning flowers suitable for the hair,
Azhagu paarkkanum
One should admire the beauty.
Nalla kudumba pennum aadal kalaiyai
Even a good family girl should try learning,
Pazhagi paarkkanum
The art of dance and see.
Iduppa valaichchu aadumpothu
When dancing while bending the waist,
Rasichchu paarkkanum
One should enjoy watching it.
Unakku ishtamillaatti kashtapadaama
If you do not like it, without troubling yourself,
Odhungi irukkanum
You should step aside and stay away.
Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam
To the beat set by another person,
Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
Mathavi potta aattaththinaalae
Because of the dance performed by Madhavi,
Kovalan kettaanae
Kovalan was ruined!
Avan mangal mangai kannagi pennai
That virtuous woman, Kannagi,
Maranthu ponaanae
He completely forgot her!
Sutta piragu puththi poranthu
Only after getting burned did wisdom dawn on him,
Sattiyai vittaanae
And he left the pan!
Avan pattathukkellaam kaaranam
The reason for all the suffering he endured,
Intha naatiyamthaanae
Was this very art of dance!
Vanna mayilgalil chinna
Among colorful peacocks and small...
Kuyilgalil pennum oru jaathi
...cuckoos, women are also a unique species.
Aval aadi thirivathum paadi parappathum
Her dancing around and singing as she flies,
Iyarkkaiyin needhi
Is the natural law of justice.
Kannukkazhagaana ponnu mugamthaan
A girl's face that is beautiful to the eyes,
Vennilavin paathi
Is like one half of the bright full moon.
Adhai kattuppaduththa sattam vithippathu
Enforcing laws to restrict and control that,
Anthakkaala saedhi aahaahaa anthakaala saedhi
Is news from olden times... ahaha, old-time news!
Aduththavan potta thaalaththukellaam
To the beat set by another person,
Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae
Do not dance, do not dance, do not dance!
Female : Eduththathukkellaam kurukkae vizhunthu
Female : Falling in between for every little thing,
Kedukkaathae kedukkaathae kedukkaathae
Do not ruin things, do not ruin, do not ruin!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a spirited philosophical debate between traditional conservative values and modern, progressive views on women's autonomy and artistic expression. The male singer argues for orthodox morality, warning against dancing to external tunes, wearing modern cosmetics, and referencing the classic Tamil epic Silappatikaram to warn how Madhavi's dance led Kovalan astray.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis)
“Aadaathae aadaathae aadaathae”
The word 'Aadaathae' is repeated consecutively to strongly emphasize prohibition against dancing to others' beats.
Illakkiya Kurippu (Literary Allusion)
“Mathavi potta aattaththinaalae Kovalan kettaanae”
Refers to the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram where Kovalan left his wife Kannagi for the dancer Madhavi.
Uvamai (Metaphor / Imagery)
“Kannukkazhagaana ponnu mugamthaan Vennilavin paathi”
Compares a woman's graceful face to half of the glowing full moon.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song comes from the 1971 movie 'Thenum Paalum', starring Gemini Ganesan, Padmini, and B. Saroja Devi. The lyrics written by Vaali humorously capture the social shifts in Tamil society during the early 1970s regarding traditional modesty versus modern artistic freedom.
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