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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ammadi Emputtu Thooram

From Patham Pasali · 1970

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Patham Pasali1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ammadi …Oh dear me...
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthuOh dear me, how far one has to walk!
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhuHow much heavy load Anandam carries!
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthuOh dear me, how far one has to walk!
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhuHow much heavy load Anandam carries!
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyumYou only realize the distance as you keep walking.
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyumYou only understand the hardship as you carry the burden.
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyumYou only realize the distance as you keep walking.
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyumYou only understand the hardship as you carry the burden.
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthuOh dear me, how far one has to walk!
Male
Parangikkaai koottaattam inikiraanga sila peruSome people are sweet like pumpkin dish.
Paavakkaai kariyattam kasakkuranga sila peruSome people are bitter like bitter gourd curry.
Karunai kilangattam summa arikkuranga sila peruSome people unnecessarily irritate and itch like wild yam.
Kaanji pona molagayaattam uraikkiraanga sila peruSome people sting sharply like dried chili peppers.
Appalam pola ennai vaati edukkurangaThey roast and fry me like a papadum!
Male
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthuOh dear me, how far one has to walk!
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhuHow much heavy load Anandam carries!
Male
Sadhirattam podudhu thalaikku mela saappaduThe food balanced on my head sways and dances.
Saambaaru morodu kalanthu ponaa thagaraaaruIf the sambar mixes with the buttermilk, it causes a big fuss!
Saalaiyilae porathukkum seiyuraanga idaiyuruThey even create obstacles for me to walk on the street.
Satha neram sunangi pona yesuranga pala peruIf I am delayed for even a short moment, many people scold me.
Ennai nambi thaanae irukkuthu pala vayiruYet, so many hungry bellies depend entirely on me!
Male
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthuOh dear me, how far one has to walk!
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhuHow much heavy load Anandam carries!
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyumYou only realize the distance as you keep walking.
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyumYou only understand the hardship as you carry the burden.
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyumYou only realize the distance as you keep walking.
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyumYou only understand the hardship as you carry the burden.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Patham Pasali' captures the daily toil and life philosophy of a hardworking street food vendor carrying heavy food pots on his head. Through vivid culinary metaphors, the lyrics compare different human temperaments to various tastes and vegetables, highlighting how people can be sweet, bitter, irritating, or harsh. Despite facing physical exhaustion, social hurdles, and severe reprimands for minor delays, the protagonist perseveres with resilience because many hungry family members rely on his earnings. It serves as a poignant reflection on labor, human nature, and life's burdens.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Parangikkaai koottaattam inikiraanga sila peru

Compares various human personalities directly to culinary ingredients using the comparative word 'attam' or 'pola' (e.g., Parangikkaai koottaattam - sweet like pumpkin dish; Appalam pola - roasted like a papadum).

Agedukai / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Parangikkaai koottaattam inikiraanga sila peru / Paavakkaai kariyattam kasakkuranga sila peru

Use of matching initial sounds and second-letter rhyming across culinary lines (Parangikkaai, Paavakkaai, Karunai, Kaanji).

Repetition / Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)

Nadakka nadakka thaan theriyum / Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyum

Repetition of verbs 'nadakka nadakka' (walking and walking) and 'sumakka sumakka' (carrying and carrying) to emphasize prolonged effort and experience.

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Trivia

Patham Pasali (1970) starred Gemini Ganesan and Nagesh. Lyricist Aalangudi Somu was renowned for embedding simple folk wisdom and philosophical observations into everyday spoken Tamil metaphors in cinema.

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