Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Patham Pasali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ammadi Emputtu Thooram

From Patham Pasali · 1970

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Patham Pasali
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
20 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ammadi …
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthu
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhu
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthu
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhu
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyum
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyum
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyum
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyum
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthu
Parangikkaai koottaattam inikiraanga sila peru
Paavakkaai kariyattam kasakkuranga sila peru
Karunai kilangattam summa arikkuranga sila peru
Kaanji pona molagayaattam uraikkiraanga sila peru
Appalam pola ennai vaati edukkuranga
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthu
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhu
Sadhirattam podudhu thalaikku mela saappadu
Saambaaru morodu kalanthu ponaa thagaraaaru
Saalaiyilae porathukkum seiyuraanga idaiyuru
Satha neram sunangi pona yesuranga pala peru
Ennai nambi thaanae irukkuthu pala vayiru
Ammadi embuttu dhooram nadakkiarthu
Anandam embuttu baaram sumakkiradhu
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyum
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyum
Nadakka nadakkathaan theriyum
Baaram sumakka sumakka than puriyum
Oh boy...
Oh boy, how far I have to walk!
Look at how heavy a load Anandham is carrying!
Oh boy, how far I have to walk!
Look at how heavy a load Anandham is carrying!
You only realize as you keep on walking,
You only understand as you carry the load.
You only realize as you keep on walking,
You only understand as you carry the load.
Oh boy, how far I have to walk!
Some people are sweet like pumpkin curry,
Some people are bitter like bitter gourd curry,
Some people irritate you like itchy yam,
Some people sting sharp like dried chili peppers!
They roast me and fry me like a papadum!
Oh boy, how far I have to walk!
Look at how heavy a load Anandham is carrying!
The meal carrier dances on top of my head,
If the sambar mixes with the buttermilk, there will be trouble!
They get in my way even as I walk down the street,
If I get delayed for just a moment, so many people scold me!
After all, so many stomachs depend on me!
Oh boy, how far I have to walk!
Look at how heavy a load Anandham is carrying!
You only realize as you keep on walking,
You only understand as you carry the load.
You only realize as you keep on walking,
You only understand as you carry the load.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Did you know?

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Why Are We Wandering2024
Demonte Colony 2MelancholicJourney
Dhoora Vaaney2023
Yaanai MugathaanJourneyContemplative
Vaazhkai Oru2013
Naveena Saraswathi SabathamResilienceLabour
My Wifeu Romba Beautifulu2018
PanjumittaiAcceptanceColloquial
Aanaakka Anthamadam1964
Aayiram RoobaiResiliencePoverty
Ippadiyum Oruthan Undu2014
Oru OorlaPovertyContemplative

From the same album

More songs from Patham Pasali

View album
Pathampasali Mama1970
Patham PasaliPlayful
Vellai Manam Konda1970
Patham PasaliTender
Poda Pazhakattum Jodi1970
Patham PasaliPlayful
Kalloori Penne Nilladi1970
Patham PasaliPlayful
Anna Endroru Nallavaram1970
Patham PasaliMournful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.