Anna Nadai Podum
From Paasa Mazhai · 1989
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Mano, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Paasa Mazhai1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Anna nadai podum vandi | A vehicle that walks like a swan |
| Chennaiyilae senja vandi | A vehicle made in Chennai |
| Anna nadai podum vandi | A vehicle that walks like a swan |
| Chennaiyilae senja vandi | A vehicle made in Chennai |
| Aiyaavoda aasa kannaatti | The master's beloved darling |
| Michael jacson break dancer | A Michael Jackson break dancer |
| Break pottaa aadidum adikkadi | When you apply the brakes, it dances repeatedly |
| Kudhikkira adhisaya vandi | A miraculous vehicle that jumps |
| Female | |
| Anna nadai podum vandi | A vehicle that walks like a swan |
| Senja edam madras guindy | The place it was made is Guindy, Madras |
| Aiyaavoda aasa kannaatti | The master's beloved darling |
| Male | |
| Mysore mahaa raajaavin thaathaa | The grandfather of the Maharaja of Mysore |
| London poyi vaangi vandha car | A car bought after going to London |
| Female :Ahaaa.. | Female : Ahaaa.. |
| Male :Andha kaalam roattu mela thaan | Male : Back in those days, on the road |
| Thaera pola odi vandhadhu | It ran like a grand temple chariot |
| Female :Ohoo ho ho hoo | Female : Ohoo ho ho hoo |
| Male :Mysorilae dhasaraavilae | Male : During the Dasara festival in Mysore |
| Idha paakka kodi koottam varum | Crores of people would gather to watch it |
| Female :Purudaa… | Female : Fibs! (Lies!) |
| Male :Raajaavukku idhil suthi vandhaa | Male : If the King drove around in this |
| Indha naatta aalum moodu varum | He would get into the mood to rule this nation |
| Female | |
| Hae appo idhu nalla vandi | Hey, back then it was a good vehicle |
| Ippo idhu katta vandi | Now it's just a broken old cart |
| Aiyo idhu enna vandi | Oh dear, what kind of vehicle is this? |
| Thaevalaiyae maattu vandi | A bullock cart would be better than this |
| Pazhaso pazhasu | Old, so very old |
| Idhu raajaraaja chozhan vandi | This is Raja Raja Chola's vehicle |
| Male | |
| Anna nadai podum vandi | A vehicle that walks like a swan |
| Female :Hey heyy | Female : Hey heyy |
| Male :Chennaiyilae senja vandi | Male : A vehicle made in Chennai |
| Chorus :Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa | Chorus : Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa |
| Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa | Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa |
| Male :Aiyaavoda aasa kannaatti | Male : The master's beloved darling |
| Female | |
| Haa ezhaikkidhu | Haha, for the poor man |
| Ellu seedai thaan | It's just a sesame seedai snack |
| Male :Hae namakku idhu | Male : Hey, for us, this is |
| Rolls roys thaan | Truly a Rolls Royce |
| Female | |
| Otta caara roattil ottinaa | If you drive a broken car on the road |
| Male :Courtil kondu serkkum | Male : It will drag you to court |
| Vandi thaan | That's the kind of vehicle it is |
| Petrolukku selavillaiyae | There's no expense for petrol |
| Female :Ada podhum podhum | Female : Oh, enough, enough |
| Krishnaayilu | It runs on kerosene |
| Krishnaayilum kedaikaattinaa | And if kerosene isn't available |
| Appo poda venum palm oilu | Then you have to fill it with palm oil |
| Male | |
| Hae enna pechu yelanamaa | Hey, why talk so contemptuously? |
| Car yenna kevalamaa | Is the car so worthless? |
| Pogudhu paar oorvalamaa | Look at it going like a grand procession |
| Unakku thaaren seedhanamaa | I will give it to you as dowry |
| Female | |
| Venaa daddy ippa aadi aadi | No need, daddy; now, wobbling and shaking |
| Ninnu pochu | It has come to a complete halt |
| Female | |
| Paadi paadi koralum pochu | Singing and singing, my voice is gone |
| Thalli thalli vaangudhu moochu | Pushing and pushing it, I am panting for breath |
| Kaara pathi oor engum pechu | Talk about this car is everywhere in town |
| Male | |
| Michael jacson break dancer | A Michael Jackson break dancer |
| Female :Break pottaa aadidum | Female : When you apply the brakes, it dances |
| Adikkadi kudhikkira adhisaya vandi | A miraculous vehicle that jumps frequently |
| Male | |
| Vetta veli pottalilae | In the open wasteland |
| Vellakkaaran senja vandi | A vehicle made by the white man |
| Thathalichu thaalam podudhadi | It falters and taps to a rhythm |
| Vakkeel fees mukkaal kaasu | Lawyer's fee is three-quarters of a coin |
| Vaikkol yethu | Load it with straw |
| Thannaalae kuviyattum neraiyattum | Let it pile up and fill by itself |
| Paiyila kaasu | Money in the pocket |
| Vetta veli pottalilae | In the open wasteland |
| Vellakkaaran senja vandi | A vehicle made by the white man |
| Thathalichu thaalam podudhadi | It falters and taps to a rhythm |
அன்ன நடை போடும் வண்டி
சென்னையிலே செஞ்ச வண்டி
அன்ன நடை போடும் வண்டி
சென்னையிலே செஞ்ச வண்டி
அய்யாவோட ஆசை கண்ணாட்டி
மைக்கேல் ஜாக்ஸன் ப்ரேக்கு டான்ஸ்
ப்ரேக்க போட்டா ஆடிடும்
அடிக்கடி குதிக்கிற அதிசய வண்டி
A vehicle that walks like a swan
A vehicle made in Chennai
A vehicle that walks like a swan
A vehicle made in Chennai
The master's beloved darling
A Michael Jackson break dancer
When you apply the brakes, it dances repeatedly
A miraculous vehicle that jumps
அன்ன நடை போடும் வண்டி
செஞ்ச இடம் மெட்ராஸ் கிண்டி
அய்யாவோட ஆசை கண்ணாட்டி
A vehicle that walks like a swan
The place it was made is Guindy, Madras
The master's beloved darling
மைசூர் மகாராஜாவின் தாத்தா
லண்டன் போயி வாங்கி வந்த கார்
ஆஹா.....
அந்தக் காலம் ரோட்டு மேலதான்
தேரப் போல ஓடி வந்தது
ஓஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ
மைசூரிலே தசராவிலே
இதைப் பாக்க கோடி கூட்டம் வரும்
புருடா...
ராஜாவுக்கும் இதில் சுத்தி வந்தா
இந்த நாட்ட ஆளும் மூடு வரும்
The grandfather of the Maharaja of Mysore
A car bought after going to London
Female : Ahaaa..
Male : Back in those days, on the road
It ran like a grand temple chariot
Female : Ohoo ho ho hoo
Male : During the Dasara festival in Mysore
Crores of people would gather to watch it
Female : Fibs! (Lies!)
Male : If the King drove around in this
He would get into the mood to rule this nation
ஹே அப்போ இது நல்ல வண்டி
இப்போ இது கட்ட வண்டி
அய்யோ இது என்ன வண்டி
தேவலையே மாட்டு வண்டி
பழசோ பழசு
இது ராஜராஜ சோழன் வண்டி
Hey, back then it was a good vehicle
Now it's just a broken old cart
Oh dear, what kind of vehicle is this?
A bullock cart would be better than this
Old, so very old
This is Raja Raja Chola's vehicle
அன்ன நடை போடும் வண்டி
ஹேய் ஹேய்
சென்னையிலே செஞ்ச வண்டி
குழு :
டட்டா டட்டா டாடா டாடா
டட்டா டட்டா டாடா டாடா
அய்யாவோட ஆசை கண்ணாட்டி
A vehicle that walks like a swan
Female : Hey heyy
Male : A vehicle made in Chennai
Chorus : Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa
Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa
Male : The master's beloved darling
ஹா ஏழைக்கிது
எள்ளுக் சீடைதான்
ஹே நமக்கு இது
ரோல்ஸ் ராய்ஸ்தான்
Haha, for the poor man
It's just a sesame seedai snack
Male : Hey, for us, this is
Truly a Rolls Royce
ஓட்டக் கார ரோட்டில் ஓட்டினா
கோர்டில் கொண்டு சேர்க்கும்
வண்டிதான்
பெட்ரோலுக்கு செலவில்லையே
அட போதும் போதும்
கிருஷ்ணாயிலு
கிருஷ்ணாயிலும் கிடைக்காட்டின்னா
அப்போ போட வேணும் பாமாயிலு
If you drive a broken car on the road
Male : It will drag you to court
That's the kind of vehicle it is
There's no expense for petrol
Female : Oh, enough, enough
It runs on kerosene
And if kerosene isn't available
Then you have to fill it with palm oil
ஹே என்ன பேச்சு ஏளனமா
காரு என்ன கேவலமா
போகுது பார் ஊர்வலமா
உனக்குத் தாரேன் சீதனமா
Hey, why talk so contemptuously?
Is the car so worthless?
Look at it going like a grand procession
I will give it to you as dowry
வேணா டாடி
இப்ப ஆடி ஆடி நின்னு போச்சு
No need, daddy; now, wobbling and shaking
It has come to a complete halt
பாடிப் பாடி கொரலும் போச்சு
தள்ளித் தள்ளி வாங்குது மூச்சு
காரப் பத்தி ஊரே உன் பேச்சு
Singing and singing, my voice is gone
Pushing and pushing it, I am panting for breath
Talk about this car is everywhere in town
மைக்கேல் ஜாக்ஸன் ப்ரேக்கு டான்ஸ்
ப்ரேக்க போட்டா ஆடிடும்
அடிக்கடி குதிக்கிற அதிசய வண்டி
A Michael Jackson break dancer
Female : When you apply the brakes, it dances
A miraculous vehicle that jumps frequently
வெட்ட வெளிப் பொட்டலிலே
வெள்ளக்காரன் செஞ்ச வண்டி
தத்தளிச்சு தாளம் போடுதடி
வக்கீல் ஃபீஸு முக்கால் காசு
வைக்கோல் ஏத்து தன்னாலே குவியட்டும்
நெறையட்டும் பையில காசு
In the open wasteland
A vehicle made by the white man
It falters and taps to a rhythm
Lawyer's fee is three-quarters of a coin
Load it with straw
Let it pile up and fill by itself
Money in the pocket
In the open wasteland
A vehicle made by the white man
It falters and taps to a rhythm
வெட்ட வெளிப் பொட்டலிலே
வெள்ளக்காரன் செஞ்ச வண்டி
தத்தளிச்சு தாளம் போடுதடி
Anna nadai podum vandi
A vehicle that walks like a swan
Chennaiyilae senja vandi
A vehicle made in Chennai
Anna nadai podum vandi
A vehicle that walks like a swan
Chennaiyilae senja vandi
A vehicle made in Chennai
Aiyaavoda aasa kannaatti
The master's beloved darling
Michael jacson break dancer
A Michael Jackson break dancer
Break pottaa aadidum adikkadi
When you apply the brakes, it dances repeatedly
Kudhikkira adhisaya vandi
A miraculous vehicle that jumps
Anna nadai podum vandi
A vehicle that walks like a swan
Senja edam madras guindy
The place it was made is Guindy, Madras
Aiyaavoda aasa kannaatti
The master's beloved darling
Mysore mahaa raajaavin thaathaa
The grandfather of the Maharaja of Mysore
London poyi vaangi vandha car
A car bought after going to London
Female :Ahaaa..
Female : Ahaaa..
Male :Andha kaalam roattu mela thaan
Male : Back in those days, on the road
Thaera pola odi vandhadhu
It ran like a grand temple chariot
Female :Ohoo ho ho hoo
Female : Ohoo ho ho hoo
Male :Mysorilae dhasaraavilae
Male : During the Dasara festival in Mysore
Idha paakka kodi koottam varum
Crores of people would gather to watch it
Female :Purudaa…
Female : Fibs! (Lies!)
Male :Raajaavukku idhil suthi vandhaa
Male : If the King drove around in this
Indha naatta aalum moodu varum
He would get into the mood to rule this nation
Hae appo idhu nalla vandi
Hey, back then it was a good vehicle
Ippo idhu katta vandi
Now it's just a broken old cart
Aiyo idhu enna vandi
Oh dear, what kind of vehicle is this?
Thaevalaiyae maattu vandi
A bullock cart would be better than this
Pazhaso pazhasu
Old, so very old
Idhu raajaraaja chozhan vandi
This is Raja Raja Chola's vehicle
Anna nadai podum vandi
A vehicle that walks like a swan
Female :Hey heyy
Female : Hey heyy
Male :Chennaiyilae senja vandi
Male : A vehicle made in Chennai
Chorus :Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa
Chorus : Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa
Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa
Dadaa dadaa daadaa daadaa
Male :Aiyaavoda aasa kannaatti
Male : The master's beloved darling
Haa ezhaikkidhu
Haha, for the poor man
Ellu seedai thaan
It's just a sesame seedai snack
Male :Hae namakku idhu
Male : Hey, for us, this is
Rolls roys thaan
Truly a Rolls Royce
Otta caara roattil ottinaa
If you drive a broken car on the road
Male :Courtil kondu serkkum
Male : It will drag you to court
Vandi thaan
That's the kind of vehicle it is
Petrolukku selavillaiyae
There's no expense for petrol
Female :Ada podhum podhum
Female : Oh, enough, enough
Krishnaayilu
It runs on kerosene
Krishnaayilum kedaikaattinaa
And if kerosene isn't available
Appo poda venum palm oilu
Then you have to fill it with palm oil
Hae enna pechu yelanamaa
Hey, why talk so contemptuously?
Car yenna kevalamaa
Is the car so worthless?
Pogudhu paar oorvalamaa
Look at it going like a grand procession
Unakku thaaren seedhanamaa
I will give it to you as dowry
Venaa daddy ippa aadi aadi
No need, daddy; now, wobbling and shaking
Ninnu pochu
It has come to a complete halt
Paadi paadi koralum pochu
Singing and singing, my voice is gone
Thalli thalli vaangudhu moochu
Pushing and pushing it, I am panting for breath
Kaara pathi oor engum pechu
Talk about this car is everywhere in town
Michael jacson break dancer
A Michael Jackson break dancer
Female :Break pottaa aadidum
Female : When you apply the brakes, it dances
Adikkadi kudhikkira adhisaya vandi
A miraculous vehicle that jumps frequently
Vetta veli pottalilae
In the open wasteland
Vellakkaaran senja vandi
A vehicle made by the white man
Thathalichu thaalam podudhadi
It falters and taps to a rhythm
Vakkeel fees mukkaal kaasu
Lawyer's fee is three-quarters of a coin
Vaikkol yethu
Load it with straw
Thannaalae kuviyattum neraiyattum
Let it pile up and fill by itself
Paiyila kaasu
Money in the pocket
Vetta veli pottalilae
In the open wasteland
Vellakkaaran senja vandi
A vehicle made by the white man
Thathalichu thaalam podudhadi
It falters and taps to a rhythm
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This humorous duet from 'Paasa Mazhai' (1989) pokes fun at an ancient, dilapidated vintage car owned by the family patriarch ('Aiyaa'). The song playfully contrasts grand claims—that the car was bought by royalty in London and once glided majestically like a temple chariot—with its laughable reality: a sputtering, jumping breakdown of a vehicle that dances like Michael Jackson whenever the brakes are hit and runs on kerosene or palm oil. Through witty banter, lyricist Vaali highlights the hilarity of holding onto an obsolete mechanical relic as a proud family heirloom, while the younger generation humorously complains that pushing the stalled car causes breathlessness and that a simple bullock cart would be far more reliable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Anna nadai podum vandi”
Compares the movement of the old car to the graceful walking style of a swan (Anna nadai).
Metaphor / Irony
“Michael jacson break dancer”
Sarcastic metaphor describing the jerky, uncontrolled breaking mechanism of the car as a Michael Jackson breakdance routine.
Hyperbole (Uvarchi)
“Mysore mahaa raajaavin thaathaa”
Exaggerates the car's royal pedigree by claiming it belonged to the grandfather of the Maharaja of Mysore.
Rhyme (Emonai / Iyaibu)
“Paadi paadi koralum pochu”
Uses internal and end rhymes (aadi aadi / paadi paadi / thalli thalli) to create rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song incorporates popular late-1980s pop culture references, notably referencing global icon Michael Jackson's breakdancing craze in Tamil film music lyrics penned by Vaali.
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