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Paatti Sollai Thattathe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Delhikku Rajanaalum

From Paatti Sollai Thattathe · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Manorama
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Paatti Sollai Thattathe
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
13 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Delhikku rajanaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Patta padippu padichu vandhalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Kumarikku azhagundu kezhavikku arivundu
Azhagula arivai nee marakkadhey
Delhikku rajanaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Patta padippu padichu vandhalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Katchi unna thaerndheduthaalum
Thaai kulangal aadharithaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Butti vaangi virundhu vachaalum
Potti pannatha thorandhu vachaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Vaazhkai inga aniyaayam
Periyaar sonna venkaayam
Vaazhkai inga aniyaayam
Periyaar sonna venkaayam
Moothoar sonna vaarthai adhu
Kadalil vitta perunkaayam
Delhikku rajanaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Patta padippu padichu vandhalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Saertha panatha selavazhichaalum
Sotha maathi ezhudhi vachaalum
Paati sollai thattaadhey
Mandhiriyaga osandhu ninnaalum
Mandhaiyoram odhungi ninnalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Azhudha pilla jeyikkaadhu
Avicha nellu molaikkaadhu
Thangam vachu thechaa kooda
Erumai niram velukkaadhu
Delhikku rajanaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Patta padippu padichu vandhalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Binaami peril nelam irundhaalum
Swiz bank-il panam irundhaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Thalaivanendru kodi kattumpodhum
Satta sabaiyil adi pata podhum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Vaazhkai verum saapaadaa
Pulla perum yaerpaada
Veedum indha naadum nalam
Kaanumpadi nee vaada
Delhikku rajanaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Patta padippu padichu vandhalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Kumarikku azhagundu kezhavikku arivundu
Azhagula arivai nee marakkadhey
Delhikku rajanaalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Patta padippu padichu vandhalum
Paati solla thattaadhey
Even if you become the king of Delhi,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you return with a college degree,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
A young woman has beauty, an old woman has wisdom.
Blinded by beauty, do not forget wisdom!
Even if you become the king of Delhi,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you return with a college degree,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if a political party chooses you,
even if all the mothers support you,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you buy bottles of liquor and throw a feast,
even if you open boxes full of cash,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Life here is unfair,
hollow like an onion, as Periyar said!
Life here is unfair,
hollow like an onion, as Periyar said!
The wise words spoken by elders
are like a pinch of spice lost in the ocean.
Even if you become the king of Delhi,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you return with a college degree,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you spend all your saved wealth,
even if you transfer your property deeds,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you rise high to become a minister,
even if you are pushed aside to the edge of the herd,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
A crying child will never win,
boiled paddy will never sprout,
even if you scrub it with pure gold,
a buffalo's black hide will never turn white!
Even if you become the king of Delhi,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you return with a college degree,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you hold lands under a proxy name,
even if you stash money in a Swiss bank,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even when you fly your flag as a top leader,
even when you get beaten up in the assembly hall,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Is life meant only for eating food?
Is it merely an arrangement to produce babies?
So that your home and this nation may prosper,
come forward and live a worthy life, my boy!
Even if you become the king of Delhi,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you return with a college degree,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
A young woman has beauty, an old woman has wisdom.
Blinded by beauty, do not forget wisdom!
Even if you become the king of Delhi,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
Even if you return with a college degree,
do not disobey your grandmother's words!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Delhikku Rajanaalum' emphasizes the eternal importance of traditional wisdom, family elders, and moral character over power, wealth, or political position. It humorously and firmly asserts that regardless of how influential, educated, or wealthy a person becomes—whether becoming the ruler in Delhi, holding degrees, owning Swiss bank accounts, or serving as a government minister—one must never ignore the practical advice and wisdom of an elder, specifically the grandmother. Through witty Tamil proverbs and colloquial metaphors, lyricist Vairamuthu highlights that superficial beauty, wealth, and status are temporary, whereas moral duty and respecting elders lead to true purpose in life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monostich / Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kumarikku azhagundu kezhavikku arivundu”

Repetition of second consonant sound across adjacent lines, such as 'Kumarikku' / 'Azhagula' or 'Delhikku' / 'Patta'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Paati solla thattaadhey”

Consistent rhyming at line endings, notably the refrain ending with 'thattaadhey'.

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi)

“Avicha nellu molaikkaadhu”

Using traditional proverbs like 'Avicha nellu molaikkaadhu' (boiled grain will not germinate) to express immutable natural truths.

Hyperbole / Satire

“Delhikku rajanaalum”

Exaggerating political power ('Delhikku rajanaalum') and extreme wealth ('Swiss bank-il panam irundhaalum') to underline that wisdom supersedes material success.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Paatti Sollai Thattathe' (1988) starred veteran actress Manorama as the central grandmother character alongside Pandiarajan. The song became a iconic comedy-philosophical anthem in Tamil pop culture, popularizing the phrase 'Delhikku Rajanaalum Paatti Solla Thattaadhey'.

Keep listening

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