Dhagathukku Thanni Kudichen
From Neela Kadal Orathile · 1979
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Neela Kadal Orathile1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaagathukku thanni kudichen | I drank water to quench my thirst |
| Paavathukku thanni adichen | I drank liquor to indulge in sin |
| Thaagathukku thanni kudichen | I drank water to quench my thirst |
| Paavathukku thanni adichen | I drank liquor to indulge in sin |
| Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa | I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend |
| Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa | Now I am trapped in sin, my friend |
| Male | |
| Thaagathukku thanni kudichen | I drank water to quench my thirst |
| Paavathukku thanni adichen | I drank liquor to indulge in sin |
| Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa | I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend |
| Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa | Now I am trapped in sin, my friend |
| Male | |
| Madhiyum pochudaa | My intellect is lost, my friend |
| Nimadhiyum pochudaa | My peace of mind is gone, my friend |
| Madhiyum pochudaa | My intellect is lost, my friend |
| Nimadhiyum pochudaa | My peace of mind is gone, my friend |
| Paazhum madhuva kudicha mayakkathilae | In the stupor of drinking ruinous alcohol |
| Mirugam aachudaa | I turned into a beast, my friend |
| Manasu mirugam aachudaaa | My heart turned into a beast, my friend |
| Male | |
| Thaagathukku thanni kudichen | I drank water to quench my thirst |
| Paavathukku thanni adichen | I drank liquor to indulge in sin |
| Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa | I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend |
| Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa | Now I am trapped in sin, my friend |
| Male | |
| Kalla kudichavan kanna izhappaan | He who drinks toddy will lose his sight |
| Thanni adichavan thannai azhippaan | He who drinks alcohol will destroy himself |
| ………………………….. | ... |
| Kalla kudichavan kanna izhappaan | He who drinks toddy will lose his sight |
| Thanni adichavan thannai azhippaan | He who drinks alcohol will destroy himself |
| Sathiyam sonnenada verum | I spoke the absolute truth, my friend |
| Thathuvam illaiyada | This is not mere philosophy, my friend |
| Male | |
| Thaagathukku thanni kudichen | I drank water to quench my thirst |
| Paavathukku thanni adichen | I drank liquor to indulge in sin |
| Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa | I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend |
| Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa | Now I am trapped in sin, my friend |
| Male | |
| Ada naan kudikkala madhuva | Hey, I did not consume the liquor |
| Adhu ennai kudikuthadaa | Rather, it is consuming me, my friend |
| Naan nadakkum bothu ennai paarthu | When I walk down the street |
| Naai sirikkuthada | A dog laughs at me, my friend |
| Theru naai sirikkuthadaa | A street dog laughs at me, my friend |
| Male | |
| Padichu padichu gaandhi sonnar | Gandhi repeatedly warned and taught us |
| Paasathodu annaa sonnaar | Anna told us with deep affection |
| En thalaivan kudiyai thadukka | Even when my leader passed laws to prohibit drinking |
| Sattam pottum puriyala | People failed to understand its importance |
| Ippo kudal karugi nadakka kooda mudiyala | Now my internal organs are burned and I cannot even walk |
| Male | |
| Thaagathukku thanni kudichen | I drank water to quench my thirst |
| Paavathukku thanni adichen | I drank liquor to indulge in sin |
| Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa | I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend |
| Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa | Now I am trapped in sin, my friend |
| Paavathilae maattikkittendaa | I am hopelessly trapped in sin |
| Paavathilae maattikkittendaa | I am hopelessly trapped in sin |
தாகத்துக்கு தண்ணிக் குடிச்சேன்
பாவத்துக்கு தண்ணி அடிச்சேன்
தாகத்துக்கு தண்ணிக் குடிச்சேன்
பாவத்துக்கு தண்ணி அடிச்சேன்
தாகத்த நான் மாத்திகிட்டேன்டா
இப்ப பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
I drank water to quench my thirst
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
I drank water to quench my thirst
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
தாகத்துக்கு தண்ணிக் குடிச்சேன்
பாவத்துக்கு தண்ணி அடிச்சேன்
தாகத்த நான் மாத்திகிட்டேன்டா
இப்ப பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
I drank water to quench my thirst
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
மதியும் போச்சுடா
நிம்மதியும் போச்சுடா
மதியும் போச்சுடா
நிம்மதியும் போச்சுடா
பாழும் மதுவக் குடிச்ச மயக்கத்திலே
மிருகம் ஆச்சுடா மனசு மிருகம் ஆச்சுடா
My intellect is lost, my friend
My peace of mind is gone, my friend
My intellect is lost, my friend
My peace of mind is gone, my friend
In the stupor of drinking ruinous alcohol
I turned into a beast, my friend
My heart turned into a beast, my friend
தாகத்துக்கு தண்ணிக் குடிச்சேன்
பாவத்துக்கு தண்ணி அடிச்சேன்
தாகத்த நான் மாத்திகிட்டேன்டா
இப்ப பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
I drank water to quench my thirst
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
கள்ளக் குடிச்சவன் கண்ண இழப்பான்
தண்ணி அடிச்சவன் தன்னை அழிப்பான்
........................................
He who drinks toddy will lose his sight
He who drinks alcohol will destroy himself
...
He who drinks toddy will lose his sight
He who drinks alcohol will destroy himself
I spoke the absolute truth, my friend
This is not mere philosophy, my friend
கள்ளக் குடிச்சவன் கண்ண இழப்பான்
தண்ணி அடிச்சவன் தன்னை அழிப்பான்
சத்தியம் சொன்னேனடா வெறும்
தத்துவம் இல்லையடா......
I drank water to quench my thirst
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
தாகத்துக்கு தண்ணிக் குடிச்சேன்
பாவத்துக்கு தண்ணி அடிச்சேன்
தாகத்த நான் மாத்திகிட்டேன்டா
இப்ப பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
Hey, I did not consume the liquor
Rather, it is consuming me, my friend
When I walk down the street
A dog laughs at me, my friend
A street dog laughs at me, my friend
அட நான் குடிக்கல மதுவ
அது என்னை குடிக்குதடா
நான் நடக்கும்போது என்னைப் பாத்து
நாய் சிரிக்குதடா தெரு நாய் சிரிக்குதடா
Gandhi repeatedly warned and taught us
Anna told us with deep affection
Even when my leader passed laws to prohibit drinking
People failed to understand its importance
Now my internal organs are burned and I cannot even walk
படிச்சு படிச்சு காந்தி சொன்னார்
பாசத்தோடு அண்ணா சொன்னார்
என் தலைவன் குடியை தடுக்க
சட்டம் போட்டும் புரியல
இப்போ குடல் கருகி நடக்ககூட முடியல..
I drank water to quench my thirst
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
I am hopelessly trapped in sin
I am hopelessly trapped in sin
தாகத்துக்கு தண்ணிக் குடிச்சேன்
பாவத்துக்கு தண்ணி அடிச்சேன்
தாகத்த நான் மாத்திகிட்டேன்டா
இப்ப பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
பாவத்துல மாட்டிக்கிட்டேன்டா...
Thaagathukku thanni kudichen
I drank water to quench my thirst
Paavathukku thanni adichen
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
Thaagathukku thanni kudichen
I drank water to quench my thirst
Paavathukku thanni adichen
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
Thaagathukku thanni kudichen
I drank water to quench my thirst
Paavathukku thanni adichen
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
Madhiyum pochudaa
My intellect is lost, my friend
Nimadhiyum pochudaa
My peace of mind is gone, my friend
Madhiyum pochudaa
My intellect is lost, my friend
Nimadhiyum pochudaa
My peace of mind is gone, my friend
Paazhum madhuva kudicha mayakkathilae
In the stupor of drinking ruinous alcohol
Mirugam aachudaa
I turned into a beast, my friend
Manasu mirugam aachudaaa
My heart turned into a beast, my friend
Thaagathukku thanni kudichen
I drank water to quench my thirst
Paavathukku thanni adichen
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
Kalla kudichavan kanna izhappaan
He who drinks toddy will lose his sight
Thanni adichavan thannai azhippaan
He who drinks alcohol will destroy himself
…………………………..
...
Kalla kudichavan kanna izhappaan
He who drinks toddy will lose his sight
Thanni adichavan thannai azhippaan
He who drinks alcohol will destroy himself
Sathiyam sonnenada verum
I spoke the absolute truth, my friend
Thathuvam illaiyada
This is not mere philosophy, my friend
Thaagathukku thanni kudichen
I drank water to quench my thirst
Paavathukku thanni adichen
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
Ada naan kudikkala madhuva
Hey, I did not consume the liquor
Adhu ennai kudikuthadaa
Rather, it is consuming me, my friend
Naan nadakkum bothu ennai paarthu
When I walk down the street
Naai sirikkuthada
A dog laughs at me, my friend
Theru naai sirikkuthadaa
A street dog laughs at me, my friend
Padichu padichu gaandhi sonnar
Gandhi repeatedly warned and taught us
Paasathodu annaa sonnaar
Anna told us with deep affection
En thalaivan kudiyai thadukka
Even when my leader passed laws to prohibit drinking
Sattam pottum puriyala
People failed to understand its importance
Ippo kudal karugi nadakka kooda mudiyala
Now my internal organs are burned and I cannot even walk
Thaagathukku thanni kudichen
I drank water to quench my thirst
Paavathukku thanni adichen
I drank liquor to indulge in sin
Thaagatha naan maathikkittendaa
I changed the nature of my thirst, my friend
Ippo paavathula maattikkittendaa
Now I am trapped in sin, my friend
Paavathilae maattikkittendaa
I am hopelessly trapped in sin
Paavathilae maattikkittendaa
I am hopelessly trapped in sin
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant track from the film Neela Kadal Orathile (1979) serves as a dramatic, philosophical anti-alcoholism sermon sung and composed by M. S. Vishwanathan. The speaker reflects on how a simple desire to quench physical thirst morphed into a destructive habit of drinking alcohol ('thanni'). The song details the tragic physical, mental, and social decay caused by alcoholism, including the loss of intellect, peace, self-respect, and bodily health.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Double Entendre
“Thaagathukku thanni kudichen / Paavathukku thanni adichen”
The word 'Thanni' is cleverly used in both its literal sense (water) and colloquially as slang for alcohol, contrasting healthy drinking with destructive addiction.
Personification / Paradox
“Ada naan kudikkala madhuva / Adhu ennai kudikuthadaa”
Alcohol is personified as the consumer, inverting the action to show how addiction controls the victim.
Historical Allusion
“Padichu padichu gaandhi sonnar / Paasathodu annaa sonnaar”
Refers directly to Mahatma Gandhi and C. N. Annadurai (Anna) who championed prohibition in Tamil Nadu.
Monorhyme / Second-letter Rhyme (Edukku)
“Madhiyum pochudaa / Nimadhiyum pochudaa”
Repetition of sound structures in adjacent lines ('Madhiyum' / 'Nimadhiyum') creating a rhythmic poetic effect.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song was composed and sung by music legend M. S. Vishwanathan himself. Known for his expressive voice, MSV delivered several moral and philosophical songs in Tamil cinema that focused on social issues like prohibition and self-reform.
Keep listening
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