Idhu Theriyum
From Alli Petra Pillai · 1959
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Alli Petra Pillai1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Arivirukkum anbirukkum | Wisdom and love exist |
| Panbirukkum silaridam | And good character exist in a few people |
| Azhagirukkum panamirukkum | Beauty and wealth exist |
| Pagattirukkum palaridam | And ostentation exist in many people |
| Male | |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Male | |
| Yaezhedukkum maaligaiyil irukkira per vazhiga | Big shots living in seven-storey mansions |
| Eththanaiyo thappu thandaa pannuvaanga | Commit so many wrongdoings and crimes |
| Yaezhai eliyavanga illaatha kaaranaththaal | While poor, helpless people, out of poverty and necessity |
| Yaedho siru thavaru pannuvaanga… | May commit some small mistake... |
| Male | |
| Yaezhedukkum maaligaiyil irukkira per vazhiga | Big shots living in seven-storey mansions |
| Eththanaiyo thappu thandaa pannuvaanga | Commit so many wrongdoings and crimes |
| Yaezhai eliyavanga illaatha kaaranaththaal | While poor, helpless people, out of poverty and necessity |
| Yaedho siru thavaru pannuvaanga… | May commit some small mistake... |
| Male | |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Male | |
| Jolly mainargal visiri madippinilae | Within the pleated fan folds of carefree dandies |
| Kizhisal oru kodi irukkum | There are a crore hidden tears or flaws |
| Thozhilaali thuvaichchu uduththum udaiyilae | In the washed clothes worn by the hardworking laborer |
| Thaiyal pala odi irukkum…. | There run many visible stitches... |
| Male | |
| Jolly mainargal visiri madippinilae | Within the pleated fan folds of carefree dandies |
| Kizhisal oru kodi irukkum | There are a crore hidden tears or flaws |
| Thozhilaali thuvaichchu uduththum udaiyilae | In the washed clothes worn by the hardworking laborer |
| Thaiyal pala odi irukkum…. | There run many visible stitches... |
| Male | |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Male | |
| Kana thanavaanin nenjil ennaalum | In the heart of the wealthy elite, at all times |
| Kabadam poraamai enum azhukkirukkum | Lies the dirt of deceit and jealousy |
| Kana thanavaanin nenjil ennaalum | In the heart of the wealthy elite, at all times |
| Kabadam poraamai enum azhukkirukkum | Lies the dirt of deceit and jealousy |
| Kallam ariyaatha paattaali maeniyil | On the body of the innocent laborer |
| Ullapadi vervai azhukkirukkum | There is only honest sweat and dirt |
| Male | |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
| Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu | They know this, but they do not know that |
அறிவிருக்கும் அன்பிருக்கும்
பண்பிருக்கும் சிலரிடம்
அழகிருக்கும் பணமிருக்கும்
பகட்டிருக்கும் பலரிடம்
Wisdom and love exist
And good character exist in a few people
Beauty and wealth exist
And ostentation exist in many people
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
They know this, but they do not know that
They know this, but they do not know that
They know this, but they do not know that
ஏழெடுக்கு மாளிகையில் இருக்கிற பேர்வழிக
எத்தனையோ தப்புத் தண்டா பண்ணுவாங்க
ஏழை எளியவங்க இல்லாத காரணத்தால்
ஏதோ சிறு தவறு பண்ணுவாங்க....
Big shots living in seven-storey mansions
Commit so many wrongdoings and crimes
While poor, helpless people, out of poverty and necessity
May commit some small mistake...
ஏழெடுக்கு மாளிகையில் இருக்கிற பேர்வழிக
எத்தனையோ தப்புத் தண்டா பண்ணுவாங்க
ஏழை எளியவங்க இல்லாத காரணத்தால்
ஏதோ சிறு தவறு பண்ணுவாங்க....
Big shots living in seven-storey mansions
Commit so many wrongdoings and crimes
While poor, helpless people, out of poverty and necessity
May commit some small mistake...
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
They know this, but they do not know that
They know this, but they do not know that
ஜாலி மைனர்கள் விசிறி மடிப்பினிலே
கிழிசல் ஒரு கோடி இருக்கும்
தொழிலாளி துவைச்சு உடுத்தும் உடையிலே
தையல் பல ஓடி இருக்கும்......
Within the pleated fan folds of carefree dandies
There are a crore hidden tears or flaws
In the washed clothes worn by the hardworking laborer
There run many visible stitches...
ஜாலி மைனர்கள் விசிறி மடிப்பினிலே
கிழிசல் ஒரு கோடி இருக்கும்
தொழிலாளி துவைச்சு உடுத்தும் உடையிலே
தையல் பல ஓடி இருக்கும்......
Within the pleated fan folds of carefree dandies
There are a crore hidden tears or flaws
In the washed clothes worn by the hardworking laborer
There run many visible stitches...
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
They know this, but they do not know that
They know this, but they do not know that
கன தனவானின் நெஞ்சில் எந்நாளும்
கபடம் பொறாமை எனும் அழுக்கிருக்கும்
கன தனவானின் நெஞ்சில் எந்நாளும்
கபடம் பொறாமை எனும் அழுக்கிருக்கும்
கள்ளம் அறியாத பாட்டாளி மேனியில்
உள்ளபடி வேர்வை அழுக்கிருக்கும்....
In the heart of the wealthy elite, at all times
Lies the dirt of deceit and jealousy
In the heart of the wealthy elite, at all times
Lies the dirt of deceit and jealousy
On the body of the innocent laborer
There is only honest sweat and dirt
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
இது தெரியும் அது தெரியாது
They know this, but they do not know that
They know this, but they do not know that
Arivirukkum anbirukkum
Wisdom and love exist
Panbirukkum silaridam
And good character exist in a few people
Azhagirukkum panamirukkum
Beauty and wealth exist
Pagattirukkum palaridam
And ostentation exist in many people
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Yaezhedukkum maaligaiyil irukkira per vazhiga
Big shots living in seven-storey mansions
Eththanaiyo thappu thandaa pannuvaanga
Commit so many wrongdoings and crimes
Yaezhai eliyavanga illaatha kaaranaththaal
While poor, helpless people, out of poverty and necessity
Yaedho siru thavaru pannuvaanga…
May commit some small mistake...
Yaezhedukkum maaligaiyil irukkira per vazhiga
Big shots living in seven-storey mansions
Eththanaiyo thappu thandaa pannuvaanga
Commit so many wrongdoings and crimes
Yaezhai eliyavanga illaatha kaaranaththaal
While poor, helpless people, out of poverty and necessity
Yaedho siru thavaru pannuvaanga…
May commit some small mistake...
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Jolly mainargal visiri madippinilae
Within the pleated fan folds of carefree dandies
Kizhisal oru kodi irukkum
There are a crore hidden tears or flaws
Thozhilaali thuvaichchu uduththum udaiyilae
In the washed clothes worn by the hardworking laborer
Thaiyal pala odi irukkum….
There run many visible stitches...
Jolly mainargal visiri madippinilae
Within the pleated fan folds of carefree dandies
Kizhisal oru kodi irukkum
There are a crore hidden tears or flaws
Thozhilaali thuvaichchu uduththum udaiyilae
In the washed clothes worn by the hardworking laborer
Thaiyal pala odi irukkum….
There run many visible stitches...
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Kana thanavaanin nenjil ennaalum
In the heart of the wealthy elite, at all times
Kabadam poraamai enum azhukkirukkum
Lies the dirt of deceit and jealousy
Kana thanavaanin nenjil ennaalum
In the heart of the wealthy elite, at all times
Kabadam poraamai enum azhukkirukkum
Lies the dirt of deceit and jealousy
Kallam ariyaatha paattaali maeniyil
On the body of the innocent laborer
Ullapadi vervai azhukkirukkum
There is only honest sweat and dirt
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu
They know this, but they do not know that
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song presents a sharp socio-economic critique comparing the lives and moral values of the rich with those of the working-class poor. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi observes that virtues like love, wisdom, and character are found in only a few, whereas wealth, vanity, and superficial beauty belong to many. He points out society's double standards: the rich commit major crimes behind closed doors in multi-storey mansions, yet the poor are condemned for minor missteps born out of sheer necessity and hunger. Furthermore, the song draws a vivid contrast between moral corruption and physical labor. While wealthy playboys conceal endless flaws behind neat, fashionable attire, laborers wear patched clothes with pride. Ultimately, Maruthakasi notes that the rich carry the internal dirt of deceit and jealousy in their hearts, whereas the laborer's body only carries the external dirt of honest sweat. The refrain 'Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu' highlights society's selective blindness to these deep moral truths.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast (Ethir-inaikal)
“Kana thanavaanin nenjil ennaalum / Kallam ariyaatha paattaali maeniyil”
Contrasts the moral filth inside wealthy minds with the physical sweat on an innocent laborer's body.
Refrain / Repetition (Adukku)
“Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu”
The repeated chorus line 'Idhu theriyum adhu theriyaathu' serves as a poetic refrain emphasizing society's ignorance of moral truths.
Rhyme and Assonance (Edhukai and Monai)
“Arivirukkum anbirukkum / Azhagirukkum panamirukkum”
Tamil rhythmic matching of initial sounds (Arivirukkum / Azhagirukkum) and second-letter rhyme patterns (Kana / Kabadam / Kallam).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kabadam poraamai enum azhukkirukkum”
Metaphorically compares moral vices like deceit and jealousy to physical grime ('azhukku').
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1959 Tamil movie 'Alli Petra Pillai', this song composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan is celebrated as one of lyricist A. Maruthakasi's finest socialist philosophical songs addressing class disparity and moral hypocrisy.
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