Indha Pazhasa
From Thooya Ullam · 1961
- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Pendyala Nageswara Rao
- Details
- Thooya Ullam1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Indha pazhasa avuthu pottu | Take off these old clothes |
| Pudhu podava ravikka maattu | Wear a new saree and blouse |
| Indha pazhasa avuthu pottu | Take off these old clothes |
| Pudhu podava ravikka maattu | Wear a new saree and blouse |
| Veliya kelambhu kelambhu | Get ready to go outside |
| Nee kadhva izhuthu poottu | Pull the door and lock it |
| Kadaveedhi mele povom | Let us go to the market street |
| Vaa selavukkindhaa nottu | Come, here is money for expenses |
| Female | |
| Avasarapadathae atha mavanae | Do not be in a hurry, cousin |
| Veenae avasiyam illadha selavu namakku venam | We do not need unnecessary expenses for no reason |
| Female | |
| Appan pattan thedi vecha | Heritage left behind by ancestors |
| Highwayzoom namakkillae | Is not something we possess |
| Annaada kaayichi naama | We who cook and live day by day |
| Adhukkellaam tharamillae | Do not have the status for such extravagance |
| Aala yeichi pozhaikkum | To survive by deceiving people |
| Kurukku moolaikkoda unakkillae | You do not even have a cunning mind |
| Avasarapadathae atha mavanae | Do not be in a hurry, cousin |
| Veenae avasiyam illadha selavu namakku venam | We do not need unnecessary expenses for no reason |
| Male | |
| Ozhaichu thingha udambil namakku balamirukkudhae | We have the physical strength to work and eat |
| Unmaiyodu udhavikkaaga neeyum irukkira | And you are there to help with honesty |
| Saami alavilladha kozhandhai selvam koduthirukkudhae | God has blessed us with a boundless wealth of children |
| Naambha thalarndha bodhu paadhukaakkum edhukku muzhikkire | They will protect us when we grow weak, why do you look worried? |
| Male | |
| Manasu vuttudadhae maaman magale | Do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter |
| Pinnae vaadiyamma povom yendi raghala | Then come along dear, why make a fuss? |
| Kanane manasu vuttudadhae maaman magale | Dear one, do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter |
| Female | |
| Nammai pola pullaikutti | Should children like ours |
| Naayaai alaiyanuma | Wander aimlessly like stray dogs? |
| Nanum neeyum ponaa naadhi yedhum ondumaa | If you and I pass away, is there anyone to care for them? |
| Unnai pola padikkadha muttaalaagonuma | Should they turn into uneducated fools like you? |
| Yosikkaatti pinnalae mosam aagumae | If we do not plan ahead, things will turn disastrous later |
| Maama varushma oru presavam thavaruvathillai | Uncle, a childbirth every single year never fails |
| Naanum vathalaaghi poyitten sakthiyum illai | I have become weak and emaciated, losing all my energy |
| Machaan avasarapadathae atha mavanae | Cousin, do not be in a hurry, my aunt's son |
| Male | |
| Nadantha varaikkum kadavul sealu nadanthu pochuthu | Whatever happened till now was God's doing, and it has passed |
| Naalaiyodu kozhandha kanakku niruthiyachudhu | From tomorrow, the child count is stopped |
| Namma kudumba nelama therinju selava korachumaachudhu | Understanding our family situation, we have reduced expenses |
| Pulla kozhandha kuttiya valarkkum vazhiyum purinju pochudhu | And we now understand the proper way to raise our children |
| Manasu vuttudadhae maaman magale | Do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter |
| Vandha varava micham pidippen maaman magale | I will save from whatever income we get, my uncle's daughter |
இந்த பழச அவுத்து போட்டு
புது பொடவ ரவிக்கை மாட்டு
இந்த பழச அவுத்து போட்டு
புது பொடவ ரவிக்கை மாட்டு
வெளிய கெளம்பு கெளம்பு
நீ கதவ இழுத்து பூட்டு
கடவீதி மேலே போவோம்
வா செலவுக்கிந்தா நோட்டு
Take off these old clothes
Wear a new saree and blouse
Take off these old clothes
Wear a new saree and blouse
Get ready to go outside
Pull the door and lock it
Let us go to the market street
Come, here is money for expenses
அவசரப்படாதே அத்த மவனே
வீணே அவசியமில்லாத செலவு நமக்கு வேணாம்...
Do not be in a hurry, cousin
We do not need unnecessary expenses for no reason
அப்பன் பாட்டன் தேடி வச்ச
ஐவேஜூம் நமக்கில்லே
அன்னாட காய்ச்சி நாம
அதுக்கெல்லாம் தரமில்லே
ஆள ஏய்ச்சிப் பொழைக்கும்
குறுக்கு மூளைக்கூட உனக்கில்லே
அவசரப்படாதே அத்த மவனே
வீணே அவசியமில்லாத செலவு நமக்கு வேணாம்...
Heritage left behind by ancestors
Is not something we possess
We who cook and live day by day
Do not have the status for such extravagance
To survive by deceiving people
You do not even have a cunning mind
Do not be in a hurry, cousin
We do not need unnecessary expenses for no reason
ஒழைச்சுத் திங்க உடம்பில் நமக்கு பலமிருக்குதே
உண்மையோடு உதவிக்காக நீயும் இருக்கிறே
சாமி அளவில்லாத கொழந்தை செல்வம் கொடுத்திருக்குதே
நாம்ப தளர்ந்தபோது பாதுகாக்கும் எதுக்கு முழிக்கிறே
We have the physical strength to work and eat
And you are there to help with honesty
God has blessed us with a boundless wealth of children
They will protect us when we grow weak, why do you look worried?
மனச வுட்டுடாதே மாமன் மகளே
பின்னே வாடியம்மா போவோம் ஏண்டி ரகள
கண்ணே மனச வுட்டுடாதே மாமன் மகளே
Do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter
Then come along dear, why make a fuss?
Dear one, do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter
நம்மைப் போல புள்ளைக்குட்டி
நாயாய் அலையோணுமா
நானும் நீயும் போனா நாதி ஏதும் ஒண்டுமா
உன்னைப்போல படிக்காத முட்டாளாகோணுமா
யோசிக்காட்டி பின்னாலே மோசம் ஆகுமே
மாமா வருஷம் ஒரு பிரசவம் தவறுவதில்லை
நானும் வத்தலாகி போயிட்டேன் சக்தியுமில்லை
மச்சான் அவசரப்படாதே அத்த மவனே...
Should children like ours
Wander aimlessly like stray dogs?
If you and I pass away, is there anyone to care for them?
Should they turn into uneducated fools like you?
If we do not plan ahead, things will turn disastrous later
Uncle, a childbirth every single year never fails
I have become weak and emaciated, losing all my energy
Cousin, do not be in a hurry, my aunt's son
நடந்த வரைக்கும் கடவுள் செயலு நடந்து போச்சுது
நாளையோட கொழந்த கணக்க நிறுத்தியாச்சுது
நம்ம குடும்ப நெலம தெரிஞ்சு செலவ கொறச்சுமாச்சுது
புள்ள கொழந்த குட்டிய வளர்க்கும் வழியும் புரிஞ்சு போச்சுது
மனச வுட்டுடாதே மாமன் மகளே
வந்த வரவ மிச்சம் பிடிப்பேன் மாமன் மகளே
Whatever happened till now was God's doing, and it has passed
From tomorrow, the child count is stopped
Understanding our family situation, we have reduced expenses
And we now understand the proper way to raise our children
Do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter
I will save from whatever income we get, my uncle's daughter
இருவரும் :
கட்டாயமா நம்ம நாளிலே
கல்வியாலே புள்ளக்குட்டி மேலோங்கணும்
நல்ல பேர அவங்களால நாம வாங்கணும்.....
Indha pazhasa avuthu pottu
Take off these old clothes
Pudhu podava ravikka maattu
Wear a new saree and blouse
Indha pazhasa avuthu pottu
Take off these old clothes
Pudhu podava ravikka maattu
Wear a new saree and blouse
Veliya kelambhu kelambhu
Get ready to go outside
Nee kadhva izhuthu poottu
Pull the door and lock it
Kadaveedhi mele povom
Let us go to the market street
Vaa selavukkindhaa nottu
Come, here is money for expenses
Avasarapadathae atha mavanae
Do not be in a hurry, cousin
Veenae avasiyam illadha selavu namakku venam
We do not need unnecessary expenses for no reason
Appan pattan thedi vecha
Heritage left behind by ancestors
Highwayzoom namakkillae
Is not something we possess
Annaada kaayichi naama
We who cook and live day by day
Adhukkellaam tharamillae
Do not have the status for such extravagance
Aala yeichi pozhaikkum
To survive by deceiving people
Kurukku moolaikkoda unakkillae
You do not even have a cunning mind
Avasarapadathae atha mavanae
Do not be in a hurry, cousin
Veenae avasiyam illadha selavu namakku venam
We do not need unnecessary expenses for no reason
Ozhaichu thingha udambil namakku balamirukkudhae
We have the physical strength to work and eat
Unmaiyodu udhavikkaaga neeyum irukkira
And you are there to help with honesty
Saami alavilladha kozhandhai selvam koduthirukkudhae
God has blessed us with a boundless wealth of children
Naambha thalarndha bodhu paadhukaakkum edhukku muzhikkire
They will protect us when we grow weak, why do you look worried?
Manasu vuttudadhae maaman magale
Do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter
Pinnae vaadiyamma povom yendi raghala
Then come along dear, why make a fuss?
Kanane manasu vuttudadhae maaman magale
Dear one, do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter
Nammai pola pullaikutti
Should children like ours
Naayaai alaiyanuma
Wander aimlessly like stray dogs?
Nanum neeyum ponaa naadhi yedhum ondumaa
If you and I pass away, is there anyone to care for them?
Unnai pola padikkadha muttaalaagonuma
Should they turn into uneducated fools like you?
Yosikkaatti pinnalae mosam aagumae
If we do not plan ahead, things will turn disastrous later
Maama varushma oru presavam thavaruvathillai
Uncle, a childbirth every single year never fails
Naanum vathalaaghi poyitten sakthiyum illai
I have become weak and emaciated, losing all my energy
Machaan avasarapadathae atha mavanae
Cousin, do not be in a hurry, my aunt's son
Nadantha varaikkum kadavul sealu nadanthu pochuthu
Whatever happened till now was God's doing, and it has passed
Naalaiyodu kozhandha kanakku niruthiyachudhu
From tomorrow, the child count is stopped
Namma kudumba nelama therinju selava korachumaachudhu
Understanding our family situation, we have reduced expenses
Pulla kozhandha kuttiya valarkkum vazhiyum purinju pochudhu
And we now understand the proper way to raise our children
Manasu vuttudadhae maaman magale
Do not lose heart, my uncle's daughter
Vandha varava micham pidippen maaman magale
I will save from whatever income we get, my uncle's daughter
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Thooya Ullam' (1961) is a realistic and pragmatic conversation between a working-class husband and wife regarding financial prudence and family planning. The husband exuberantly urges his wife to dress up and spend money at the market. However, his practical wife cautions him against frivolous spending, reminding him of their hand-to-mouth existence and the absence of inherited wealth. As the dialogue progresses, the wife addresses the toll of frequent childbirths on her health and expresses concern for their children's future and education. Moved by her concern, the husband realizes his responsibility, agreeing to adopt family planning, cut unnecessary expenses, and save money to secure their family's future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Indha pazhasa avuthu pottu / Pudhu podava ravikka maattu”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound across lines to create rhythmic symmetry, seen in 'pazhasa' and 'podava'.
Metaphor (Kozhandhai Selvam)
“Saami alavilladha kozhandhai selvam koduthirukkudhae”
Children are metaphorically described as 'selvam' (wealth), reflecting the traditional cultural view of family as prosperity.
Simile (Naayaai alaiyanuma)
“Nammai pola pullaikutti / Naayaai alaiyanuma”
Compares uncared-for children wandering without education or guidance to stray dogs ('naayaai').
Didactic / Reformist Rhetoric
“Naalaiyodu kozhandha kanakku niruthiyachudhu”
Direct social commentary advocating for family planning and financial budgeting, characteristic of Udumalai Narayanakavi's reformist lyrics.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi (popularly known as 'Kavirayar'), a pioneer of social reform lyrics in Tamil cinema, this song is a classic example of early 1960s cinema being used to promote social awareness such as family planning, women's health, and household financial literacy.
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