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Lyrics & meaning

Intha Mattukkaran Pattu Paduvan

From Vetri Vinayagar · 1996

Lyricist
Kamakodiyan
Singer
Swarnalatha
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vetri Vinayagar1996

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thandhana thindhana thandhana thindhanaRhythmic musical refrain (Thandhana thindhana...)
Thanathinthana thana thanathinthana thanaa thandhaanaRhythmic musical refrain (Thanathinthana...)
Thandhana thindhana thandhana thindhanaRhythmic musical refrain (Thandhana thindhana...)
Thanathinthana thana thanathinthana thanaa thanaeRhythmic musical refrain (Thanathinthana...)
ThandhaanaRhythmic refrain (Thandhaana)
Female
Indha maatukkaaran paattu paaduvaanThis cowherd will sing a song,
Andha pattukkullae naalum solluvaanAnd within that song, he will convey wisdom.
Indha maatukkaaran paattu paaduvaanThis cowherd will sing a song,
Andha pattukkullae naalum solluvaanAnd within that song, he will convey wisdom.
Female
Manushana paarkaiyilae maadunga thevalaiyaeWhen looking at human nature, cattle seem far better!
Manushana paarkaiyilae maadunga thevalaiyaeWhen looking at human nature, cattle seem far better!
Ivan mattikittaan pottukittaanHe got himself caught and trapped
Aayiram aayiram aasai valaiyaeIn thousands upon thousands of webs of desire.
Female
Indha maatukkaaran paattu paaduvaanThis cowherd will sing a song,
Andha pattukkullae naalum solluvaanAnd within that song, he will convey wisdom.
Female
Aalukkoru aasaiyada saamiEveryone has their own desire, O Lord,
Oru alavillama alaiyudhada boomiAnd the world wanders without any limits.
Aalukkoru aasaiyada saamiEveryone has their own desire, O Lord,
Oru alavillama alaiyudhada boomiAnd the world wanders without any limits.
Female
Veettai aandu naattai aanduAfter ruling the home and ruling the country,
Ulagai aala paarkkiraanHe strives to rule the entire world.
Aandavanai marandhu vittuForgetting the Almighty God,
Aandavannu solluraanHe claims that he himself is the ruler.
Naan aandavannu solluraanHe proclaims, 'I am the ruler!'
Female
Paasathai kaatiya veshathai pottavanThe one who put on a disguise of affection,
Veetukkul serthukittaanBrought deceit into his own house;
Thottathu veliyae thottathai meiyuraLike a fence that eats the very garden it protects,
Veliayum senjukittaanHe built such a harmful fence himself.
Female
Indha maatukkaaran paattu paaduvaanThis cowherd will sing a song,
Andha pattukkullae naalum solluvaanAnd within that song, he will convey wisdom.
Female
Oo oo ooVocalizing sounds (Oo oo oo)
Female
Gopuratha thaangurathu yaaru andhaWho is it that supports the temple tower?
Gopurathu bommaigala kooruAre they the statues on the tower? Tell me!
Gopuratha thaangurathu yaaru andhaWho is it that supports the temple tower?
Gopurathu bommaigala kooruAre they the statues on the tower? Tell me!
Maraindhirukkum iraivan avanThe hidden Lord is like
Asthivaram pola thaanThe unseen foundation itself.
Maranthirukkum manidhan avanThe forgetful human is like
Aaravaaram polithaanThe noisy, showy celebration above.
Maraindhirukkum iraivan avanThe hidden Lord is like
Asthivaram pola thaanThe unseen foundation itself.
Maranthirukkum manidhan avanThe forgetful human is like
Aaravaaram polithaanThe noisy, showy celebration above.
Female
Illara sugathin nallara gunathaiThe virtuous nature of domestic married life,
Eppadi maathikkiraanHow easily he corrupts it!
Ethanai azhagil pathini irunthumNo matter how virtuous and beautiful a wife he has,
Thappukkal pannikkiraanHe still commits wrongful mistakes!
Female
Illara sugathin nallara gunathaiThe virtuous nature of domestic married life,
Eppadi maathikkiraanHow easily he corrupts it!
Ethanai azhagil pathini irunthumNo matter how virtuous and beautiful a wife he has,
Thappukkal pannikkiraanHe still commits wrongful mistakes!
Female
Indha maatukkaaran paattu paaduvaanThis cowherd will sing a song,
Andha pattukkullae naalum solluvaanAnd within that song, he will convey wisdom.
Manushana paarkaiyilae maadunga thevalaiyaeWhen looking at human nature, cattle seem far better!
Ivan mattikittaan pottukittaanHe got himself caught and trapped
Aayiram aayiram aasai valaiyaeIn thousands upon thousands of webs of desire.
Female
Indha maatukkaaran paattu paaduvaanThis cowherd will sing a song,
Andha pattukkullae naalum solluvaanAnd within that song, he will convey wisdom.
Aahaa haa thandhana thana thandhana thana naaAahaa haa rhythmic musical refrain
Aahaa haa thandhana thana thandhana thana naaAahaa haa rhythmic musical refrain

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Vetri Vinayagar (1996) presents a philosophical reflection sung from the perspective of a cowherd observing human society. The lyrics contrast the simple, innocent nature of animals with the endless greed, arrogance, and moral corruption of human beings trapped in webs of worldly desire. The song uses powerful imagery to criticize human pride and hypocrisy, reminding listeners that true power lies with the Almighty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Maraindhirukkum iraivan avan asthivaram pola thaan

God is compared to an unseen foundation ('Asthivaram') that holds everything together, while humans are compared to noisy, superficial decorations.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aayiram aayiram aasai valaiyae

Human desires are metaphorically represented as a net or web ('aasai valai') in which mankind gets entangled.

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi Uruvagam)

Thottathu veliyae thottathai meiyura veliayum senjukittaan

Refers to the classic Tamil proverb 'Veliyae payirai meindhal' (the fence eating the crop), denoting betrayal by one's own protective instincts or guardians.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kamakodiyan, this track blends folk-style rhythmic refrains with traditional Tamil philosophical wisdom, sung by Swarnalatha.

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