Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatrulla Pothe

From Thayum Magalum · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, K. J. Jesudas, P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, Chorus
Music director
P. S. Diwakar
Movie name
Thayum Magalum
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
3 Feb 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paruvathai paarthu paiyir seiya venum
Paadupattathaan aruvadaiyaagum
Samayathai maranthaa thirumba varathu
Gavanathil vaiyadiyo hoi hoi…
Gavanatahil vaiyadiyoi
Thuninthu vital tholvi illai
Thoongivitaal vetrivillai
Paarvayile thelivirunthaa
Paadhai vegu thooramillai….
Vetri kondaaduven naanum veeranadi
Vetri kondaaduven naanum veeranadi
Vetri kondaaduven
Singathin kutti
Siru nariyaai povathillai
Seeraaga valarntha pillai
Veenaaga poavathillai
Singathin kutti Singathin kutti
Siru nariyaai povathillai
Seeraaga valarntha pillai
Veenaaga poavathillai
Singathin kutti Aaha Singathin kutti
Saami unndu boomi unndu
Sathiyam vellummadi
Dhrammam endrum vaazhum
Endre dheivam sollummadi
You must plant your crops in the right season,
Only hard work brings a good harvest.
Lost time will never return,
Keep this in mind, my girl, hoy hoy...
Keep this in mind, my girl!
If you are brave, there is no defeat;
If you stay asleep, there is no success.
If your vision is clear,
The journey is not so far away...
I will celebrate victory, for I am a brave man!
I will celebrate victory, for I am a brave man!
I will celebrate victory!
A lion cub
Never turns into a little fox.
A child who is raised well
Will never go to waste.
A lion cub, a lion cub
Never turns into a little fox.
A child who is raised well
Will never go to waste.
A lion cub, aha, a lion cub!
There is God and there is the earth,
Truth will triumph, my girl!
Righteousness will live forever,
So says the divine, my girl!
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a motivational track that weaves classic Tamil wisdom and proverbs into encouraging counsel. Kannadasan uses agricultural metaphors like timing the crop-sowing and working hard for a harvest to emphasize that success requires prompt action, perseverance, and clarity of goal. It cautions against laziness while instilling courage. Furthermore, the song highlights character and heritage through the metaphor of a lion's cub never turning into a fox, asserting that a child nurtured with values will never go astray. It concludes with a reaffirmation of faith in divine justice, assuring that truth and righteousness will ultimately prevail over all odds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverbial Allusion (Pazhamozhi)

Paruvathai paarthu paiyir seiya venum

Refers directly to the famous ancient Tamil proverb 'Paruvathai payir sei' (Sow crops at the right season).

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Singathin kutti / Siru nariyaai povathillai

Compares a child raised with strong values to a lion's cub ('Singathin kutti') that will never degrade into a fox ('siru nari').

Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)

Singathin kutti / Siru nariyaai povathillai / Seeraaga valarntha pillai

Repetition of the 'Si/Se' initial sounds in 'Singathin', 'Siru', and 'Seeraaga'.

Antithesis / Contrast

Thuninthu vital tholvi illai / Thoongivitaal vetrivillai

Contrasts daring/courage ('Thuninthu') leading to no defeat against sleeping/sloth ('Thoongivitaal') leading to no victory.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Thayum Magalum' (1965) featured music composed by P. S. Diwakar. Lyricist Kannadasan was well-known for integrating popular folk adages and Tamil proverbs seamlessly into cinema lyrics to impart moral values to the masses.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Thayum Magalum

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.