- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Paattukku Naan Adimai
- Movie release year
- 1990
- Lyrics added on
- 4 Dec 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannammaa
Chorus :Hoi
Male :Kannaiyaa
Chorus :Hoi
Annanae anniyae
Thambiyae thangaiyae
Ennudan uzhaithuzhaithu
Kashta padum
Endhan kangalae hae hehehhae
Kettaalum seru pattanam thaan
Ellaamum ingae soppanam thaan
Ottaama vaazhum vaazhkkaiyadaa
Kaasu ullavanga kooda ezhaiyadaa
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jana jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa hoi
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Male :Haa haaha
Chorus :Jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa
Kettaalum seru pattanam thaan
Ellaamum ingae soppanam thaan
Ottaama vaazhum vaazhkkaiyadaa
Kaasu ullavanga kooda ezhaiyadaa
{Beachula adikkira
Kulu kulu kaathukku
Koodudhu koodudhu koottam
Veettila irukkura kavalaiya pokkida
Roattula irukkudhu nottam} (2)
Pattathu yaanaiyil pallava raajanum
Bavani vandhaan adhu naethu
Pallavan mel ippa
Pala vidha koottam
Parakkudhaiyaa vazhi paathu
Jolly undu goli undu
Ae thalukku thalukku thaan
Kulukku kulukku thaan
Kettaalum seru pattanam thaan
Ellaamum ingae soppanam thaan
Ottaama vaazhum vaazhkkaiyadaa
Kaasu ullavanga kooda ezhaiyadaa
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jana jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa
Kettaalum seru pattanam thaan
Ellaamum ingae soppanam thaan
Ottaama vaazhum vaazhkkaiyadaa
Kaasu ullavanga kooda ezhaiyadaa
Thandhanaa naanaa
Chorus :Thandhanaa naanaa
Male :Ae thandhanaa naanaa
Chorus :Thandhanaa naanaa
Thandhanaa naanaa thandhanaa naanaa
Thandhanaa naanaa thandhananaa
Female Chorus :Thandhanaa naanaa
Male Chorus :Thandhanaa naanaa
Thanattham hoi thanattham hoi
Thanattham hoi hoi hoi hoi
{Kaadhalil midhakkura
Kaalaikkum kannikkum
Kavalai illa indha neram
Kazhuthula siru
Manja kayironnu vizhundhadhu
Kavalai ellaam vandhu serum} (2)
Podhigala sumakkura
Kazhudhaiya pola
Ippa puththagam sumakkudhu pulla
Padippadhu mudinjadhum
Iduppadhu odinjidum
Thedunga velaigal illa
Parambaraiyaa nadappadhu thaan
Ezhudhi mudichadhu ippadi vidinjadhu
Kettaalum seru pattanam thaan
Ellaamum ingae soppanam thaan..ha haa
Ottaama vaazhum vaazhkkaiyadaa
Kaasu ullavanga kooda ezhaiyadaa
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jana jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa ..hoi
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jana jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa
Chorus :Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinannaa
Jinakku jinakku jan janjinannaa
Kannamma!
Chorus: Hoy!
Male: Kannayya!
Chorus: Hoy!
Elder brothers, sisters-in-law!
Younger brothers, younger sisters!
You who toil with me,
struggling day in and day out,
my very eyes and soul! Hey hehehhe!
"Even if ruined, head to the big city!"
Everything here is just an illusion!
It's a detached life with no real warmth, my friend!
Even those who have money are poor here, my friend!
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jana jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna, hoy!
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Male: Ha haha!
Chorus: Jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna
"Even if ruined, head to the big city!"
Everything here is just an illusion!
It's a detached life with no real warmth, my friend!
Even those who have money are poor here, my friend!
To catch the cool breeze
blowing across the beach,
crowds and crowds gather together!
To chase away the worries at home,
their eyes wander across the streets!
On a royal elephant, the Pallava king
rode in a grand parade yesterday;
Today, on the Pallavan bus,
all kinds of people
rush by, watching the road ahead!
There's fun, there's goli soda (marbled soda drink)!
Hey, full of style and flair,
swaying and shaking all around!
"Even if ruined, head to the big city!"
Everything here is just an illusion!
It's a detached life with no real warmth, my friend!
Even those who have money are poor here, my friend!
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jana jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna
"Even if ruined, head to the big city!"
Everything here is just an illusion!
It's a detached life with no real warmth, my friend!
Even those who have money are poor here, my friend!
Thanthana naana
Chorus: Thanthana naana
Male: Hey thanthana naana
Chorus: Thanthana naana
Thanthana naana thanthana naana
Thanthana naana thanthananaa
Female Chorus: Thanthana naana
Male Chorus: Thanthana naana
Thanatham hoy, thanatham hoy!
Thanatham hoy hoy hoy hoy!
Floating on clouds of love,
the young lad and the young girl
have no worries at this moment!
Once around the neck,
a little yellow thread (marriage cord) is tied,
every single trouble comes rushing in!
Just like a donkey
carrying heavy loads,
children now carry heaps of books!
By the time their studies are over,
their backs are almost broken,
yet search all you want—there are no jobs!
This has been repeating generation after generation;
fate was written this way, and life turned out this way!
"Even if ruined, head to the big city!"
Everything here is just an illusion... ha ha!
It's a detached life with no real warmth, my friend!
Even those who have money are poor here, my friend!
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jana jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna... hoy!
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna
Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jana jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna
Chorus: Jinukku jinukku jin jinjinaanna
Jinukku jinukku jan janjinaanna
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Kettaalum Seru Pattanam Thaan' offers a vivid socio-philosophical commentary on life in Chennai city (historically referred to as Madras / Pattanam). Through lighthearted folk rhythms, the song contrasts the glittering illusion of urban life with the grim reality faced by common working-class people, students, and families.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Kettaalum seru pattanam thaan / Ottaama vaazhum vaazhkkaiyadaa”
The second consonant 'tt' matches in consecutive lines, creating a classic Tamil rhythmic flow.
Metaphor / Wordplay
“Pattathu yaanaiyil pallava raajanum... Pallavan mel ippa pala vidha koottam”
Clever historical wordplay contrasting the ancient royal Pallava dynasty kings on elephants with modern Pallavan Transport Corporation (PTC) public buses crammed with commuters.
Simile (Upamai)
“Podhigala sumakkura kazhudhaiya pola ippa puththagam sumakkudhu pulla”
Comparing school children carrying heavy backpacks to donkeys bearing heavy loads.
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Kettaalum Seru Pattanam Thaan' is a famous Tamil proverb meaning 'Even if you are ruined, it is best to be ruined in a big city', highlighting how cities offer endless hope and distraction despite socio-economic struggles.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
Pathodu Onnu Seruthu1983
OppanthamUrban LifePoverty
Beachu Kaathu2015
Kurangu BommaiPovertyUrban Life
Nan Saltu Kottai2000
Pennin Manathai ThottuUrban LifeCelebratory
La La La2026
Mr. BhaarathCelebratoryDreams
Adiyeduthu Nadanthu1986
Vidinja KalyanamYouthCelebratory
Paappa Roopa Dhilruba1997
PooncholaiUrban LifeYouth
From the same album
More songs from Paattukku Naan Adimai
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.