Mettu Podu
From Duet · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Duet1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaya kalaigal | All sixty-four fine arts, |
| Arubathinaanginaiyum | All sixty-four of them, |
| Yeya unarvikkum ennammai | My mother who instills knowledge, |
| Thooya uru palingu pol | Like a pure crystal form, |
| Vaazh en ullathinullae | Resides inside my heart. |
| Iruppal ingu vaaraadhu idar | If she stays, no trouble will come here. |
| Female | |
| Padiga niramum | With crystal color, |
| Pavala chevvaiyum | And coral red lips, |
| Kadigamazh poonthaamarai | Fragrant lotus-like, |
| Por kaiyum | Golden hands, |
| Thudiyidaiyum | And an hourglass waist, |
| Allum pagalum anavaradhamum | If praised day and night continuously, |
| Thudhithaal kallum solaatho kavi… | Even a stone will yield poetry... |
| Male | |
| Thaananaa thaana naanaa | Thaananaa thaana naanaa |
| Thannan naanaa | Thannan naanaa |
| Thara thaana naana thaana naana | Thara thaana naana thaana naana |
| Thannan naanaa | Thannan naanaa |
| Male | |
| Thangamae thamizhukkillai | Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no |
| Thattuppaadu | Scarcity or lack! |
| Oru sarakkirukkudhu | There is rich substance, |
| Murukkirukkudhu mettuppodu | There is rhythm and grit, set a tune! |
| Male | |
| Ethanai sabaigal kandom | How many stages/assemblies we have seen! |
| Ethanai ethanai pagaiyum kandom | How many rivalries we have seen! |
| Athanaiyum soodam kaatti | Warding off all evil like burning camphor, |
| Chuttu podu | Burn them away! |
| Male | |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| En thaai kodutha | Given by my mother, |
| Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu | Tamil has no scarcity! |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| Ada kadalukkundu | Ah, even the ocean has boundaries, |
| Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu | But imagination has no restrictions! |
| Male | |
| Thangamae thamizhukkillai | Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no |
| Thattuppaadu | Scarcity or lack! |
| Oru sarakkirukkudhu | There is rich substance, |
| Murukkirukkudhu mettuppodu | There is rhythm and grit, set a tune! |
| Male | |
| Ethanai sabaigal kandom | How many stages/assemblies we have seen! |
| Ethanai ethanai pagaiyum kandom | How many rivalries we have seen! |
| Athanaiyum soodam kaatti | Warding off all evil like burning camphor, |
| Chuttu podu | Burn them away! |
| Male | |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| En thaai kodutha | Given by my mother, |
| Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu | Tamil has no scarcity! |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| Ada kadalukkundu | Ah, even the ocean has boundaries, |
| Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu | But imagination has no restrictions! |
| Male | |
| Ithu makkal paattu | This is the people's song, |
| Thanmaana paattu | A song of self-respect. |
| Ithu poraadum ungal | This is your struggling |
| Vaazhkai paattu | Life's song. |
| Male | |
| Kalloori pengal paadum | Sung by college girls, |
| Kanni paattu | A maiden's song. |
| Sabaigalai vendruvarum | Conquering all auditoriums, |
| Sabadham pottu | Making a vow, |
| Male | |
| Naam kattum paattu | The song we compose, |
| Eeram thattum paattu | A song that touches with emotion, |
| Katti chendhaenaai | Like thick pure honey, |
| Nenjil sottum paattu | A song dripping into the heart, |
| Thaai paalaippol | Like mother's milk, |
| Rathathil ottum paattu | A song flowing in the blood, |
| Thamizh makkal veettai | Knocking at the doors of |
| Sendru thattum paattu | Tamil people's homes. |
| Male | |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| En thaai kodutha | Given by my mother, |
| Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu | Tamil has no scarcity! |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| Ada kadalukkundu | Ada, even the ocean has boundaries, |
| Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu | But imagination has no restrictions! |
| Male | |
| Ini kanneer vendaam | No more tears now, |
| Oru kavithai seiga | Compose a poem. |
| Engal gaanangal kettu | Listening to our songs, |
| Kaadhal seiga | Spread love. |
| Male | |
| Nam mannukkum vinnukkum | Between our earth and sky, |
| Paalam seiga | Build a bridge. |
| Nalam pera vendum endraal | If you want to prosper, |
| Nanmai seiga | Do good deeds. |
| Male | |
| Nam boomi melae | Upon our earth, |
| Puthu paarvai kolga | Adopt a new perspective. |
| Nam iyarkai mel innum | Towards our nature, |
| Ichai kolga | Desire even more. |
| Konjam nilavukku neram vaithu | Set aside a little time for the moon, |
| Thookkam kolga | Get some sleep. |
| Paaraikul verai polae | Like a root holding inside a rock, |
| Vetri kolga | Achieve victory! |
| Male | |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| En thaai kodutha | Given by my mother, |
| Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu | Tamil has no scarcity! |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| Ada kadalukkundu | Ada, even the ocean has boundaries, |
| Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu | But imagination has no restrictions! |
| Male | |
| Thangamae thamizhukkillai | Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no |
| Thattuppaadu | Scarcity or lack! |
| Oru sarakkirukkudhu | There is rich substance, |
| Murukkirukkudhu mettuppodu | There is rhythm and grit, set a tune! |
| Male | |
| Ethanai sabaigal kandom | How many stages/assemblies we have seen! |
| Ethanai ethanai pagaiyum kandom | How many rivalries we have seen! |
| Athanaiyum soodam kaatti | Warding off all evil like burning camphor, |
| Chuttu podu | Burn them away! |
| Male | |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| En thaai kodutha | Given by my mother, |
| Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu | Tamil has no scarcity! |
| Mettuppodu mettuppodu | Set a tune, set a tune! |
| Ada kadalukkundu | Ada, even the ocean has boundaries, |
| Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu | But imagination has no restrictions! |
ஆய கலைகள்
அறுபத்துநான்கினையும்
ஏய உணர்விக்கும் எண்ணம்மை
தூய உரு பளிங்கு போல்
வாள் என் உள்ளத்தினுள்ளே
இருப்பள் இங்கு வாராது இடர்
All sixty-four fine arts,
All sixty-four of them,
My mother who instills knowledge,
Like a pure crystal form,
Resides inside my heart.
If she stays, no trouble will come here.
படிக நிறமும்
பவளச் செவ்வாயும்
கடிகமழ் பூந்தாமரை
போற் கையும்
துடியிடையும்
அல்லும் பகலும் அனவரதமும்
துதித்தால் கல்லும் சொல்லாதோ கவி.
With crystal color,
And coral red lips,
Fragrant lotus-like,
Golden hands,
And an hourglass waist,
If praised day and night continuously,
Even a stone will yield poetry...
தானா தான நானா
தன்னன் நானா
தர தான நானா தான நானா
தன்னன் நானா
Thaananaa thaana naanaa
Thannan naanaa
Thara thaana naana thaana naana
Thannan naanaa
தங்கமே தமிழுக்கில்லை
தட்டுப்பாடு
ஒரு சரக்கிருக்குது
முறுக்கிருக்குது மெட்டுப்போடு
Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no
Scarcity or lack!
There is rich substance,
There is rhythm and grit, set a tune!
எத்தனை சபைகள் கண்டோம்
எத்தனை எத்தனை பகையும் கண்டோம்
அத்தனையும் சூடங்காட்டி
சுட்டுப் போடு
How many stages/assemblies we have seen!
How many rivalries we have seen!
Warding off all evil like burning camphor,
Burn them away!
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
என் தாய் கொடுத்த
தமிழுக்கில்லை தட்டுப்பாடு
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
அட கடலுக்குண்டு
கற்பனைக்கில்லை கட்டுப்பாடு
Set a tune, set a tune!
Given by my mother,
Tamil has no scarcity!
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ah, even the ocean has boundaries,
But imagination has no restrictions!
தங்கமே தமிழுக்கில்லை
தட்டுப்பாடு
ஒரு சரக்கிருக்குது
முறுக்கிருக்குது மெட்டுப்போடு
Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no
Scarcity or lack!
There is rich substance,
There is rhythm and grit, set a tune!
எத்தனை சபைகள் கண்டோம்
எத்தனை எத்தனை பகையும் கண்டோம்
அத்தனையும் சூடங்காட்டி
சுட்டுப் போடு
How many stages/assemblies we have seen!
How many rivalries we have seen!
Warding off all evil like burning camphor,
Burn them away!
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
என் தாய் கொடுத்த
தமிழுக்கில்லை தட்டுப்பாடு
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
அட கடலுக்குண்டு
கற்பனைக்கில்லை கட்டுப்பாடு
Set a tune, set a tune!
Given by my mother,
Tamil has no scarcity!
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ah, even the ocean has boundaries,
But imagination has no restrictions!
இது மக்கள் பாட்டு
தன்மான பாட்டு
இது போராடும் உங்கள்
வாழ்க்கை பாட்டு
This is the people's song,
A song of self-respect.
This is your struggling
Life's song.
கல்லூரி பெண்கள் பாடும்
கன்னி பாட்டு
சபைகளை வென்றுவரும்
சபதம் போட்டு
Sung by college girls,
A maiden's song.
Conquering all auditoriums,
Making a vow,
நாம் கட்டும் பாட்டு
ஈரம் தட்டும் பாட்டு
கட்டிச் செந்தேனாய்
நெஞ்சில் சொட்டும் பாட்டு
தாய் பாலைப்போல்
ரத்தத்தில் ஒட்டும் பாட்டு
தமிழ் மக்கள் வீட்டை
சென்று தட்டும் பாட்டு
The song we compose,
A song that touches with emotion,
Like thick pure honey,
A song dripping into the heart,
Like mother's milk,
A song flowing in the blood,
Knocking at the doors of
Tamil people's homes.
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
என் தாய் கொடுத்த
தமிழுக்கில்லை தட்டுப்பாடு
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
அட கடலுக்குண்டு
கற்பனைக்கில்லை கட்டுப்பாடு
Set a tune, set a tune!
Given by my mother,
Tamil has no scarcity!
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada, even the ocean has boundaries,
But imagination has no restrictions!
இனி கண்ணீர் வேண்டாம்
ஒரு கவிதை செய்க
எங்கள் கானங்கள் கேட்டு
காதல் செய்க
No more tears now,
Compose a poem.
Listening to our songs,
Spread love.
நம் மண்ணுக்கும் விண்ணுக்கும்
பாலம் செய்க
நலம் பெற வேண்டும் என்றால்
நன்மை செய்க
Between our earth and sky,
Build a bridge.
If you want to prosper,
Do good deeds.
நம் பூமி மேலே
புது பார்வை கொள்க
நம் இயற்கை மேல் இன்னும்
இச்சை கொள்க
கொஞ்சம் நிலவுக்கு நேரம் வைத்து
தூக்கம் கொள்க
பாறைக்குள் வேரை போலே
வெற்றி கொள்க
Upon our earth,
Adopt a new perspective.
Towards our nature,
Desire even more.
Set aside a little time for the moon,
Get some sleep.
Like a root holding inside a rock,
Achieve victory!
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
என் தாய் கொடுத்த
தமிழுக்கில்லை தட்டுப்பாடு
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
அட கடலுக்குண்டு
கற்பனைக்கில்லை கட்டுப்பாடு
Set a tune, set a tune!
Given by my mother,
Tamil has no scarcity!
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada, even the ocean has boundaries,
But imagination has no restrictions!
தங்கமே தமிழுக்கில்லை
தட்டுப்பாடு
ஒரு சரக்கிருக்குது
முறுக்கிருக்குது மெட்டுப்போடு
Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no
Scarcity or lack!
There is rich substance,
There is rhythm and grit, set a tune!
எத்தனை சபைகள் கண்டோம்
எத்தனை எத்தனை பகையும் கண்டோம்
அத்தனையும் சூடங்காட்டி
சுட்டுப் போடு
How many stages/assemblies we have seen!
How many rivalries we have seen!
Warding off all evil like burning camphor,
Burn them away!
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
என் தாய் கொடுத்த
தமிழுக்கில்லை தட்டுப்பாடு
மெட்டுப்போடு மெட்டுப்போடு
அட கடலுக்குண்டு
கற்பனைக்கில்லை கட்டுப்பாடு
Set a tune, set a tune!
Given by my mother,
Tamil has no scarcity!
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada, even the ocean has boundaries,
But imagination has no restrictions!
Aaya kalaigal
All sixty-four fine arts,
Arubathinaanginaiyum
All sixty-four of them,
Yeya unarvikkum ennammai
My mother who instills knowledge,
Thooya uru palingu pol
Like a pure crystal form,
Vaazh en ullathinullae
Resides inside my heart.
Iruppal ingu vaaraadhu idar
If she stays, no trouble will come here.
Padiga niramum
With crystal color,
Pavala chevvaiyum
And coral red lips,
Kadigamazh poonthaamarai
Fragrant lotus-like,
Por kaiyum
Golden hands,
Thudiyidaiyum
And an hourglass waist,
Allum pagalum anavaradhamum
If praised day and night continuously,
Thudhithaal kallum solaatho kavi…
Even a stone will yield poetry...
Thaananaa thaana naanaa
Thaananaa thaana naanaa
Thannan naanaa
Thannan naanaa
Thara thaana naana thaana naana
Thara thaana naana thaana naana
Thannan naanaa
Thannan naanaa
Thangamae thamizhukkillai
Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no
Thattuppaadu
Scarcity or lack!
Oru sarakkirukkudhu
There is rich substance,
Murukkirukkudhu mettuppodu
There is rhythm and grit, set a tune!
Ethanai sabaigal kandom
How many stages/assemblies we have seen!
Ethanai ethanai pagaiyum kandom
How many rivalries we have seen!
Athanaiyum soodam kaatti
Warding off all evil like burning camphor,
Chuttu podu
Burn them away!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
En thaai kodutha
Given by my mother,
Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu
Tamil has no scarcity!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada kadalukkundu
Ah, even the ocean has boundaries,
Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu
But imagination has no restrictions!
Thangamae thamizhukkillai
Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no
Thattuppaadu
Scarcity or lack!
Oru sarakkirukkudhu
There is rich substance,
Murukkirukkudhu mettuppodu
There is rhythm and grit, set a tune!
Ethanai sabaigal kandom
How many stages/assemblies we have seen!
Ethanai ethanai pagaiyum kandom
How many rivalries we have seen!
Athanaiyum soodam kaatti
Warding off all evil like burning camphor,
Chuttu podu
Burn them away!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
En thaai kodutha
Given by my mother,
Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu
Tamil has no scarcity!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada kadalukkundu
Ah, even the ocean has boundaries,
Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu
But imagination has no restrictions!
Ithu makkal paattu
This is the people's song,
Thanmaana paattu
A song of self-respect.
Ithu poraadum ungal
This is your struggling
Vaazhkai paattu
Life's song.
Kalloori pengal paadum
Sung by college girls,
Kanni paattu
A maiden's song.
Sabaigalai vendruvarum
Conquering all auditoriums,
Sabadham pottu
Making a vow,
Naam kattum paattu
The song we compose,
Eeram thattum paattu
A song that touches with emotion,
Katti chendhaenaai
Like thick pure honey,
Nenjil sottum paattu
A song dripping into the heart,
Thaai paalaippol
Like mother's milk,
Rathathil ottum paattu
A song flowing in the blood,
Thamizh makkal veettai
Knocking at the doors of
Sendru thattum paattu
Tamil people's homes.
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
En thaai kodutha
Given by my mother,
Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu
Tamil has no scarcity!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada kadalukkundu
Ada, even the ocean has boundaries,
Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu
But imagination has no restrictions!
Ini kanneer vendaam
No more tears now,
Oru kavithai seiga
Compose a poem.
Engal gaanangal kettu
Listening to our songs,
Kaadhal seiga
Spread love.
Nam mannukkum vinnukkum
Between our earth and sky,
Paalam seiga
Build a bridge.
Nalam pera vendum endraal
If you want to prosper,
Nanmai seiga
Do good deeds.
Nam boomi melae
Upon our earth,
Puthu paarvai kolga
Adopt a new perspective.
Nam iyarkai mel innum
Towards our nature,
Ichai kolga
Desire even more.
Konjam nilavukku neram vaithu
Set aside a little time for the moon,
Thookkam kolga
Get some sleep.
Paaraikul verai polae
Like a root holding inside a rock,
Vetri kolga
Achieve victory!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
En thaai kodutha
Given by my mother,
Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu
Tamil has no scarcity!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada kadalukkundu
Ada, even the ocean has boundaries,
Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu
But imagination has no restrictions!
Thangamae thamizhukkillai
Oh golden one, for Tamil there is no
Thattuppaadu
Scarcity or lack!
Oru sarakkirukkudhu
There is rich substance,
Murukkirukkudhu mettuppodu
There is rhythm and grit, set a tune!
Ethanai sabaigal kandom
How many stages/assemblies we have seen!
Ethanai ethanai pagaiyum kandom
How many rivalries we have seen!
Athanaiyum soodam kaatti
Warding off all evil like burning camphor,
Chuttu podu
Burn them away!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
En thaai kodutha
Given by my mother,
Thamizhukkillai thattuppaadu
Tamil has no scarcity!
Mettuppodu mettuppodu
Set a tune, set a tune!
Ada kadalukkundu
Ada, even the ocean has boundaries,
Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu
But imagination has no restrictions!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Mettu Podu' from the movie Duet (1994) is an energetic, celebrated ode to the endless power of creativity, music, and the Tamil language. It opens with traditional invocations to Goddess Saraswati and Mother Tamil, emphasizing that artistic inspiration dissolves all life troubles and turn even stone into poetry. The track asserts that human imagination knows no boundaries, contrasting the finite ocean with infinite human creativity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thaai paalaippol / Rathathil ottum paattu”
Comparing mother's milk to music flowing in the bloodstream ('Thaai paalaippol rathathil ottum paattu').
Contrast / Antithesis
“Ada kadalukkundu / Karpanaikkillai kattuppaadu”
Contrasting physical natural limits (the ocean having borders) with human imagination (which has no bounds).
Emona / Monnai (Initial Rhyme)
“Kalloori pengal paadum / Kanni paattu”
Repetition of initial consonants/vowel sounds in words across lines such as 'Kalloori' / 'Kanni'.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Paaraikul verai polae / Vetri kolga”
Comparing victory/resilience to a tree root piercing through hard rock.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the prompt context listed music as unknown, this iconic song from 'Duet' (1994) was composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics written by Vairamuthu, and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela. The opening sloka invocation sets a unique classical foundation before transitioning into an upbeat saxophone-infused pop-fusion track.
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