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Lyrics & meaning

Mutta Paya Mapaavikku

From Puthiya Adimaigal · 1981

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. P. Sailaja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Puthiya Adimaigal1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
………………....
Female
………………....
Female
Muttaap paya maapaavikkuFor the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.
Chorus :Muttaap paya maapaavikkuChorus: For the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.
Female
Mukkaadu melae onnu podudadiPut a veil over him, girl!
Munnooru naamaavali paadadiSing three hundred chants of mockery, girl!
Aaraaththi poomaalai ellaarum kondaangadiEveryone bring the ritual lamp and flower garlands, girl!
Chorus
Muttaap paya maapaavikkuFor the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.
Female
Vedhappathum aruppathum enga kaiyiSowing and harvesting are done by our hands,
Neraivathu maaththiram unga paiyiBut it is only your bag that gets filled!
Vaayila vaaraathu ellaam poiyyiWhatever comes out of your mouth is pure lie,
Un moonjiyila en kaiya vaiyiI feel like slapping your face with my hand!
Female
Vayiru erinjaaIf our stomachs burn with hunger,
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :KarinjiduvaeFemale: You will be burnt to ashes!
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :Vazhi maranthaaFemale: If you lose your path,
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus: Hey hey!
Female :ErinjuduvaeFemale: You will catch fire!
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus: Hey hey!
Female :Eliyavar vaazha varuguthu neram maranthidakoodaathuFemale: The time for the poor to thrive is arriving, do not forget that!
Chorus
Muttaap paya maapaavikkuFor the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.
Mukkaadu melae onnu podudadiPut a veil over him, girl!
Munnooru naamavali paadadiSing three hundred chants of mockery, girl!
Aaraaththi poomaalai ellaarum kondaangadiEveryone bring the ritual lamp and flower garlands, girl!
Muttaap paya maapaavikkuFor the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.
Female
Sakkadai neerinil aalaaththiyumA ritual welcome using gutter water,
Thudaippathinaal pudhu venjaamaramA ceremonial whisk made out of a broom,
Sappaaththi kalliyil poomaalaiyumA flower garland made of prickly pear cactus,
Aasaamikku uduththanum moovelaiyumShould be presented to this guy three times a day!
Female
SabalaththilaeIn lust,
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :SarasaththilaeFemale: In flirtation,
Chorus :HaeiChorus: Hey!
Female :SaamiththuraFemale: The lord of the village...
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus: Hey hey!
Female :VillanadiFemale: Is a villain, girl!
Chorus :Haei haeiChorus: Hey hey!
Female :Viyarviyinaalae vilaiyura kaalamFemale: The era where crops grow by our hard sweat...
Unakkini aagaathuFemale: Will no longer favor you!
Chorus
Muttaap paya maapaavikkuFor the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.
Mukkaadu melae onnu podudadiPut a veil over him, girl!
Munnooru naamaavali paadadiSing three hundred chants of mockery, girl!
Aaraaththi poomaalai ellaarum kondaangadiEveryone bring the ritual lamp and flower garlands, girl!
Muttaap paya maapaavikkuFor the foolish sinner guy,
Muchchanthiyil vaippom selaWe will erect a statue at the three-way junction.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a fiery working-class satire and protest directed against a corrupt local oppressor or landlord ('Saamithurai'). The narrator along with the chorus mockingly plans to erect a public statue of this villain at the village junction, sarcastically promising rituals made of drain water, broomsticks, and cactus garlands instead of sacred items. The lyrics call out the economic injustice where laborers toil in the fields while the greedy landlord pockets all the gains. The song serves as a fierce warning that the era of quiet exploitation is over and the oppressed poor are rising to claim their rightful dues.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Muttaap paya maapaavikku / Muchchanthiyil vaippom sela

Repetition of the initial 'Mu' sound across words creates a strong rhythmic folk cadence.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Vedhappathum aruppathum enga kaiyi / Neraivathu maaththiram unga paiyi

Use of rhyming end-words 'kaiyi', 'paiyi', 'poiyyi', and 'vaiyi' to build a sharp, colloquial spoken-word rhythm.

Irony and Satire (Nindha Stuthi)

Sakkadai neerinil aalaaththiyum / Thudaippathinaal pudhu venjaamaram

Traditional worship elements (aarathi, garlands, whisk) are replaced with insulting items like drain water, cactus, and brooms to mock the antagonist.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1981 film 'Puthiya Adimaigal', this track stands out as a powerful folk-protest song composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Gangai Amaran used raw local slang to express peasant rebellion, elevated by S.P. Sailaja's energetic lead vocal performance.

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