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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Petha Magane

From Athaiya Mamiya · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Athaiya Mamiya
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
21 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan petha magane nada raja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Ada naan petha magane nada raja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Naan padum avasthaiyai padu raja
Sari nadappathu nadakkattum vidu raja
Naan padum avasthaiyai padu raja
Sari nadappathu nadakkattum vidu raja
Ada naan petha magane na daraja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Naan petha magane nada raja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Vilaivaasi maari pochu
Visham pola yaeri pochu
Velai ketta velaiyil yaen piranthaai
Vilavaasi maari pochu
Visham pola yaeri pochu
Velai ketta velaiyil yaen piranthaai
Sarkkaraikkum seemennaikkum
Santhiyilae nikkurapo
Sinthikkaama kannirandai yaen thiranthaai
Sarkkaraikkum seemennaikkum
Santhiyilae nikkurapo
Sinthikkaama kannirandai yaen thiranthaai
Avasaramaai vanthu porakkanumaa
Ungoppanai pol nee thavikkanumaa
Avasaramaai vanthu porakkanumaa
Ungoppanai pol nee thavikkanumaa
Queue-vilae nee vanthu nikkanumaa
Kudumpaththin paaraththai sumakkanumaa
Ada naan petha magane na daraja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Naan petha magane nada raja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Petrol vilai yaeripochu
Pocket-taiyae meeri pochu
Beach pakkam car-rai vittu
Pugaivandi thedi ponaa
Nilakkari panjam vanthu ninnu pochu
Poosanikkaa vilai ippo podalanga
Vendaikkaa vilai ippo sundakkaa
Poosanikkaa vilai ippo podalanga
Vendaikkaa vilai ippo sundakkaa
Arisikkum paruppukkum aanai vila
Maganae unakkaen theriyavillai
Ada naan petha magane na daraja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Naan petha magane nada raja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
Ada naan petha magane na daraja
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja
My dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
Oh, my dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
Sing about the struggles I go through, little king!
Well, let happen what may, let it be, little king!
Sing about the struggles I go through, little king!
Well, let happen what may, let it be, little king!
Oh, my dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
My dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
Prices of everything have changed,
they have shot up high like poison!
Why were you born at such a terrible time?
Prices of everything have changed,
they have shot up high like poison!
Why were you born at such a terrible time?
For sugar and kerosene,
when we stand waiting at the street corner,
why did you open your eyes without thinking?
For sugar and kerosene,
when we stand waiting at the street corner,
why did you open your eyes without thinking?
Did you really have to be born in such a hurry?
Just to suffer and struggle like your father?
Did you really have to be born in such a hurry?
Just to suffer and struggle like your father?
Do you also have to stand in line?
Do you also have to carry the family's burden?
Oh, my dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
My dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
The price of petrol has shot up,
it has gone way beyond our pockets!
Leaving the car behind by the beach,
when I went looking for a train,
it has ground to a halt with a coal shortage!
A pumpkin's price is like snake gourd now,
an okra's price is like turkey berry now!
A pumpkin's price is like snake gourd now,
an okra's price is like turkey berry now!
Rice and lentils cost as much as an elephant!
My son, why didn't you realize this?
Oh, my dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
My dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
Oh, my dear son, keep walking, little king!
Why did you have to be born right now, my great king?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a humorous yet biting social commentary on severe inflation and financial hardship faced by the common man in India during the 1970s. A frustrated yet loving father sings to his newborn child, jokingly reprimanding the baby for choosing to be born in an era of soaring commodity prices, long ration queues, fuel crises, and coal shortages. Through witty everyday observations, lyricist Vaali captures the anxiety of middle-class household economics, contrasting the joyful arrival of a child with the stark economic reality of raising a family when even basic food staples like rice, lentils, and vegetables have become exorbitantly expensive. Sung with expressive satire by T. M. Soundarajan and set to tune by M. S. Viswanathan, the song converts daily economic struggles into relatable, popular musical comedy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

“Visham pola yaeri pochu”

Compares the rapid rise of prices to poison spreading fast ('Visham pola yaeri pochu').

End Rhyme (Eyaippu)

“Naan petha magane nada raja / Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharaja”

Rhyming ending words 'nada raja' and 'maharaja' add a rhythmic cadence to the satirical lament.

Alliteration (Moanai)

“Vilaivaasi maari pochu / Visham pola yaeri pochu”

The initial sound 'Vi' repeats across consecutive lines ('Vilaivaasi' and 'Visham').

Hyperbole / Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Arisikkum paruppukkum aanai vila”

Describing the price of basic staples like rice and lentils as big as an elephant ('aanai vila') to convey extreme inflation.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song directly references real socio-economic conditions in mid-1970s India, including rationing queues for essential goods like kerosene and sugar, rising petrol prices, and coal supply shortages that impacted train services across the country.

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