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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
Details
Athaiya Mamiya1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan petha magane nada rajaOh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Ada naan petha magane nada rajaAh, oh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Male
Naan padum avasthaiyai padu rajaSuffer the distress that I suffer, my king
Sari nadappathu nadakkattum vidu rajaAlright, let whatever happens happen, leave it, my king
Naan padum avasthaiyai padu rajaSuffer the distress that I suffer, my king
Sari nadappathu nadakkattum vidu rajaAlright, let whatever happens happen, leave it, my king
Male
Ada naan petha magane na darajaAh, oh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Naan petha magane nada rajaOh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Male
Vilaivaasi maari pochuThe cost of living has changed
Visham pola yaeri pochuIt has shot up like poison
Velai ketta velaiyil yaen piranthaaiWhy were you born at such an inopportune hour?
Vilavaasi maari pochuThe cost of living has changed
Visham pola yaeri pochuIt has shot up like poison
Velai ketta velaiyil yaen piranthaaiWhy were you born at such an inopportune hour?
Male
Sarkkaraikkum seemennaikkumFor sugar and kerosene
Santhiyilae nikkurapoWhen standing stranded at the crossroads
Sinthikkaama kannirandai yaen thiranthaaiWhy did you open your eyes without thinking?
Sarkkaraikkum seemennaikkumFor sugar and kerosene
Santhiyilae nikkurapoWhen standing stranded at the crossroads
Sinthikkaama kannirandai yaen thiranthaaiWhy did you open your eyes without thinking?
Male
Avasaramaai vanthu porakkanumaaDid you have to be born in such a hurry?
Ungoppanai pol nee thavikkanumaaDo you have to suffer like your father?
Avasaramaai vanthu porakkanumaaDid you have to be born in such a hurry?
Ungoppanai pol nee thavikkanumaaDo you have to suffer like your father?
Queue-vilae nee vanthu nikkanumaaDo you have to come and stand in queues?
Kudumpaththin paaraththai sumakkanumaaDo you have to carry the heavy burden of the family?
Male
Ada naan petha magane na darajaAh, oh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Naan petha magane nada rajaOh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Male
Petrol vilai yaeripochuThe price of petrol has shot up
Pocket-taiyae meeri pochuIt has gone far beyond the budget of my pocket
Beach pakkam car-rai vittuLeaving the car near the beach
Pugaivandi thedi ponaaWhen going in search of a steam train
Nilakkari panjam vanthu ninnu pochuA coal shortage came and everything ground to a halt
Male
Poosanikkaa vilai ippo podalangaThe price of a pumpkin is now like that of a snake gourd
Vendaikkaa vilai ippo sundakkaaThe price of a lady's finger is now like that of a tiny turkey berry
Poosanikkaa vilai ippo podalangaThe price of a pumpkin is now like that of a snake gourd
Vendaikkaa vilai ippo sundakkaaThe price of a lady's finger is now like that of a tiny turkey berry
Arisikkum paruppukkum aanai vilaRice and lentils cost as huge as an elephant
Maganae unakkaen theriyavillaiMy son, why didn't you realize all this?
Male
Ada naan petha magane na darajaAh, oh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Naan petha magane nada rajaOh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?
Male
Ada naan petha magane na darajaAh, oh son I gave birth to, my king who walks
Ippa yaendaa poranthae maharajaWhy were you born now, my emperor?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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