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Snegithiye album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Othayadi Padhayile

From Snegithiye · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Manasi, Ila Arun
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Snegithiye
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
6 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Othaiyadi paadhayilae
Othaiyilae poravalae
Karadi vandhu vazhi maraicha
Kaatukullae enna seiva
Sikki mukki kalleduththu
Seekarama paththa vechuu
Nerupethi verupethi
Karadiyai suttu thappi poven…nn…
Othaiyadi paadhayilae
Othaiyilae poravalae
Karadi vandhu vazhi maraicha
Kaatukullae enna seiva
Paatimasollum paadam
Paadhiyil marandhae pogum
Vazhkaiyin paadam
Mattum marakkadhae
Sathuramai muttai illai
Sandoshamae vaazhkai illai
Thunbaththilum gnyanam undu marakaadhae
Dhairiyamae nam soththu
Mathadhelaam pam maaththu
Payanam po payanam po
Pallam medu rendum paarthu.. ohoo…oooyee
Othaiyadi paadhayilae
Othaiyilae poravalae
Karadi vandhu vazhi maraicha
Kaatukullae enna seiva
Araiadi neelam naaku
Aaradi aalai kollum
Aanavam kondu veenaai yesathae
Ezhutharivo ilai podum
Anubavamae soru podum
Thangatha sumandhaalum
Petrolil dhaan vandi odum…mmm
Othaiyadi paadhayilae
Othaiyilae poravalae
Karadi vandhu vazhi maraicha
Kaatukullae enna seiva
Sikki mukki kalleduththu
Seekarama paththa vechuu
Nerupethi verupethi
Karadiyai suttu thappi poven…nn…
On this narrow dirt path,
O girl walking all alone,
if a bear comes and blocks your way,
what will you do inside the forest?
I will take a flint stone,
quickly strike a fire,
stoke the flames, rile it up,
scorch the bear, and make my escape!
On this narrow dirt path,
O girl walking all alone,
if a bear comes and blocks your way,
what will you do inside the forest?
Lessons taught by a grandmother
might be forgotten along the way,
but the lessons taught by life,
never ever forget them!
No egg is ever square,
and life is never just happiness;
there is wisdom in sorrow too, never forget!
Courage is our true wealth,
everything else is just an empty show.
Keep moving on your journey,
watching out for all the dips and rises... Oho... ooyee!
On this narrow dirt path,
O girl walking all alone,
if a bear comes and blocks your way,
what will you do inside the forest?
A tongue just half a foot long
can bring down a six-foot-tall person;
do not throw insults in foolish pride!
Book learning will only lay out the leaf,
but lived experience serves the meal!
Even if it carries pure gold,
a vehicle still runs only on petrol... mmm...
On this narrow dirt path,
O girl walking all alone,
if a bear comes and blocks your way,
what will you do inside the forest?
I will take a flint stone,
quickly strike a fire,
stoke the flames, rile it up,
scorch the bear, and make my escape!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Othaiyadi Paadhayilae from the movie Snegithiye (2000) is a vibrant and witty song that weaves practical life wisdom into playful riddle-like exchanges. The narrative setup depicts a traveler encountering real or metaphorical wild beasts on a narrow forest path, symbolic of life's unpredictable hurdles and dangerous situations. Rather than succumbing to fear, the response emphasizes quick wit, bravery, and presence of mind as the keys to survival. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses vivid folk imagery to convey timeless moral lessons. He contrasts theoretical bookish knowledge with real-world experience, reminding listeners that adversity builds true wisdom, words spoken in arrogance can be destructive, and inner courage is humanity's most valuable asset on the journey through life's ups and downs.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Paatimasollum paadam / Paadhiyil marandhae pogum”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' across consecutive phrases.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Araiadi neelam naaku / Aaradi aalai kollum”

Rhyming of the second consonant 'ra' in 'Araiadi' and 'Aaradi'.

Metaphor

“Ezhutharivo ilai podum / Anubavamae soru podum”

Bookish knowledge is metaphorically compared to laying out a leaf, while real experience is compared to serving the actual meal.

Did you know?

Trivia

Snegithiye (2000) was a unique female-centric thriller directed by Priyadarshan, featuring music composed by Vidyasagar. The song is sung by K. S. Chithra and Radhika, featuring playful lyrics written by Vairamuthu that blend folklore riddle structures with modern philosophical truths.

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