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Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Paadatha Themmangu

From Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
21 Mar 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paadaadha themmaangu
Naan paada vandhenae
Paattoda seraadha
En sogam sonnenae
Paara vizhundha vedha
Thannaala maramaachi
Saeru irundha nelam
Ponnaana vayalaachi
Yaaraala dhaan nadakkudhu
Ithu annaachi
Seeraaga thaan puriyudhaa
Athu annaachi
Paadaadha themmaangu
{Munnaadi vaazhkai
Kallu patta kannaadi pola
En pondaati vaazhkai
Mullu mela pattaada pola} (2)
{Panneerum illaama
Kanneerum illaama
Thallaadi ninnenae naanthaanae} (2)
Tholil pottava en thaayi
En sogam theerthida vaa thaayi
Ye sondhamum illa bandhamum illa
Vandhadha vittu ninnenae
Nimmadhi ennaikku engitta vandhidumo
Paadaadha themmaangu
Naan paada vandhenae
Paattoda seraadha
En sogam sonnenae
{Punnaagi pona
Nenjiloru poomaala pottae
En ponnaana magalae
Vaazha oru ponnaaram ketta} (2)
{Kaiyeduthu thandhenae
Kaavalukku ninnenae
Kanneeru yenammaa poomaanae} (2)
Saami kodukkala
Kozhandha varam
Unnaalae pera pulla nooru varum
Ada vandhadhu ellaam vandhadhu illa
Povadhu ellaam povadhu illa
Innaikku nee thandha
Nimmadhi podhumammaa
Paadaadha themmaangu
Naan paada vandhenae
Paattoda seraadha
En sogam sonnenae
Paara vizhundha vedha
Thannaala maramaachi
Saeru irundha nelam
Ponnaana vayalaachi
Yaaraala dhaan nadakkudhu
Ithu annaachi..haan
Seeraaga thaan puriyudhaa
Athu annaachi
Paadaadha themmaangu
An unsung folk melody,
I have come to sing.
Unable to fit into a song,
I shared my sorrow.
A seed that fell on a rock
grew into a tree all on its own.
The land that was once muddy
turned into a golden field.
Because of whom does this happen?
Tell me, brother!
Do you understand it clearly,
tell me, brother?
An unsung folk melody...
My earlier life
was like glass struck by a stone.
My wife's life
was like silk caught on thorns.
With no joy left to refresh me,
and no tears left to shed,
I was the one left staggering.
You rested on my shoulder, my dear girl;
come now to take away my sorrow, my girl.
With no relatives or bonds of my own,
I let go of what came and stood alone.
When will peace of mind ever come to me?
An unsung folk melody,
I have come to sing.
Unable to fit into a song,
I shared my sorrow.
Upon a heart that had become
a wounded mess, you placed a garland of flowers.
Oh, my precious daughter,
you asked for a golden wedding chain to start your life.
I gave it to you with both hands,
and I stood by as your guardian.
Why are there tears in your eyes, my gentle deer?
God did not grant me
the blessing of a child.
Yet through you, a hundred grandchildren will come.
Ah, what we gain is never truly ours,
and what we lose is never truly gone.
The peace of mind you gave me today
is more than enough, my girl.
An unsung folk melody,
I have come to sing.
Unable to fit into a song,
I shared my sorrow.
A seed that fell on a rock
grew into a tree all on its own.
The land that was once muddy
turned into a golden field.
Because of whom does this happen?
Tell me, brother... ah!
Do you understand it clearly,
tell me, brother?
An unsung folk melody...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Paadaadha Themmaangu from the film Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran (1988) is a deeply emotional Tamil folk-style track that conveys themes of hardship, perseverance, and emotional fulfillment. The protagonist reflects on past trials, comparing a fragile life to glass shattered by a stone and delicate silk caught on thorns. Despite enduring immense suffering and lacking familial kin, he highlights how determination turned barren soil into a golden yield. In the latter half, the narrative shifts to paternal affection and gratitude toward a daughter figure who brought comfort to a wounded soul. The song concludes with a philosophical outlook on life's gains and losses, affirming that true peace of mind and shared bonds far outweigh material hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Kallu patta kannaadi pola / Mullu mela pattaada pola”

Compares fragile human life to glass hit by a stone ('Kallu patta kannaadi pola') and silk snagged on thorns ('Mullu mela pattaada pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagakani)

“Paara vizhundha vedha / Thannaala maramaachi”

Compares overcoming adverse beginnings to a seed growing out of a hard rock ('Paara vizhundha vedha') and muddy soil becoming a golden field ('Ponnaana vayalaachi').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Edhugai)

“Paadaadha themmaangu / Paattoda seraadha”

Uses matching initial and second sounds across lines, such as 'Paadaadha' and 'Paattoda', creating the characteristic cadence of Tamil rustic folk music (Themmaangu).

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