Paadatha Themmangu
From Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paadaadha themmaangu | An unsung folk song, |
| Naan paada vandhenae | I have come to sing. |
| Paattoda seraadha | That which does not fit into a song, |
| En sogam sonnenae | I expressed my sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Paara vizhundha vedha | A seed that fell upon a rock, |
| Thannaala maramaachi | Grew into a tree on its own. |
| Saeru irundha nelam | The land that was filled with mud, |
| Ponnaana vayalaachi | Turned into a golden fertile field. |
| Male | |
| Yaaraala dhaan nadakkudhu | Because of whom is this happening, |
| Ithu annaachi | Oh elder brother? |
| Seeraaga thaan puriyudhaa | Do you understand it clearly, |
| Athu annaachi | Oh elder brother? |
| Paadaadha themmaangu | An unsung folk song, |
| Male | |
| {Munnaadi vaazhkai | {My past life |
| Kallu patta kannaadi pola | Was like glass struck by a stone; |
| En pondaati vaazhkai | My wife's life |
| Mullu mela pattaada pola} (2) | Was like silk fabric caught on thorns.} (2) |
| Male | |
| {Panneerum illaama | {Without rosewater, |
| Kanneerum illaama | Without even tears, |
| Thallaadi ninnenae naanthaanae} (2) | I stood staggering, all by myself.} (2) |
| Male | |
| Tholil pottava en thaayi | The one who embraced me on her shoulder is my mother; |
| En sogam theerthida vaa thaayi | Come to relieve my sorrow, oh mother! |
| Ye sondhamum illa bandhamum illa | I have no relatives, no bonds of affection; |
| Vandhadha vittu ninnenae | I stood letting go of whatever came my way. |
| Nimmadhi ennaikku engitta vandhidumo | I wonder when peace of mind will come to me. |
| Male | |
| Paadaadha themmaangu | An unsung folk song, |
| Naan paada vandhenae | I have come to sing. |
| Paattoda seraadha | That which does not fit into a song, |
| En sogam sonnenae | I expressed my sorrow. |
| Male | |
| {Punnaagi pona | {Upon a heart that had become wounded, |
| Nenjiloru poomaala pottae | You placed a garland of flowers; |
| En ponnaana magalae | My golden daughter, |
| Vaazha oru ponnaaram ketta} (2) | Asked for a golden ornament to live.} (2) |
| Male | |
| {Kaiyeduthu thandhenae | {I gave it with folded hands, |
| Kaavalukku ninnenae | I stood as a guard; |
| Kanneeru yenammaa poomaanae} (2) | Why tears now, my dear flower-like child?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Saami kodukkala | God did not bestow |
| Kozhandha varam | The boon of a child, |
| Unnaalae pera pulla nooru varum | Because of you, a hundred grandchildren will come. |
| Ada vandhadhu ellaam vandhadhu illa | Ah, everything that arrived isn't truly gained, |
| Povadhu ellaam povadhu illa | Everything that departed isn't truly lost. |
| Innaikku nee thandha | The peace you gave me today |
| Nimmadhi podhumammaa | Is more than enough, my child. |
| Male | |
| Paadaadha themmaangu | An unsung folk song, |
| Naan paada vandhenae | I have come to sing. |
| Paattoda seraadha | That which does not fit into a song, |
| En sogam sonnenae | I expressed my sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Paara vizhundha vedha | A seed that fell upon a rock, |
| Thannaala maramaachi | Grew into a tree on its own. |
| Saeru irundha nelam | The land that was filled with mud, |
| Ponnaana vayalaachi | Turned into a golden fertile field. |
| Male | |
| Yaaraala dhaan nadakkudhu | Because of whom is this happening, |
| Ithu annaachi..haan | Oh elder brother... haan, |
| Seeraaga thaan puriyudhaa | Do you understand it clearly, |
| Athu annaachi | Oh elder brother? |
| Paadaadha themmaangu | An unsung folk song. |
பாடாத தெம்மாங்கு
நான் பாட வந்தேனே
பாட்டோட சேராத
என் சோகம் சொன்னேனே
An unsung folk song,
I have come to sing.
That which does not fit into a song,
I expressed my sorrow.
பாறை விழுந்த
விதை தன்னால மரமாச்சி
சேறு இருந்த நிலம்
பொன்னான வயலாச்சி
A seed that fell upon a rock,
Grew into a tree on its own.
The land that was filled with mud,
Turned into a golden fertile field.
யாராலதான்
நடக்குது இது அண்ணாச்சி
சீராகத்தான் புரியுதா அது
அண்ணாச்சி பாடாத
தெம்மாங்கு
Because of whom is this happening,
Oh elder brother?
Do you understand it clearly,
Oh elder brother?
An unsung folk song,
{ முன்னாடி
வாழ்க்கை கல்லு
பட்ட கண்ணாடி போல
என் பொண்டாட்டி
வாழ்க்கை முள்ளு
மேல பட்டாட போல } (2)
{My past life
Was like glass struck by a stone;
My wife's life
Was like silk fabric caught on thorns.} (2)
{ பன்னீரும்
இல்லாம கண்ணீரும்
இல்லாம தள்ளாடி
நின்னேனே நான்
தானே } (2)
{Without rosewater,
Without even tears,
I stood staggering, all by myself.} (2)
தோளில் போட்டவ
என் தாயி என் சோகம்
தீர்த்திட வாதாயி ஏ
சொந்தமும் இல்ல
பந்தமும் இல்ல வந்தத
விட்டு நின்னேனே
நிம்மதி என்னைக்கு
என்கிட்ட வந்திடுமோ
The one who embraced me on her shoulder is my mother;
Come to relieve my sorrow, oh mother!
I have no relatives, no bonds of affection;
I stood letting go of whatever came my way.
I wonder when peace of mind will come to me.
பாடாத தெம்மாங்கு
நான் பாட வந்தேனே
பாட்டோட சேராத
என் சோகம் சொன்னேனே
An unsung folk song,
I have come to sing.
That which does not fit into a song,
I expressed my sorrow.
{ புண்ணாகிப்போன
நெஞ்சில் ஒரு பூமாலை
போட்ட என் பொன்னான
மகளே வாழ ஒரு
பொன்னாரம் கேட்ட } (2)
{Upon a heart that had become wounded,
You placed a garland of flowers;
My golden daughter,
Asked for a golden ornament to live.} (2)
{ கையெடுத்து
தந்தேனே காவலுக்கு
நின்னேனே கண்ணீரு
ஏனம்மா பூமானே } (2)
{I gave it with folded hands,
I stood as a guard;
Why tears now, my dear flower-like child?} (2)
சாமி கொடுக்கல
குழந்தை வரம் உன்னாலே
பேர புள்ள நூறு வரும் அட
வந்தது எல்லாம் வந்தது
இல்ல போவது எல்லாம்
போவது இல்ல இன்னைக்கு
நீ தந்த நிம்மதி போதுமம்மா
God did not bestow
The boon of a child,
Because of you, a hundred grandchildren will come.
Ah, everything that arrived isn't truly gained,
Everything that departed isn't truly lost.
The peace you gave me today
Is more than enough, my child.
பாடாத தெம்மாங்கு
நான் பாட வந்தேனே
பாட்டோட சேராத
என் சோகம் சொன்னேனே
An unsung folk song,
I have come to sing.
That which does not fit into a song,
I expressed my sorrow.
பாறை விழுந்த
விதை தன்னால மரமாச்சி
சேறு இருந்த நிலம்
பொன்னான வயலாச்சி
A seed that fell upon a rock,
Grew into a tree on its own.
The land that was filled with mud,
Turned into a golden fertile field.
யாராலதான்
நடக்குது இது அண்ணாச்சி
ஹான் சீராகத்தான் புரியுதா
அது அண்ணாச்சி பாடாத
தெம்மாங்கு
Because of whom is this happening,
Oh elder brother... haan,
Do you understand it clearly,
Oh elder brother?
An unsung folk song.
Paadaadha themmaangu
An unsung folk song,
Naan paada vandhenae
I have come to sing.
Paattoda seraadha
That which does not fit into a song,
En sogam sonnenae
I expressed my sorrow.
Paara vizhundha vedha
A seed that fell upon a rock,
Thannaala maramaachi
Grew into a tree on its own.
Saeru irundha nelam
The land that was filled with mud,
Ponnaana vayalaachi
Turned into a golden fertile field.
Yaaraala dhaan nadakkudhu
Because of whom is this happening,
Ithu annaachi
Oh elder brother?
Seeraaga thaan puriyudhaa
Do you understand it clearly,
Athu annaachi
Oh elder brother?
Paadaadha themmaangu
An unsung folk song,
{Munnaadi vaazhkai
{My past life
Kallu patta kannaadi pola
Was like glass struck by a stone;
En pondaati vaazhkai
My wife's life
Mullu mela pattaada pola} (2)
Was like silk fabric caught on thorns.} (2)
{Panneerum illaama
{Without rosewater,
Kanneerum illaama
Without even tears,
Thallaadi ninnenae naanthaanae} (2)
I stood staggering, all by myself.} (2)
Tholil pottava en thaayi
The one who embraced me on her shoulder is my mother;
En sogam theerthida vaa thaayi
Come to relieve my sorrow, oh mother!
Ye sondhamum illa bandhamum illa
I have no relatives, no bonds of affection;
Vandhadha vittu ninnenae
I stood letting go of whatever came my way.
Nimmadhi ennaikku engitta vandhidumo
I wonder when peace of mind will come to me.
Paadaadha themmaangu
An unsung folk song,
Naan paada vandhenae
I have come to sing.
Paattoda seraadha
That which does not fit into a song,
En sogam sonnenae
I expressed my sorrow.
{Punnaagi pona
{Upon a heart that had become wounded,
Nenjiloru poomaala pottae
You placed a garland of flowers;
En ponnaana magalae
My golden daughter,
Vaazha oru ponnaaram ketta} (2)
Asked for a golden ornament to live.} (2)
{Kaiyeduthu thandhenae
{I gave it with folded hands,
Kaavalukku ninnenae
I stood as a guard;
Kanneeru yenammaa poomaanae} (2)
Why tears now, my dear flower-like child?} (2)
Saami kodukkala
God did not bestow
Kozhandha varam
The boon of a child,
Unnaalae pera pulla nooru varum
Because of you, a hundred grandchildren will come.
Ada vandhadhu ellaam vandhadhu illa
Ah, everything that arrived isn't truly gained,
Povadhu ellaam povadhu illa
Everything that departed isn't truly lost.
Innaikku nee thandha
The peace you gave me today
Nimmadhi podhumammaa
Is more than enough, my child.
Paadaadha themmaangu
An unsung folk song,
Naan paada vandhenae
I have come to sing.
Paattoda seraadha
That which does not fit into a song,
En sogam sonnenae
I expressed my sorrow.
Paara vizhundha vedha
A seed that fell upon a rock,
Thannaala maramaachi
Grew into a tree on its own.
Saeru irundha nelam
The land that was filled with mud,
Ponnaana vayalaachi
Turned into a golden fertile field.
Yaaraala dhaan nadakkudhu
Because of whom is this happening,
Ithu annaachi..haan
Oh elder brother... haan,
Seeraaga thaan puriyudhaa
Do you understand it clearly,
Athu annaachi
Oh elder brother?
Paadaadha themmaangu
An unsung folk song.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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).
Did you know?
Trivia
Though listed as unknown in the song prompt context, the music for Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with iconic performances by Vijayakanth and Radhika. The song depicts the raw rustic charm of rural Tamil Nadu folk ballads (Themmaangu Pattu).
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