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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paartha Paarvaikku Pasuthan

From Arthamulla Aasaigal · 1985

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Arthamulla Aasaigal1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Azhaaana gramathilaeIn a beautiful village
Alungaama kulunaamaWithout swaying or shaking
Aattam podura maankuttiyaeO little deer dancing about
Saayaatha kombirandum illaatha maankuttiyaeO little deer without two slanted horns
Nee thagaraaru pannaatha vaayaadi penkuttiyaeO chatterbox girl, do not make trouble
Durrrrrrrdurdurrr…..Durrrrrrrdurdurrr…..
Male
Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaanLooked at, I may seem like a gentle cow to the sight
Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaanBut if I pounce, I am a ferocious tiger
Haei paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaanHey, looked at, I may seem like a gentle cow to the sight
Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaanBut if I pounce, I am a ferocious tiger
Male
Naan ippathaandi yaezhaiI am poor right now, my girl
Yaeri vaaraen paaru yaeri melaeLook, I am rising and climbing higher
Antha neraththulae ketti melaththulaAt that time, to the sound of auspicious wedding drums
En kazhuththula needhaan podanum maalaYou must be the one to place the garland around my neck
Male
Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaanLooked at, I may seem like a gentle cow to the sight
Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaan haei heaiBut if I pounce, I am a ferocious tiger, hei hei
Male
Naanga koozhukku azhugira yaelainaIf we are poor people crying for gruel
Unga koolikku ozhaikkira kozhaingaWe are the children who labor for your wage
Naanga koozhukku azhugira yaelainaIf we are poor people crying for gruel
Unga koolikku ozhaikkira kozhaingaWe are the children who labor for your wage
Male
Naanga nenachchaalaeIf we only set our mind to it
Naattula nadappu maaraathoWon't the societal practices in the land change?
Yaei naanga thuninchaalaeHey, if we gather our courage
Ulailae nanmai saeraathoWon't goodness fill the world?
Kaaththu irukkom vazhi paaththu irukkomWe are waiting, watching the path ahead
Enga kaalaththa neraththa paakkanum neenga…You must watch out for our time and moment coming...
Male
Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaanLooked at, I may seem like a gentle cow to the sight
Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaanBut if I pounce, I am a ferocious tiger
Male
Naan ippathaandi yaezhaiI am poor right now, my girl
Yaeri vaaraen paaru yaeri melaeLook, I am rising and climbing higher
Antha neraththulae ketti melaththulaAt that time, to the sound of auspicious wedding drums
En kazhuththula needhaan podanum maalaYou must be the one to place the garland around my neck
Male
…………………...................
Male
Enga paamara vaazhkkaiyil lotteryA lottery in our simple working-class life
Dhenam pagalilaeyum nadu raaththiriEvery day, through daytime and midnight
Enga paamara vaazhkkaiyil lotteryA lottery in our simple working-class life
Dhenam pagalilaeyum nadu raaththiriEvery day, through daytime and midnight
Male
Naana uzhuthaaththaan keladiListen girl, only if I plow the land
Vayiththu pasi adangumWill the hunger in your stomach be satisfied
Hae naanga vedhachchaaththaanHey, only if we sow the seeds
Naakkula unakku rushi theriyumWill your tongue taste the flavor of food
Hae poruththirukkomHey, we have been patient for long
Rompa veruththirukkomWe have grown thoroughly disgusted
Naanga podura podulaWith the strong impact we are going to make
Velukkanum neenga…..You will be thoroughly shaken and reformed...
Male
Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaanLooked at, I may seem like a gentle cow to the sight
Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaanBut if I pounce, I am a ferocious tiger
Male
Naan ippathaandi yaezhaiI am poor right now, my girl
Yaeri vaaraen paaru yaeri melaeLook, I am rising and climbing higher
Antha neraththulae ketti melaththulaAt that time, to the sound of auspicious wedding drums
En kazhuththula needhaan podanum maalaYou must be the one to place the garland around my neck
Male
Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaanLooked at, I may seem like a gentle cow to the sight
Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaanBut if I pounce, I am a ferocious tiger

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song captures a working-class protagonist asserting his self-respect, inner strength, and romantic aspirations despite current poverty. He addresses his beloved with playful teasing while delivering a bold social statement. Although he appears harmless and humble like a cow on the surface, he warns that he possesses the fierce strength of a tiger when pushed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile (உவமை)

Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaan / Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaan

Compares the protagonist's outwardly docile appearance to a cow ('pasu') and his underlying explosive power to a tiger ('puli').

Edhugai (அடி எதுகை - Second Letter Rhyme)

Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaan / Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaan

Rhyming of the second consonant 's'/'y' sound across adjacent lines ('pasuthaan' / 'pulithaan').

Monaai (அடி மோனை - Alliteration of Initial Sounds)

Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaan / Naan paainjaa payangara pulithaan

Repetition of the 'P' sound at the beginning of words in the phrase ('Paarththaa paarvaikku pasuthaan', 'paainjaa payangara pulithaan').

Iyaibu (இயைபு - Rhyming Endings)

Aattam podura maankuttiyae / Saayaatha kombirandum illaatha maankuttiyae / Nee thagaraaru pannaatha vaayaadi penkuttiyae

Matching end sounds with the suffix '-kuttiyae' across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by noted poet and lyricist Muthulingam, the song belongs to the 1985 Tamil film 'Arthamulla Aasaigal'. The lyrics reflect a classic motif in 1980s Tamil cinema, blending folk humor and working-class empowerment with romantic banter.

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