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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Paarthu Sirikithu Bommai

From Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi · 1987

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singer: Vani Jairam
Music director: Shankar Ganesh
Movie name: Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi
Movie release year: 1987
Lyrics added on: 25 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Paarththu sirikkithu bommai

Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai

Paarththu sirikkithu bommai

Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai

Thadumaarum nilai kandu

Thannaippol ivalum

Bommai inam endru

Paarththu sirikkithu bommai

Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai

{Puththiyulla aangalukku sakthiyillai

Adhanaalae kudumbaththil kuzhappam

Sakthiyulla aangalukku puththiyillai

Adhanaalae kudumpaththil mayakkam} (2)

Pirarkkaaga vaazhum pergal

Pitchai kondu vaazhumpothu

Thanakkaga vaazhum vaazhkkai

Thavarendru aagaathu

Paarththu sirikkithu bommai

Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai

{Sattam ennum vattaththukkul kattuppattu

Sila yaanaigal poonaigal aagum

Sattaththaiyae sattappaiyil vaiththukkondu

Sila poonaigal yaanaigal aagum}(2)

Arichandhiran thunbam kondaan

Adhu romba paavamthaan

Oru poiyai solli irunthaal

Adhu kooda niyayanthaan

Paarththu sirikkithu bommai

Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai

Thadumaarum nilai kandu

Thannaippol ivalum

Bommai inam endru

Paarththu sirikkithu bommai

Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai

The doll looks on and laughs,

while a woman sings and puts on an act here.

The doll looks on and laughs,

while a woman sings and puts on an act here.

Seeing her faltering state,

and thinking that she too, like itself,

is just another doll,

the doll looks on and laughs,

while a woman sings and puts on an act here...

Men who have brains have no power,

and that brings confusion to the family.

Men who have power have no brains,

and that brings chaos to the family.

When those who live for others

are reduced to begging to survive,

living a life just for oneself

cannot be called wrong.

The doll looks on and laughs,

while a woman sings and puts on an act here.

Bound within the circle of the law,

some elephants turn into cats.

Keeping the law itself in their pockets,

some cats turn into elephants.

Harichandra (the king known for unwavering truth) suffered so much,

and it was such a pity.

If only he had told a lie,

even that would have been justified...

The doll looks on and laughs,

while a woman sings and puts on an act here...

Seeing her faltering state,

and thinking that she too, like itself,

is just another doll,

the doll looks on and laughs,

while a woman sings and puts on an act here...

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Paarththu Sirikkithu Bommai is a poignant philosophical song from the 1987 Tamil film Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi, penned by lyricist Vairamuthu and composed by Shankar-Ganesh. The song uses the metaphor of a lifeless doll watching a woman forced to pretend and act to keep her household together, mocking how humans are ultimately reduced to lifeless puppets controlled by circumstances and societal expectations. The lyrics offer sharp social commentary on domestic life, highlighting how imbalance—such as wise men lacking authority or powerful men lacking sense—causes chaos within families. It also critiques legal hypocrisy and blind adherence to ideals, pointing out how laws bend for the powerful while making the weak powerless. By questioning even the tragic plight of King Harishchandra, the song realistically argues that self-preservation and pragmatic survival are sometimes necessary over unyielding martyrdom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification / Metaphor (Uruvakam)

“Paarththu sirikkithu bommai / Ingu paadi nadikkithu penmai”

The lifeless doll ('bommai') is personified as watching and laughing at human plight, symbolizing how society treats human beings—especially women—as mere puppets.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyme)

“Puththiyulla aangalukku sakthiyillai / Sakthiyulla aangalukku puththiyillai”

The second consonant sound 'th' rhymes between 'Puththiyulla' and 'Sakthiyulla', creating rhythmic Tamil verse harmony.

Contrast / Antithesis

“Puththiyulla aangalukku sakthiyillai... Sakthiyulla aangalukku puththiyillai”

Contrasts intelligence without power against power without intelligence to reflect household imbalance.

Metaphor (Yaanaigal / Poonaigal)

“Sila yaanaigal poonaigal aagum / Sila poonaigal yaanaigal aagum”

Elephants and cats represent the powerful and weak, showing how legal loopholes invert authority.

Allusion (Purana Reference)

“Arichandhiran thunbam kondaan / Adhu romba paavamthaan”

Alludes to King Harishchandra's absolute commitment to truth to discuss moral pragmatism in modern survival.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thirumathi Oru Vegumathi (1987) was directed by Visu, famous for his iconic domestic drama films featuring quick-witted, morally resonant dialogues. The soundtrack was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, and this song stands out as one of Vairamuthu's finest reflective compositions addressing family dynamics and social realpolitik.

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