Paatha Sirusuthan
From School Master · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Pushpalatha
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- School Master1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti | Though it looks small, grandma, |
| Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti | It connects and brings grandpa close! |
| Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti | Though it looks small, grandma, |
| Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti | It connects and brings grandpa close! |
| Female | |
| Kadhoram mella mella maatti | Place it gently against your ear, |
| Saethi tharuvathu idhu seiyum duty | Delivering news is its duty! |
| Kadhoram mella mella maatti | Place it gently against your ear, |
| Saethi tharuvathu idhu seiyum duty | Delivering news is its duty! |
| Female | |
| Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti | Though it looks small, grandma, |
| Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti | It connects and brings grandpa close! |
| Female | |
| Delhi-yum pesum maduraiyum pesum | It speaks to Delhi, it speaks to Madurai, |
| Nerukku neraaga | Face to face, directly! |
| Delhi-yum pesum maduraiyum pesum | It speaks to Delhi, it speaks to Madurai, |
| Nerukku neraaga | Face to face, directly! |
| Female | |
| Theriyaatha aal kooda arimugamaavaanga | Even strangers will become familiar, |
| Theriyaatha aal kooda arimugamaavaanga | Even strangers will become familiar! |
| Keezh jaathi maeljaathi edhuvum kidaiyaathu | It knows no lower caste or upper caste, |
| Kettaalum sonnaalum | Whether listening or speaking, |
| Telephone viduthoothu | The telephone is a messenger of freedom! |
| Female | |
| Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti | Though it looks small, grandma, |
| Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti | It connects and brings grandpa close! |
| Female | |
| ………………. | |
| Female | |
| Konji pesu kobaththil pesu | Speak lovingly or speak in anger, |
| Yaarukkum theriyaathu | No one else will ever know. |
| Kuraiyellaam nee sollu | Tell it all your grievances, |
| Oorukku sollaathu | It will not blabber to the town! |
| Female | |
| Konji pesu kobaththil pesu | Speak lovingly or speak in anger, |
| Yaarukkum theriyaathu | No one else will ever know. |
| Kuraiyellaam nee sollu | Tell it all your grievances, |
| Oorukku sollaathu | It will not blabber to the town! |
| Female | |
| Idhu seiyum thunai unthan | The companionship this provides, |
| Pillai seiyaathu | Even your own child will not give! |
| Ippothu un deivam | Now hear your god, |
| Thaththaa kural kelu… | Listen to grandpa's voice... |
| Female | |
| Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti | Though it looks small, grandma, |
| Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti | It connects and brings grandpa close! |
| Female | |
| Kadhoram mella mella maatti | Place it gently against your ear, |
| Saethi tharuvathu idhu seiyum duty | Delivering news is its duty! |
| Female | |
| Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti | Though it looks small, grandma, |
| Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti | It connects and brings grandpa close! |
பாத்தா சிறுசுதான் பாட்டி
இது தாத்தாவைக் கொண்டு வரும் கூட்டி
பாத்தா சிறுசுதான் பாட்டி
இது தாத்தாவைக் கொண்டு வரும் கூட்டி
Though it looks small, grandma,
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Though it looks small, grandma,
It connects and brings grandpa close!
காதோரம் மெல்ல மெல்ல மாட்டி
சேதி தருவது இது செய்யும் டூட்டி
காதோரம் மெல்ல மெல்ல மாட்டி
சேதி தருவது இது செய்யும் டூட்டி
Place it gently against your ear,
Delivering news is its duty!
Place it gently against your ear,
Delivering news is its duty!
பாத்தா சிறுசுதான் பாட்டி
இது தாத்தாவைக் கொண்டு வரும் கூட்டி
Though it looks small, grandma,
It connects and brings grandpa close!
டில்லியும் பேசும் மதுரையும் பேசும்
நேருக்கு நேராக
டில்லியும் பேசும் மதுரையும் பேசும்
நேருக்கு நேராக
It speaks to Delhi, it speaks to Madurai,
Face to face, directly!
It speaks to Delhi, it speaks to Madurai,
Face to face, directly!
தெரியாத ஆள் கூட அறிமுகமாவாங்க
தெரியாத ஆள் கூட அறிமுகமாவாங்க
கீழ்ஜாதி மேல்ஜாதி எதுவும் கிடையாது
கேட்டாலும் சொன்னாலும்
டெலிபோன் விடுதூது
Even strangers will become familiar,
Even strangers will become familiar!
It knows no lower caste or upper caste,
Whether listening or speaking,
The telephone is a messenger of freedom!
பாத்தா சிறுசுதான் பாட்டி
இது தாத்தாவைக் கொண்டு வரும் கூட்டி
Though it looks small, grandma,
It connects and brings grandpa close!
.....................................
கொஞ்சிப் பேசு கோபத்தில் பேசு
யாருக்கும் தெரியாது
குறையெல்லாம் நீ சொல்லு
ஊருக்குச் சொல்லாது
Speak lovingly or speak in anger,
No one else will ever know.
Tell it all your grievances,
It will not blabber to the town!
கொஞ்சிப் பேசு கோபத்தில் பேசு
யாருக்கும் தெரியாது
குறையெல்லாம் நீ சொல்லு
ஊருக்குச் சொல்லாது
Speak lovingly or speak in anger,
No one else will ever know.
Tell it all your grievances,
It will not blabber to the town!
இது செய்யும் துணை உந்தன்
பிள்ளை செய்யாது
இப்போது உன் தெய்வம்
தாத்தா குரல் கேளு.......
The companionship this provides,
Even your own child will not give!
Now hear your god,
Listen to grandpa's voice...
பாத்தா சிறுசுதான் பாட்டி
இது தாத்தாவைக் கொண்டு வரும் கூட்டி
Though it looks small, grandma,
It connects and brings grandpa close!
காதோரம் மெல்ல மெல்ல மாட்டி
சேதி தருவது இது செய்யும் டூட்டி
Place it gently against your ear,
Delivering news is its duty!
பாத்தா சிறுசுதான் பாட்டி
இது தாத்தாவைக் கொண்டு வரும் கூட்டி
Though it looks small, grandma,
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti
Though it looks small, grandma,
Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti
Though it looks small, grandma,
Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Kadhoram mella mella maatti
Place it gently against your ear,
Saethi tharuvathu idhu seiyum duty
Delivering news is its duty!
Kadhoram mella mella maatti
Place it gently against your ear,
Saethi tharuvathu idhu seiyum duty
Delivering news is its duty!
Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti
Though it looks small, grandma,
Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Delhi-yum pesum maduraiyum pesum
It speaks to Delhi, it speaks to Madurai,
Nerukku neraaga
Face to face, directly!
Delhi-yum pesum maduraiyum pesum
It speaks to Delhi, it speaks to Madurai,
Nerukku neraaga
Face to face, directly!
Theriyaatha aal kooda arimugamaavaanga
Even strangers will become familiar,
Theriyaatha aal kooda arimugamaavaanga
Even strangers will become familiar!
Keezh jaathi maeljaathi edhuvum kidaiyaathu
It knows no lower caste or upper caste,
Kettaalum sonnaalum
Whether listening or speaking,
Telephone viduthoothu
The telephone is a messenger of freedom!
Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti
Though it looks small, grandma,
Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti
It connects and brings grandpa close!
……………….
Konji pesu kobaththil pesu
Speak lovingly or speak in anger,
Yaarukkum theriyaathu
No one else will ever know.
Kuraiyellaam nee sollu
Tell it all your grievances,
Oorukku sollaathu
It will not blabber to the town!
Konji pesu kobaththil pesu
Speak lovingly or speak in anger,
Yaarukkum theriyaathu
No one else will ever know.
Kuraiyellaam nee sollu
Tell it all your grievances,
Oorukku sollaathu
It will not blabber to the town!
Idhu seiyum thunai unthan
The companionship this provides,
Pillai seiyaathu
Even your own child will not give!
Ippothu un deivam
Now hear your god,
Thaththaa kural kelu…
Listen to grandpa's voice...
Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti
Though it looks small, grandma,
Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Kadhoram mella mella maatti
Place it gently against your ear,
Saethi tharuvathu idhu seiyum duty
Delivering news is its duty!
Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti
Though it looks small, grandma,
Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti
It connects and brings grandpa close!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful and lighthearted track from the film 'School Master' (1973) humorously explains the novelty and wonder of a landline telephone to an elderly woman ('paatti'). Written by Kannadasan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan, the song paints the telephone as a magical device that bridges long distances between cities like Delhi and Madurai, instantly connecting loved ones like grandpa ('thaathaa'). Kannadasan cleverly incorporates social commentary, noting that the device treats everyone equally regardless of caste or status, maintains absolute privacy by keeping secrets, and provides a level of instant companionship that even one's children might fail to give.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Paaththaa sirusuthaan paatti / Idhu thaathaavai kondu varum kootti”
The lyrics prominently feature end rhyming with words like 'paatti', 'kootti', 'maatti', and the English loan word 'duty', creating a catchy rhythm.
Personification
“Kuraiyellaam nee sollu / Oorukku sollaathu”
The telephone is personified as a loyal messenger ('viduthoothu') and a trusted companion ('thunai') that listens to complaints without gossiping to the town.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Keezh jaathi maeljaathi edhuvum kidaiyaathu / Kettaalum sonnaalum”
Standard Tamil poetic convention where the second consonant of consecutive lines matches (e.g., 'Keezh' / 'Kettaalum' or 'Paaththaa' / 'Kadhoram').
Did you know?
Trivia
During the 1970s in India, landline telephones were still a prized luxury and novelty in many households. Kannadasan cleverly wove the modern technology of telecommunications into traditional Tamil light music, blending English words like 'duty' and 'telephone' into folk-style rhyming lyrics.
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