Padi Padi Vaazhkkaiyilae
From Baghdad Perazhagi · 1973
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- Saibaba, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Baghdad Perazhagi1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| ……………… | |
| Female | |
| Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi | Study and learn, in life how many steps are there? |
| Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi | How can one move forward step by step? |
| Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi | Study and learn, in life how many steps are there? |
| Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi | How can one move forward step by step? |
| Male | |
| Appadi ippadi aadaamae | Without swaying this way and that way, |
| Seppadi viththa kaattaamae | Without showing sleight of hand tricks, |
| Appadi ippadi aadaamae | Without swaying this way and that way, |
| Seppadi viththa kaattaamae | Without showing sleight of hand tricks, |
| Naama eppadi vaazhvathungo | How are we supposed to live, my friend? |
| Both :Naama eppadi vaazhvathungo | Both: How are we supposed to live, my friend? |
| Naama eppadi vaazhvathungo | How are we supposed to live, my friend? |
| Female | |
| Ullapadiyae nallapadiyaai paadupadonum | One must work hard truthfully and properly, |
| Dhinam urupadiyaa varumpadiyai thedi vaikkonum | One must earn a meaningful income every day and save it. |
| Male :Kandapadi varumpadiyai selavu pannaathae | Male: Do not spend your income recklessly as you please, |
| Oru kadankaaran vaasappadiyai mithikka vidaathae | Do not allow a creditor to step onto your doorstep. |
| Female | |
| Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi | Study and learn, in life how many steps are there? |
| Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi | How can one move forward step by step? |
| Male | |
| ……………….. | |
| Female | |
| Sattapadiyum thittapadiyum irukanum naadu | The country should run according to law and planned order, |
| Silar ishttappadiyae nadanthathanaal vilainthathu kedu | Because some acted according to their whims, harm was caused. |
| Male :Kularupadi kularupadi seiyyaraaru | Male: They keep causing chaos and blunders, |
| Indru uruppadiyaa thirunthumpadi vanthathu yaaru | Who has come forward today to truly reform and improve? |
| Female | |
| Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi | Study and learn, in life how many steps are there? |
| Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi | How can one move forward step by step? |
| Male | |
| ……………….. | |
............................
படி படி வாழ்க்கையிலே எத்தனை படி
படிப்படியா முன்னேற வழிகள் எப்படி
படி படி வாழ்க்கையிலே எத்தனை படி
படிப்படியா முன்னேற வழிகள் எப்படி
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
How can one move forward step by step?
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
How can one move forward step by step?
அப்படி இப்படி ஆடாமே
செப்படி வித்த காட்டாமே
அப்படி இப்படி ஆடாமே
செப்படி வித்த காட்டாமே
எப்படி வாழ்வதுங்கோ
நாம எப்படி வாழ்வதுங்கோ
இருவர் :
எப்படி வாழ்வதுங்கோ
நாம எப்படி வாழ்வதுங்கோ
Without swaying this way and that way,
Without showing sleight of hand tricks,
Without swaying this way and that way,
Without showing sleight of hand tricks,
How are we supposed to live, my friend?
Both: How are we supposed to live, my friend?
How are we supposed to live, my friend?
படி படி வாழ்க்கையிலே எத்தனை படி
படிப்படியா முன்னேற வழிகள் எப்படி
One must work hard truthfully and properly,
One must earn a meaningful income every day and save it.
Male: Do not spend your income recklessly as you please,
Do not allow a creditor to step onto your doorstep.
உள்ளபடியே நல்லபடியாய் பாடுபடோணும்
தினம் உருப்படியா வரும்படியை தேடி வைக்கோணும்
கண்டபடி வரும்படியை செலவு பண்ணாதே
ஒரு கடன்காரன் வாசப்படியை மிதிக்க விடாதே
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
How can one move forward step by step?
படி படி வாழ்க்கையிலே எத்தனை படி
படிப்படியா முன்னேற வழிகள் எப்படி
...................................
The country should run according to law and planned order,
Because some acted according to their whims, harm was caused.
Male: They keep causing chaos and blunders,
Who has come forward today to truly reform and improve?
சட்டப்படியும் திட்டப்படியும் இருக்கணும் நாடு
சிலர் இஷட்டப்படியே நடந்ததனால் விளைந்தது கேடு
குளறுபடி குளறுபடி செய்யறாரு
இன்று உருப்படியா திருந்தும்படி வந்தது யாரு
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
How can one move forward step by step?
படி படி வாழ்க்கையிலே எத்தனை படி
படிப்படியா முன்னேற வழிகள் எப்படி
...................................
………………
Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi
How can one move forward step by step?
Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi
How can one move forward step by step?
Appadi ippadi aadaamae
Without swaying this way and that way,
Seppadi viththa kaattaamae
Without showing sleight of hand tricks,
Appadi ippadi aadaamae
Without swaying this way and that way,
Seppadi viththa kaattaamae
Without showing sleight of hand tricks,
Naama eppadi vaazhvathungo
How are we supposed to live, my friend?
Both :Naama eppadi vaazhvathungo
Both: How are we supposed to live, my friend?
Naama eppadi vaazhvathungo
How are we supposed to live, my friend?
Ullapadiyae nallapadiyaai paadupadonum
One must work hard truthfully and properly,
Dhinam urupadiyaa varumpadiyai thedi vaikkonum
One must earn a meaningful income every day and save it.
Male :Kandapadi varumpadiyai selavu pannaathae
Male: Do not spend your income recklessly as you please,
Oru kadankaaran vaasappadiyai mithikka vidaathae
Do not allow a creditor to step onto your doorstep.
Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi
How can one move forward step by step?
………………..
Sattapadiyum thittapadiyum irukanum naadu
The country should run according to law and planned order,
Silar ishttappadiyae nadanthathanaal vilainthathu kedu
Because some acted according to their whims, harm was caused.
Male :Kularupadi kularupadi seiyyaraaru
Male: They keep causing chaos and blunders,
Indru uruppadiyaa thirunthumpadi vanthathu yaaru
Who has come forward today to truly reform and improve?
Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi
Study and learn, in life how many steps are there?
Padipadiyaa munneera vazhigal eppadi
How can one move forward step by step?
………………..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Padi Padi Vaazhkkaiyilae' from the 1973 film Baghdad Perazhagi is a philosophical yet catchy song centered on moral living, hard work, and financial prudence. Using clever wordplay around the word 'padi' (which means to study, step, measure, doorstep, or manner depending on context), the lyrics question how people can progress in life without resorting to deceit or tricks. It advises working honestly, earning a decent living daily, and avoiding unnecessary debts that bring shame to one's doorstep. Furthermore, the song comments on social governance and civic discipline, noting that a country flourishes only when ruled by law and structured planning rather than individual whims. It criticizes those who create confusion and calls for genuine reform, urging listeners to walk the right path step by step.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Yamakam / Polysemic Wordplay
“Padi padi vaazhkkaiyilae eththanai padi”
The word 'padi' is repeated throughout the line with distinct meanings: 'padi' (study/learn), 'vaazhkkaiyilae padi' (steps of life), and '-padi' (manner/way).
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Appadi ippadi aadaamae / Seppadi viththa kaattaamae”
The second consonant 'p' in 'Appadi' rhymes with 'Seppadi' in the succeeding line.
Anaphora / Polyptoton
“Sattapadiyum thittapadiyum irukanum naadu”
The repetition of the suffix '-padi' in various compound words (Sattapadi, Thittapadi, Ishttappadi) adds a rhythmic bounce and thematic coherence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Pulamaipithan crafted this song almost entirely as a linguistic tour de force, integrating the Tamil root word 'padi' in over ten distinct semantic forms throughout the track. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan, the song features Jayalalithaa and Ravichandran in the film.
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