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Lyrics & meaning

Pala Pala Ragamaa

From Anandha Jodhi · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Anandha Jodhi1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottuThere are locks of many, many different varieties.
Poottu saavi repairLock and key repair!
Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottuThere are locks of many, many different varieties.
Adhu pala vidhamaa manithargalai poottudhu pottuIt locks up human beings in various ways.
Kala kala venum pagutharivu saaviya pottuInsert the key of sharp rationalism bright and clear,
Naan kachidhama thirandhu vaippen idhayathai kaattuShow me your heart, and I will open it perfectly!
Male
Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottuThere are locks of many, many different varieties.
Adhu pala vidhamaa manithargalai poottudhu pottuIt locks up human beings in various ways.
Kala kala venum pagutharivu saaviya pottuInsert the key of sharp rationalism bright and clear,
Naan kachidhama thirandhu vaippen idhayathai kaattuShow me your heart, and I will open it perfectly!
Poottu saavi repairLock and key repair!
Male
Adakkamillame sabaiyile yeriFor men who step onto the stage without modesty,
Alandhu kottum aaangalukku vaayile poottuAnd blabber endlessly, there is a lock on their mouth!
Adakkamillame sabaiyile yeriFor men who step onto the stage without modesty,
Alandhu kottum aaangalukku vaayile poottuAnd blabber endlessly, there is a lock on their mouth!
Aduthavar paiyil iruppadhai kaiyilFor thieves who grab with their hands what is in others' pockets,
Alli kollum thirudarukku kaiyile poottuThere is a lock on their hands!
Buddhi kettu.. sakthi kettu..Having lost wisdom, having lost strength,
Polappai ellam vittuvittuAbandoning all means of livelihood,
Sutri varum somberikku kaalile poottuFor the lazy roaming around, there is a lock on their feet!
Sutri varum somberikku kaalile poottuFor the lazy roaming around, there is a lock on their feet!
Male
Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottuThere are locks of many, many different varieties.
Adhu pala vidhamaa manithargalai poottudhu pottuIt locks up human beings in various ways.
Kala kala venum pagutharivu saaviya pottuInsert the key of sharp rationalism bright and clear,
Naan kachidhama thirandhu vaippen idhayathai kaattuShow me your heart, and I will open it perfectly!
Male
Mangaiyar pinnale liscence ilaameFollowing women without any license,
Valaiya varum kaamugarku kannile poottuFor lustful men wandering around, there is a lock on their eyes!
Mangaiyar pinnale liscence ilaameFollowing women without any license,
Valaiya varum kaamugarku kannile poottuFor lustful men wandering around, there is a lock on their eyes!
Angumillaame ingumillameBelonging neither here nor there,
Alaingi varum moodarukku manasula poottuFor fools wandering aimlessly, there is a lock on their mind!
Urakkam kettu.. valakkam kettu..Losing sleep, losing proper habits,
Ooru vamba kettukittuEavesdropping on local gossip,
Ullam ketta manusarukku kaadhile poottuFor people with corrupted hearts, there is a lock on their ears!
Ullam ketta manusarukku kaadhile poottuFor people with corrupted hearts, there is a lock on their ears!
Male
Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottuThere are locks of many, many different varieties.
Poottu Saavi RepairLock and key repair!
Male
Arivirundhaalum vazhithadumaariEven if they possess knowledge, for people who lose their way,
Avadhi padum makkalukkum irukkudhu saaviAnd suffer in misery, there is a key available!
Arivirundhaalum vazhithadumaariEven if they possess knowledge, for people who lose their way,
Avadhi padum makkalukkum irukkudhu saaviAnd suffer in misery, there is a key available!
Varumaiyinaale vaazhkaiyillaameHaving no life due to extreme poverty,
Vaadi pona veetinaiyum thirakkudhu saaviFor withered homes as well, there is a key to unlock them!
Thangamakkaa.. ullaththile..Like pure gold... inside the heart...
Anbu mikka ennathileWith thoughts filled with love,
Thadai irundha udaithu podum dharmathin saaviIf there are obstacles, the key of righteousness breaks them down!
Thadai irundha udaithu podum dharmathin saaviIf there are obstacles, the key of righteousness breaks them down!
Male
Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottuThere are locks of many, many different varieties.
Adhu pala vidhamaa manithargalai poottudhu pottuIt locks up human beings in various ways.
Kala kala venum pagutharivu saaviya pottuInsert the key of sharp rationalism bright and clear,
Naan kachidhama thirandhu vaippen idhayathai kaattuShow me your heart, and I will open it perfectly!
Poottu Saavi RepairLock and key repair!
Poottu Saavi RepairLock and key repair!
Poottu Saavi RepairLock and key repair!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Pala Pala Ragamaa Irukkuthu Poottu' from the 1963 film Anandha Jodhi, lyricist Kannadasan cleverly uses the metaphor of a street lock-repairer to critique human vices and societal flaws. The singer highlights how different bad habits act as metaphorical locks restricting human progress—such as boastful blabbering requiring a lock on the mouth, theft needing a lock on the hands, lust requiring a lock on the eyes, and idle gossip calling for a lock on the ears. Simultaneously, the song offers a solution through the key of rationalism ('Pagutharivu'), love, and righteousness ('Dharmam'). It suggests that despite human flaws and struggles like poverty or losing one's path, virtues and practical wisdom can unlock a person's heart and lead society toward moral enlightenment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kala kala venum pagutharivu saaviya pottu

Comparing human flaws to locks ('Poottu') on body parts (mouth, hands, eyes, ears) and rationalism/righteousness to keys ('Saavi').

Mogana / Rhyme (Monai)

Arivirundhaalum vazhithadumaari / Avadhi padum makkalukkum irukkudhu saavi

Initial letter rhyming across words in lines, such as 'Arivirundhaalum' and 'Avadhi padum'.

Repetition / Alliterative Onomatopoeia

Pala pala pala pala ragamaa irukkuthu poottu

The rhythmic repetition 'Pala pala pala pala' and 'Kala kala' creates a musical beat mimicking the repairman's call.

Did you know?

Trivia

Anandha Jodhi (1963) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Devika. The song features MGR disguised as a locksmith ('poottu saavi repair' man) delivering social awareness and moral philosophy through street-style philosophical lyrics written by Kannadasan and set to tune by Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy.

Keep listening

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