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Ini Oru Sudhanthiram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pallikoodam Pogama Padatha

From Ini Oru Sudhanthiram · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Venkat Prabhu, Premji
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Ini Oru Sudhanthiram
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
30 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Arasa maram thedi amarntha pillaiyaarae
Nee endha palliyilum ennai pol padichadhundaa
Padikaama bharathatha padapadannu ezhuthiniyae
Enakkandha gnyaanatha pirappilae kodukkaliyae
Pona jenmama naanga senja paavathula ippa indha
Pallikoodam vandhuttu thaan thittughala vaangikkirom
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum
Chorus :Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
{Admission vangida thaan
Alaiyuraangha engappa
Avanga padum thunbathathaan
Solla vaarthai illaiyappa} (2)
Pallikoodam neraiya irunthum
Edam kedaikkavillaiyappaa
Palliyil idam kedaichaa
Paadam yeravillaiyae
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum
Chorus :Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum
{Teacherukku mood iruntha
Nalla solli kodupangha
Veetula thaan sandaiyinaa
Sidi sidunnu viluvangha} (2)
Homework seiya solli
Odha odhannu odhaippaangha
Vaaram vaaram test vechi
Vaatti vaatti eduppaangha
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum
Chorus :Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum
Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama
Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama
Naangha paasaaga venum pillaiyaarae
O Lord Ganesha, seated beneath the peepal tree,
did you ever study in any school like me?
Without even studying, you wrote the Mahabharata in a flash,
why didn't you give me such wisdom at birth?
For the sins we committed in our past life,
we come to this school now and get scolded every day!
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
For that, how many coconuts do you want?
Chorus: For that, how many coconuts do you want?
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
Just to get us an admission,
our father runs all over the place,
and the trouble he goes through,
there are no words to describe!
Though there are plenty of schools around,
we cannot find a single seat,
and even if we do get a seat in school,
the lessons never enter our heads!
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
For that, how many coconuts do you want?
Chorus: For that, how many coconuts do you want?
If the teacher is in a good mood,
they teach us really well,
but if they had a fight at home,
they snap and yell at us furiously!
Telling us to do our homework,
they beat us relentlessly,
and giving us tests every single week,
they torment us without end!
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
For that, how many coconuts do you want?
Chorus: For that, how many coconuts do you want?
Without going to school, without studying the lessons,
and without even writing the exams,
we want to pass, O Lord Ganesha!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful track from 'Ini Oru Sudhanthiram' (1987) presents a humorous satire on the struggles of school life through the perspective of innocent children. The kids address Lord Ganesha (Pillaiyar), noting how he effortlessly scribed the epic Mahabharata without ever attending school, and request him to grant them effortless success in their education without forcing them to attend classes or write exams.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Erattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeia)

Padikaama bharathatha padapadannu ezhuthiniyae

Use of rhythmic sound-words like 'padapadannu' (rapidly) and 'sidi sidunnu' (irritably) to vividly depict action and emotion.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Pallikoodam pogama paadatha padikkama / Paritchaiyum ezhudhaama

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound across consecutive lines to create melodic rhythm.

Satire and Personification

Adhukku unakku ethana thengha venum

Playfully treating the deity Ganesha as a school peer while satirizing the modern educational system, admission struggles, and erratic teacher behaviors.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Gangai Amaran for the 1987 film 'Ini Oru Sudhanthiram' directed by K. Bhagyaraj, the song cleverly juxtaposes classical mythology (Ganesha writing the Mahabharata for Sage Vyasa) with contemporary student grievances regarding school admissions, strict teachers, and examination anxiety.

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