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Lyrics & meaning

Pani Padarntha

From Ratha Thilagam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Ratha Thilagam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pani padarndha malaiyin melaeAtop the snow-covered mountain,
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polaeI was lying like a statue.
Kani thodutha malai polaeLike a mountain laden with fruits,
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalaeA maiden appeared before my eyes.
Male
Pani padarndha malaiyin melaeAtop the snow-covered mountain,
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polaeI was lying like a statue.
Kani thodutha malai polaeLike a mountain laden with fruits,
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalaeA maiden appeared before my eyes.
Male
Kunindhu nindra mugathai paarthenI looked at her bowed head,
Kunguma poo nirathai paarthenI looked at her saffron-hued complexion.
Kanindhu nindra kannam paarthenI looked at her ripe cheeks,
Kannerin chinnam paarthenI saw the traces of tears.
Male
Kalanginen….thudithen …I was shaken... I trembled...
Amma…ammamma ….Oh mother... oh mother...
Nee azhudha nilaiyarindhuKnowing the state of your tears,
Nilavae azhuthadhammaEven the moon wept, oh mother.
Vanam azhuthadhammaThe sky wept, oh mother.
Vanna malar pulambudhammaThe colorful flowers lamented,
Ganam azhuthadhammaThe clouds wept, oh mother.
Kanagam kalangudhamma …The forest itself was distressed...
Male
Karanathai chonnalIf you tell me the reason,
Kalai naan udhavi seivenI, the artist, will offer my help.
Varanangal kooti vandhuBringing along processional elephants,
Vanna thaer otti vandhuDriving a colorful chariot,
Thoranangal aaduginraIn the pure city streets
Thooya nagar veedhiyilaeWhere decorative festoons sway,
Oorvalamai unnaiAs a grand procession,
Udanazhaithu naan varuvenI will come and accompany you.
Sollamma sol endren"Tell me, mother, tell me," I said.
Thooya magal thalai nimirndhaalThe pure daughter raised her head.
Male
Amaidhi thedi urugi nindrenSeeking peace, I stood melting with emotion,
Anbu vellam peruga vandhenI came with an overflowing surge of love.
Imayam mudhal kumari varaiFrom the Himalayas to Kanyakumari,
En idhayathaiyae thirandhu vaithenI kept my heart wide open,
Male
Undu pasiyaraSo that the entire world could come
Ulagam varatumendruAnd eat to satisfy its hunger.
Kandu thaen kadhaliFinding honey like a beloved,
Karandha pal karandhapadiFreshly drawing milk as it was milked,
Kondu vandhu vaithuI brought it and placed it before them,
Koopitten varugavendru…Inviting everyone to come and eat...
Male
Pasiyara odi vandhaAmong the ten who came running to eat
Pathu per maththiyilaeTo satisfy their hunger,
Pagaiyara oruvan vandhaOne came filled with enmity;
Pavathai enna solvenWhat can I say about that sin?
Male
Yarai azhithen ….Whom did I destroy?
Yaar kudiyai naan keduthen…Whose family did I ruin?
Seer sumandhu senradhuthanIs bearing prosperity and giving it to others
Seidhathoru pavam endraalConsidered a sin that I committed?
Annai uraitha mozhiAll those words spoken by Mother India,
Athanaiyum kettirundhenI sat and listened to them all.
Pinnar manadhilThen in my heart,
Perum thunivu modhi varaA great courage came surging forth,
Perum thunivu modhi varaA great courage came surging forth.
Male
Veeramundu tholgal unduThere is valor, there are strong shoulders,
Vetri kollum gnanam unduThere is victory-winning wisdom,
Saram mikka dharmam unduThere is righteousness filled with essence,
Dharmam mikka thalaivan unduThere is a leader filled with dharma.
Male
Veeramundu tholgal unduThere is valor, there are strong shoulders,
Vetri kollum gnanam unduThere is victory-winning wisdom,
Saram mikka dharmam unduThere is righteousness filled with essence,
Dharmam mikka thalaivan unduThere is a leader filled with dharma.
Male
Anbu niraindha maganA son filled with love,
Arul niraindha karunai maganA son filled with grace and mercy,
Panbu niraindha maganA son filled with noble character,
Pazha nattin mootha maganThe eldest son of this ancient nation,
Irukkindraan thaayae …Is right here, oh mother...
Yengadhae endruraithenDo not despair, I comforted her.
Male
Annai sirithaalMother smiled,
Adada o.. achirippilAh, in that smile of hers,
Munnai thamizh manamaeThe ancient Tamil pride and spirit
Mulaithezhundhu nindradhammaSprang forth and stood tall, oh mother!
Ennai marandhenI forgot myself,
Iravulagil serndhu vittenI joined the realm of the night.
Kannai mella maraithuSlowly veiling my eyes,
Karpanaiyil kalandhu vittenI merged into my imagination.
Karpanaiyil kalandhu vittenI merged into my imagination.
Male
Pani padarndha malaiyin melaeAtop the snow-covered mountain,
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polaeI was lying like a statue.
Kani thodutha malai polaeLike a mountain laden with fruits,
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalaeA maiden appeared before my eyes.
Male
Pani padarndha malaiyin melaeAtop the snow-covered mountain,
Paduthirundhen silaiyai polaeI was lying like a statue.
Kani thodutha malai polaeLike a mountain laden with fruits,
Kanni vandhaal kan munnalaeA maiden appeared before my eyes.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This allegorical song from the 1963 film 'Ratha Thilagam' uses deep poetic imagery to reflect Mother India's plight following the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The narrator meets a sorrowful maiden on the snowy Himalayan peaks, who is revealed to be Mother India (Bharat Mata) mourning the betrayal of an unprovoked attack by a neighbor she welcomed with love and hospitality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Paduthirundhen silaiyai polae

Compares the speaker lying motionless on the snowy mountains to a motionless statue ('silaiyai polae').

Personification

Thooya magal thalai nimirndhaal

Mother India is personified as a grieving mother and maiden who expresses her deep heartbreak over betrayal despite her generosity.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethukai)

Anbu niraindha magan / Panbu niraindha magan

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across lines, such as 'Veeramundu' and 'Saram mikka' or 'Anbu' and 'Panbu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, 'Ratha Thilagam' was produced in the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian War to evoke patriotic fervor across Tamil Nadu.

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