Parthu Po
From Vani Rani · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Vani Rani1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paathu po haa paathu po | Watch your step, ha, watch your step |
| Hahahaha hahahaha | Hahahaha hahahaha |
| Male | |
| Paathu po paathu po | Watch your step, watch your step |
| Nee nadandhu pogum saalaiyilae | On the road that you walk upon |
| Un nanbarum vara koodum | Your friends may come along |
| Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum | Some cunning foxes may play around as well |
| Male | |
| Paathu po paathu po | Watch your step, watch your step |
| Nee nadandhu pogum saalaiyilae | On the road that you walk upon |
| Un nanbarum vara koodum | Your friends may come along |
| Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum | Some cunning foxes may play around as well |
| Male | |
| Yevanevan manadhil ennenna irukkum | Whatever resides in each person's heart |
| Yevanukkadaa theriyum | Who can possibly know, man? |
| Yevanevan manadhil ennenna irukkum | Whatever resides in each person's heart |
| Yevanukkadaa theriyum | Who can possibly know, man? |
| Ada indraiya manidhan naalaiya thirudan | Ah, today's honest man becomes tomorrow's thief |
| Avanukku thaan puriyum | Only he himself understands it |
| Avanukku thaan puriyum haha hahaha | Only he himself understands it, haha hahaha |
| Male | |
| Paathu po yoww paathu po | Watch your step, hey, watch your step |
| Male | |
| Kadalukkullae manidhan vizhundhaal | If a human falls into the ocean |
| Meenukku unavaagum | He becomes food for the fish |
| Meen karaiyai thaedi thulli vizhundhaal | If a fish leaps seeking the shore |
| Manidhanin iraiyaagum | It becomes prey for man |
| Male | |
| Kadalukkullae manidhan vizhundhaal | If a human falls into the ocean |
| Meenukku unavaagum | He becomes food for the fish |
| Meen karaiyai thaedi thulli vizhundhaal | If a fish leaps seeking the shore |
| Manidhanin iraiyaagum | It becomes prey for man |
| Yevanukku yevvalavu | How much does anyone get? |
| Adhu avanavan manathalavu haha hahaha | That is determined by the capacity of his own heart, haha hahaha |
| Male | |
| Paathu po yoww paathu po | Watch your step, hey, watch your step |
| Male | |
| Paathadhum kidaithadhum | If you say that what you see and what you receive |
| Podhum endraal | Is enough for you |
| Pagalilum thookkam varum | Sleep will come even during the daytime |
| Panam innum innum endrae alaindhaal | If you wander ceaselessly chasing money and more money |
| Iravilum yaekkam varum | Longing and anxiety will plague you even at night |
| En nidhi irundhaalum | No matter how much treasure you possess |
| Vaazhvil nimmadhi vendumadaa mm… | What you really need in life is peace of mind, my friend, mm... |
| Male | |
| Paathu po paathu po | Watch your step, watch your step |
| Male | |
| Naalaikku neeyae raajaavaagi | Tomorrow, you yourself might become a king |
| Aatchikku vara koodum | And come into power to rule |
| Un nallavai kettavai athanaiyum | All your good deeds and bad deeds |
| Andru saatchiyam thara koodum | Will stand as witness on that day |
| Male | |
| Naalaikku neeyae raajaavaagi | Tomorrow, you yourself might become a king |
| Aatchikku vara koodum | And come into power to rule |
| Un nallavai kettavai athanaiyum | All your good deeds and bad deeds |
| Andru saatchiyam thara koodum | Will stand as witness on that day |
| Thodanguvadheppadiyo | Whatever way something begins |
| Adhu mudivadhum appadiyae haha hahaha | That is exactly how it will end, haha hahaha |
| Male | |
| Paathu po yoww paathu po | Watch your step, hey, watch your step |
| Nee nadandhu pogum saalaiyilae | On the road that you walk upon |
| Un nanbarum vara koodum | Your friends may come along |
| Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum | Some cunning foxes may play around as well |
| Male | |
| Paathu po paathu po | Watch your step, watch your step |
| Haha hahahaa | Haha hahahaa |
பாத்துப்போ ஹா பாத்துப்போ
ஹஹஹஹா ஹஹஹஹா
Watch your step, ha, watch your step
Hahahaha hahahaha
பாத்துப்போ பாத்துப்போ
நீ நடந்து போகும் சாலையிலே
உன் நண்பனும் வரக் கூடும்
சில நரிகளும் விளையாடும்
Watch your step, watch your step
On the road that you walk upon
Your friends may come along
Some cunning foxes may play around as well
பாத்துப்போ பாத்துப்போ
நீ நடந்து போகும் சாலையிலே
உன் நண்பனும் வரக் கூடும்
சில நரிகளும் விளையாடும்
Watch your step, watch your step
On the road that you walk upon
Your friends may come along
Some cunning foxes may play around as well
எவனெவன் மனதில் என்னென்ன இருக்கும்
எவனுக்கடா தெரியும்
எவனெவன் மனதில் என்னென்ன இருக்கும்
எவனுக்கடா தெரியும்
அட இன்றைய மனிதன் நாளைய திருடன்
அவனுக்குத்தான் புரியும்
அவனுக்குத்தான் புரியும் ஹஹா ஹஹஹா
Whatever resides in each person's heart
Who can possibly know, man?
Whatever resides in each person's heart
Who can possibly know, man?
Ah, today's honest man becomes tomorrow's thief
Only he himself understands it
Only he himself understands it, haha hahaha
பாத்துப்போ யோவ் பாத்துப்போ
Watch your step, hey, watch your step
கடலுக்குள்ளே மனிதன் விழுந்தால்
மீனுக்கு உணவாகும்
மீன் கரையை தேடி துள்ளி விழுந்தால்
மனிதனின் இரையாகும்
If a human falls into the ocean
He becomes food for the fish
If a fish leaps seeking the shore
It becomes prey for man
கடலுக்குள்ளே மனிதன் விழுந்தால்
மீனுக்கு உணவாகும்
மீன் கரையை தேடி துள்ளி விழுந்தால்
மனிதனின் இரையாகும்
எவனுக்கு எவ்வளவு
அது அவனவன் மனத்தளவு ஹஹா ஹஹஹா
If a human falls into the ocean
He becomes food for the fish
If a fish leaps seeking the shore
It becomes prey for man
How much does anyone get?
That is determined by the capacity of his own heart, haha hahaha
பாத்துப்போ யோவ் பாத்துப்போ
Watch your step, hey, watch your step
பாத்ததும் கிடைத்ததும்
போதும் என்றால்
பகலிலும் தூக்கம் வரும்
பணம் இன்னும் இன்னும் என்றே அலைந்தால்
இரவிலும் ஏக்கம் வரும்
என் நிதி இருந்தாலும்
வாழ்வில் நிம்மதி வேண்டுமடா ம்ம்....
If you say that what you see and what you receive
Is enough for you
Sleep will come even during the daytime
If you wander ceaselessly chasing money and more money
Longing and anxiety will plague you even at night
No matter how much treasure you possess
What you really need in life is peace of mind, my friend, mm...
பாத்துப்போ பாத்துப்போ
Watch your step, watch your step
நாளைக்கு நீயே ராஜாவாகி
ஆட்சிக்கு வரக்கூடும்
உன் நல்லவை கெட்டவை அத்தனையும்
அன்று சாட்சியம் தரக் கூடும்
Tomorrow, you yourself might become a king
And come into power to rule
All your good deeds and bad deeds
Will stand as witness on that day
நாளைக்கு நீயே ராஜாவாகி
ஆட்சிக்கு வரக்கூடும்
உன் நல்லவை கெட்டவை அத்தனையும்
அன்று சாட்சியம் தரக் கூடும்
தொடுங்குவதெப்படியோ
அது முடிவதும் அப்படியே ஹஹா ஹஹஹா
Tomorrow, you yourself might become a king
And come into power to rule
All your good deeds and bad deeds
Will stand as witness on that day
Whatever way something begins
That is exactly how it will end, haha hahaha
பாத்துப்போ யோவ் பாத்துப்போ
நீ நடந்து போகும் சாலையிலே
உன் நண்பனும் வரக் கூடும்
சில நரிகளும் விளையாடும்
Watch your step, hey, watch your step
On the road that you walk upon
Your friends may come along
Some cunning foxes may play around as well
பாத்துப்போ பாத்துப்போ
ஹஹா ஹஹஹா
Watch your step, watch your step
Haha hahahaa
Paathu po haa paathu po
Watch your step, ha, watch your step
Hahahaha hahahaha
Hahahaha hahahaha
Paathu po paathu po
Watch your step, watch your step
Nee nadandhu pogum saalaiyilae
On the road that you walk upon
Un nanbarum vara koodum
Your friends may come along
Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum
Some cunning foxes may play around as well
Paathu po paathu po
Watch your step, watch your step
Nee nadandhu pogum saalaiyilae
On the road that you walk upon
Un nanbarum vara koodum
Your friends may come along
Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum
Some cunning foxes may play around as well
Yevanevan manadhil ennenna irukkum
Whatever resides in each person's heart
Yevanukkadaa theriyum
Who can possibly know, man?
Yevanevan manadhil ennenna irukkum
Whatever resides in each person's heart
Yevanukkadaa theriyum
Who can possibly know, man?
Ada indraiya manidhan naalaiya thirudan
Ah, today's honest man becomes tomorrow's thief
Avanukku thaan puriyum
Only he himself understands it
Avanukku thaan puriyum haha hahaha
Only he himself understands it, haha hahaha
Paathu po yoww paathu po
Watch your step, hey, watch your step
Kadalukkullae manidhan vizhundhaal
If a human falls into the ocean
Meenukku unavaagum
He becomes food for the fish
Meen karaiyai thaedi thulli vizhundhaal
If a fish leaps seeking the shore
Manidhanin iraiyaagum
It becomes prey for man
Kadalukkullae manidhan vizhundhaal
If a human falls into the ocean
Meenukku unavaagum
He becomes food for the fish
Meen karaiyai thaedi thulli vizhundhaal
If a fish leaps seeking the shore
Manidhanin iraiyaagum
It becomes prey for man
Yevanukku yevvalavu
How much does anyone get?
Adhu avanavan manathalavu haha hahaha
That is determined by the capacity of his own heart, haha hahaha
Paathu po yoww paathu po
Watch your step, hey, watch your step
Paathadhum kidaithadhum
If you say that what you see and what you receive
Podhum endraal
Is enough for you
Pagalilum thookkam varum
Sleep will come even during the daytime
Panam innum innum endrae alaindhaal
If you wander ceaselessly chasing money and more money
Iravilum yaekkam varum
Longing and anxiety will plague you even at night
En nidhi irundhaalum
No matter how much treasure you possess
Vaazhvil nimmadhi vendumadaa mm…
What you really need in life is peace of mind, my friend, mm...
Paathu po paathu po
Watch your step, watch your step
Naalaikku neeyae raajaavaagi
Tomorrow, you yourself might become a king
Aatchikku vara koodum
And come into power to rule
Un nallavai kettavai athanaiyum
All your good deeds and bad deeds
Andru saatchiyam thara koodum
Will stand as witness on that day
Naalaikku neeyae raajaavaagi
Tomorrow, you yourself might become a king
Aatchikku vara koodum
And come into power to rule
Un nallavai kettavai athanaiyum
All your good deeds and bad deeds
Andru saatchiyam thara koodum
Will stand as witness on that day
Thodanguvadheppadiyo
Whatever way something begins
Adhu mudivadhum appadiyae haha hahaha
That is exactly how it will end, haha hahaha
Paathu po yoww paathu po
Watch your step, hey, watch your step
Nee nadandhu pogum saalaiyilae
On the road that you walk upon
Un nanbarum vara koodum
Your friends may come along
Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum
Some cunning foxes may play around as well
Paathu po paathu po
Watch your step, watch your step
Haha hahahaa
Haha hahahaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Paathu Po' from Vani Rani (1974) is a philosophical commentary written by poet Kannadasan. Set to a catchy, conversational tempo, the song serves as a gentle yet sharp warning to navigate life with extreme caution. It points out that the road of life contains both true friends and opportunistic, sly people ('foxes'), and reminds us that human intentions are unpredictable, as today's upright citizen can become corrupt tomorrow. The song further delves into themes of karma, contentment, and ultimate accountability. Using natural dualities—a man in the ocean becoming fish food, and a fish on land becoming man's food—Kannadasan highlights how circumstances dictate power. Ultimately, the song preaches that true peace of mind is priceless compared to endless material greed, and that every action taken today will eventually testify for or against a person when they reach positions of power.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Sila narigalum vilaiyaadum”
Comparing untrustworthy or treacherous people to 'narigal' (foxes) who pretend to play on the same road.
Irony and Role Reversal (முரண்)
“Kadalukkullae manidhan vizhundhaal / Meenukku unavaagum”
Contrasting predator and prey based on environment—a human in the ocean becomes fish food, while a fish on land becomes human food.
Antithesis / Contrast (எதிரிடை)
“Pagalilum thookkam varum ... Iravilum yaekkam varum”
Contrasting daytime sleep brought by contentment against nighttime restlessness brought by endless greed for wealth.
Did you know?
Trivia
Vani Rani (1974) features Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan in a dual role alongside Vanisri. The film's musical score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics crafted by Kannadasan, who often infused practical life philosophy and moral warnings into simple folk-style songs like this one.
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