Paththoora Thaandi
From Kalyana Kanavugal · 1984
- Lyricist
- Shanmugaseelan
- Singer
- G. Krishna
- Music director
- G. E. Raja
- Details
- Kalyana Kanavugal1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paththoora thaandiputtu | I crossed ten villages |
| Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen | And came searching for the city |
| Pattu vantha kashtangala | The hardships I suffered along the way |
| Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen | I came trying to console myself by singing songs |
| Paththoora thaandiputtu | I crossed ten villages |
| Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen | And came searching for the city |
| Pattu vantha kashtangala | The hardships I suffered along the way |
| Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen | I came trying to console myself by singing songs |
| Male | |
| Em manasum aaralaiyae | My heart hasn't found peace yet |
| En usurum pogalayae | And my life hasn't left my body either |
| Em manasum aaralaiyae | My heart hasn't found peace yet |
| En usurum pogalayae | And my life hasn't left my body either |
| Ooru mechchi vaazhvathrakki | To live a respectable life praised by the town |
| Oru vazhiyum thonalayae | No way comes to my mind |
| Male | |
| Paththoora thaandiputtu | I crossed ten villages |
| Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen | And came searching for the city |
| Pattu vantha kashtangala | The hardships I suffered along the way |
| Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen | I came trying to console myself by singing songs |
| Male | |
| Pattangala vaangi vanathaen | I earned degrees and titles |
| Paadangala padichchu vanthaen | I learned all the prescribed lessons |
| Yaettu vazhi padichchathellaam | Everything I learned from books |
| Kaattu vazhi ponathadaa | Has gone waste down a wild path |
| Saami pola nooru silai | There are hundreds of statues like gods |
| Vingyaani silai edhuvum | And plenty of scientist statues too |
| Panjaththukkum illaiyadaa | There is no scarcity for those |
| Male | |
| Sariyaana vazhiyil sella | To walk on the righteous path |
| Meinyaanam theriyaladaa | True spiritual wisdom remains unknown |
| Sariyaana vazhiyil sella | To walk on the righteous path |
| Meinyaanam theriyaladaa | True spiritual wisdom remains unknown |
| Male | |
| Paththoora thaandiputtu | I crossed ten villages |
| Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen | And came searching for the city |
| Pattu vantha kashtangala | The hardships I suffered along the way |
| Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen | I came trying to console myself by singing songs |
| Male | |
| Santhu ponthaa alainju vanthaen | I wandered through narrow streets and alleys |
| Sonna vela senjju vanthae | I did whatever work I was assigned |
| Mootta thookki vaazhnthu vanthaen | I carried heavy sacks to survive |
| Mudinja vara uzhaichchu paarththaen | I tried working hard as much as I could |
| Male | |
| Odambulaiyum thembu illa | There is no physical stamina left in my body |
| Manasulayum thairiyamilla | Nor is there courage left in my mind |
| Odi vanthu udhavi seiyya | To run over and offer help |
| Oruththarumae enakkum illai | There is no one for me |
| Ennai padaichcha iraivan potta | The fate written by the God who created me |
| Kanakkuththaanae puriyavilla | Is a calculation I cannot comprehend |
| Ennai padaichcha iraivan potta | The fate written by the God who created me |
| Kanakkuththaanae puriyavilla | Is a calculation I cannot comprehend |
| Male | |
| Paththoora thaandiputtu | I crossed ten villages |
| Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen | And came searching for the city |
| Pattu vantha kashtangala | The hardships I suffered along the way |
| Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen | I came trying to console myself by singing songs |
| Male | |
| Em manasum aaralaiyae | My heart hasn't found peace yet |
| En usurum pogalayae | And my life hasn't left my body either |
| Em manasum aaralaiyae | My heart hasn't found peace yet |
| En usurum pogalayae | And my life hasn't left my body either |
| Ooru mechchi vaazhvathrakki | To live a respectable life praised by the town |
| Oru vazhiyum thonalayae | No way comes to my mind |
| Male | |
| Paththoora thaandiputtu | I crossed ten villages |
| Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen | And came searching for the city |
| Pattu vantha kashtangala | The hardships I suffered along the way |
| Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen…. | I came trying to console myself by singing songs... |
பத்தூர தாண்டிப்புட்டு
பட்டணத்த தேடி வந்தேன்
பட்டு வந்த கஷ்டங்கள
பாட்டு பாடி ஆத்த வந்தேன்
பத்தூர தாண்டிப்புட்டு
பட்டணத்த தேடி வந்தேன்
பட்டு வந்த கஷ்டங்கள
பாட்டு பாடி ஆத்த வந்தேன்
I crossed ten villages
And came searching for the city
The hardships I suffered along the way
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
I crossed ten villages
And came searching for the city
The hardships I suffered along the way
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
எம் மனசும் ஆறலையே
என் உசுரும் போகலயே
எம் மனசும் ஆறலையே
என் உசுரும் போகலயே
ஊரு மெச்சி வாழ்வதற்கு
ஒரு வழியும் தோணலயே
My heart hasn't found peace yet
And my life hasn't left my body either
My heart hasn't found peace yet
And my life hasn't left my body either
To live a respectable life praised by the town
No way comes to my mind
பத்தூர தாண்டிப்புட்டு
பட்டணத்த தேடி வந்தேன்
பட்டு வந்த கஷ்டங்கள
பாட்டு பாடி ஆத்த வந்தேன்
I crossed ten villages
And came searching for the city
The hardships I suffered along the way
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
பட்டங்கள வாங்கி வந்தேன்
பாடங்கள படிச்சு வந்தேன்
ஏட்டு வழி படிச்சதெல்லாம்
காட்டு வழி போனதடா
சர்க்காரு ரோட்டு மேலே
சாமி போல நூறு சிலை
விஞ்ஞானி சிலை எதுவும்
பஞ்சத்துக்கும் இல்லையடா
I earned degrees and titles
I learned all the prescribed lessons
Everything I learned from books
Has gone waste down a wild path
There are hundreds of statues like gods
And plenty of scientist statues too
There is no scarcity for those
சரியான வழியில் செல்ல
மெஞ்ஞானம் தெரியலடா
சரியான வழியில் செல்ல
மெஞ்ஞானம் தெரியலடா
To walk on the righteous path
True spiritual wisdom remains unknown
To walk on the righteous path
True spiritual wisdom remains unknown
பத்தூர தாண்டிப்புட்டு
பட்டணத்த தேடி வந்தேன்
பட்டு வந்த கஷ்டங்கள
பாட்டு பாடி ஆத்த வந்தேன்
I crossed ten villages
And came searching for the city
The hardships I suffered along the way
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
சந்து பொந்தா அலைஞ்சு வந்தேன்
சொன்ன வேல செஞ்சு வந்தேன்
மூட்ட தூக்கி வாழ்ந்து வந்தேன்
முடிஞ்ச வர உழைச்சுப் பார்த்தேன்
I wandered through narrow streets and alleys
I did whatever work I was assigned
I carried heavy sacks to survive
I tried working hard as much as I could
ஒடம்புலையும் தெம்பு இல்ல
மனசுலயும் தைரியமில்ல
ஓடி வந்து உதவி செய்ய
ஒருத்தருமே எனக்கும் இல்லை
என்னை படைச்ச இறைவன் போட்ட
கணக்குதானே புரியவில்ல
என்னை படைச்ச இறைவன் போட்ட
கணக்குதானே புரியவில்ல
There is no physical stamina left in my body
Nor is there courage left in my mind
To run over and offer help
There is no one for me
The fate written by the God who created me
Is a calculation I cannot comprehend
The fate written by the God who created me
Is a calculation I cannot comprehend
பத்தூர தாண்டிப்புட்டு
பட்டணத்த தேடி வந்தேன்
பட்டு வந்த கஷ்டங்கள
பாட்டு பாடி ஆத்த வந்தேன்
I crossed ten villages
And came searching for the city
The hardships I suffered along the way
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
எம் மனசும் ஆறலையே
என் உசுரும் போகலயே
எம் மனசும் ஆறலையே
என் உசுரும் போகலயே
ஊரு மெச்சி வாழ்வதற்கு
ஒரு வழியும் தோணலயே
My heart hasn't found peace yet
And my life hasn't left my body either
My heart hasn't found peace yet
And my life hasn't left my body either
To live a respectable life praised by the town
No way comes to my mind
பத்தூர தாண்டிப்புட்டு
பட்டணத்த தேடி வந்தேன்
பட்டு வந்த கஷ்டங்கள
பாட்டு பாடி ஆத்த வந்தேன்......
I crossed ten villages
And came searching for the city
The hardships I suffered along the way
I came trying to console myself by singing songs...
Paththoora thaandiputtu
I crossed ten villages
Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen
And came searching for the city
Pattu vantha kashtangala
The hardships I suffered along the way
Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
Paththoora thaandiputtu
I crossed ten villages
Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen
And came searching for the city
Pattu vantha kashtangala
The hardships I suffered along the way
Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
Em manasum aaralaiyae
My heart hasn't found peace yet
En usurum pogalayae
And my life hasn't left my body either
Em manasum aaralaiyae
My heart hasn't found peace yet
En usurum pogalayae
And my life hasn't left my body either
Ooru mechchi vaazhvathrakki
To live a respectable life praised by the town
Oru vazhiyum thonalayae
No way comes to my mind
Paththoora thaandiputtu
I crossed ten villages
Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen
And came searching for the city
Pattu vantha kashtangala
The hardships I suffered along the way
Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
Pattangala vaangi vanathaen
I earned degrees and titles
Paadangala padichchu vanthaen
I learned all the prescribed lessons
Yaettu vazhi padichchathellaam
Everything I learned from books
Kaattu vazhi ponathadaa
Has gone waste down a wild path
Saami pola nooru silai
There are hundreds of statues like gods
Vingyaani silai edhuvum
And plenty of scientist statues too
Panjaththukkum illaiyadaa
There is no scarcity for those
Sariyaana vazhiyil sella
To walk on the righteous path
Meinyaanam theriyaladaa
True spiritual wisdom remains unknown
Sariyaana vazhiyil sella
To walk on the righteous path
Meinyaanam theriyaladaa
True spiritual wisdom remains unknown
Paththoora thaandiputtu
I crossed ten villages
Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen
And came searching for the city
Pattu vantha kashtangala
The hardships I suffered along the way
Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
Santhu ponthaa alainju vanthaen
I wandered through narrow streets and alleys
Sonna vela senjju vanthae
I did whatever work I was assigned
Mootta thookki vaazhnthu vanthaen
I carried heavy sacks to survive
Mudinja vara uzhaichchu paarththaen
I tried working hard as much as I could
Odambulaiyum thembu illa
There is no physical stamina left in my body
Manasulayum thairiyamilla
Nor is there courage left in my mind
Odi vanthu udhavi seiyya
To run over and offer help
Oruththarumae enakkum illai
There is no one for me
Ennai padaichcha iraivan potta
The fate written by the God who created me
Kanakkuththaanae puriyavilla
Is a calculation I cannot comprehend
Ennai padaichcha iraivan potta
The fate written by the God who created me
Kanakkuththaanae puriyavilla
Is a calculation I cannot comprehend
Paththoora thaandiputtu
I crossed ten villages
Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen
And came searching for the city
Pattu vantha kashtangala
The hardships I suffered along the way
Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen
I came trying to console myself by singing songs
Em manasum aaralaiyae
My heart hasn't found peace yet
En usurum pogalayae
And my life hasn't left my body either
Em manasum aaralaiyae
My heart hasn't found peace yet
En usurum pogalayae
And my life hasn't left my body either
Ooru mechchi vaazhvathrakki
To live a respectable life praised by the town
Oru vazhiyum thonalayae
No way comes to my mind
Paththoora thaandiputtu
I crossed ten villages
Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen
And came searching for the city
Pattu vantha kashtangala
The hardships I suffered along the way
Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen….
I came trying to console myself by singing songs...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses the painful realistic plight of a rural individual who migrates to the city with dreams of making a respectable living. Despite acquiring formal education and degrees, the protagonist finds that bookish knowledge offers no practical solution for survival in a ruthless urban landscape. Forced into grueling manual labor, carrying sacks and wandering back alleys, the individual faces physical exhaustion, emotional disillusionment, and complete social isolation. Ultimately, the song reflects on the contrast between societal worship of idols/scientists and the lack of true human wisdom or empathy. Expressing deep despair, the speaker questions the inscrutable fate mapped out by the Creator while using music as the sole medium to soothe an aching soul.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaaprasa / Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paththoora / Pattanaththa / Pattu / Paattu”
Repetition of the initial 'P' sound across opening lines creates a rhythmic, melancholic cadence.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Pattanaththa thedi vanthaen / Paattu paadi aatha vanthaen”
Repeated line endings with 'vanthaen' emphasize the continuous, tiring journey of the protagonist.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Yaettu vazhi padichchathellaam / Kaattu vazhi ponathadaa”
Contrasts formal bookish education ('Yaettu vazhi') with wild, useless paths ('Kaattu vazhi').
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Kalyana Kanavugal' (1984) is a rare folk-philosophical track penned by Shanmugaseelan that realistically captures the agrarian-to-urban migration crisis prevalent in 1980s Tamil Nadu, focusing on educated unemployment.
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