Pattale Puthi Sonnar
From Karagattakaran · 1989
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Karagattakaran1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paataalae budhi sonnar | They imparted wisdom through songs |
| Paataalae bakthi sonnar | They imparted devotion through songs |
| Paataalae budhi sonnar | They imparted wisdom through songs |
| Paataalae bakthi sonnar | They imparted devotion through songs |
| Male | |
| Paatuku naan paadupatten | I toiled hard for the sake of music |
| Andha paatukal palavidham than | And those songs are of many different kinds |
| Male | |
| Paataalae budhi sonnar | They imparted wisdom through songs |
| Paataalae bakthi sonnar | They imparted devotion through songs |
| Paatuku naan paadupatten | I toiled hard for the sake of music |
| Andha paatukal palavidham than | And those songs are of many different kinds |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyargal kaadhal kanniyarai | Artists asked for songs to captivate |
| Kavarndhida paadal ketargal | The hearts of beloved maidens |
| Yezhaigalum yeval adimaigalaai | They asked to sing about how the poor |
| Irupadhai paada sonaargal | Remain as servants and slaves |
| Male | |
| Kadhavoram kettidum | To be heard near the doorways, |
| Kattil paadalin | For bedroom melodies, |
| Mettu poda sonargal | They asked me to compose tunes |
| Theruvoram serndhida | To gather people on street corners, |
| Thiruvaasagam | Sacred hymns like Thiruvasagam |
| Dhevaram kettaargal | And Devaram were requested |
| Male | |
| Naan padum paadugal | The struggles and hardships I endure, |
| Andha yedugal | Even if recorded in pages of books, |
| Athil ezhudhinalum mudindhidadhu | Would never come to an end |
| Male | |
| Paataalae budhi sonnar | They imparted wisdom through songs |
| Paataalae bakthi sonnar | They imparted devotion through songs |
| Paatuku naan paadupatten | I toiled hard for the sake of music |
| Andha paatukal palavidham than | And those songs are of many different kinds |
| Male | |
| Poojayil kuthu vilaketra vaithu | Lighting the lamp during prayer, |
| Athuthan nalladhendrargal | They said that alone brings auspiciousness |
| Padathil mudhal paadalai paada vaithu | Having me sing the first song in a movie, |
| Athu nalla raasi endrargal | They claimed it brings good luck |
| Male | |
| Yethanaiyo paadugalai | So many of my struggles and pains, |
| Athai paadalgalaai naan | As musical songs I have |
| Vitren ithuvarayil | Sold until now |
| Athanaiyum nallavaiyaa avai | Whether all of them were good |
| Kettavayaa ena ariyen unmayilae | Or bad, I truly do not know |
| Male | |
| Enaku than thalaivargal | To me, my true leaders |
| En rasirgargal | Are my beloved fans |
| Avar virumbum varayil | As long as they desire, |
| Virundhu padaipen | I shall serve them a grand feast of music |
| Male | |
| {Paataalae budhi sonnar | {They imparted wisdom through songs |
| Paataalae bakthi sonnar | They imparted devotion through songs |
| Paatuku naan paadupatten | I toiled hard for the sake of music |
| Andha paatukal palavidham than} (2) | And those songs are of many different kinds} (2) |
| Male | |
| Paataalae budhi sonnar | They imparted wisdom through songs |
| Paataalae bakthi sonnar | They imparted devotion through songs |
| Paatuku naan paadupatten | I toiled hard for the sake of music |
| Andha paatukal palavidham than | And those songs are of many different kinds |
பாட்டாலே புத்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டாலே பக்தி சொன்னார்
They imparted wisdom through songs
They imparted devotion through songs
They imparted wisdom through songs
They imparted devotion through songs
பாட்டாலே புத்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டாலே பக்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டுக்கு நான் பாடுப்பட்டேன்
அந்த பாட்டுக்கள் பலவிதம்தான்
I toiled hard for the sake of music
And those songs are of many different kinds
பாட்டாலே புத்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டாலே பக்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டுக்கு நான் பாடுப்பட்டேன்
அந்த பாட்டுக்கள் பலவிதம் தான்
They imparted wisdom through songs
They imparted devotion through songs
I toiled hard for the sake of music
And those songs are of many different kinds
காளையர்கள் காதல் கன்னியரை
கவர்ந்திட பாடல் கேட்டார்கள்
ஏழைகளும் ஏவல் அடிமைகளாய்
இருப்பதை பாடச் சொன்னார்கள்
Artists asked for songs to captivate
The hearts of beloved maidens
They asked to sing about how the poor
Remain as servants and slaves
கதவோரம் கேட்டிடும்
கட்டில் பாடலின்
மெட்டு போடசொன்னார்கள்
தெருவோரம் சேர்ந்திட
திருவாசகம் தேவாரம் கேட்டார்கள்
To be heard near the doorways,
For bedroom melodies,
They asked me to compose tunes
To gather people on street corners,
Sacred hymns like Thiruvasagam
And Devaram were requested
நான் படும் பாடுகள்
அந்த ஏடுகள்
அதில் எழுதினாலும் முடிந்திடாது
The struggles and hardships I endure,
Even if recorded in pages of books,
Would never come to an end
பாட்டாலே புத்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டாலே பக்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டுக்கு நான் பாடுப்பட்டேன்
அந்த பாட்டுக்கள் பலவிதம்தான்
They imparted wisdom through songs
They imparted devotion through songs
I toiled hard for the sake of music
And those songs are of many different kinds
பூஜையில் குத்து விளக்கை ஏற்ற வைத்து
அதுதான் நல்லதென்றார்கள்
படத்தில் முதல் பாடலை பாட வைத்து
அது நல்ல ராசி என்றார்கள்
Lighting the lamp during prayer,
They said that alone brings auspiciousness
Having me sing the first song in a movie,
They claimed it brings good luck
எத்தனையோ பாடுகளை
அதை பாடல்களாய்
நான் விற்றேன் இதுவரையில்
அத்தனையும் நல்லவையா அவை
கெட்டவையா என அரியேன் உண்மையிலே
So many of my struggles and pains,
As musical songs I have
Sold until now
Whether all of them were good
Or bad, I truly do not know
எனக்குதான் தலைவர்கள்
என் ரசிகர்கள்
அவர் விரும்பும் வரையில்
விருந்து படைப்பேன்
To me, my true leaders
Are my beloved fans
As long as they desire,
I shall serve them a grand feast of music
{பாட்டாலே புத்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டாலே பக்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டுக்கு நான் பாடுப்பட்டேன்
அந்த பாட்டுக்கள் பலவிதம்தான்} (2)
{They imparted wisdom through songs
They imparted devotion through songs
I toiled hard for the sake of music
And those songs are of many different kinds} (2)
பாட்டாலே புத்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டாலே பக்தி சொன்னார்
பாட்டுக்கு நான் பாடுப்பட்டேன்
அந்த பாட்டுக்கள் பலவிதம்தான்
They imparted wisdom through songs
They imparted devotion through songs
I toiled hard for the sake of music
And those songs are of many different kinds
Paataalae budhi sonnar
They imparted wisdom through songs
Paataalae bakthi sonnar
They imparted devotion through songs
Paataalae budhi sonnar
They imparted wisdom through songs
Paataalae bakthi sonnar
They imparted devotion through songs
Paatuku naan paadupatten
I toiled hard for the sake of music
Andha paatukal palavidham than
And those songs are of many different kinds
Paataalae budhi sonnar
They imparted wisdom through songs
Paataalae bakthi sonnar
They imparted devotion through songs
Paatuku naan paadupatten
I toiled hard for the sake of music
Andha paatukal palavidham than
And those songs are of many different kinds
Kalaiyargal kaadhal kanniyarai
Artists asked for songs to captivate
Kavarndhida paadal ketargal
The hearts of beloved maidens
Yezhaigalum yeval adimaigalaai
They asked to sing about how the poor
Irupadhai paada sonaargal
Remain as servants and slaves
Kadhavoram kettidum
To be heard near the doorways,
Kattil paadalin
For bedroom melodies,
Mettu poda sonargal
They asked me to compose tunes
Theruvoram serndhida
To gather people on street corners,
Thiruvaasagam
Sacred hymns like Thiruvasagam
Dhevaram kettaargal
And Devaram were requested
Naan padum paadugal
The struggles and hardships I endure,
Andha yedugal
Even if recorded in pages of books,
Athil ezhudhinalum mudindhidadhu
Would never come to an end
Paataalae budhi sonnar
They imparted wisdom through songs
Paataalae bakthi sonnar
They imparted devotion through songs
Paatuku naan paadupatten
I toiled hard for the sake of music
Andha paatukal palavidham than
And those songs are of many different kinds
Poojayil kuthu vilaketra vaithu
Lighting the lamp during prayer,
Athuthan nalladhendrargal
They said that alone brings auspiciousness
Padathil mudhal paadalai paada vaithu
Having me sing the first song in a movie,
Athu nalla raasi endrargal
They claimed it brings good luck
Yethanaiyo paadugalai
So many of my struggles and pains,
Athai paadalgalaai naan
As musical songs I have
Vitren ithuvarayil
Sold until now
Athanaiyum nallavaiyaa avai
Whether all of them were good
Kettavayaa ena ariyen unmayilae
Or bad, I truly do not know
Enaku than thalaivargal
To me, my true leaders
En rasirgargal
Are my beloved fans
Avar virumbum varayil
As long as they desire,
Virundhu padaipen
I shall serve them a grand feast of music
{Paataalae budhi sonnar
{They imparted wisdom through songs
Paataalae bakthi sonnar
They imparted devotion through songs
Paatuku naan paadupatten
I toiled hard for the sake of music
Andha paatukal palavidham than} (2)
And those songs are of many different kinds} (2)
Paataalae budhi sonnar
They imparted wisdom through songs
Paataalae bakthi sonnar
They imparted devotion through songs
Paatuku naan paadupatten
I toiled hard for the sake of music
Andha paatukal palavidham than
And those songs are of many different kinds
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Paataalae Budhi Sonnar is a deeply reflective track from Karagattakaran (1989) that explores the multifaceted role of music in human life and society. Music is depicted not merely as entertainment, but as a medium for spiritual devotion, moral instruction, romance, and social awareness. The lyricist delves into the inner life of an artist, acknowledging that a musician transforms personal suffering and life struggles into art for public consumption. Ultimately, the song expresses profound humility towards listeners and fans, elevating them as the true masters whom the artist lives to serve.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paataalae budhi sonnar / Paataalae bakthi sonnar”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' across consecutive lines to create rhythmic balance.
Sledai / Pun
“Paatuku naan paadupatten”
Play on the root word 'Paattu' (song) combined with 'Paadupatten' (labored/suffered), linking musical creation to personal hardship.
Antithis / Contrast
“Athanaiyum nallavaiyaa avai / Kettavayaa ena ariyen unmayilae”
Juxtaposition of opposites ('nallavaiyaa' - good vs. 'kettavayaa' - bad) to convey artistic introspection.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and written by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, the lyrics carry strong meta-narrative elements mirroring Ilaiyaraaja's real-life status as a legendary maestro whose opening songs were considered good luck charms ('raasi') by film producers.
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