- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Movie name
- Meenava Nanban
- Movie release year
- 1977
- Lyrics added on
- 10 Jun 2020
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pattathu raajaavum pattaala sippaayum
Ondraana kaalam idhu
En maamanaarae vazhi maarinaalae
Unga mariyaadhai ennaavadhu
Pattathu raajaavum pattaala sippaayum
Ondraana kaalam idhu
En maamanaarae vazhi maarinaalae
Unga mariyaadhai ennaavadhu
Ezhai endru illaadha jaadhi
Yaaraalae undaanadhu
Sila kozhai gumbal thaan vaazha vaendi
Baedhangal kondaadudhu
Ezhai endru illaadha jaadhi
Yaaraalae undaanadhu
Sila kozhai gumbal thaan vaazha vaendi
Baedhangal kondaadudhu
Komagan pon magal kaevalam meenavan
Enaiyaen kaadhalithaal
Boomiyil yaavarum orinam thaan enum
Needhiyai aadharithaal
Needhiyai aadharithaal
Pattathu raajaavum pattaala sippaayum
Ondraana kaalam idhu
En maamanaarae vazhi maarinaalae
Unga mariyaadhai ennaavadhu
Maamaa unga munnaettram engal
Kanneeril thaan vandhadhu
Ada raamaa unmai sonnaalae kobam
En maelae yaen vandhadhu
Maamaa unga munnaettram engal
Kanneeril thaan vandhadhu
Ada raamaa unmai sonnaalae kobam
En maelae yaen vandhadhu
Nee konda naanayam poottiya veettukkul
Siraiyaai irukkudhaiyaa
Naan konda naanayam naakkilum nenjilum
Niraivaai irukkudhaiyaa
Niraivaai irukkudhaiyaa
Pattathu raajaavum pattaala sippaayum
Ondraana kaalam idhu
En maamanaarae vazhi maarinaalae
Unga mariyaadhai ennaavadhu
Kottai katti kondaattam potta
Koottangal ennaanadhu
Pala ottai vandhu thanneeril moozhgum
Odangal polaanadhu
Kottai katti kondaattam potta
Koottangal ennaanadhu
Pala ottai vandhu thanneeril moozhgum
Odangal polaanadhu
Yaetriya yaeniyai thootriya paerukku
Adhu thaan paadamaiyaa
Naan enna solvadhu naattinil nadappadhai
Kan kondu paarumaiyaa
Kan kondu paarumaiyaa
Pattathu raajaavum pattaala sippaayum
Ondraana kaalam idhu
En maamanaarae vazhi maarinaalae
Unga mariyaadhai ennaavadhu
Lakshmansruthi.com
The crowned king and the common soldier
Are now equals in this new age!
O father-in-law, if you lose your way,
What will become of your dignity?
The crowned king and the common soldier
Are now equals in this new age!
O father-in-law, if you lose your way,
What will become of your dignity?
A caste called 'the poor' that was never meant to be—
Who was it that created it?
Just so a cowardly few could prosper,
They celebrate such divisions!
A caste called 'the poor' that was never meant to be—
Who was it that created it?
Just so a cowardly few could prosper,
They celebrate such divisions!
Why did a nobleman's precious daughter
Fall in love with a humble fisherman like me?
Because she stood by the righteous belief
That all people on this earth are one single family!
Yes, she stood by that belief!
The crowned king and the common soldier
Are now equals in this new age!
O father-in-law, if you lose your way,
What will become of your dignity?
Father-in-law, your prosperity and rise
Were built only upon our tears!
Good Lord, when I speak the plain truth,
Why does your anger turn on me?
Father-in-law, your prosperity and rise
Were built only upon our tears!
Good Lord, when I speak the plain truth,
Why does your anger turn on me?
The wealth you gathered stays locked inside your house,
Trapped like a prisoner!
The integrity I hold stays on my tongue and in my chest,
Living in rich abundance!
Living in rich abundance!
The crowned king and the common soldier
Are now equals in this new age!
O father-in-law, if you lose your way,
What will become of your dignity?
Those arrogant crowds who built forts and celebrated,
What became of them in the end?
Like boats that sprang leaks and sank into the water,
They were completely destroyed!
Those arrogant crowds who built forts and celebrated,
What became of them in the end?
Like boats that sprang leaks and sank into the water,
They were completely destroyed!
For those who insult the ladder that helped them climb,
That is the lesson they are taught!
What more can I say? Look around
And see with your own eyes what is happening in this land!
See with your own eyes!
The crowned king and the common soldier
Are now equals in this new age!
O father-in-law, if you lose your way,
What will become of your dignity?
Laxmansruthi.com
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Pattathu Raajaavum is a powerful socio-political song from the 1977 Tamil movie Meenava Nanban. Sung from the perspective of a working-class hero, the song preaches egalitarianism, declaring that the era of social inequality between kings and commoners is over. Addressing his wealthy prospective father-in-law, the protagonist warns him against class arrogance and exploitation, reminding him that wealth built on the tears of the poor is temporary and dishonorable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Pattathu raajaavum pattaala sippaayum”
Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound in consecutive words creating rhythm.
Slaedhai / Double Entendre (Wordplay)
“Nee konda naanayam poottiya veettukkul... Naan konda naanayam naakkilum nenjilum”
The word 'Naanayam' is cleverly used with a double meaning: currency/wealth (locked up by the rich man) versus integrity/honesty (held proudly by the poor man).
Upamai (Simile)
“Pala ottai vandhu thanneeril moozhgum odangal polaanadhu”
Comparing arrogant, oppressive rulers to boats full of holes sinking under water.
Keep listening
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