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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pattikaattu Paattu

From Periya Veetu Pannakkaran · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Periya Veetu Pannakkaran1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Idhu thanjavooru thavilu…This is Thanjavur's Thavil drum...
Male
Idhu namma madhura urumi…This is our Madurai's Urumi drum...
Male
Idhu kovilpatti pamba…This is Kovilpatti's Pamba drum...
Male
Idhu tiruchi naayanam…This is Tiruchi's Naayanam pipe...
Male
Eduthu vitten thoduthu vittenI have taken it up and woven it,
Enga ooru themmaanguOur town's folk melody (Themmaangu).
Eduthu vitten thoduthu vittenI have taken it up and woven it,
Enga ooru themmaanguOur town's folk melody (Themmaangu).
Isai eduthu padikkaiyilae inikkaliyae thaen paaguWhen sung with music, even honey syrup isn't as sweet!
Isai eduthu padikkaiyilae inikkaliyae thaen paaguWhen sung with music, even honey syrup isn't as sweet!
Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuA village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Idhu pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuThis is a village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Male
Yaedonnu eduthadhillaNothing was taken from books,
Ezhuthaani ingillaThere is no writing stylus here.
Male
Vaayaara vandha solluWords that flow straight from the heart and mouth,
Vazhi maari povadhillaWill never lose their direction.
Male
Em paattanum muppaattanumMy grandfather and great-grandfather,
Sonnaanga paattuSang these songs.
Male
Ettaadha kattaiya thottuTouching high pitch scales beyond reach,
Povomaiyaa oorkolamWe will go in a procession, sir.
Nee andha edatha thodaFor you to reach that level,
Ethanaiyo naalaagumIt will take many days.
Thappaa ennam vekkaadhaeDon't harbor wrong thoughts,
Sandhiyilae nikkaadhaeDon't get stranded at the crossroads.
Muttaalukku vakkaalatthuFor a fool's cause,
Eppodhumae vaangaadhaeNever stand in support.
Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuA village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Idhu pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuThis is a village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Male
Padikkaadha ammaa sonnaAn uneducated mother,
Thaalaatta kaettaayaaHave you heard her lullaby?
Male
Nee andha paatta polaLike that song,
Edhaiyaachum pottaayaaHave you composed anything?
Male
Kallaadhavan sollaadhadhuWhat an uneducated person hasn't said,
Ingaedhum illaeThere is nothing left unsaid here.
Male
Melogamum boologamumThe upper heavenly world and this earth,
Maeyum indha paattuThis song wanders across them both.
Poovodum kaathodum thaanAlong with flowers and the breeze,
Poyi chaerum koottuThis gathering reaches everywhere.
Nikkadhadaa ippaattuThis song will never stop, man,
Om paatta thaan nippaattuSo stop your own song instead!
Ikkaalamum ekkaalamumIn these times and for all eternity,
Idhukku irukku supporttuThis music has eternal support!
Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuA village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Idhu pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuThis is a village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Male
Eduthu vitten thoduthu vittenI have taken it up and woven it,
Enga ooru themmaanguOur town's folk melody (Themmaangu).
Eduthu vitten thoduthu vittenI have taken it up and woven it,
Enga ooru themmaanguOur town's folk melody (Themmaangu).
Isai eduthu padikkaiyilae inikkaliyae thaen paaguWhen sung with music, even honey syrup isn't as sweet!
Isai eduthu padikkaiyilae inikkaliyae thaen paaguWhen sung with music, even honey syrup isn't as sweet!
Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuA village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Idhu pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuThis is a village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Male
Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuA village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Idhu pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuThis is a village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuA village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!
Idhu pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottuThis is a village song, clap your hands and keep the rhythm!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song celebrates traditional Tamil folk music (Themmaangu) and native instruments from various regions of Tamil Nadu such as Thanjavur, Madurai, Kovilpatti, and Tiruchi. It proudly asserts that true music requires no formal academic writing or palm-leaf styluses; rather, it originates naturally from the heart and carries the raw wisdom passed down through generations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Pattikkaattu paattu kaiya thattu thaalam pottu

Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' creates a strong rhythmic beat suitable for folk dance.

Erhai (Second letter rhyming)

Eduthu vitten thoduthu vitten

Matching second letter 'dd' sound across adjacent lines ('Eduthu' / 'Thoduthu').

Hyperbole (Uvamai / Metaphorical exaggeration)

Isai eduthu padikkaiyilae inikkaliyae thaen paagu

Exaggerating the sweetness of raw folk music by claiming concentrated honey syrup tastes dull compared to it.

Did you know?

Trivia

Though listed with unknown credits in some databases, 'Periya Veetu Pannakkaran' (1990) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, starring Karthik and Kanaka, with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran.

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