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Sarangathara album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Periya Idathu

From Sarangathara · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
A. P. Komala, S. C. Krishnan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Sarangathara
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
Thiraimaraivil ethanaiyoo nadakkudhu
Male :Haan
Female :Thiraimaraivil ethanaiyoo nadakkudhu
Adhai therinjum ulagam vaayai moodi kidakkudhu
Male :Haan haan
Female :Adhai therinjum ulagam vaayai moodi kidakkudhu
Arakuraigal vambalakka thudikkudhu
Arakuraigal vambalakka thudikkudhu
Adhanaal aabathilae maattikittu muzhikkudhu
Adhanaal aabathilae maattikittu muzhikkudhu
Maattaikaatti aattai vippaanga
Male :Haan
Female :Maattaikaatti aattai vippaanga
Pidi mannai kaatti ponnaeyinnu sollvaanga
Male :Haan haan
Female :Pidi mannai kaatti ponnaeyinnu sollvaanga
Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga
Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga
Avanga kolgaiyilae vidaapidiyaai nippaanga
Avanga kolgaiyilae vidaapidiyaai nippaanga
Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum
Vaai thirakkum munnae thaalam podum edhukkum
Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum
Vaai thirakkum munnae thaalam podum edhukkum
Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum
Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum
Adhai kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum
Kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum
That is how things are with the rich and mighty!
That is how things are with the rich and mighty!
It is pure poison to us, best not talked about!
That is how things are with the rich and mighty!
It is pure poison to us, best not talked about!
That is how things are with the rich and mighty!
So much happens behind closed doors!
Male: Ah!
Female: So much happens behind closed doors!
Yet knowing it all, the world keeps its mouth shut!
Male: Ah, yes!
Female: Yet knowing it all, the world keeps its mouth shut!
Only fools with half-baked wits itch to gossip,
Only fools with half-baked wits itch to gossip,
And end up caught in danger, staring blankly!
And end up caught in danger, staring blankly!
They show a cow, but sell a goat!
Male: Ah!
Female: They show a cow, but sell a goat!
They show a fistful of dirt and claim it is gold!
Male: Ah, yes!
Female: They show a fistful of dirt and claim it is gold!
They pair an owl with a sweet cuckoo bird,
They pair an owl with a sweet cuckoo bird,
And stubbornly stick to their rigid ways!
And stubbornly stick to their rigid ways!
A crowd of freeloaders will always hang around,
Nodding along before a word is even spoken!
A crowd of freeloaders will always hang around,
Nodding along before a word is even spoken!
They make a living by groveling and grinning,
They make a living by groveling and grinning!
Seeing that, even a donkey would burst out laughing!
Seeing that, even a donkey would burst out laughing!
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Periya Idathu Vishayam Appadi Irukku' from the 1958 Tamil movie Sarangathara is a satirical social commentary written by A. Maruthakasi. The song highlights the double standards, greed, and deceptive practices of elite high-society figures ('periya idam'). It warns ordinary folk not to meddle in high-society affairs, describing such gossip as toxic poison that drags foolish people into trouble. Through witty Tamil proverbs and colorful imagery—such as swapping cows for goats, claiming mud is gold, and attempting to pair an owl with a cuckoo—the lyricist exposes the absurdities of the rich and powerful, as well as the sycophants who blindly flatter them for survival.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga”

'Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga' uses the owl and cuckoo as a metaphor for an absurdly mismatched pairing arranged by deceitful elites.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

“Adhai kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum”

'Kazhudhai kooda sirikkum' (even a donkey would laugh) is a satirical hyperbole used to describe how blatantly ridiculous the actions of high-society deceivers are.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum / Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum”

Rhyming of the second letter 'L' in 'Paal' and 'Kaal' creates rhythmic harmony across stanzas.

Monai (Initial Rhyming/Alliteration)

“Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku / Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku”

Alliteration of 'P' in 'Periya' and 'Pesa' establishes an engaging melodic flow in the chorus.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sarangathara (1958) is an epic drama starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi. The song's composer G. Ramanathan was renowned for infusing classical roots with folk humor, making satirical compositions like this immensely popular in early Tamil cinema.

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