Periya Idathu
From Sarangathara · 1958
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singers
- A. P. Komala, S. C. Krishnan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Sarangathara1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku | That is how the affairs of high-society places are. |
| Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku | That is how the affairs of high-society places are. |
| Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku | It is unnecessary poison for us to discuss it. |
| Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku | That is how the affairs of high-society places are. |
| Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku | It is unnecessary poison for us to discuss it. |
| Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku | That is how the affairs of high-society places are. |
| Female | |
| Thiraimaraivil ethanaiyoo nadakkudhu | So many things happen behind the scenes. |
| Male :Haan | Male: Yeah! |
| Female :Thiraimaraivil ethanaiyoo nadakkudhu | Female: So many things happen behind the scenes. |
| Adhai therinjum ulagam vaayai moodi kidakkudhu | Even knowing that, the world remains silent. |
| Male :Haan haan | Male: Yeah, yeah! |
| Female :Adhai therinjum ulagam vaayai moodi kidakkudhu | Female: Even knowing that, the world remains silent. |
| Male | |
| Arakuraigal vambalakka thudikkudhu | Half-baked people are eager to stir up trouble. |
| Arakuraigal vambalakka thudikkudhu | Half-baked people are eager to stir up trouble. |
| Adhanaal aabathilae maattikittu muzhikkudhu | Because of that, they get caught in danger and blink helplessly. |
| Adhanaal aabathilae maattikittu muzhikkudhu | Because of that, they get caught in danger and blink helplessly. |
| Female | |
| Maattaikaatti aattai vippaanga | They show a cow and sell a goat instead. |
| Male :Haan | Male: Yeah! |
| Female :Maattaikaatti aattai vippaanga | Female: They show a cow and sell a goat instead. |
| Pidi mannai kaatti ponnaeyinnu sollvaanga | They show a handful of mud and claim it is gold. |
| Male :Haan haan | Male: Yeah, yeah! |
| Female :Pidi mannai kaatti ponnaeyinnu sollvaanga | Female: They show a handful of mud and claim it is gold. |
| Male | |
| Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga | They try to pair an owl with a cuckoo bird. |
| Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga | They try to pair an owl with a cuckoo bird. |
| Avanga kolgaiyilae vidaapidiyaai nippaanga | They stand stubbornly by their wicked principles. |
| Avanga kolgaiyilae vidaapidiyaai nippaanga | They stand stubbornly by their wicked principles. |
| Male | |
| Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum | A group of sycophants feeding on milk will surround them. |
| Vaai thirakkum munnae thaalam podum edhukkum | They will beat the rhythm to anything even before a word is spoken. |
| Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum | A group of sycophants feeding on milk will surround them. |
| Vaai thirakkum munnae thaalam podum edhukkum | They will beat the rhythm to anything even before a word is spoken. |
| Female | |
| Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum | They make a living by flattering others and showing off tricks. |
| Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum | They make a living by flattering others and showing off tricks. |
| Adhai kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum | Seeing this, even a donkey would laugh out loud. |
| Kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum | Seeing this, even a donkey would laugh out loud. |
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு
பேச தேவையில்லா விஷமது நமக்கு
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு...
பேச தேவையில்லா விஷமது நமக்கு
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு...
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
It is unnecessary poison for us to discuss it.
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
It is unnecessary poison for us to discuss it.
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
திரைமறைவில் எத்தனையோ நடக்குது
ஹான்
திரைமறைவில் எத்தனையோ நடக்குது
அதை தெரிஞ்சும் உலகம் வாயை மூடிக் கிடக்குது
ஹான் ஹான்
அதை தெரிஞ்சும் உலகம் வாயை மூடிக் கிடக்குது
So many things happen behind the scenes.
Male: Yeah!
Female: So many things happen behind the scenes.
Even knowing that, the world remains silent.
Male: Yeah, yeah!
Female: Even knowing that, the world remains silent.
அரைகுறைகள் வம்பளக்கத் துடிக்குது
அரைகுறைகள் வம்பளக்கத் துடிக்குது
அதனால் ஆபத்திலே மாட்டிக்கிட்டு முழிக்குது
அதனால் ஆபத்திலே மாட்டிக்கிட்டு முழிக்குது
Half-baked people are eager to stir up trouble.
Half-baked people are eager to stir up trouble.
Because of that, they get caught in danger and blink helplessly.
Because of that, they get caught in danger and blink helplessly.
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு
பேச தேவையில்லா விஷமது நமக்கு
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு...
They show a cow and sell a goat instead.
Male: Yeah!
Female: They show a cow and sell a goat instead.
They show a handful of mud and claim it is gold.
Male: Yeah, yeah!
Female: They show a handful of mud and claim it is gold.
மாட்டைக்காட்டி ஆட்டை விப்பாங்க
ஹான்
மாட்டைக்காட்டி ஆட்டை விப்பாங்க
பிடி மண்ணைக் காட்டி பொன்னேயின்னு சொல்வாங்க
ஹான் ஹான்
பிடி மண்ணைக் காட்டி பொன்னேயின்னு சொல்வாங்க
They try to pair an owl with a cuckoo bird.
They try to pair an owl with a cuckoo bird.
They stand stubbornly by their wicked principles.
They stand stubbornly by their wicked principles.
கோட்டானோடு குயிலை சேத்து வைப்பாங்க ....
கோட்டானோடு குயிலை சேத்து வைப்பாங்க
அவங்க கொள்கையிலே விடாப்பிடியாய் நிப்பாங்க
கொள்கையிலே விடாப்பிடியாய் நிப்பாங்க
A group of sycophants feeding on milk will surround them.
They will beat the rhythm to anything even before a word is spoken.
A group of sycophants feeding on milk will surround them.
They will beat the rhythm to anything even before a word is spoken.
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு
பேச தேவையில்லா விஷமது நமக்கு
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு...
They make a living by flattering others and showing off tricks.
They make a living by flattering others and showing off tricks.
Seeing this, even a donkey would laugh out loud.
Seeing this, even a donkey would laugh out loud.
பால் குடிக்கும் கும்பல் சுத்தி இருக்கும்
வாய் திறக்கும் முன்னே தாளம் போடும் எதுக்கும்
பால் குடிக்கும் கும்பல் சுத்தி இருக்கும்
வாய் திறக்கும் முன்னே தாளம் போடும் எதுக்கும்
கால் பிடிக்கும் பல்லைக் காட்டி பொழைக்கும்
கால் பிடிக்கும் பல்லைக் காட்டி பொழைக்கும்
அதைக் காணும்போது கழுதைக் கூட சிரிக்கும்
காணும்போது கழுதைக் கூட சிரிக்கும்
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு
பேச தேவையில்லா விஷமது நமக்கு
பெரிய இடத்து விஷயம் அப்படியிருக்கு...
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku
It is unnecessary poison for us to discuss it.
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
Pesa thevaiyillaa vishamadhu namakku
It is unnecessary poison for us to discuss it.
Periya idathu vishayam appadi irukku
That is how the affairs of high-society places are.
Thiraimaraivil ethanaiyoo nadakkudhu
So many things happen behind the scenes.
Male :Haan
Male: Yeah!
Female :Thiraimaraivil ethanaiyoo nadakkudhu
Female: So many things happen behind the scenes.
Adhai therinjum ulagam vaayai moodi kidakkudhu
Even knowing that, the world remains silent.
Male :Haan haan
Male: Yeah, yeah!
Female :Adhai therinjum ulagam vaayai moodi kidakkudhu
Female: Even knowing that, the world remains silent.
Arakuraigal vambalakka thudikkudhu
Half-baked people are eager to stir up trouble.
Arakuraigal vambalakka thudikkudhu
Half-baked people are eager to stir up trouble.
Adhanaal aabathilae maattikittu muzhikkudhu
Because of that, they get caught in danger and blink helplessly.
Adhanaal aabathilae maattikittu muzhikkudhu
Because of that, they get caught in danger and blink helplessly.
Maattaikaatti aattai vippaanga
They show a cow and sell a goat instead.
Male :Haan
Male: Yeah!
Female :Maattaikaatti aattai vippaanga
Female: They show a cow and sell a goat instead.
Pidi mannai kaatti ponnaeyinnu sollvaanga
They show a handful of mud and claim it is gold.
Male :Haan haan
Male: Yeah, yeah!
Female :Pidi mannai kaatti ponnaeyinnu sollvaanga
Female: They show a handful of mud and claim it is gold.
Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga
They try to pair an owl with a cuckoo bird.
Kottaanodu kuyilai saethu veippanga
They try to pair an owl with a cuckoo bird.
Avanga kolgaiyilae vidaapidiyaai nippaanga
They stand stubbornly by their wicked principles.
Avanga kolgaiyilae vidaapidiyaai nippaanga
They stand stubbornly by their wicked principles.
Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum
A group of sycophants feeding on milk will surround them.
Vaai thirakkum munnae thaalam podum edhukkum
They will beat the rhythm to anything even before a word is spoken.
Paal kudikkum kumbal suthi irukkum
A group of sycophants feeding on milk will surround them.
Vaai thirakkum munnae thaalam podum edhukkum
They will beat the rhythm to anything even before a word is spoken.
Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum
They make a living by flattering others and showing off tricks.
Kaal pidikkum pallia kaatti pozhaikkum
They make a living by flattering others and showing off tricks.
Adhai kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum
Seeing this, even a donkey would laugh out loud.
Kaanum podhu kazhudhai kooda sirikkum
Seeing this, even a donkey would laugh out loud.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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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