Pethaalum Pethenada
From Anbe Sangeetha · 1979
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Jayachandran, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Anbe Sangeetha1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
| Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan | Only to a rogue boy! |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
| Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan | Only to a rogue boy! |
| Ada kaala vechaan | Ah, he stepped in with his feet, |
| Rendu kaiya vechaan | Placed both his hands, |
| Oru vaala mattum vittu vechaan | And left out only a tail! |
| Male | |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
| Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan | Only to a rogue boy! |
| Male | |
| Palla thaechu kulikka vekka | To brush his teeth and bathe him, |
| Naayi patta paadu pattaan | He suffered as much as a dog suffers! |
| Pallikkoodam unnai anuppa | To send you to school, |
| Palludanju pogudhadaa | My teeth break in frustration! |
| Unna valathu aathaa aathaa | Raising you, mother oh mother, |
| Maeni elachaa | Has lost her physical health. |
| Onnae onnu podhumadaa saami | Just one son is enough, my lord! |
| Male | |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
| Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan | Only to a rogue boy! |
| Male | |
| Maanjaa vechu pattam vittu | Flying a kite with glass-coated thread, |
| Manjulaavin mookkarutthae | He cut Manjula's nose! |
| Female :Haaaa… | Female: Haaaa... |
| Male :Cricket aadipputtu | Male: After playing cricket, |
| Kittu paiyan mandai odachae | He broke little Kittu's head! |
| Female :Aiyo ammaa… | Female: Oh my goodness... |
| Male | |
| Ooru chandai thaan | Town fights, |
| Onnaa rendaa pozhudhu vidinjaa | Are there just one or two when dawn breaks? |
| Badavaa payalae nalla pera vaangu | You rascal boy, earn a good name! |
| Male | |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
| Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan | Only to a rogue boy! |
| Female :Aa… laalallal laa laalallal laa | Female: Aa... laalallal laa laalallal laa |
| Laalallal laa laa | Laalallal laa laa |
| Laalallaalaa laalallaalaa | Laalallaalaa laalallaalaa |
| Laalallaa laa laa laa laa | Laalallaa laa laa laa laa |
| Female | |
| Kannanai arindhaval thaan | Only Mother Yashoda knew |
| Annai yasodhaa | Lord Krishna completely, |
| Than magan leelaigal | Doesn't a mother's heart know |
| Thaai manam ariyaadhaa | Her own son's playful antics? |
| Female | |
| Kannanai arindhaval thaan | Only Mother Yashoda knew |
| Annai yasodhaa | Lord Krishna completely, |
| Than magan leelaigal | Doesn't a mother's heart know |
| Thaai manam ariyaadhaa | Her own son's playful antics? |
| Female | |
| Kattil mattum undhan sondham | Your connection is only up to the marital bed, |
| Thottil thottu endhan bandham | Mine is a sacred bond starting right from the cradle. |
| Pillai valarkka annai arivaal | A mother knows how to raise her child, |
| Unakkaen paadu | Why do you worry yourself? |
| Male | |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
| Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan | Only to a rogue boy! |
| Ada kaala vechaan | Ah, he stepped in with his feet, |
| Rendu kaiya vechaan | Placed both his hands, |
| Oru vaala mattum vittu vechaan | And left out only a tail! |
| Male | |
| Pethaalum pethenadaa | Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth |
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
ஒரு போக்கிரி பையனத்தான்
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
ஒரு போக்கிரி பையனத்தான்
அட கால வச்சான்
ரெண்டு கைய வச்சான்
ஒரு வாலை மட்டும் விட்டு வச்சான்
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Only to a rogue boy!
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Only to a rogue boy!
Ah, he stepped in with his feet,
Placed both his hands,
And left out only a tail!
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
ஒரு போக்கிரி பையனத்தான்
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Only to a rogue boy!
பல்லை தேச்சு குளிக்க வைக்க
நாய் பட்டப்பாடு பட்டான்
பள்ளிக்கூடம் உன்னை அனுப்ப
பல்லுடைஞ்சு போகுதடா
உன்னை வளர்த்து ஆத்தா ஆத்தா
மேனி இளைச்சா
ஒண்ணே ஒண்ணு போதுமடா சாமி
To brush his teeth and bathe him,
He suffered as much as a dog suffers!
To send you to school,
My teeth break in frustration!
Raising you, mother oh mother,
Has lost her physical health.
Just one son is enough, my lord!
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
ஒரு போக்கிரி பையனத்தான்
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Only to a rogue boy!
மாஞ்சா வச்சு பட்டம் விட்டு
மஞ்சுளாவின் மூக்கறுத்தே
ஹா.......
கிரிக்கெட்டு ஆடிப்புட்டு
கிட்டு பைய மண்டை உடைச்ச
ஐயோ அம்மா
Flying a kite with glass-coated thread,
He cut Manjula's nose!
Female: Haaaa...
Male: After playing cricket,
He broke little Kittu's head!
Female: Oh my goodness...
ஊரு சண்டைதான்
ஒண்ணா ரெண்டா பொழுது விடிஞ்சா
படவா பயலே நல்ல பேரை வாங்கு
Town fights,
Are there just one or two when dawn breaks?
You rascal boy, earn a good name!
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
ஒரு போக்கிரி பையனத்தான்
ஆ.....லாலல்லல் லா லாலல்லல் லா
லாலல்லல் லா லா
லாலல்லாலா லாலல்லாலா
லாலல்லா லா லா லா லா
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Only to a rogue boy!
Female: Aa... laalallal laa laalallal laa
Laalallal laa laa
Laalallaalaa laalallaalaa
Laalallaa laa laa laa laa
கண்ணனை அறிந்தவள்தான்
அன்னை யசோதா
தன் மகன் லீலைகள்
தாய் மனம் அறியாதா
Only Mother Yashoda knew
Lord Krishna completely,
Doesn't a mother's heart know
Her own son's playful antics?
கண்ணனை அறிந்தவள்தான்
அன்னை யசோதா
தன் மகன் லீலைகள்
தாய் மனம் அறியாதா
Only Mother Yashoda knew
Lord Krishna completely,
Doesn't a mother's heart know
Her own son's playful antics?
கட்டில் மட்டும் உந்தன் சொந்தம்
தொட்டில் தொட்டு எந்தன் பந்தம்
பிள்ளை வளர்க்க அன்னை அறிவாள்
உனக்கேன் பாடு
Your connection is only up to the marital bed,
Mine is a sacred bond starting right from the cradle.
A mother knows how to raise her child,
Why do you worry yourself?
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
ஒரு போக்கிரி பையனத்தான்
அட கால வச்சான்
ரெண்டு கைய வச்சான்
ஒரு வாலை மட்டும் விட்டு வச்சான்
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Only to a rogue boy!
Ah, he stepped in with his feet,
Placed both his hands,
And left out only a tail!
பெத்தாலும் பெத்தேனடா
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan
Only to a rogue boy!
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan
Only to a rogue boy!
Ada kaala vechaan
Ah, he stepped in with his feet,
Rendu kaiya vechaan
Placed both his hands,
Oru vaala mattum vittu vechaan
And left out only a tail!
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan
Only to a rogue boy!
Palla thaechu kulikka vekka
To brush his teeth and bathe him,
Naayi patta paadu pattaan
He suffered as much as a dog suffers!
Pallikkoodam unnai anuppa
To send you to school,
Palludanju pogudhadaa
My teeth break in frustration!
Unna valathu aathaa aathaa
Raising you, mother oh mother,
Maeni elachaa
Has lost her physical health.
Onnae onnu podhumadaa saami
Just one son is enough, my lord!
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan
Only to a rogue boy!
Maanjaa vechu pattam vittu
Flying a kite with glass-coated thread,
Manjulaavin mookkarutthae
He cut Manjula's nose!
Female :Haaaa…
Female: Haaaa...
Male :Cricket aadipputtu
Male: After playing cricket,
Kittu paiyan mandai odachae
He broke little Kittu's head!
Female :Aiyo ammaa…
Female: Oh my goodness...
Ooru chandai thaan
Town fights,
Onnaa rendaa pozhudhu vidinjaa
Are there just one or two when dawn breaks?
Badavaa payalae nalla pera vaangu
You rascal boy, earn a good name!
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan
Only to a rogue boy!
Female :Aa… laalallal laa laalallal laa
Female: Aa... laalallal laa laalallal laa
Laalallal laa laa
Laalallal laa laa
Laalallaalaa laalallaalaa
Laalallaalaa laalallaalaa
Laalallaa laa laa laa laa
Laalallaa laa laa laa laa
Kannanai arindhaval thaan
Only Mother Yashoda knew
Annai yasodhaa
Lord Krishna completely,
Than magan leelaigal
Doesn't a mother's heart know
Thaai manam ariyaadhaa
Her own son's playful antics?
Kannanai arindhaval thaan
Only Mother Yashoda knew
Annai yasodhaa
Lord Krishna completely,
Than magan leelaigal
Doesn't a mother's heart know
Thaai manam ariyaadhaa
Her own son's playful antics?
Kattil mattum undhan sondham
Your connection is only up to the marital bed,
Thottil thottu endhan bandham
Mine is a sacred bond starting right from the cradle.
Pillai valarkka annai arivaal
A mother knows how to raise her child,
Unakkaen paadu
Why do you worry yourself?
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Oru pokkiri paiyana thaan
Only to a rogue boy!
Ada kaala vechaan
Ah, he stepped in with his feet,
Rendu kaiya vechaan
Placed both his hands,
Oru vaala mattum vittu vechaan
And left out only a tail!
Pethaalum pethenadaa
Though I gave birth, oh dear, I gave birth
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Pethaalum pethenadaa' from 'Anbe Sangeetha' (1979) is a lighthearted musical banter between parents regarding their mischievous son. The father comically complains about the boy's endless trouble-making—from breaking things, getting into neighborhood fights, to avoiding daily routines—comparing him to a tailless monkey. In response, the mother affectionately defends the child, drawing a classic mythological parallel to Goddess Yashoda and Lord Krishna. She reminds her husband that a mother understands her child's playful antics best, emphasizing her deep-rooted maternal bond from the cradle compared to the father's role.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Kattil mattum undhan sondham / Thottil thottu endhan bandham”
Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines: 'Pethaalum' and 'Oru' (with 'th' and 'r' rhythm), as well as 'Kattil' and 'Thottil' (the 'tt' sound).
Metaphor / Hyperbole
“Ada kaala vechaan / Rendu kaiya vechaan / Oru vaala mattum vittu vechaan”
Comparing the child's playful mischievousness to having hands and feet of a monkey, lacking only a tail ('vaala mattum vittu vechaan').
Mythological Allusion (Uvamai / Mythological Reference)
“Kannanai arindhaval thaan Annai yasodhaa / Than magan leelaigal Thaai manam ariyaadhaa”
Comparing the mother-son dynamic to that of Lord Krishna and Mother Yashoda to justify his mischievous antics as divine playfulness (Leela).
Did you know?
Trivia
Anbe Sangeetha (1979) is a classic Tamil movie starring Jai Ganesh and Sumithra, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Vaali.
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