Pethu Potta Annai
From Chinna Devan · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Chinna Devan1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pethu potta annaiyum undu | There is a mother who gave birth |
| Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu | And a child to carry the name right now |
| Innum pala sondhamum undu | There are many other relatives as well |
| Kooda vara yaaringu undu appodhu | But who will come along with you at the end? |
| Male | |
| Ho maanidaa adhuvadhu yenadaa | Oh human, why grieve over this? |
| Vaadi nikkaadhae idhu vaadikkai thaanae | Do not stand withered, for this is just routine |
| Aandavan kaattum oru vedikkai thaanae | It is merely a spectacle showcased by God |
| Pethu potta annaiyum undu | There is a mother who gave birth |
| Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu | And a child to carry the name right now |
| Male | |
| Naadagathil enakku | In this drama, for me |
| Veshangalai kodutthu | Assigning various roles |
| Aada chonnaan daa | He bade me to perform |
| Aatti vaithaan daa | He moved me like a puppet |
| Male | |
| Vandhu vitta piragu | Having arrived into this world |
| Vaadi enna manadhu | Why should the heart wither away? |
| Noolil nindraadum | Dangling on a thin thread |
| Bommai naanaagum | I become a puppet |
| Male | |
| Ulagil kidaiyaadhu | There exists nothing in this world |
| Iravaadha jeevan | As a soul that never dies |
| Irundhaal adhu innum | If at all there is one, it is only |
| Piravaadha jeevan | The soul that is yet to be born |
| Mei endru maenikkum | Calling the physical body as truth |
| Per vaithaan | He gave it a name |
| Meiyum poiyaaga | Even truth turning into falsehood |
| Indha meiyum poiyaaga | This body too turning into illusion |
| Aandavan idam thaan | Directly from the Lord Supreme |
| Idhu vaangiya kadan thaan | This life is just a borrowed debt |
| Male | |
| Pethu potta annaiyum undu | There is a mother who gave birth |
| Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu | And a child to carry the name right now |
| Male | |
| Nammudaiya kanakku | The ledger of our life's accounts |
| Saami kaiyil irukku | Is held in the hands of God |
| Kannae kannammaa | Oh my beloved Kannamma |
| Ponnae ponnammaa | Oh my precious Ponnamma |
| Male | |
| Vandha varai varavu | Whatever came is gain |
| Sendra varai selavu | Whatever left is expenditure |
| Kannae kannammaa | Oh my beloved Kannamma |
| Ponnae ponnammaa | Oh my precious Ponnamma |
| Male | |
| Ini naan azhudhaalum | From now on whether I weep |
| Sirithaalum ondru | Or whether I laugh, it is all the same |
| Edhaiyum samamaaga | Everything with equanimity |
| Ninaippenae indru | I shall regard today |
| Thanneeril ottaadha ennai naan | I am like water that remains unattached on a leaf |
| Kannae kannammaa | Oh my beloved Kannamma |
| Adi kannae kannammaa | Oh dear Kannamma |
| Podhum ammaadi | Enough of this, my child |
| Ingu uravu kondaadi | Celebrating relationships in this world |
| Male | |
| Pethu potta annaiyum undu | There is a mother who gave birth |
| Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu | And a child to carry the name right now |
| Innum pala sondhamum undu | There are many other relatives as well |
| Kooda vara yaaringu undu appodhu | But who will come along with you at the end? |
| Male | |
| Ho maanidaa adhuvadhu yenadaa | Oh human, why grieve over this? |
| Vaadi nikkaadhae idhu vaadikkai thaanae | Do not stand withered, for this is just routine |
| Aandavan kaattum oru vedikkai thaanae | It is merely a spectacle showcased by God |
| Pethu potta annaiyum undu | There is a mother who gave birth |
| Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu…. | And a child to carry the name right now... |
பெத்துப் போட்ட அன்னையும் உண்டு
பேரு சொல்லப் பிள்ளையும் உண்டு
இப்போது........
இன்னும் பல சொந்தமும் உண்டு
கூட வர யாரிங்கு உண்டு
அப்போது.....
There is a mother who gave birth
And a child to carry the name right now
There are many other relatives as well
But who will come along with you at the end?
ஹோ மானிடா அழுவது ஏனடா
வாடி நிக்காதே இது வாடிக்கைதானே
ஆண்டவன் காட்டும் ஒரு வேடிக்கைதானே…
Oh human, why grieve over this?
Do not stand withered, for this is just routine
It is merely a spectacle showcased by God
There is a mother who gave birth
And a child to carry the name right now
பெத்துப் போட்ட அன்னையும் உண்டு
பேரு சொல்லப் பிள்ளையும் உண்டு
இப்போது........
In this drama, for me
Assigning various roles
He bade me to perform
He moved me like a puppet
நாடகத்தில் எனக்கு
வேஷங்களைக் கொடுத்து
ஆடச் சொன்னான்டா
ஆட்டி வைத்தான்டா
Having arrived into this world
Why should the heart wither away?
Dangling on a thin thread
I become a puppet
வந்து விட்ட பிறகு
வாடி என்ன மனது
நூலில் நின்றாடும்
பொம்மை நானாகும்
There exists nothing in this world
As a soul that never dies
If at all there is one, it is only
The soul that is yet to be born
Calling the physical body as truth
He gave it a name
Even truth turning into falsehood
This body too turning into illusion
Directly from the Lord Supreme
This life is just a borrowed debt
உலகில் கிடையாது
இறவாத ஜீவன்
இருந்தால் அது இன்னும்
பிறவாத ஜீவன்
There is a mother who gave birth
And a child to carry the name right now
மெய் என்று மேனிக்கும்
பேர் வைத்தான்......
மெய்யும் பொய்யாக
இந்த மெய்யும் பொய்யாக
ஆண்டவன் இடம்தான்
இது வாங்கிய கடன்தான்
The ledger of our life's accounts
Is held in the hands of God
Oh my beloved Kannamma
Oh my precious Ponnamma
பெத்துப் போட்ட அன்னையும் உண்டு
பேரு சொல்லப் பிள்ளையும் உண்டு
இப்போது........
Whatever came is gain
Whatever left is expenditure
Oh my beloved Kannamma
Oh my precious Ponnamma
நம்முடைய கணக்கு
சாமி கையில் இருக்கு
கண்ணே கண்ணம்மா
பொன்னே பொன்னம்மா
From now on whether I weep
Or whether I laugh, it is all the same
Everything with equanimity
I shall regard today
I am like water that remains unattached on a leaf
Oh my beloved Kannamma
Oh dear Kannamma
Enough of this, my child
Celebrating relationships in this world
வந்த வரை வரவு
சென்ற வரை செலவு
கண்ணே கண்ணம்மா
பொன்னே பொன்னம்மா
There is a mother who gave birth
And a child to carry the name right now
There are many other relatives as well
But who will come along with you at the end?
இனி நான் அழுதாலும்
சிரித்தாலும் ஒன்று
எதையும் சமமாக
நினைப்பேனே இன்று
Oh human, why grieve over this?
Do not stand withered, for this is just routine
It is merely a spectacle showcased by God
There is a mother who gave birth
And a child to carry the name right now...
தண்ணீரில் ஒட்டாத
எண்ணெய் நான்
கண்ணே கண்ணம்மா
அடி கண்ணே கண்ணம்மா
போதும் அம்மாடி
இங்கு உறவு கொண்டாடி…
பெத்துப் போட்ட அன்னையும் உண்டு
பேரு சொல்லப் பிள்ளையும் உண்டு
இப்போது........
இன்னும் பல சொந்தமும் உண்டு
கூட வர யாரிங்கு உண்டு
அப்போது.....
ஹோ மானிடா அழுவது ஏனடா
வாடி நிக்காதே இது வாடிக்கைதானே
ஆண்டவன் காட்டும் ஒரு வேடிக்கைதானே…
பெத்துப் போட்ட அன்னையும் உண்டு
பேரு சொல்லப் பிள்ளையும் உண்டு
இப்போது........
Pethu potta annaiyum undu
There is a mother who gave birth
Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu
And a child to carry the name right now
Innum pala sondhamum undu
There are many other relatives as well
Kooda vara yaaringu undu appodhu
But who will come along with you at the end?
Ho maanidaa adhuvadhu yenadaa
Oh human, why grieve over this?
Vaadi nikkaadhae idhu vaadikkai thaanae
Do not stand withered, for this is just routine
Aandavan kaattum oru vedikkai thaanae
It is merely a spectacle showcased by God
Pethu potta annaiyum undu
There is a mother who gave birth
Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu
And a child to carry the name right now
Naadagathil enakku
In this drama, for me
Veshangalai kodutthu
Assigning various roles
Aada chonnaan daa
He bade me to perform
Aatti vaithaan daa
He moved me like a puppet
Vandhu vitta piragu
Having arrived into this world
Vaadi enna manadhu
Why should the heart wither away?
Noolil nindraadum
Dangling on a thin thread
Bommai naanaagum
I become a puppet
Ulagil kidaiyaadhu
There exists nothing in this world
Iravaadha jeevan
As a soul that never dies
Irundhaal adhu innum
If at all there is one, it is only
Piravaadha jeevan
The soul that is yet to be born
Mei endru maenikkum
Calling the physical body as truth
Per vaithaan
He gave it a name
Meiyum poiyaaga
Even truth turning into falsehood
Indha meiyum poiyaaga
This body too turning into illusion
Aandavan idam thaan
Directly from the Lord Supreme
Idhu vaangiya kadan thaan
This life is just a borrowed debt
Pethu potta annaiyum undu
There is a mother who gave birth
Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu
And a child to carry the name right now
Nammudaiya kanakku
The ledger of our life's accounts
Saami kaiyil irukku
Is held in the hands of God
Kannae kannammaa
Oh my beloved Kannamma
Ponnae ponnammaa
Oh my precious Ponnamma
Vandha varai varavu
Whatever came is gain
Sendra varai selavu
Whatever left is expenditure
Kannae kannammaa
Oh my beloved Kannamma
Ponnae ponnammaa
Oh my precious Ponnamma
Ini naan azhudhaalum
From now on whether I weep
Sirithaalum ondru
Or whether I laugh, it is all the same
Edhaiyum samamaaga
Everything with equanimity
Ninaippenae indru
I shall regard today
Thanneeril ottaadha ennai naan
I am like water that remains unattached on a leaf
Kannae kannammaa
Oh my beloved Kannamma
Adi kannae kannammaa
Oh dear Kannamma
Podhum ammaadi
Enough of this, my child
Ingu uravu kondaadi
Celebrating relationships in this world
Pethu potta annaiyum undu
There is a mother who gave birth
Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu
And a child to carry the name right now
Innum pala sondhamum undu
There are many other relatives as well
Kooda vara yaaringu undu appodhu
But who will come along with you at the end?
Ho maanidaa adhuvadhu yenadaa
Oh human, why grieve over this?
Vaadi nikkaadhae idhu vaadikkai thaanae
Do not stand withered, for this is just routine
Aandavan kaattum oru vedikkai thaanae
It is merely a spectacle showcased by God
Pethu potta annaiyum undu
There is a mother who gave birth
Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu….
And a child to carry the name right now...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from Chinna Devan reflects a deep philosophical perspective on human existence, impermanence, and detachment. Lyricist Vaali uses poignant metaphors to remind us that life is a divine play directed by God, where human beings act merely as puppets tied to strings. Relationships, wealth, and worldly bonds are fleeting comfort; while we enjoy family and relatives in life, none accompany us after death. The song emphasizes viewing both joy and sorrow with equanimity and recognizing the body itself as a borrowed debt to be returned to the Almighty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Noolil nindraadum bommai naanaagum”
Comparing human life to a puppet show ('Noolil nindraadum bommai') where God controls the marionette strings.
Wordplay (Sledai / Pun)
“Meiyum poiyaaga indha meiyum poiyaaga”
Play on the dual meaning of 'Mei', which means both 'truth' and 'body', highlighting how the physical body (mei) is ultimately an illusion/lie (poi).
Paradox
“Irundhaal adhu innum piravaadha jeevan”
Stating that the only immortal soul in this world is the one that has not yet been born.
Simile / Imagery
“Thanneeril ottaadha ennai naan”
Referring to remaining emotionally unattached like water drops on a lotus leaf ('Thanneeril ottaadha').
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