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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Pethu Potta Annai

From Chinna Devan · 1993

Lyricist: Vaali
Singer: Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Chinna Devan
Movie release year: 1993
Lyrics added on: 21 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Pethu potta annaiyum undu

Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu

Innum pala sondhamum undu

Kooda vara yaaringu undu appodhu

Ho maanidaa adhuvadhu yenadaa

Vaadi nikkaadhae idhu vaadikkai thaanae

Aandavan kaattum oru vedikkai thaanae

Pethu potta annaiyum undu

Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu

Naadagathil enakku

Veshangalai kodutthu

Aada chonnaan daa

Aatti vaithaan daa

Vandhu vitta piragu

Vaadi enna manadhu

Noolil nindraadum

Bommai naanaagum

Ulagil kidaiyaadhu

Iravaadha jeevan

Irundhaal adhu innum

Piravaadha jeevan

Mei endru maenikkum

Per vaithaan

Meiyum poiyaaga

Indha meiyum poiyaaga

Aandavan idam thaan

Idhu vaangiya kadan thaan

Pethu potta annaiyum undu

Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu

Nammudaiya kanakku

Saami kaiyil irukku

Kannae kannammaa

Ponnae ponnammaa

Vandha varai varavu

Sendra varai selavu

Kannae kannammaa

Ponnae ponnammaa

Ini naan azhudhaalum

Sirithaalum ondru

Edhaiyum samamaaga

Ninaippenae indru

Thanneeril ottaadha ennai naan

Kannae kannammaa

Adi kannae kannammaa

Podhum ammaadi

Ingu uravu kondaadi

Pethu potta annaiyum undu

Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu

Innum pala sondhamum undu

Kooda vara yaaringu undu appodhu

Ho maanidaa adhuvadhu yenadaa

Vaadi nikkaadhae idhu vaadikkai thaanae

Aandavan kaattum oru vedikkai thaanae

Pethu potta annaiyum undu

Peru solla pillaiyum undu ippodhu….

I have a mother who gave birth to me,

And children to carry my name right now.

I have many more relatives too,

But who is there to come with me when the time comes?

Oh mortal man, why worry about this and that?

Don't stand there grieving, isn't this the way of the world?

Isn't this just a show put on by God?

I have a mother who gave birth to me,

And children to carry my name right now.

In this drama of life,

Giving me various roles,

He told me to act,

And made me dance to His tune.

Having arrived here,

Why should the heart wither in sorrow?

Dangling on a string,

I am just a puppet.

In this world, there is no

Soul that never dies;

If such a being exists,

It is one yet to be born.

He called this physical body

By the name of "truth",

Yet even this truth proves false,

Yes, this body is only an illusion!

From God above,

This life is only a borrowed loan.

I have a mother who gave birth to me,

And children to carry my name right now.

The ledger of our lives

Is in God's hands,

Oh my dear Kannamma,

My precious Ponnamma!

Whatever came was a gain,

Whatever was lost was an expense,

Oh my dear Kannamma,

My precious Ponnamma!

From now on, whether I cry

Or laugh, it is all the same;

I shall look upon everything

With an equal mind today.

Like oil that does not mix with water, I remain unattached,

Oh my dear Kannamma,

Oh my dear Kannamma!

It is enough, my dear,

Celebrating worldly bonds here.

I have a mother who gave birth to me,

And children to carry my name right now.

I have many more relatives too,

But who is there to come with me when the time comes?

Oh mortal man, why worry about this and that?

Don't stand there grieving, isn't this the way of the world?

Isn't this just a show put on by God?

I have a mother who gave birth to me,

And children to carry my name right now...

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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').

Keep listening

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Aadhi Enbathu Thottilile1976

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