Pethu Pottadhaaro
From Dhuruva Natchathiram · 1993
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Dhuruva Natchathiram1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pethu pottadhaaro | Who is the mother who gave birth to me? |
| Kutham ulla thaayo | Is she a mother with a flaw or fault? |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Peru vechadhaaro | Who gave me a name? |
| Peru ketta thaayo | Is she a mother with a tarnished name? |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Male | |
| Yaedhaedho indha ooru pesudhu | This town talks all kinds of rumors. |
| Ennaannu solla naa koosudhu | I hesitate to even utter what they say. |
| Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa | I know how to cover the mouth of a boiling pot, sir. |
| Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa | But one cannot cover the mouth of the entire town, sir. |
| Male | |
| Pethu pottadhaaro | Who is the mother who gave birth to me? |
| Kutham ulla thaayo | Is she a mother with a flaw or fault? |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Male | |
| En usura kannil vechu kaathadhu | She protected my life as dearly as her own eyes. |
| En pasiya kanji oothi theetthadhu | She fed me porridge to quench my hunger. |
| Thaaya pola yaarum illa | There is no one equal to a mother. |
| Andha thaai illaatti naanum illa | Without that mother, I would not exist. |
| Naal ellaam indha pillai thaan | All through the day, for this child, |
| Vaazhvadhu ava pichai thaan | To live is merely the alms given by her. |
| Uppu thinna paasam poi vidumaa | Will affection fade after partaking in her salt? |
| Thappu cholli pesa vaai varumaa | Will my mouth ever speak ill of her? |
| Male | |
| Pethu pottadhaaro | Who is the mother who gave birth to me? |
| Kutham ulla thaayo | Is she a mother with a flaw or fault? |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Male | |
| Gangai enna koovam pola maarumaa | Will the holy Ganges ever turn into the filthy Cooum? |
| Gopuram thaan kuppai maedaa aagumaa | Will a temple tower ever become a heap of garbage? |
| Vaanam mannil veezhndhidumaa | Will the sky fall down onto the earth? |
| Sutha thangam tharam thaazhndhidumaa | Will pure gold ever lose its quality? |
| Thaayai paar anbu dheivamaa | Look at mother, she is a deity of pure love. |
| Dheivam thaan kutham seiyumaa | Would God Himself ever commit a sin? |
| Nenjam indha kelvi ketkiradhu | My heart asks this very question. |
| Enna badhil naanum kooruvadhu | What answer can I possibly give? |
| Male | |
| Pethu pottadhaaro | Who is the mother who gave birth to me? |
| Kutham ulla thaayo | Is she a mother with a flaw or fault? |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Male | |
| Yaedhaedho indha ooru pesudhu | This town talks all kinds of rumors. |
| Ennaannu solla naa koosudhu | I hesitate to even utter what they say. |
| Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa | I know how to cover the mouth of a boiling pot, sir. |
| Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa | But one cannot cover the mouth of the entire town, sir. |
| Male | |
| Pethu pottadhaaro | Who is the mother who gave birth to me? |
| Kutham ulla thaayo | Is she a mother with a flaw or fault? |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
| Yaen saami nee sollu | Oh my Lord, please tell me. |
பெத்துப் போட்டதாரோ
குத்தம் உள்ள தாயோ
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
பேரு வெச்சதாரோ
பேரு கேட்ட தாயோ
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Who gave me a name?
Is she a mother with a tarnished name?
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
ஏதேதோ இந்த ஊரு பேசுது
என்னான்னு சொல்ல நா கூசுது
உலை வாயை மூட அறிவேனையா
ஊர் வாயை மூட ஆகாதையா
This town talks all kinds of rumors.
I hesitate to even utter what they say.
I know how to cover the mouth of a boiling pot, sir.
But one cannot cover the mouth of the entire town, sir.
பெத்துப் போட்டதாரோ
குத்தம் உள்ள தாயோ
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
என் உசுரக் கண்ணில் வெச்சுக் காத்தது
என் பசியக் கஞ்சி ஊத்தித் தீத்தது
தாயப் போல யாரும் இல்ல
அந்தத் தாய் இல்லாட்டி நானும் இல்ல
நாள் எல்லாம் இந்தப் பிள்ளை தான்
வாழ்வது அவ பிச்சை தான்
உப்புத் தின்னப் பாசம் போய் விடுமா
தப்புச் சொல்லிப் பேச வாய் வருமா
She protected my life as dearly as her own eyes.
She fed me porridge to quench my hunger.
There is no one equal to a mother.
Without that mother, I would not exist.
All through the day, for this child,
To live is merely the alms given by her.
Will affection fade after partaking in her salt?
Will my mouth ever speak ill of her?
பெத்துப் போட்டதாரோ
குத்தம் உள்ள தாயோ
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
கங்கை என்ன கூவம் போல மாறுமா
கோபுரம் தான் குப்பை மேடா ஆகுமா
வானம் மண்ணில் வீழ்ந்திடுமா
சுத்தத் தங்கம் தரம் தாழ்ந்திடுமா
தாயைப் பார் அன்பு தெய்வமா
தெய்வம் தான் குத்தம் செய்யுமா
நெஞ்சம் இந்தக் கேள்வி கேட்கிறது
என்ன பதில் நானும் கூறுவது
Will the holy Ganges ever turn into the filthy Cooum?
Will a temple tower ever become a heap of garbage?
Will the sky fall down onto the earth?
Will pure gold ever lose its quality?
Look at mother, she is a deity of pure love.
Would God Himself ever commit a sin?
My heart asks this very question.
What answer can I possibly give?
பெத்துப் போட்டதாரோ
குத்தம் உள்ள தாயோ
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
ஏதேதோ இந்த ஊரு பேசுது
என்னான்னு சொல்ல நா கூசுது
உலை வாயை மூட அறிவேனையா
ஊர் வாயை மூட ஆகாதையா
This town talks all kinds of rumors.
I hesitate to even utter what they say.
I know how to cover the mouth of a boiling pot, sir.
But one cannot cover the mouth of the entire town, sir.
பெத்துப் போட்டதாரோ
குத்தம் உள்ள தாயோ
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
ஏன் சாமி நீ சொல்லு
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Pethu pottadhaaro
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Kutham ulla thaayo
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Peru vechadhaaro
Who gave me a name?
Peru ketta thaayo
Is she a mother with a tarnished name?
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Yaedhaedho indha ooru pesudhu
This town talks all kinds of rumors.
Ennaannu solla naa koosudhu
I hesitate to even utter what they say.
Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa
I know how to cover the mouth of a boiling pot, sir.
Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa
But one cannot cover the mouth of the entire town, sir.
Pethu pottadhaaro
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Kutham ulla thaayo
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
En usura kannil vechu kaathadhu
She protected my life as dearly as her own eyes.
En pasiya kanji oothi theetthadhu
She fed me porridge to quench my hunger.
Thaaya pola yaarum illa
There is no one equal to a mother.
Andha thaai illaatti naanum illa
Without that mother, I would not exist.
Naal ellaam indha pillai thaan
All through the day, for this child,
Vaazhvadhu ava pichai thaan
To live is merely the alms given by her.
Uppu thinna paasam poi vidumaa
Will affection fade after partaking in her salt?
Thappu cholli pesa vaai varumaa
Will my mouth ever speak ill of her?
Pethu pottadhaaro
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Kutham ulla thaayo
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Gangai enna koovam pola maarumaa
Will the holy Ganges ever turn into the filthy Cooum?
Gopuram thaan kuppai maedaa aagumaa
Will a temple tower ever become a heap of garbage?
Vaanam mannil veezhndhidumaa
Will the sky fall down onto the earth?
Sutha thangam tharam thaazhndhidumaa
Will pure gold ever lose its quality?
Thaayai paar anbu dheivamaa
Look at mother, she is a deity of pure love.
Dheivam thaan kutham seiyumaa
Would God Himself ever commit a sin?
Nenjam indha kelvi ketkiradhu
My heart asks this very question.
Enna badhil naanum kooruvadhu
What answer can I possibly give?
Pethu pottadhaaro
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Kutham ulla thaayo
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Yaedhaedho indha ooru pesudhu
This town talks all kinds of rumors.
Ennaannu solla naa koosudhu
I hesitate to even utter what they say.
Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa
I know how to cover the mouth of a boiling pot, sir.
Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa
But one cannot cover the mouth of the entire town, sir.
Pethu pottadhaaro
Who is the mother who gave birth to me?
Kutham ulla thaayo
Is she a mother with a flaw or fault?
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Yaen saami nee sollu
Oh my Lord, please tell me.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply emotional plea filled with grief and devotion, centered on a child struggling against societal gossip about his mother's character. Confronted by slanderous rumors spread by villagers, the protagonist turns to God with agonizing questions, refusing to believe that the mother who nurtured him with selflessness and boundless affection could ever be flawed or sinful.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pazhamozhi (Proverb Usage)
“Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa / Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa”
Uses the traditional Tamil proverb comparing the mouth of a boiling pot to the gossip of a town to show the futility of stopping public rumor.
Vinaa Ani (Rhetorical Questions)
“Gangai enna koovam pola maarumaa / Gopuram thaan kuppai maedaa aagumaa”
Employs a series of rhetorical questions to highlight the impossibility of a mother being evil, comparing it to natural impossibilities.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Thaayai paar anbu dheivamaa”
Directly equates the mother to a pure deity of love, asserting her divine nature.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pethu pottadhaaro / Kutham ulla thaayo”
The second consonant 'th' (த்) rhymes in consecutive lines, establishing rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja is renowned not only for his iconic music compositions but also for writing deeply expressive lyrics rooted in rural Tamil folklore, folk wisdom, and emotional philosophy.
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