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Dhuruva Natchathiram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pethu Pottadhaaro

From Dhuruva Natchathiram · 1993

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Dhuruva Natchathiram
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
16 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pethu pottadhaaro
Kutham ulla thaayo
Yaen saami nee sollu
Peru vechadhaaro
Peru ketta thaayo
Yaen saami nee sollu
Yaedhaedho indha ooru pesudhu
Ennaannu solla naa koosudhu
Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa
Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa
Pethu pottadhaaro
Kutham ulla thaayo
Yaen saami nee sollu
Yaen saami nee sollu
En usura kannil vechu kaathadhu
En pasiya kanji oothi theetthadhu
Thaaya pola yaarum illa
Andha thaai illaatti naanum illa
Naal ellaam indha pillai thaan
Vaazhvadhu ava pichai thaan
Uppu thinna paasam poi vidumaa
Thappu cholli pesa vaai varumaa
Pethu pottadhaaro
Kutham ulla thaayo
Yaen saami nee sollu
Yaen saami nee sollu
Gangai enna koovam pola maarumaa
Gopuram thaan kuppai maedaa aagumaa
Vaanam mannil veezhndhidumaa
Sutha thangam tharam thaazhndhidumaa
Thaayai paar anbu dheivamaa
Dheivam thaan kutham seiyumaa
Nenjam indha kelvi ketkiradhu
Enna badhil naanum kooruvadhu
Pethu pottadhaaro
Kutham ulla thaayo
Yaen saami nee sollu
Yaen saami nee sollu
Yaedhaedho indha ooru pesudhu
Ennaannu solla naa koosudhu
Ulai vaayai mooda ariven aiyaa
Oor vaayai mooda aagaadhaiyaa
Pethu pottadhaaro
Kutham ulla thaayo
Yaen saami nee sollu
Yaen saami nee sollu
Who was it that gave birth to me?
Was she a mother burdened with blame?
Tell me, oh God, why?
Who was it that gave me a name?
Was she a mother whose good name was ruined?
Tell me, oh God, why?
This town gossips about so many things,
My tongue hesitates to repeat what they say.
I know how to cover a boiling pot,
But can anyone ever shut the town's mouth?
Who was it that gave birth to me?
Was she a mother burdened with blame?
Tell me, oh God, why?
Tell me, oh God, why?
She protected my life like the apple of her eye,
She eased my hunger by feeding me porridge.
There is no one in the world like a mother,
Without that mother, I would not even exist.
All through my life, this child...
...survives only by her grace.
Having eaten her salt, will my love ever fade?
Could my mouth ever bring itself to blame her?
Who was it that gave birth to me?
Was she a mother burdened with blame?
Tell me, oh God, why?
Tell me, oh God, why?
Would the holy Ganga ever turn into the Cooum river?
Can a temple tower ever become a heap of trash?
Will the sky ever fall to the ground?
Will pure gold ever lose its worth?
Look at a mother, isn't she a goddess of love?
Could a goddess ever do any wrong?
My heart keeps asking this question,
What answer can I possibly give?
Who was it that gave birth to me?
Was she a mother burdened with blame?
Tell me, oh God, why?
Tell me, oh God, why?
This town gossips about so many things,
My tongue hesitates to repeat what they say.
I know how to cover a boiling pot,
But can anyone ever shut the town's mouth?
Who was it that gave birth to me?
Was she a mother burdened with blame?
Tell me, oh God, why?
Tell me, oh God, why?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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