Podanum Nalla Podanum
From Thenkinnam · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kumaradevan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Thenkinnam1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Podanum nallaa podanum | We must apply it, apply it well |
| Jora podanum soap-u podanum | Apply it generously, apply soap |
| Podanum nallaa podanum | We must apply it, apply it well |
| Jora podanum soap-u podanum | Apply it generously, apply soap |
| Male | |
| Nenachathu nadakkanunnaa | If what you wished for is to happen |
| Nenachchathu nadakkanunnaa neram kaalam paarththu | If what you wished for is to happen, watch the right time and place |
| Nallaa podanum soap-u podanum | We must apply well, apply soap |
| Male | |
| Peththavanga namakku potta | The soap that our parents applied to us |
| Adhey soappa maaththi ippo | By swapping that very same soap now |
| Peththavanga namakku potta | The soap that our parents applied to us |
| Adhey soappa maaththi ippo | By swapping that very same soap now |
| Maththavanga manangulira madamadannu palapalannu | To make others' hearts glad, quickly and brilliantly |
| Male | |
| Podanum nallaa podanum | We must apply it, apply it well |
| Jora podanum soap-u podanum | Apply it generously, apply soap |
| Male | |
| Maamiyaarkku soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to the mother-in-law |
| Magalai kattikkalaam | You can marry her daughter |
| Antha magalai konjam soap-u potaa | If you apply a little soap to that daughter |
| Kadhal pannikkalaam | You can romance her |
| Male | |
| Mamanaarkku soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to the father-in-law |
| Magalai kattikkalaam | You can marry the daughter |
| Antha magalai konjam soap-u potaa | If you apply a little soap to that daughter |
| Kadhal pannikkalaam | You can romance her |
| Adhaiyae machchaanukkum saerththu pottaa | If you apply it to the brother-in-law as well |
| Maja pannikkalaam… | You can have great fun... |
| Aahaa maja pannikkalaam…. | Aha, you can have great fun.... |
| Male | |
| Janangalukku soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to the people |
| Thondan aagalaam | You can become a cadre/volunteer |
| Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to that very volunteer |
| Thalaivanaagalaam | You can become a leader |
| Male | |
| Janangalukku soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to the people |
| Thondan aagalaam | You can become a cadre/volunteer |
| Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to that very volunteer |
| Thalaivanaagalaam | You can become a leader |
| Male | |
| Oorukkellaam soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to the entire town |
| Vote-u vaangalaam | You can gather votes |
| Oorukkellaam soap-u pottaa | If you apply soap to the entire town |
| Vote-u vaangalaam | You can gather votes |
| Antha vote irunthaa pothum intha naattai aalalaam | If you have those votes, that is enough to rule this country |
| Aamaam naattai aalalaam | Yes, you can rule the country |
| Male :Adhanaalae | Male: Therefore |
| Male | |
| Podanum nallaa podanum | We must apply it, apply it well |
| Jora podanum soap-u podanum | Apply it generously, apply soap |
| Nenachchathu nadakkanunnaa neram kaalam paarththu | If what you wished for is to happen, watch the right time and place |
| Nallaa podanum soap-u podanum | We must apply well, apply soap |
| Jora podanum soap-u podanum | Apply it generously, apply soap |
போடணும் நல்லா போடணும்
ஜோரா போடணும் சோப்பு போடணும்
போடணும் நல்லா போடணும்
ஜோரா போடணும் சோப்பு போடணும்
We must apply it, apply it well
Apply it generously, apply soap
We must apply it, apply it well
Apply it generously, apply soap
நெனச்சது நடக்கனுன்னா
நெனச்சது நடக்கனுன்னா நேரம் காலம் பார்த்து
நல்லா போடணும் சோப்பு போடணும்
If what you wished for is to happen
If what you wished for is to happen, watch the right time and place
We must apply well, apply soap
பெத்தவங்க நமக்கு போட்ட
அதே சோப்ப மாத்தி இப்போ
பெத்தவங்க நமக்கு போட்ட
அதே சோப்ப மாத்தி இப்போ
மத்தவங்க மனங்குளிர மடமடன்னு பளப்பளன்னு
The soap that our parents applied to us
By swapping that very same soap now
The soap that our parents applied to us
By swapping that very same soap now
To make others' hearts glad, quickly and brilliantly
போடணும் நல்லா போடணும்
ஜோரா போடணும் சோப்பு போடணும்.....
We must apply it, apply it well
Apply it generously, apply soap
மாமியார்க்கு சோப்பு போட்டா
மகளை கட்டிக்கலாம்
அந்த மகளைக் கொஞ்சம் சோப்பு போட்டா
காதல் பண்ணிக்கலாம்
If you apply soap to the mother-in-law
You can marry her daughter
If you apply a little soap to that daughter
You can romance her
மாமனார்க்கு சோப்பு போட்டா
பணத்த வெட்டிக்கலாம்
மாமனார்க்கு சோப்பு போட்டா
பணத்த வெட்டிக்கலாம்
அதையே மச்சானுக்கும் சேர்த்துப் போட்டா
மஜா பண்ணிக்கலாம்.......
ஆஹா மஜா பண்ணிக்கலாம்.....
If you apply soap to the father-in-law
You can marry the daughter
If you apply a little soap to that daughter
You can romance her
If you apply it to the brother-in-law as well
You can have great fun...
Aha, you can have great fun....
ஜனங்களுக்கு சோப்பு போட்டா
தொண்டன் ஆகலாம்
அந்த தொண்டனுக்கே சோப்பு போட்டா
தலைவனாகலாம்
If you apply soap to the people
You can become a cadre/volunteer
If you apply soap to that very volunteer
You can become a leader
ஜனங்களுக்கு சோப்பு போட்டா
தொண்டன் ஆகலாம்
அந்த தொண்டனுக்கே சோப்பு போட்டா
தலைவனாகலாம்
If you apply soap to the people
You can become a cadre/volunteer
If you apply soap to that very volunteer
You can become a leader
ஊருக்கெல்லாம் சோப்பு போட்டா
ஓட்டு வாங்கலாம்
ஊருக்கெல்லாம் சோப்பு போட்டா
ஓட்டு வாங்கலாம்
அந்த ஓட்டிருந்தா போதும் இந்த நாட்டை ஆளலாம்
ஆமாம் நாட்டை ஆளலாம்
அதனாலே....
If you apply soap to the entire town
You can gather votes
If you apply soap to the entire town
You can gather votes
If you have those votes, that is enough to rule this country
Yes, you can rule the country
Male: Therefore
போடணும் நல்லா போடணும்
ஜோரா போடணும் சோப்பு போடணும்
நெனச்சது நடக்கனுன்னா நேரம் காலம் பார்த்து
நல்லா போடணும் நல்லா போடணும்
ஜோரா போடணும் சோப்பு போடணும்...
We must apply it, apply it well
Apply it generously, apply soap
If what you wished for is to happen, watch the right time and place
We must apply well, apply soap
Apply it generously, apply soap
Podanum nallaa podanum
We must apply it, apply it well
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Apply it generously, apply soap
Podanum nallaa podanum
We must apply it, apply it well
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Apply it generously, apply soap
Nenachathu nadakkanunnaa
If what you wished for is to happen
Nenachchathu nadakkanunnaa neram kaalam paarththu
If what you wished for is to happen, watch the right time and place
Nallaa podanum soap-u podanum
We must apply well, apply soap
Peththavanga namakku potta
The soap that our parents applied to us
Adhey soappa maaththi ippo
By swapping that very same soap now
Peththavanga namakku potta
The soap that our parents applied to us
Adhey soappa maaththi ippo
By swapping that very same soap now
Maththavanga manangulira madamadannu palapalannu
To make others' hearts glad, quickly and brilliantly
Podanum nallaa podanum
We must apply it, apply it well
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Apply it generously, apply soap
Maamiyaarkku soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to the mother-in-law
Magalai kattikkalaam
You can marry her daughter
Antha magalai konjam soap-u potaa
If you apply a little soap to that daughter
Kadhal pannikkalaam
You can romance her
Mamanaarkku soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to the father-in-law
Magalai kattikkalaam
You can marry the daughter
Antha magalai konjam soap-u potaa
If you apply a little soap to that daughter
Kadhal pannikkalaam
You can romance her
Adhaiyae machchaanukkum saerththu pottaa
If you apply it to the brother-in-law as well
Maja pannikkalaam…
You can have great fun...
Aahaa maja pannikkalaam….
Aha, you can have great fun....
Janangalukku soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to the people
Thondan aagalaam
You can become a cadre/volunteer
Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to that very volunteer
Thalaivanaagalaam
You can become a leader
Janangalukku soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to the people
Thondan aagalaam
You can become a cadre/volunteer
Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to that very volunteer
Thalaivanaagalaam
You can become a leader
Oorukkellaam soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to the entire town
Vote-u vaangalaam
You can gather votes
Oorukkellaam soap-u pottaa
If you apply soap to the entire town
Vote-u vaangalaam
You can gather votes
Antha vote irunthaa pothum intha naattai aalalaam
If you have those votes, that is enough to rule this country
Aamaam naattai aalalaam
Yes, you can rule the country
Male :Adhanaalae
Male: Therefore
Podanum nallaa podanum
We must apply it, apply it well
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Apply it generously, apply soap
Nenachchathu nadakkanunnaa neram kaalam paarththu
If what you wished for is to happen, watch the right time and place
Nallaa podanum soap-u podanum
We must apply well, apply soap
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Apply it generously, apply soap
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Podanum Nallaa Podanum from the 1971 movie Thenkinnam is a comedic and satirical track centered around the Tamil slang idiom 'soap podudhal', which means to flatter or butter someone up. The lyrics humorously preach that flattery is the universal key to achieving all life goals—whether it is pleasing family members to secure a marriage or cajoling voters and party cadres to climb the political ladder.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Colloquial Idiom
“Jora podanum soap-u podanum”
The term 'soap podudhal' (applying soap) is used metaphorically throughout the song to mean buttering up or flattering someone to gain personal benefit.
Onomatopoeia / Rhythm words
“Maththavanga manangulira madamadannu palapalannu”
'Madamadannu' (rapidly) and 'palapalannu' (glitteringly) are rhythm words used to emphasize speed and shine.
Parallelism / Anaphora
“Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa Thalaivanaagalaam”
Repetition of the conditional structure 'soap pottaa... aagalaam' to list political and personal achievements incrementally.
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'soap podudhal' is one of Tamil slang's most enduring idioms for flattery. Lyricist Kumaradevan penned this song to highlight political and social opportunism, which was famously rendered in a humorous tone by legendary singer T. M. Soundararajan.
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