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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Podanum Nalla Podanum

From Thenkinnam · 1971

Lyricist
Kumaradevan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thenkinnam
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
26 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Podanum nallaa podanum
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Podanum nallaa podanum
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Nenachathu nadakkanunnaa
Nenachchathu nadakkanunnaa neram kaalam paarththu
Nallaa podanum soap-u podanum
Peththavanga namakku potta
Adhey soappa maaththi ippo
Peththavanga namakku potta
Adhey soappa maaththi ippo
Maththavanga manangulira madamadannu palapalannu
Podanum nallaa podanum
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Maamiyaarkku soap-u pottaa
Magalai kattikkalaam
Antha magalai konjam soap-u potaa
Kadhal pannikkalaam
Mamanaarkku soap-u pottaa
Magalai kattikkalaam
Antha magalai konjam soap-u potaa
Kadhal pannikkalaam
Adhaiyae machchaanukkum saerththu pottaa
Maja pannikkalaam…
Aahaa maja pannikkalaam….
Janangalukku soap-u pottaa
Thondan aagalaam
Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa
Thalaivanaagalaam
Janangalukku soap-u pottaa
Thondan aagalaam
Antha thondanukkae soap-u pottaa
Thalaivanaagalaam
Oorukkellaam soap-u pottaa
Vote-u vaangalaam
Oorukkellaam soap-u pottaa
Vote-u vaangalaam
Antha vote irunthaa pothum intha naattai aalalaam
Aamaam naattai aalalaam
Male :Adhanaalae
Podanum nallaa podanum
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
Nenachchathu nadakkanunnaa neram kaalam paarththu
Nallaa podanum soap-u podanum
Jora podanum soap-u podanum
You have to butter them up, really butter them up!
Do it in grand style, butter them up!
You have to butter them up, really butter them up!
Do it in grand style, butter them up!
If you want what you desire to happen,
If you want what you desire to happen, watch for the right time,
And butter them up well, butter them up!
The very same sweet-talk our parents used on us,
Turn it around now,
The very same sweet-talk our parents used on us,
Turn it around now,
To please other people's hearts, smoothly and swiftly!
You have to butter them up, really butter them up!
Do it in grand style, butter them up!
If you butter up the mother-in-law,
You can marry her daughter.
If you butter up that daughter a little,
You can win her love and romance her.
If you butter up the father-in-law,
You can marry his daughter.
If you butter up that daughter a little,
You can win her love and romance her.
If you butter up the brother-in-law as well,
You can have a wonderful time...
Aha, you can have a wonderful time!
If you butter up the public,
You can become a party worker.
If you butter up that very worker,
You can become the leader!
If you butter up the public,
You can become a party worker.
If you butter up that very worker,
You can become the leader!
If you butter up the whole town,
You can win all their votes.
If you butter up the whole town,
You can win all their votes.
Just having those votes is enough to rule this country,
Yes, you can rule this country!
And so...
You have to butter them up, really butter them up!
Do it in grand style, butter them up!
If you want what you desire to happen, watch for the right time,
And butter them up well, butter them up!
Do it in grand style, butter them up!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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