Poiyai Meiyaai Potri
From Ashok Kumar · 1941
- Lyricist
- Papanasam Sivan
- Music director
- Aalathur V. Sivasubramaniam
- Details
- Ashok Kumar1941
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Poiyai meiyaai pottri vaazhum | Living by praising falsehood as the truth, |
| Naai orr elumbhai thookki alaiyum | Like a dog wandering around carrying a bone, |
| Poiyai meiyaai pottri vaazhum | Living by praising falsehood as the truth, |
| Naai orr elumbhai thookki alaiyum | Like a dog wandering around carrying a bone, |
| Male | |
| Ngyaayamadhae pol nee alaiyaadhae | Do not wander about in the very same way; |
| Ngyaayamadhae pol nee alaiyaadhae | Do not wander about in the very same way; |
| Naalimel nalamendrae nee nambhi | Believing that goodness will come day after day, |
| Mosamadaindha paazhaaagadhae | Do not be deceived and go to waste! |
| Mosamadaindha paazhaaagadhae | Do not be deceived and go to waste! |
பொய்யை மெய்யாய் போற்றி வாழும்
நாய் ஓர் எலும்பைத் தூக்கி அலையும்
பொய்யை மெய்யாய் போற்றி வாழும்
நாய் ஓர் எலும்பைத் தூக்கி அலையும்
Living by praising falsehood as the truth,
Like a dog wandering around carrying a bone,
Living by praising falsehood as the truth,
Like a dog wandering around carrying a bone,
ஞாயமதே போல் நீ அலையாதே
ஞாயமதே போல் நீ அலையாதே
நானிலமேல் நலமென்றே நீ நம்பி
மோசமடைந்தே பாழாகாதே
மோசமடைந்தே பாழாகாதே
Do not wander about in the very same way;
Do not wander about in the very same way;
Believing that goodness will come day after day,
Do not be deceived and go to waste!
Do not be deceived and go to waste!
Poiyai meiyaai pottri vaazhum
Living by praising falsehood as the truth,
Naai orr elumbhai thookki alaiyum
Like a dog wandering around carrying a bone,
Poiyai meiyaai pottri vaazhum
Living by praising falsehood as the truth,
Naai orr elumbhai thookki alaiyum
Like a dog wandering around carrying a bone,
Ngyaayamadhae pol nee alaiyaadhae
Do not wander about in the very same way;
Ngyaayamadhae pol nee alaiyaadhae
Do not wander about in the very same way;
Naalimel nalamendrae nee nambhi
Believing that goodness will come day after day,
Mosamadaindha paazhaaagadhae
Do not be deceived and go to waste!
Mosamadaindha paazhaaagadhae
Do not be deceived and go to waste!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song cautions human beings against leading a life rooted in falsehoods and material illusions. Papanasam Sivan employs the vivid metaphor of a dog wandering aimlessly with a dry bone, blindly cherishing something of no real spiritual or lasting value. The lyricist warns that blindly hoping for future fortune while living dishonestly will only result in deception and self-destruction.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile / Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Naai orr elumbhai thookki alaiyum”
Compares a person clinging to falsehood to a dog wandering aimlessly with a dry bone.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naalimel nalamendrae nee nambhi”
Matching initial consonant sounds across words like Naalimel, Nalamendrae, and Nambhi to create lyrical flow.
Repetition / Refrain
“Mosamadaindha paazhaaagadhae”
Crucial thematic lines are repeated sequentially to reinforce the moral warning.
Did you know?
Trivia
Ashok Kumar (1941) was a major blockbuster starring M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), the first undisputed superstar of Tamil cinema. Written by famed Carnatic composer Papanasam Sivan, the soundtrack played a significant role in the movie's immense commercial success.
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