Poottai Thirappathu Kaiyale
From Villiyanur Matha · 1983
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Music director
- G. Devarajan
- Details
- Villiyanur Matha1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sa ri ga ma pa | Musical notes: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa |
| Children :Sa ri ga ma pa | Children: Musical notes: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa |
| Female :Tha ma tha ni | Female: Musical notes: Dha Ma Dha Ni |
| Sa ni sa ni dha pa ma ga ri sa | Descending scale: Sa Ni Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa |
| Children :Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa | Children: Vocalizing melody (La la la...) |
| Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa | Vocalizing melody (La la la...) |
| All :Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa | All: Vocalizing melody (La la la...) |
| Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa | Vocalizing melody (La la la...) |
| Female | |
| Poottai thirappathu kaiyaalae | Opening a lock is done with the hands |
| Nalla manan thirappathu madhiyaale | Opening a good heart is done with wisdom |
| Children :Poottai thirappathu kaiyaalae | Children: Opening a lock is done with the hands |
| Nalla manan thirappathu madhiyaale | Opening a good heart is done with wisdom |
| Female | |
| Paattai thirappathu pannaalae | Unlocking a song is done through tune and melody |
| Inba veettai thirappathu pennaalae | Unlocking a home of bliss is done through a woman |
| Children :Paattai thirappathu pannaalae | Children: Unlocking a song is done through tune and melody |
| Inba veettai thirappathu pennaalae | Unlocking a home of bliss is done through a woman |
| Female | |
| Yaettai thudaippathu kaiyaale | Wiping a page/manuscript is done with the hand |
| Mana veettai thudaippathu meiyaalae | Cleansing the dwelling of the mind is done with truth |
| Children :Yaettai thudaippathu kaiyaale | Children: Wiping a page/manuscript is done with the hand |
| Mana veettai thudaippathu meiyaalae | Cleansing the dwelling of the mind is done with truth |
| Female | |
| Vaettai adippadhu villaalae | Hunting prey is done using a bow |
| Anbu kottai pidippathu sollaalae | Capturing the fortress of love is done with gentle words |
| Children :Vaettai adippadhu villaalae | Children: Hunting prey is done using a bow |
| Anbu kottai pidippathu sollaalae | Capturing the fortress of love is done with gentle words |
| Female :Anbu sollaalae | Female: Love through gentle words |
| Female | |
| Kaattrai adaippathu manadh | Trapping the wind |
| Children :Kaattrai adaippathu manadhaalae | Children: Trapping the wandering wind is done through mind control |
| Indha kaayathai kaapathu seiyalaalae | Protecting this mortal body is done through good deeds |
| Female :Sottrai pusippathu vaayalae | Female: Eating rice and food is done through the mouth |
| Uyir thunivuruvathu thaayalae | Infusing courage into life is done by the mother |
| Children :Sottrai pusippathu vaayalae | Children: Eating rice and food is done through the mouth |
| Uyir thunivuruvathu thaayalae | Infusing courage into life is done by the mother |
| Female :Uyir thaayaalae | Female: Life's courage through the mother |
ஸரிகமப
குழு :
ஸரிகமப
தமதநி ஸநிஸ நிதபமகரிஸ...
குழு :
லாலாலா...ஆஆஆ....
லாலலலாலா...ஆஆஅ..
அனைவரும் : லாலாலா...ஆஆஆ....
லாலலலாலா...ஆஆஅ..
Musical notes: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa
Children: Musical notes: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa
Female: Musical notes: Dha Ma Dha Ni
Descending scale: Sa Ni Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa
Children: Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
All: Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
பூட்டைத் திறப்பது கையாலே
நல்ல மனந் திறப்பது மதியாலே
குழு :
பூட்டைத் திறப்பது கையாலே
நல்ல மனந் திறப்பது மதியாலே
Opening a lock is done with the hands
Opening a good heart is done with wisdom
Children: Opening a lock is done with the hands
Opening a good heart is done with wisdom
பாட்டைத் திறப்பது பண்ணாலே
இன்ப வீட்டைத் திறப்பது பெண்ணாலே
குழு :
பாட்டைத் திறப்பது பண்ணாலே
இன்ப வீட்டைத் திறப்பது பெண்ணாலே
Unlocking a song is done through tune and melody
Unlocking a home of bliss is done through a woman
Children: Unlocking a song is done through tune and melody
Unlocking a home of bliss is done through a woman
பூட்டைத் திறப்பது கையாலே
நல்ல மனந் திறப்பது மதியாலே
பாட்டைத் திறப்பது பண்ணாலே
இன்ப வீட்டைத் திறப்பது பெண்ணாலே
Wiping a page/manuscript is done with the hand
Cleansing the dwelling of the mind is done with truth
Children: Wiping a page/manuscript is done with the hand
Cleansing the dwelling of the mind is done with truth
ஏட்டைத் துடைப்பது கையாலே
மன வீட்டைத் துடைப்பது மெய்யாலே
குழு :
ஏட்டைத் துடைப்பது கையாலே
மன வீட்டைத் துடைப்பது மெய்யாலே
Hunting prey is done using a bow
Capturing the fortress of love is done with gentle words
Children: Hunting prey is done using a bow
Capturing the fortress of love is done with gentle words
Female: Love through gentle words
வேட்டையடிப்பது வில்லாலே
அன்புக் கோட்டை பிடிப்பது சொல்லாலே...
குழு :
வேட்டையடிப்பது வில்லாலே
அன்புக் கோட்டை பிடிப்பது சொல்லாலே...
அன்பு சொல்லாலே...
Trapping the wind
Children: Trapping the wandering wind is done through mind control
Protecting this mortal body is done through good deeds
Female: Eating rice and food is done through the mouth
Infusing courage into life is done by the mother
Children: Eating rice and food is done through the mouth
Infusing courage into life is done by the mother
Female: Life's courage through the mother
பூட்டைத் திறப்பது கையாலே
நல்ல மனந் திறப்பது மதியாலே
பாட்டைத் திறப்பது பண்ணாலே
இன்ப வீட்டைத் திறப்பது பெண்ணாலே
லாலாலா...ஆஆஆ....
லாலலலாலா...ஆஆஅ..
அனைவரும் : லாலாலா...ஆஆஆ....
லாலலலாலா...ஆஆஅ..
காற்றையடைப்பது மனதாலே
இந்தக் காயத்தைக் காப்பது செய்கையாலே
குழு :
காற்றையடைப்பது மனதாலே
இந்தக் காயத்தைக் காப்பது செய்கையாலே
சோற்றைப் புசிப்பது வாயாலே
உயிர் துணிவுறுவது தாயாலே......
குழு :
சோற்றைப் புசிப்பது வாயாலே
உயிர் துணிவுறுவது தாயாலே......
உயிர் தாயாலே......
பூட்டைத் திறப்பது கையாலே
நல்ல மனந் திறப்பது மதியாலே
பாட்டைத் திறப்பது பண்ணாலே
இன்ப வீட்டைத் திறப்பது பெண்ணாலே
லாலாலா...ஆஆஆ....
லாலலலாலா...ஆஆஅ..
அனைவரும் :
லாலாலா...ஆஆஆ....
லாலலலாலா...ஆஆஅ..
Sa ri ga ma pa
Musical notes: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa
Children :Sa ri ga ma pa
Children: Musical notes: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa
Female :Tha ma tha ni
Female: Musical notes: Dha Ma Dha Ni
Sa ni sa ni dha pa ma ga ri sa
Descending scale: Sa Ni Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa
Children :Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa
Children: Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa
Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
All :Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa
All: Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
Lalalalal aaaa lalalalal aaaa
Vocalizing melody (La la la...)
Poottai thirappathu kaiyaalae
Opening a lock is done with the hands
Nalla manan thirappathu madhiyaale
Opening a good heart is done with wisdom
Children :Poottai thirappathu kaiyaalae
Children: Opening a lock is done with the hands
Nalla manan thirappathu madhiyaale
Opening a good heart is done with wisdom
Paattai thirappathu pannaalae
Unlocking a song is done through tune and melody
Inba veettai thirappathu pennaalae
Unlocking a home of bliss is done through a woman
Children :Paattai thirappathu pannaalae
Children: Unlocking a song is done through tune and melody
Inba veettai thirappathu pennaalae
Unlocking a home of bliss is done through a woman
Yaettai thudaippathu kaiyaale
Wiping a page/manuscript is done with the hand
Mana veettai thudaippathu meiyaalae
Cleansing the dwelling of the mind is done with truth
Children :Yaettai thudaippathu kaiyaale
Children: Wiping a page/manuscript is done with the hand
Mana veettai thudaippathu meiyaalae
Cleansing the dwelling of the mind is done with truth
Vaettai adippadhu villaalae
Hunting prey is done using a bow
Anbu kottai pidippathu sollaalae
Capturing the fortress of love is done with gentle words
Children :Vaettai adippadhu villaalae
Children: Hunting prey is done using a bow
Anbu kottai pidippathu sollaalae
Capturing the fortress of love is done with gentle words
Female :Anbu sollaalae
Female: Love through gentle words
Kaattrai adaippathu manadh
Trapping the wind
Children :Kaattrai adaippathu manadhaalae
Children: Trapping the wandering wind is done through mind control
Indha kaayathai kaapathu seiyalaalae
Protecting this mortal body is done through good deeds
Female :Sottrai pusippathu vaayalae
Female: Eating rice and food is done through the mouth
Uyir thunivuruvathu thaayalae
Infusing courage into life is done by the mother
Children :Sottrai pusippathu vaayalae
Children: Eating rice and food is done through the mouth
Uyir thunivuruvathu thaayalae
Infusing courage into life is done by the mother
Female :Uyir thaayaalae
Female: Life's courage through the mother
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic verse uses simple, parallel analogies from daily life to explain profound moral and spiritual truths. It contrasts physical actions with higher human and spiritual virtues: while a physical lock is opened by hands, a human heart is opened with wisdom; while hunting requires a bow, winning affection requires kind words. It highlights the role of truth in purifying the mind, noble deeds in preserving the body, and the mother in instilling bravery and purpose in life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Aethukai (Second letter rhyme) & Iyaibu (End rhyme)
“Poottai thirappathu kaiyaalae / Nalla manan thirappathu madhiyaale”
The lyrics follow a rhythmic pattern ending in '-aalae' across comparative lines (kaiyaalae / madhiyaale, pannaalae / pennaalae).
Parallelism / Contrast (Upamana - Upameya)
“Vaettai adippadhu villaalae / Anbu kottai pidippathu sollaalae”
Concrete physical actions (opening locks, hunting, eating) are directly paralleled with abstract or higher virtues (opening hearts, winning love, acquiring courage).
Did you know?
Trivia
Although frequently popularized in Tamil cinema and moral textbook recitations, these iconic lines emphasize Tamil ethical philosophy (similar to Thirukkural moral couplets) where practical analogies are taught to children to build character and wisdom.
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