Potri Paadadi Penne Sad
From Thevar Magan · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Sivaji Ganesan, Shruti Haasan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thevar Magan1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mm oru paatuu paadri | Mm, sing a song |
| Female :Mm endha paattu aiyaa | Female: Mm, which song, sir? |
| Male :Namma paattuthen | Male: Our song, of course! |
| Female :Devar kaaladi mannae | Female: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar... |
| Male :Dei kutty kaludha | Male: Hey little donkey! |
| Paadhilaiya paaduradhu | Why are you singing from the middle? |
| Modha adiya paaduri | You are singing the opening line second! |
| Female :Mm…mm… | Female: Mm...mm... |
| Male | |
| Pottri paadadi ponnae.. | Sing in praise, my dear girl... |
| Female :Haaan…aa… | Female: Haaan...aa... |
| Male :Haan | Male: Haan |
| Female :Pottri paadadi ponnae..ae | Female: Sing in praise, my dear girl... |
| Male :Devar kaaladi mannae..haan | Male: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar... haan |
| Female :Devar kaaladi mannae.. | Female: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar... |
| Male :Aamaandi aamandi appadi thandi | Male: Yes girl, yes girl, just like that girl! |
| Raasathi hmm paatta padi niruthaatha | Princess, keep singing, don't stop! |
| Male | |
| Haan | Haan |
| Female | |
| Thekku thisai aanda | The royal lineage that ruled |
| Mannar inamthaan hoi.. | The southern direction, hoi.. |
| Male :Aamandi | Male: Yes, girl! |
| Female :Mukkulaththa serndha | Female: Belonging to the Mukkulam, |
| Devar maganthaan hoi.. | Is the son of Devar, hoi.. |
| Female | |
| Aaa..pottri paadadi ponnae..ae | Aaa.. sing in praise, my dear girl.. |
| Devar kaaladi mann.. | Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar.. |
| Chorus | |
| {Hooo oooo ooo | {Hooo oooo ooo |
| Aaaah…. aahhh.. | Aaaah.... aahhh.. |
| Hooo oooo ooo} (2) | Hooo oooo ooo} (2) |
| Male | |
| Vaanam thottu ponaan | He touched the sky in stature, |
| Maanam ulla saami oh.. | The deity of immense honor, oh.. |
| Vaanam thottu ponaan | He touched the sky in stature, |
| Maanam ulla saami | The deity of immense honor, |
| Male | |
| Thembuthaiyaa paavam | It is losing its strength and vigor, alas, |
| Devargalin bhoomi | This land of the Devars! |
| Pattathukku veru | For the royal throne, who else |
| Sittrasan yaaru | Could be a fitting king? |
| Thangathukku veru | For pure gold, |
| Maatru unda kooru | Tell me, is there any alternative test of purity? |
| Male | |
| Thirundhaama pochae | They remained uncorrected, |
| Oorusanamthaan | The villagers... |
| Thathalichu vaaduthaiya | Struggling and wilting away, alas, |
| Ezha inam thaan | Is the poor community. |
| Male | |
| Pottri paadadi ponnae | Sing in praise, my dear girl |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah...aa... |
| Male :Devar kaaladi mannae | Male: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah...aa... |
| Chorus | |
| {Hooo oooo ooo | {Hooo oooo ooo |
| Aaaah…. aahhh.. | Aaaah.... aahhh.. |
| Hooo oooo ooo} (2) | Hooo oooo ooo} (2) |
ம்ம்ம் ஒரு பாட்டு பாடறி
ம்ம்ம் எந்த பாட்டு ஐயா
நம்ம பாட்டுதேன்
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே...
டேய் குட்டி கழுதை
பாதிலையா பாடுறது
மொத அடிய பாடுரி
ம்ம் ம்ம்
Mm, sing a song
Female: Mm, which song, sir?
Male: Our song, of course!
Female: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar...
Male: Hey little donkey!
Why are you singing from the middle?
You are singing the opening line second!
Female: Mm...mm...
போற்றிப் பாடடி பொண்ணே...
ஹான் ஆஅ....
ஹான் ஹ்ம்ம்
போற்றிப் பாடடி பொண்ணே...ஏ..
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே...ஆஹ்
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே...
ஆமாண்டி ஆமாண்டி அப்படிதாண்டி
ராசாத்தி ஹ்ம்ம் பாட்ட படி நிறுத்தாத
Sing in praise, my dear girl...
Female: Haaan...aa...
Male: Haan
Female: Sing in praise, my dear girl...
Male: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar... haan
Female: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar...
Male: Yes girl, yes girl, just like that girl!
Princess, keep singing, don't stop!
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
போற்றிப் பாடடி பொண்ணே...ஏ
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே...ஆஹ்
Haan
தெக்குத் தெச ஆண்ட
மன்னர் இனந்தான் ஹோ
ஆமாண்டி
முக்குலத்த சேர்ந்த
தேவர் மகன்தான் ஹோய்
The royal lineage that ruled
The southern direction, hoi..
Male: Yes, girl!
Female: Belonging to the Mukkulam,
Is the son of Devar, hoi..
ஆஅ....போற்றிப் பாடடி பொண்ணே
தேவர் காலடி மண்
Aaa.. sing in praise, my dear girl..
Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar..
{ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ
ஆஅ ஆஅ ஆஅ ஆஅ
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ} (2)
{Hooo oooo ooo
Aaaah.... aahhh..
Hooo oooo ooo} (2)
வானம் தொட்டு போனான்....ஆ
மானமுள்ள சாமி ஓஒ.....
வானம் தொட்டு போனான்
மானமுள்ள சாமி
He touched the sky in stature,
The deity of immense honor, oh..
He touched the sky in stature,
The deity of immense honor,
தேம்புதையா பாவம்
தேவர்களின் பூமி
பட்டத்துக்கு வேறு சிற்றரசன் யாரு
தங்கத்துக்கு வேறு மாற்று உண்டா கூறு
திருந்தாம போச்சே ஊரு சனம்தான்
தத்தளிச்சு வாடுதையா ஏழை இனம்தான்
It is losing its strength and vigor, alas,
This land of the Devars!
For the royal throne, who else
Could be a fitting king?
For pure gold,
Tell me, is there any alternative test of purity?
போற்றிப் பாடடி பொண்ணே.....
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே...ஆஹ்
They remained uncorrected,
The villagers...
Struggling and wilting away, alas,
Is the poor community.
{ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ
ஆஅ ஆஅ ஆஅ ஆஅ
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ} (2)
Sing in praise, my dear girl
Chorus: Aaah...aa...
Male: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar
Chorus: Aaah...aa...
{Hooo oooo ooo
Aaaah.... aahhh..
Hooo oooo ooo} (2)
Mm oru paatuu paadri
Mm, sing a song
Female :Mm endha paattu aiyaa
Female: Mm, which song, sir?
Male :Namma paattuthen
Male: Our song, of course!
Female :Devar kaaladi mannae
Female: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar...
Male :Dei kutty kaludha
Male: Hey little donkey!
Paadhilaiya paaduradhu
Why are you singing from the middle?
Modha adiya paaduri
You are singing the opening line second!
Female :Mm…mm…
Female: Mm...mm...
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Sing in praise, my dear girl...
Female :Haaan…aa…
Female: Haaan...aa...
Male :Haan
Male: Haan
Female :Pottri paadadi ponnae..ae
Female: Sing in praise, my dear girl...
Male :Devar kaaladi mannae..haan
Male: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar... haan
Female :Devar kaaladi mannae..
Female: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar...
Male :Aamaandi aamandi appadi thandi
Male: Yes girl, yes girl, just like that girl!
Raasathi hmm paatta padi niruthaatha
Princess, keep singing, don't stop!
Haan
Haan
Thekku thisai aanda
The royal lineage that ruled
Mannar inamthaan hoi..
The southern direction, hoi..
Male :Aamandi
Male: Yes, girl!
Female :Mukkulaththa serndha
Female: Belonging to the Mukkulam,
Devar maganthaan hoi..
Is the son of Devar, hoi..
Aaa..pottri paadadi ponnae..ae
Aaa.. sing in praise, my dear girl..
Devar kaaladi mann..
Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar..
{Hooo oooo ooo
{Hooo oooo ooo
Aaaah…. aahhh..
Aaaah.... aahhh..
Hooo oooo ooo} (2)
Hooo oooo ooo} (2)
Vaanam thottu ponaan
He touched the sky in stature,
Maanam ulla saami oh..
The deity of immense honor, oh..
Vaanam thottu ponaan
He touched the sky in stature,
Maanam ulla saami
The deity of immense honor,
Thembuthaiyaa paavam
It is losing its strength and vigor, alas,
Devargalin bhoomi
This land of the Devars!
Pattathukku veru
For the royal throne, who else
Sittrasan yaaru
Could be a fitting king?
Thangathukku veru
For pure gold,
Maatru unda kooru
Tell me, is there any alternative test of purity?
Thirundhaama pochae
They remained uncorrected,
Oorusanamthaan
The villagers...
Thathalichu vaaduthaiya
Struggling and wilting away, alas,
Ezha inam thaan
Is the poor community.
Pottri paadadi ponnae
Sing in praise, my dear girl
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah...aa...
Male :Devar kaaladi mannae
Male: Oh soil beneath the feet of Devar
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah...aa...
{Hooo oooo ooo
{Hooo oooo ooo
Aaaah…. aahhh..
Aaaah.... aahhh..
Hooo oooo ooo} (2)
Hooo oooo ooo} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Potri Paadadi Ponne' from the film Thevar Magan (1992) is a celebrated cultural folk song deeply rooted in the traditions of Southern Tamil Nadu. The song pays homage to the lineage, pride, and righteous leadership of the village chief. It compares the noble leader to pure gold and a revered deity who brought honor and protection to his land. Simultaneously, the song carries a poignant social commentary about the tragic plight of the rural folk. It laments how internal conflicts, stubbornness, and lack of social progress leave the poor community struggling and wilting away, despite their grand heritage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Thangathukku veru / Maatru unda kooru”
Compares the leader's pure character and unquestionable stature to high-carat gold (Thangam) for which no alternative benchmark exists.
Ethukai (Second-Letter Rhyming)
“Pattathukku veru / Sittrasan yaaru”
A classic Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines rhymes ('tt' in Pattathukku and Sittrasan).
Hyperbole (Ayuvaani)
“Vaanam thottu ponaan / Maanam ulla saami”
Exaggerates the stature and moral height of the leader as reaching up to touch the sky.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song composed by Ilaiyaraaja marked the playback singing debut of Shruti Haasan as a child artist alongside veteran actors Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan. The dialogue-style intro captures authentic rural Tamil folklore storytelling.
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