- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Sivaji Ganesan, Shruti Haasan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Thevar Magan
- Movie release year
- 1992
- Lyrics added on
- 29 Nov 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'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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