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Thevar Magan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Potri Paadadi Penne

From Thevar Magan · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, T. K. S. Kalaivanan, Shruti Haasan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thevar Magan
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
30 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Devar kaaladi mannae..
Thekku thisai aanda
Mannar inamthaan hoi..
Mukkulaththa serndha
Devar maganthaan hoi..
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Devar kaaladi mannae..
Enna solla mannu valam..
Chorus :Ding dong ding dong
Ding dong do..
Male :Maaththavanga kannu padum
Chorus :Ding dong ding dong
Ding dong do..
Enna solla mannu valam
Mathavanga kannu padum
Antha kadhai ippa ulla
Sandhadhinga ketka venum
Nammuyirkku mela
Maanam mariyaathai
Maanam izhandhaalae
Vazha theriyaathae
Perisellaam sonnaanga
Sonnabadi ninnaanga
Gunaththaal manaththaal
Kalai maan aanaanga
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Devar kaaladi mannae..
Thekku thisai aanda
Mannar inamthaan hoi..
Mukkulaththa serndha
Devar maganthaan hoi..
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Devar kaaladi mannae..
Munnorukku munnorellaam..
Chorus :Ding dong ding dong
Ding dong do..
Male :Innaarunnu kandu kolla
Chorus :Ding dong ding dong
Ding dong do..
Munnorukku munnorellaam
Innaarunnu kandu kolla
Yededuththu ezhuthi solla
Onnu rendu moonu alla
Mukkulaththor kalyaanandhen
Muthu muthu kambalandhen
Yekkulamum vaazhththu sollum
Engalukku ekkaalamdhen
Azhagaana sarisodi
Aanaimela ambaari
Kanakkaa vazhakkaa
Kadalpol yeraalam
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Devar kaaladi mannae..
Thekku thisai aanda
Mannar inamthaan hoi..
Mukkulaththa serndha
Devar maganthaan hoi..
Pottri paadadi ponnae..
Devar kaaladi mannae..
Sing praises, my precious girl!
Praise the soil beneath the Thevar's feet!
They ruled over the southern lands,
a proud clan of kings, hoy!
Belonging to the Mukkulathor clan,
he is a true son of Thevar, hoy!
Sing praises, my precious girl!
Praise the soil beneath the Thevar's feet!
How do I describe the richness of this soil?
Chorus: Ding dong, ding dong,
Ding dong do...
Male: Others will look on with envy!
Chorus: Ding dong, ding dong,
Ding dong do...
How do I describe the richness of this soil?
Others will look on with envy.
That legendary story is one
the younger generation must hear!
Even above our own lives,
honor and respect come first.
If we lose our honor,
we do not know how to live.
Our elders taught us this,
and they always lived by their word.
In character and in spirit,
they were as noble and pure as deer.
Sing praises, my precious girl!
Praise the soil beneath the Thevar's feet!
They ruled over the southern lands,
a proud clan of kings, hoy!
Belonging to the Mukkulathor clan,
he is a true son of Thevar, hoy!
Sing praises, my precious girl!
Praise the soil beneath the Thevar's feet!
All our ancient forefathers...
Chorus: Ding dong, ding dong,
Ding dong do...
Male: To trace who they all were,
Chorus: Ding dong, ding dong,
Ding dong do...
All our ancient forefathers—
to trace who they all were,
and record their names in history,
they are not just one, two, or three!
A wedding in the Mukkulathor clan
is like a carpet adorned with pearls!
Every community offers its blessings,
and our hearts swell with triumphant joy!
What a handsome, perfectly matched pair,
like a grand carriage atop an elephant!
Can our customs and traditions be counted?
They are endless, vast like the sea!
Sing praises, my precious girl!
Praise the soil beneath the Thevar's feet!
They ruled over the southern lands,
a proud clan of kings, hoy!
Belonging to the Mukkulathor clan,
he is a true son of Thevar, hoy!
Sing praises, my precious girl!
Praise the soil beneath the Thevar's feet!
Male
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Female
Female
Female
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Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Potri Paadadi Ponne is a traditional folk song from the iconic 1992 Tamil movie Thevar Magan. The song serves as a celebratory anthem highlighting the heritage, culture, and pride of the southern regional clans (Mukkulathor). It praises the fertility of the land, the nobility of ancestors who placed honor above life, and the grandeur of local traditions and celebrations. The lyrics emphasize that self-respect and integrity are core virtues passed down through generations, urging the youth to remember and honor their roots.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Pottri paadadi ponnae..

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'P' across the phrase creates a rhythmic and melodic folk quality.

Edhugai (Assonance)

Perisellaam sonnaanga / Sonnabadi ninnaanga

Second-letter rhyming across consecutive lines (na in 'Sonnaanga' and 'Ninnaanga') enhances the lyrical cadence.

Uvamai (Simile)

Kanakkaa vazhakkaa / Kadalpol yeraalam

The abundance of traditional customs and laws is explicitly compared to the vastness of an ocean ('Kadalpol').

Keep listening

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