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Navarathri album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pottadhu Molaichuthadi Kannammaa

From Navarathri · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Navarathri
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
21 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottadhu molaichudhadi kannammaa…
Kai niraiya…
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa…
Pottadhu molaichudhadi kannammaa
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Kai niraiya
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Pottadhu molaichudhadi kannammaa
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Kai niraiya
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Naathu vandhu sirikkudhadi kaalathilae
Sothu paanai kodhikkudhadi naerathilae
Naathu vandhu sirikkudhadi kaalathilae
Sothu paanai kodhikkudhadi naerathilae…
Naerathilae
Pottadhu molaichudhadi kannammaa
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Kai niraiya
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Manna nambi uzhudhu vachu
Mazhaiya nambi vedha vedhachu
Manna nambi uzhudhu vachu
Mazhaiya nambi vedha vedhachu
Vayala nambi vaazhndhirundhaal
Kannammaa
Vayala nambi vaazhndhirundhaal
Kannammaa
Oru payala namba thaevaiyillae
Chinnammaa
Oru payala namba thaevaiyillae
Chinnammaa
Pottadhu molaichudhadi kannammaa
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Kai niraiya
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Aattam podum manidharukkum
Aaravaaram seibavarkkum
Aattam podum manidharukkum
Aaravaaram seibavarkkum
Kottai katti vaazhbavarkkum
Kannammaa
Kottai katti vaazhbavarkkum
Kannammaa
Indha moottaiyil thaan uyirirukku
Chinnammaa
Nellu moottaiyil thaan uyirirukku
Chinnammaa
Pottadhu molaichudhadi kannammaa
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
Kai niraiya
Kettadhu kedaichudhadi chinnammaa
What we sowed has sprouted, Kannamma!
Our hands are full,
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
What we sowed has sprouted, Kannamma!
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Our hands are full,
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
What we sowed has sprouted, Kannamma!
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Our hands are full,
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
The young shoots smile in the right season,
The rice pot boils right on time!
The young shoots smile in the right season,
The rice pot boils right on time...
Right on time!
What we sowed has sprouted, Kannamma!
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Our hands are full,
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Trusting the soil and ploughing the land,
Trusting the rains and sowing the seeds,
Trusting the soil and ploughing the land,
Trusting the rains and sowing the seeds,
If we make our living trusting the fields,
Kannamma,
If we make our living trusting the fields,
Kannamma,
We never have to depend on any man,
Chinnamma!
We never have to depend on any man,
Chinnamma!
What we sowed has sprouted, Kannamma!
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Our hands are full,
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
For the people who strut around with pride,
And for those who make a loud show,
For the people who strut around with pride,
And for those who make a loud show,
Even for those living in grand mansions,
Kannamma,
Even for those living in grand mansions,
Kannamma,
Their very life is inside this grain sack,
Chinnamma!
Their very life is inside this sack of paddy,
Chinnamma!
What we sowed has sprouted, Kannamma!
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Our hands are full,
We got all that we asked for, Chinnamma...
Male
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Male
Male
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Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Tamil folk-style harvest song celebrates the joy and dignity of agriculture. The lyrics emphasize the fulfillment that comes from hard work on the land—how sowing seeds with trust in nature yields a bountiful harvest that feeds everyone, regardless of their social standing or wealth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Pottadhu molaichudhadi / Kettadhu kedaichudhadi

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow.

Mona (Alliteration)

Manna nambi uzhudhu vachu / Mazhaiya nambi vedha vedhachu

Repetition of initial consonants like 'M' across phrase openings.

Personification

Naathu vandhu sirikkudhadi kaalathilae

Attributing human traits like smiling ('sirikkudhadi') to young crops ('Naathu').

Did you know?

Trivia

From the iconic 1964 Tamil film 'Navarathri', which featured actor Sivaji Ganesan playing nine different roles. The film's musical score was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Kannadasan.

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