Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pottane Oru Podu

From Sathyam – 1976 Film · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Sathyam – 1976 Film
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
24 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottane oru podu
Avan kaetaane oru kelvi
En poopol manadhai mullaal keeri
Punnaai aaki venneer ootri
Pottane oru podu
Pottane oru podu
Avan kaetaane oru kelvi
En poopol manadhai mullaal keeri
Punnaai aaki venneer ootri
Pottane oru podu
Ennadi yamma magamaayi..
Naan enna kandaen un maganaagi
Ennadi yamma magamaayi..
Naan enna kandaen un maganaagi
Kaladi aayiram thangiduven
Intha solladi thanga mudiyalaiyeee…
Pottane oru podu
Avan kaetaane oru kelvi
Sonnathil nirpathu sathiyame
Adhil nindru jayipathu sathiyame
Sonnathil thotravan naan alla
Naan thottru vittaal nee thaaiyalla
En poopol manadhai mullaal keeri
Punnaai aaki venneer ootri
Pottane oru podu
Kaadhalai pirithaen sathiyathil
Uyar kadaimaiyai seithaen sathiyathil
Vedhanai valarthen sathiyathil
Adhan vidivum mudivum unnidathil
Pottane oru podu
Avan kaetaane oru kelvi
Aayiram kangal unakkundu
Adi adhile thirakkatum ondrirandu
Thaayaai irunthaal uyir kondu va
Ingu sathiyam vella vazhi kondu vaa
En poopol manadhai mullaal keeri
Punnaai aaki venneer ootri
Pottane oru podu
He struck such a heavy blow!
He asked such a piercing question!
He scratched my flower-like heart with a thorn,
Turned it into a wound, and poured boiling water over it!
He struck such a heavy blow!
He struck such a heavy blow!
He asked such a piercing question!
He scratched my flower-like heart with a thorn,
Turned it into a wound, and poured boiling water over it!
He struck such a heavy blow!
What is this, O Mother Mahamayi?
What did I ever gain by being your son?
What is this, O Mother Mahamayi?
What did I ever gain by being your son?
I could easily bear being hit by a thousand stones,
But I cannot bear the blow of these harsh words!
He struck such a heavy blow!
He asked such a piercing question!
Standing by one's word is true honour,
And triumphing through that word is truth itself.
I am not one to go back on my word;
If I ever fail, you are no mother to me!
He scratched my flower-like heart with a thorn,
Turned it into a wound, and poured boiling water over it!
He struck such a heavy blow!
I gave up my love for the sake of truth,
I did my highest duty in the name of truth,
I nurtured deep agony for the sake of truth—
Its dawn and its resolution now rest with you!
He struck such a heavy blow!
He asked such a piercing question!
You have a thousand eyes,
Let at least one or two of them open!
If you are truly a mother, bring back this life,
Show a way for truth to triumph here!
He scratched my flower-like heart with a thorn,
Turned it into a wound, and poured boiling water over it!
He struck such a heavy blow!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Pottane Oru Podu from the 1976 film Sathyam is a powerful, emotionally charged song expressing grief, betrayal, and a desperate cry for divine justice. The protagonist feels devastated by a harsh word/question from a loved one, describing the pain as tearing a flower-soft heart with a thorn and scalding the wound with hot water. He addresses Goddess Magamayi, stating that while he can endure physical torture, he cannot bear an allegation that questions his honor and commitment to truth. Having sacrificed his personal happiness and love to uphold duty and righteousness (sathiyam), he finds himself standing defeated. He passionately challenges the Goddess—asking her to open her thousand eyes, restore life, and ensure that truth triumphs over injustice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“En poopol manadhai mullaal keeri”

Compares the delicacy and vulnerability of the heart to a soft flower ('poopol manadhai').

Metaphor & Visceral Imagery (Uruvagam)

“Punnaai aaki venneer ootri”

Paints a vivid picture of emotional distress by comparing accusations to tearing a wound with thorns and pouring boiling water on it.

Apostrophe / Divine Address

“Ennadi yamma magamaayi.. Naan enna kandaen un maganaagi”

Directly confronts and calls upon Goddess Magamayi to question destiny and demand justice.

Anaphora / Epistrophe (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Kaadhalai pirithaen sathiyathil / Uyar kadaimaiyai seithaen sathiyathil”

Repeats the phrase 'sathiyathil' across consecutive lines to emphasize that every painful sacrifice was made for the sake of truth.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sathyam (1976) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Kamal Haasan in a intense family drama centered around ethics, truth, and duty. Sung with dramatic fervor by T. M. Soundararajan and set to K. V. Mahadevan's vibrant musical score, Kannadasan's lyrics perfectly amplify Sivaji Ganesan's iconic theatrical acting style.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aanaiyitten Nerungathe1971
PunnagaiDefiantDramatic
Sathiyam Idhu Sathiyam1963
Idhu SathiyamFateSpirituality
Enge Unmai En Naade1960
Rathinapuri IlavarasiGriefFate
Maatram Ondruthaan Maarathathu2014
KochadaiiyaanSpiritualityFate
Andhai Arinthavale1989
Vettaiyaadu Vilaiyaadu (1989 Film)GriefSpirituality
Sambho Siva Sambho2009
NaadodigalSpiritualityDefiant

From the same album

More songs from Sathyam – 1976 Film

View album
Kalyana Kovilin Sad1976
Sathyam – 1976 FilmBittersweet
Kalyana Kovilin1976
Sathyam – 1976 FilmCelebratory
Amma Mel Aanaiyitten1976
Sathyam – 1976 FilmPlayful
Azhagam Kodi Sirithu1976
Sathyam – 1976 FilmPlayful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.