Pottathaanda Theriyudhu
From Paasa Deepam · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Paasa Deepam1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu | Only when you pour a drink does it become clear |
| Bhoomi enna size-nnu | What the real size of this Earth is! |
| Potta pinnae puriyuthu | Only after drinking do you understand |
| Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu | What a luxury and comfort life is! |
| Male | |
| Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu | Only when you pour a drink does it become clear |
| Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu | What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is! |
| Potta pinnae puriyuthu | Only after drinking do you understand |
| Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu | What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is! |
| Male | |
| ……………. | |
| Male | |
| Elaei paatan pootan thanniyadichchaan | Hey, our ancestors and forefathers drank liquor, |
| Paattum koothum alliyadichaan antha naalilae | They indulged in songs and folk dances back in those days! |
| Ada paalum vella kallum | Hey, milk and white toddy, |
| Vella Kalla pola nanmaiyilla antha paalilae | There is no goodness in milk compared to white toddy, |
| Sugam intha paalilae…. | The true pleasure is in this liquor... |
| Male | |
| Ada pottataathaandaa theriyuthu | Hey, only when you pour a drink does it become clear |
| Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu | What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is! |
| Potta pinnae puriyuthu | Only after drinking do you understand |
| Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu | What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is! |
| Male | |
| Oru maraththu kalleduththu oothu odamba thaeththu | Take toddy from a tree, drink it and revive your body, |
| Kallu kalayam idhukku maalai katti saaththu aadu kooththu | Garland the toddy pot, dance and celebrate! |
| Ada indhiran illa chandhiran illa | Hey, neither Lord Indra nor the Moon god, |
| Kamsan veettu vamsam enna podavillaiyaa | Didn't even King Kamsa's lineage drink? |
| Male | |
| Avan rum-ah thottu melaththa thottu | He touched the rum, touched the drums, |
| Rathiri thottu kaalai varaikkum | From night until morning, |
| Aadavillaiyaa aadavillaiyaa | Didn't he dance? Didn't he dance? |
| Male | |
| Ada pottataathaandaa theriyuthu | Hey, only when you pour a drink does it become clear |
| Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu | What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is! |
| Potta pinnae puriyuthu | Only after drinking do you understand |
| Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu | What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is! |
| Male | |
| Maduraiveeran saamikkithu pidikkum | Deity Madurai Veeran loves this, |
| Kobaththil kudhikkum | He leaps in fierce anger! |
| Antha maadang kaalai sudalaiyaandi | That mighty bull, right up to Sudalai Aandi, |
| Varaikkum kallum kudikkum | Everyone drinks toddy! |
| Male | |
| Ada odiyaadi velaiyai senjaa | Hey, if you run around and work hard, |
| Onnu rendu pottukka ullae | Pour one or two drinks inside, |
| Sorkkam pogalaam | You can go straight to heaven! |
| Idhu naadi melae narambu melae oorumpothu | When this creeps over your pulse and nerves... |
| Male | |
| Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu | Only when you pour a drink does it become clear |
| Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu | What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is! |
| Potta pinnae puriyuthu | Only after drinking do you understand |
| Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu | What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is! |
போட்டாதான்டா தெரியுது
பூமி என்ன சைசுன்னு
போட்ட பின்னே புரியுது
வாழ்க்கை என்ன சொகுசுன்னு
Only when you pour a drink does it become clear
What the real size of this Earth is!
Only after drinking do you understand
What a luxury and comfort life is!
போட்டாதான்டா தெரியுது
பூமி என்ன சைசுன்னு ஆஹா சைசுன்னு
போட்ட பின்னே புரியுது
வாழ்க்கை என்ன சொகுசுன்னு ஆஹா சொகுசுன்னு
Only when you pour a drink does it become clear
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Only after drinking do you understand
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
...............................
எலேய் பாட்டன் பூட்டன் தண்ணியடிச்சான்
பாட்டும் கூத்தும் அள்ளியடிச்சான் அந்த நாளிலே
அட பாலும் வெள்ள கள்ளும்
வெள்ள கள்ளப் போல நன்மையில்ல அந்த பாலிலே
சுகம் இந்த பாலிலே......
Hey, our ancestors and forefathers drank liquor,
They indulged in songs and folk dances back in those days!
Hey, milk and white toddy,
There is no goodness in milk compared to white toddy,
The true pleasure is in this liquor...
அட போட்டாதான்டா தெரியுது
பூமி என்ன சைசுன்னு ஆஹா சைசுன்னு
போட்ட பின்னே புரியுது
வாழ்க்கை என்ன சொகுசுன்னு ஆஹா சொகுசுன்னு
Hey, only when you pour a drink does it become clear
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Only after drinking do you understand
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
ஒரு மரத்து கள்ளெடுத்து ஊத்து ஒடம்ப தேத்து
கள்ளு கலயம் இதுக்கு மாலை கட்டி சாத்து ஆடு கூத்து
அட இந்திரன் இல்ல சந்திரன் இல்ல
கம்சன் வீட்டு வம்சம் என்ன போடவில்லையா
Take toddy from a tree, drink it and revive your body,
Garland the toddy pot, dance and celebrate!
Hey, neither Lord Indra nor the Moon god,
Didn't even King Kamsa's lineage drink?
அவன் ரம்ம தொட்டு மேளத்த தொட்டு
ராத்திரி தொட்டு காலை வரைக்கும்....
ஆடவில்லையா ஆடவில்லையா....
He touched the rum, touched the drums,
From night until morning,
Didn't he dance? Didn't he dance?
அட போட்டாதான்டா தெரியுது
பூமி என்ன சைசுன்னு ஆஹா சைசுன்னு
போட்ட பின்னே புரியுது
வாழ்க்கை என்ன சொகுசுன்னு ஆஹா சொகுசுன்னு
Hey, only when you pour a drink does it become clear
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Only after drinking do you understand
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
மதுரை வீரன் சாமிக்கிது பிடிக்கும்
கோபத்தில் குதிக்கும்
அந்த மாடங் காளை சுடலையாண்டி
வரைக்கும் கள்ளும் குடிக்கும்
Deity Madurai Veeran loves this,
He leaps in fierce anger!
That mighty bull, right up to Sudalai Aandi,
Everyone drinks toddy!
அட ஓடியாடி வேலையை செஞ்சா
ஒண்ணு ரெண்டு போட்டுக்க உள்ளே
சொர்க்கம் போகலாம்
இது நாடி மேலே நரம்பு மேலே ஊறும்போது
Hey, if you run around and work hard,
Pour one or two drinks inside,
You can go straight to heaven!
When this creeps over your pulse and nerves...
போட்டாதான்டா தெரியுது
பூமி என்ன சைசுன்னு ஆஹா சைசுன்னு
போட்ட பின்னே புரியுது
வாழ்க்கை என்ன சொகுசுன்னு ஆஹா சொகுசுன்னு
Only when you pour a drink does it become clear
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Only after drinking do you understand
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Only when you pour a drink does it become clear
Bhoomi enna size-nnu
What the real size of this Earth is!
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Only after drinking do you understand
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu
What a luxury and comfort life is!
Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Only when you pour a drink does it become clear
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Only after drinking do you understand
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
…………….
Elaei paatan pootan thanniyadichchaan
Hey, our ancestors and forefathers drank liquor,
Paattum koothum alliyadichaan antha naalilae
They indulged in songs and folk dances back in those days!
Ada paalum vella kallum
Hey, milk and white toddy,
Vella Kalla pola nanmaiyilla antha paalilae
There is no goodness in milk compared to white toddy,
Sugam intha paalilae….
The true pleasure is in this liquor...
Ada pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Hey, only when you pour a drink does it become clear
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Only after drinking do you understand
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
Oru maraththu kalleduththu oothu odamba thaeththu
Take toddy from a tree, drink it and revive your body,
Kallu kalayam idhukku maalai katti saaththu aadu kooththu
Garland the toddy pot, dance and celebrate!
Ada indhiran illa chandhiran illa
Hey, neither Lord Indra nor the Moon god,
Kamsan veettu vamsam enna podavillaiyaa
Didn't even King Kamsa's lineage drink?
Avan rum-ah thottu melaththa thottu
He touched the rum, touched the drums,
Rathiri thottu kaalai varaikkum
From night until morning,
Aadavillaiyaa aadavillaiyaa
Didn't he dance? Didn't he dance?
Ada pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Hey, only when you pour a drink does it become clear
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Only after drinking do you understand
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
Maduraiveeran saamikkithu pidikkum
Deity Madurai Veeran loves this,
Kobaththil kudhikkum
He leaps in fierce anger!
Antha maadang kaalai sudalaiyaandi
That mighty bull, right up to Sudalai Aandi,
Varaikkum kallum kudikkum
Everyone drinks toddy!
Ada odiyaadi velaiyai senjaa
Hey, if you run around and work hard,
Onnu rendu pottukka ullae
Pour one or two drinks inside,
Sorkkam pogalaam
You can go straight to heaven!
Idhu naadi melae narambu melae oorumpothu
When this creeps over your pulse and nerves...
Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Only when you pour a drink does it become clear
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
What the real size of this Earth is, aha size it is!
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Only after drinking do you understand
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
What a luxury life is, aha luxury it is!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a rustic, folk-infused track celebrating the leisure and perspective gained after a hard day's work. The singer humorously claims that alcohol expands one's mind, revealing the true scale of the Earth and the simple joys of life. He justifies drinking by invoking ancient traditions, royal lineages, and popular Tamil guardian deities like Madurai Veeran and Sudalai Aandi who traditionally receive liquor offerings.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu / Potta pinnae puriyuthu”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Pottataathaandaa' and 'Potta pinnae' or 'Indhiran' and 'Kamsan'.
Monaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paattum koothum alliyadichaan antha naalilae / Ada paalum vella kallum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'p' in 'Paattum' and 'Paalum'.
Irony / Hyperbole
“Vella Kalla pola nanmaiyilla antha paalilae”
Playfully exalting toddy over milk ('There is no goodness in milk compared to white toddy').
Cultural Allusion
“Maduraiveeran saamikkithu pidikkum / Antha maadang kaalai sudalaiyaandi”
Referencing Tamil folk guardian deities (Madurai Veeran, Sudalai Aandi) and their worship rituals involving alcohol.
Did you know?
Trivia
In Paasa Deepam (1973), Kannadasan expertly captured rural folk philosophy and humor. M. S. Viswanathan composed the song with brass instruments mixed with native percussion, giving T. M. Soundararajan a vibrant canvas to deliver a theatrical performance.
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