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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pottathaanda Theriyudhu

From Paasa Deepam · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Paasa Deepam
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
12 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Bhoomi enna size-nnu
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu
Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
…………….
Elaei paatan pootan thanniyadichchaan
Paattum koothum alliyadichaan antha naalilae
Ada paalum vella kallum
Vella Kalla pola nanmaiyilla antha paalilae
Sugam intha paalilae….
Ada pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
Oru maraththu kalleduththu oothu odamba thaeththu
Kallu kalayam idhukku maalai katti saaththu aadu kooththu
Ada indhiran illa chandhiran illa
Kamsan veettu vamsam enna podavillaiyaa
Avan rum-ah thottu melaththa thottu
Rathiri thottu kaalai varaikkum
Aadavillaiyaa aadavillaiyaa
Ada pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
Maduraiveeran saamikkithu pidikkum
Kobaththil kudhikkum
Antha maadang kaalai sudalaiyaandi
Varaikkum kallum kudikkum
Ada odiyaadi velaiyai senjaa
Onnu rendu pottukka ullae
Sorkkam pogalaam
Idhu naadi melae narambu melae oorumpothu
Pottataathaandaa theriyuthu
Bhoomi enna size-nnu aahaa size-unnu
Potta pinnae puriyuthu
Vaazhkkai enna sogusunnu aahaa sogusunnu
Only when you pour a drink, man, do you see
what size the earth really is!
Only after drinking do you understand
what a luxury life really is!
Only when you pour a drink, man, do you see
what size the earth really is, aha, what size!
Only after drinking do you understand
what a luxury life really is, aha, what luxury!
...
Hey, our ancestors and forefathers drank up back then,
They indulged in song and dance in those old days!
Hey, toddy and white liquor,
even milk lacks the goodness found in this white drink!
There is bliss in this drink...
Hey, only when you pour a drink, man, do you see
what size the earth really is, aha, what size!
Only after drinking do you understand
what a luxury life really is, aha, what luxury!
Take palm toddy, pour it down, and revive your body!
Adorn this toddy pot with garlands and dance in celebration!
Hey, neither Indra nor the Moon God refrained,
didn't even the lineage of Kamsa's house down their drinks?
Reaching for the rum, beating on the drums,
from nightfall right through to the morning light,
didn't they dance, didn't they dance?
Hey, only when you pour a drink, man, do you see
what size the earth really is, aha, what size!
Only after drinking do you understand
what a luxury life really is, aha, what luxury!
Even Lord Madurai Veeran loves this drink,
he leaps in fiery wrath!
Even Sudalai Aandi, strong as a bull,
drinks toddy too!
Hey, if you run around and work hard all day,
pour a peg or two inside,
and you can go straight to heaven!
When this surges through your pulse and veins,
Only when you pour a drink, man, do you see
what size the earth really is, aha, what size!
Only after drinking do you understand
what a luxury life really is, aha, what luxury!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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