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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pudikale Maamu

From Neethaane En Ponvasantham · 2012

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Karthik, Suraj Jagan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Neethaane En Ponvasantham2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Pudikala maamu padikkara collegeI don't like the college I study in, dude
Theru theruvaga thorathuthu knowledgeKnowledge chases me down street after street
Pudikala maamu padikkara collegeI don't like the college I study in, dude
Theru theruvaga thorathuthu knowledgeKnowledge chases me down street after street
Male
Aduthathu booksu alaruthu teenageUp next are books, and the teenage years are screaming
Sikiram namakku vanthidum oldageOld age will come to us soon
Singakuttiya pudichu oruCatching a lion cub and
Koondil adaipathu paavamCaging it in a trap is a sin
Vanthavarikum nee booksaSell off whatever books you have accumulated
Ada edaiku poduda laabamHey, sell them by weight for a profit!
Male
Naa tension aayiten bucketu bucketuI am getting stressed by buckets and buckets
Tourukku edungadaa ticketu ticketuGet tickets for a tour, guys!
Hey hey …hey hey heyHey hey... hey hey hey
Hey hey hey…hey hey hey heyHey hey hey... hey hey hey hey
Male
Pudikala maamu padikkara collegeI don't like the college I study in, dude
Theru theruvaga thorathuthu knowledgeKnowledge chases me down street after street
Aduthathu booksu alaruthu teenage..heyyyyUp next are books, and the teenage years are screaming... heyyyy
Male
En vartha nee kettuListen to my word
Vettu vettu kal vettuIt is carved in stone, final and clear
Chorus :Ye ye… ye ye yeChorus: Ye ye... ye ye ye
Ye ye… ye ye yeYe ye... ye ye ye
Chorus
Engaiyum chill outuChill out everywhere
Illayina get outuOtherwise get out
Chorus :Ye ye… ye ye yeChorus: Ye ye... ye ye ye
Ye ye… ye ye yeYe ye... ye ye ye
Male
Girls namma classil illaEven if there are no girls in our class
Endrapothum thappu illaThere is nothing wrong with that
Chorus :Single aana boysukuthanChorus: Only for single boys,
Workout aagum maapilathings work out well, my friend
Male
Na erunja ball ellam wicketu wicketuEvery ball I bowled was a wicket, a wicket
Erangi kalakuda bucketu bucketuStep down and rock it in buckets, in buckets
Hey hey …hey hey heyHey hey... hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey…Hey hey hey hey...
He hey hey …hey hey hey heyHe hey hey... hey hey hey hey
Male
Pudikala maamu padikkara collegeI don't like the college I study in, dude
Theru theruvaga thorathuthu knowledgeKnowledge chases me down street after street
Aduthathu booksu alaruthu teenage..heyyyyUp next are books, and the teenage years are screaming... heyyyy
Male
Odambu siragu mulaikattumLet wings sprout on the body
Nerambil kurumbu irukattumLet mischief remain in the nerves
Aduchu pudichu adichu adichuHitting, grabbing, hitting, hitting
Adikkum aatam aadivaasi pola irukattumLet our dance be like wild tribal celebration
Male
Ada veethi pathathaeHey, the street is not enough
Intha ooru pathathaeThis town is not enough
Namma erangi kalakathanFor us to step down and rock,
Intha ulagam pathathaeThis world itself is not enough
Male
Collegu pathathaeCollege is not enough
Teenage pathathaeTeenage is not enough
Namma paranthu thiriyathaanFor us to fly around freely,
Antha vaanam pathathaeThat sky itself is not enough
Male
Machi kadalu meenukuDude, for an ocean fish,
Kodathil thanee pathathaeWater in a pot is not enough
Chinna pasanga manasukuFor young boys' hearts,
Verum kanavu pathathaeMere dreams are not enough
Intha life-a neeyumTo enjoy this life,
Anubavikka vayasu pathathaeThe age given is not enough
Chorus
Ada veethi pathathaeHey, the street is not enough
Intha ooru pathathaeThis town is not enough
Namma erangi kalakathanFor us to step down and rock,
Intha ulagam pathathaeThis world itself is not enough
Chorus
Collegu pathathaeCollege is not enough
Teenage pathathaeTeenage is not enough
Namma paranthu thiriyathaanFor us to fly around freely,
Antha vaanam pathathaeThat sky itself is not enough
Male
Thadaku thadaku raila polaLike a train going clackety-clack,
Varusham odumdaThe years will run away
Nee paduthu paduthu ezhunthupaaruJust lie down and wake up to see,
Nimisham odumdaMinutes will fly away
Chorus
Thadaku thadaku thadaku thadakuClackety-clack clackety-clack
Thadaku thadakuClackety-clack
Male
Edakku madakku illayinaIf there is no mischief or rebellion,
Ilama ethukudaWhy have youth at all?
Nee kuruka neduka madakalanaIf you don't bend left and right,
Odambu ethukudaWhy have a body at all?
Male
Padikara paadam pothathudaThe lessons studied are not enough,
Nerupulla erangi padidaaStep into the fire and learn!
Kanavil ethaiyum ottathadaDon't cling to simple dreams,
Jeyikum edatha pudidaGrab the winning spot!
Chorus
Namma dhesayila paathuLooking towards our direction,
Suthi adikuthu kaathuThe wind blows from all around
Hey uluki uluki muruki murukiHey, shake it, twist it,
Melam adingadaBeat the drums!
Male
Ada veethi pathathaeHey, the street is not enough
Intha ooru pathathaeThis town is not enough
Namma erangi kalakathanFor us to step down and rock,
Intha ulagam pathathaeThis world itself is not enough
Chorus
Ada veethi pathathaeHey, the street is not enough
Intha ooru pathathaeThis town is not enough
Namma erangi kalakathanFor us to step down and rock,
Intha ulagam pathathaeThis world itself is not enough
Male
Collegu pathathaeCollege is not enough
Teenage pathathaeTeenage is not enough
Namma paranthu thiriyathaanFor us to fly around freely,
Antha vaanam pathathaeThat sky itself is not enough
Chorus
Collegu pathathaeCollege is not enough
Teenage pathathaeTeenage is not enough
Namma paranthu thiriyathaanFor us to fly around freely,
Antha vaanam pathathaeThat sky itself is not enough

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pudikala Maamu is a high-energy collegiate youth anthem that celebrates the freedom, enthusiasm, and rebellious spirit of student life. The song humorously rejects the monotony of academic pressure, textbooks, and strict discipline, lightheartedly comparing young students to lion cubs trapped in cages. It urges youth to shed their stress, embrace spontaneity, and live their teenage years without regret.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Singakuttiya pudichu oru Koondil adaipathu paavam

Comparing young vibrant students to caged lion cubs (Singakuttiya pudichu koondil adaipathu paavam).

Analogy

Machi kadalu meenuku Kodathil thanee pathathae

Comparing young minds constrained by small ambitions to ocean fish confined in a small water pot.

Hyperbole

Namma erangi kalakathan Intha ulagam pathathae

Exaggerating that even the whole world and the sky are not big enough to contain the energy and dreams of youth.

Onomatopoeia

Thadaku thadaku raila pola Varusham odumda

Using rhythmic sound words (Thadaku thadaku) to mimic the sound of a fast-moving train representing the rapid passage of youth.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pudikala Maamu is composed by legendary Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for Gautham Vasudev Menon's romantic drama Neethaane En Ponvasantham (2012). Written by late lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar and sung by Suraj Jagan, the song stands out as a unique contemporary rock-infused track in Ilaiyaraaja's discography.

Keep listening

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