Putrile Paambirukkum
From Tenali Raman · 1956
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Tenali Raman1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Puttrilae paambirukkum | A snake lives inside an anthill, |
| Boothalathil ulla murai | That is the way of the world. |
| Male | |
| Aamaam | Yes. |
| Male | |
| Manaiyilae paambhu vandhu | A snake came inside our house, |
| Enghalai vaazhavida ottalaiyae | And would not let us live! |
| Male | |
| Vandhadhoru paambhu engal | A snake that came into our lives |
| Vaazhveduthu kondathinaal | Took away our peaceful existence, |
| Sanyaassa kolam vandhu | So we took up the attire of renunciation, |
| Sadai mudiyai valarthamma | And grew matted hair, oh lady! |
| Male | |
| Ohoo | Ohoo |
| Male | |
| Kottaiyilae oru kaalathilaeye | In the fortress once upon a time, |
| Engal kodi parandhadhu ramaari | Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male :Kodi parandhadhu ramaari | Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Oru kutty vandhaal andha neram irundhaval | A young woman arrived, who was present back then, |
| Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari | And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna! |
| Male :Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari | Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna! |
| Male | |
| Kottaiyilae oru kaalathilaeye | In the fortress once upon a time, |
| Engal kodi parandhadhu ramaari | Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male :Kodi parandhadhu ramaari | Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Oru kutty vandhaal andha neram irundhaval | A young woman arrived, who was present back then, |
| Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari | And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna! |
| Male :Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari | Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna! |
| Male | |
| Nattai edhirthitta pagaivargalai | The enemies who opposed our kingdom, |
| Naliya vechomae raamaari | We weakened them all, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male :Naliya vechomae raamaari | Male: We weakened them all, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Ippa veetukku vandhaval pattukku | Now for the tune of the woman who entered our home, |
| Thaalam pottu kalangugirom krishna hari | We clap to the beat and live in chaos, Hari Krishna! |
| Both :Krishnahari hari raamari | Both: Krishna Hari, Hari Rama! |
| Hari krishnahari raamaari krishna hari | Hari Krishna Hari, Rama Hari, Krishna Hari! |
| Hari krishnahari raamaari krishna hari | Hari Krishna Hari, Rama Hari, Krishna Hari! |
| Male | |
| Penni valarthom | We cherished and nurtured, |
| Mannai valarthom | We expanded our lands, |
| Pugazh valarthom raamaari | We grew our great fame, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Penni valarthom | We cherished and nurtured, |
| Mannai valarthom | We expanded our lands, |
| Pugazh valarthom raamaari | We grew our great fame, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Aval kannai adithaal | She winked her eye at us, |
| Thannai marandhom | We completely forgot ourselves, |
| Kadan valarthu krishn hari | And ended up growing our debts, Hari Krishna! |
| Male :Nattil pagai pirandhadhu raamaari | Male: Enemies were born within our country, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Raamaari…krishnahari | Rama... Krishna Hari |
| Hari raamari krishnahari raamaari | Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama |
| Both :Hari raamari krishnahari raamaari | Both: Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama |
| Hari raamari krishnahari raamaari | Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama |
| Male | |
| Kottaiyilae oru kaalathilaeye | In the fortress once upon a time, |
| Engal kodi parandhadhu ramaari | Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male :Kodi parandhadhu ramaari | Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama! |
| Male | |
| Oru kutty vandhaal andha neram irundhaval | A young woman arrived, who was present back then, |
| Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari | And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna! |
| Male :Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari | Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna! |
புற்றிலே பாம்பிருக்கும்
பூதலத்தில் உள்ள முறை
A snake lives inside an anthill,
That is the way of the world.
ஆமாம்
Yes.
மனையிலே பாம்பு வந்து
எங்களை வாழவிட ஓட்டலையே
A snake came inside our house,
And would not let us live!
வந்ததொரு பாம்பு எங்கள்
வாழ்வெடுத்துக் கொண்டதினால்
சந்யாசக் கோலம் வந்து
சடை முடியை வளர்த்ததம்மா.....
A snake that came into our lives
Took away our peaceful existence,
So we took up the attire of renunciation,
And grew matted hair, oh lady!
ஓஹோ
Ohoo
கோட்டையிலே ஒரு காலத்திலேயே
எங்கள் கொடி பறந்தது ராமாரி
கொடி பறந்தது ராமாரி
ஒரு குட்டி வந்தாளந்த நேரமிருந்தவள்
கூந்தல் பறக்குது கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
கூந்தல் பறக்குது கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
In the fortress once upon a time,
Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
கோட்டையிலே ஒரு காலத்திலேயே
எங்கள் கொடி பறந்தது ராமாரி
கொடி பறந்தது ராமாரி
ஒரு குட்டி வந்தாளந்த நேரமிருந்தவள்
கூந்தல் பறக்குது கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
கூந்தல் பறக்குது கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
A young woman arrived, who was present back then,
And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
நாட்டை எதிர்த்திட்ட பகைவர்களை
நலிய வச்சோமே ராமாரி
நலிய வச்சோமே ராமாரி
இப்ப வீட்டுக்கு வந்தவள் பாட்டுக்குத்
தாளம் போட்டுக் கலங்குகிறோம் கிருஷ்ணாஹரி
இருவர் :
கிருஷ்ணாஹரி ஹரிராமாரி
ஹரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி ராமாரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி
ஹரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி ராமாரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி
In the fortress once upon a time,
Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
பொன்னை வளர்த்தோம்
மண்ணை வளர்த்தோம்
புகழ் வளர்த்தோம் ராமாரி
A young woman arrived, who was present back then,
And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
பொன்னை வளர்த்தோம்
மண்ணை வளர்த்தோம்
புகழ் வளர்த்தோம் ராமாரி
The enemies who opposed our kingdom,
We weakened them all, Oh Lord Rama!
Male: We weakened them all, Oh Lord Rama!
அவள் கண்ணையடித்தாள்
தன்னை மறந்தோம்
கடன் வளர்ந்து கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
நாட்டில் பகை பிறந்தது ராமாரி
Now for the tune of the woman who entered our home,
We clap to the beat and live in chaos, Hari Krishna!
Both: Krishna Hari, Hari Rama!
Hari Krishna Hari, Rama Hari, Krishna Hari!
Hari Krishna Hari, Rama Hari, Krishna Hari!
ராமாரி.. கிருஷ்ணாஹரி
ஹரி ராமாரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி ராமாரி
இருவர் :
ஹரி ராமாரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி ராமாரி
ஹரி ராமாரி கிருஷ்ணாஹரி ராமாரி
We cherished and nurtured,
We expanded our lands,
We grew our great fame, Oh Lord Rama!
கோட்டையிலே ஒரு காலத்திலேயே
எங்கள் கொடி பறந்தது ராமாரி
கொடி பறந்தது ராமாரி
ஒரு குட்டி வந்தாளந்த நேரமிருந்தவள்
கூந்தல் பறக்குது கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
கூந்தல் பறக்குது கிருஷ்ணா ஹரி
We cherished and nurtured,
We expanded our lands,
We grew our great fame, Oh Lord Rama!
She winked her eye at us,
We completely forgot ourselves,
And ended up growing our debts, Hari Krishna!
Male: Enemies were born within our country, Oh Lord Rama!
Rama... Krishna Hari
Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama
Both: Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama
Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama
In the fortress once upon a time,
Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
A young woman arrived, who was present back then,
And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Puttrilae paambirukkum
A snake lives inside an anthill,
Boothalathil ulla murai
That is the way of the world.
Aamaam
Yes.
Manaiyilae paambhu vandhu
A snake came inside our house,
Enghalai vaazhavida ottalaiyae
And would not let us live!
Vandhadhoru paambhu engal
A snake that came into our lives
Vaazhveduthu kondathinaal
Took away our peaceful existence,
Sanyaassa kolam vandhu
So we took up the attire of renunciation,
Sadai mudiyai valarthamma
And grew matted hair, oh lady!
Ohoo
Ohoo
Kottaiyilae oru kaalathilaeye
In the fortress once upon a time,
Engal kodi parandhadhu ramaari
Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Male :Kodi parandhadhu ramaari
Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Oru kutty vandhaal andha neram irundhaval
A young woman arrived, who was present back then,
Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari
And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Male :Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari
Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Kottaiyilae oru kaalathilaeye
In the fortress once upon a time,
Engal kodi parandhadhu ramaari
Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Male :Kodi parandhadhu ramaari
Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Oru kutty vandhaal andha neram irundhaval
A young woman arrived, who was present back then,
Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari
And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Male :Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari
Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Nattai edhirthitta pagaivargalai
The enemies who opposed our kingdom,
Naliya vechomae raamaari
We weakened them all, Oh Lord Rama!
Male :Naliya vechomae raamaari
Male: We weakened them all, Oh Lord Rama!
Ippa veetukku vandhaval pattukku
Now for the tune of the woman who entered our home,
Thaalam pottu kalangugirom krishna hari
We clap to the beat and live in chaos, Hari Krishna!
Both :Krishnahari hari raamari
Both: Krishna Hari, Hari Rama!
Hari krishnahari raamaari krishna hari
Hari Krishna Hari, Rama Hari, Krishna Hari!
Hari krishnahari raamaari krishna hari
Hari Krishna Hari, Rama Hari, Krishna Hari!
Penni valarthom
We cherished and nurtured,
Mannai valarthom
We expanded our lands,
Pugazh valarthom raamaari
We grew our great fame, Oh Lord Rama!
Penni valarthom
We cherished and nurtured,
Mannai valarthom
We expanded our lands,
Pugazh valarthom raamaari
We grew our great fame, Oh Lord Rama!
Aval kannai adithaal
She winked her eye at us,
Thannai marandhom
We completely forgot ourselves,
Kadan valarthu krishn hari
And ended up growing our debts, Hari Krishna!
Male :Nattil pagai pirandhadhu raamaari
Male: Enemies were born within our country, Oh Lord Rama!
Raamaari…krishnahari
Rama... Krishna Hari
Hari raamari krishnahari raamaari
Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama
Both :Hari raamari krishnahari raamaari
Both: Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama
Hari raamari krishnahari raamaari
Hari Rama Krishna Hari Rama
Kottaiyilae oru kaalathilaeye
In the fortress once upon a time,
Engal kodi parandhadhu ramaari
Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Male :Kodi parandhadhu ramaari
Male: Our flag flew high, Oh Lord Rama!
Oru kutty vandhaal andha neram irundhaval
A young woman arrived, who was present back then,
Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari
And now her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Male :Koondhal parakkudhu krishna hari
Male: Her hair flies wild, Hari Krishna!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This satirical song from the 1956 movie Tenali Raman uses devotional chants like 'Hari Rama Krishna Hari' as a cover for sharp political and moral satire. Performed in a folk street-performer style, the characters sing about how a once-glorious kingdom—where flags flew high and enemies were defeated—has fallen into ruins, debt, and spiritual disarray simply because the rulers were distracted by feminine charms and corrupt influences. Using clever allegories such as snakes entering homes instead of staying in anthills, lyricist Kannadasan highlights the absurd downfall of powerful men due to foolishness and temptation. The composition by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy seamlessly combines comedic rhythm with traditional bhajan structures.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Metaphor
“Puttrilae paambirukkum... Manaiyilae paambhu vandhu”
Comparing destructive forces, bad choices, or corrupting influences to a snake entering a house rather than staying in its natural anthill.
Eskai / Rhyme & Parallelism
“Penni valarthom / Mannai valarthom / Pugazh valarthom”
Repetition of similar verb suffixes (valarthom) creating a rhythmic, cascading poetic effect.
Ironic Refrain
“Aval kannai adithaal / Thannai marandhom / Kadan valarthu krishn hari”
Using sacred chants (Raamaari / Krishna Hari) alongside lyrics describing moral weakness, debt, and foolishness to achieve political satire.
Did you know?
Trivia
Tenali Raman (1956) starred Sivaji Ganesan in the title role and N. T. Rama Rao as King Krishnadevaraya. The track showcases lyricist Kannadasan's genius in using traditional folk devotional forms (Hari Katha / Bhajan style) to weave social and political humor into film narrative.
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