Raththatha Pangu Vechu
From Periya Kudumbam · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Periya Kudumbam1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Rathatha pangu vechu | By sharing her blood, |
| Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa | You were given birth, O sons! |
| Rathatha pangu vechu | By sharing her blood, |
| Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa | You were given birth, O sons! |
| Sothaiyum pangu vechu | And by sharing the property, |
| Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa | Has the responsibility of giving birth ended? |
| Sothaiyum pangu vechu | And by sharing the property, |
| Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa | Has the responsibility of giving birth ended? |
| Naethu vara othumaiyaa | Until yesterday, in unity, |
| Vaazhndhirundha sondhamadaa | This was a family that lived together. |
| Yaaru kannu pattadhuvo | Whose evil eye fell upon it, |
| Ooru kooda solludhadaa | Even the village is talking about it. |
| Vidhiyaa thattu ketta madhiyaa | Is it fate, or corrupted wisdom? |
| Vinaiyaa mathavanga sadhiyaa | Is it karma, or the conspiracy of others? |
| Male | |
| Rathatha pangu vechu | By sharing her blood, |
| Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa | You were given birth, O sons! |
| Sothaiyum pangu vechu | And by sharing the property, |
| Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa | Has the responsibility of giving birth ended? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Ammaa mannil saaindhadhammaa | Mother has collapsed onto the soil, |
| Vaazha vecha vaazha maram | The banana tree that nurtured lives. |
| Sonnaa sollu thaangidumaa | Can mere words bear the pain, |
| Rosam ulla thaayin manam | Of a proud mother's heart? |
| Pillaigal pethaa nel mani kothaa | She bore children like heavy stalks of paddy, |
| Pethadhil enna punniyam kandaa | Yet what virtue did she reap for giving birth? |
| Bandhamum paasamum ennaachu | What became of the bonds and affection? |
| Pethava sandhiyil ninnaachu | The mother who gave birth ended up abandoned at the crossroads. |
| Paadugal aayiram pattaachu | She endured a thousand hardships, |
| Paechaiyum moochaiyum vittaachu | And now she has surrendered her speech and breath. |
| Ammaannu ammaannu | Calling out Mother, Mother, |
| Sonnadhu ellaam summaavaa | Was all of that just empty words? |
| Male | |
| Rathatha pangu vechu | By sharing her blood, |
| Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa | You were given birth, O sons! |
| Sothaiyum pangu vechu | And by sharing the property, |
| Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa | Has the responsibility of giving birth ended? |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa… |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Pethaa iva moonu pulla | She gave birth to three children, |
| Onnukkonnu saera villa | None of whom stood united with one another. |
| Onnaa ippa saendhirukku | Now they have finally come together, |
| Pethavala thookkayilae | Only to carry her corpse! |
| Thalliyae vechu vendhadhu paadhi | Pushed aside, half of her burned in sorrow while alive, |
| Kolliyae vechu veganum meedhi | Now lighting her pyre, the remaining half must burn. |
| Thottilil pottava thaalaatti | She placed you in the cradle and sang lullabies, |
| Tholgalil vaithava seeraatti | She carried you on her shoulders and pampered you, |
| Ovvoru velaiyum sorootti | She fed you meal after meal, |
| Ungala thaangiya moodhaatti | The elderly woman who bore and supported you, |
| Punnaana nenjodu | With a wounded heart, |
| Boomiya vittu poraalae | She is leaving this earth forever. |
| Male | |
| Rathatha pangu vechu | By sharing her blood, |
| Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa | You were given birth, O sons! |
| Sothaiyum pangu vechu | And by sharing the property, |
| Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa | Has the responsibility of giving birth ended? |
ரத்தத்தப் பங்கு வெச்சு
உங்களுக்கு பொறப்பு வந்ததடா
ரத்தத்தப் பங்கு வெச்சு
உங்களுக்கு பொறப்பு வந்ததடா
சொத்தையும் பங்கு வச்சு
பெத்தெடுத்த பொறுப்பும் தீர்ந்ததடா
சொத்தையும் பங்கு வச்சு
பெத்தெடுத்த பொறுப்பும் தீர்ந்ததடா
நேத்து வர ஒத்துமையா
வாழ்ந்திருந்த சொந்தமடா
யாரு கண்ணு பட்டதுவோ
ஊரு கூட சொல்லுதடா
விதியா தட்டுக் கெட்ட மதியா
வினையா மத்தவங்க சதியா
By sharing her blood,
You were given birth, O sons!
By sharing her blood,
You were given birth, O sons!
And by sharing the property,
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
And by sharing the property,
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Until yesterday, in unity,
This was a family that lived together.
Whose evil eye fell upon it,
Even the village is talking about it.
Is it fate, or corrupted wisdom?
Is it karma, or the conspiracy of others?
ரத்தத்தப் பங்கு வெச்சு
உங்களுக்கு பொறப்பு வந்ததடா
சொத்தையும் பங்கு வச்சு
பெத்தெடுத்த பொறுப்பும் தீர்ந்ததடா
By sharing her blood,
You were given birth, O sons!
And by sharing the property,
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
அம்மா மண்ணில் சாய்ந்ததம்மா
வாழ வெச்ச வாழ மரம்
சொன்னா சொல்லு தாங்கிடுமா
ரோசம் உள்ள தாயின் மனம்
பிள்ளைகள் பெத்தா நெல் மணிக் கொத்தா
பெத்ததில் என்ன புண்ணியம் கண்டா
பந்தமும் பாசமும் என்னாச்சு
பெத்தவ சந்தியில் நின்னாச்சு
பாடுகள் ஆயிரம் பட்டாச்சு
பேச்சையும் மூச்சையும் விட்டாச்சு
அம்மான்னு அம்மான்னு
சொன்னது எல்லாம் சும்மாவா
Mother has collapsed onto the soil,
The banana tree that nurtured lives.
Can mere words bear the pain,
Of a proud mother's heart?
She bore children like heavy stalks of paddy,
Yet what virtue did she reap for giving birth?
What became of the bonds and affection?
The mother who gave birth ended up abandoned at the crossroads.
She endured a thousand hardships,
And now she has surrendered her speech and breath.
Calling out Mother, Mother,
Was all of that just empty words?
ரத்தத்தப் பங்கு வெச்சு
உங்களுக்கு பொறப்பு வந்ததடா
சொத்தையும் பங்கு வச்சு
பெத்தெடுத்த பொறுப்பும் தீர்ந்ததடா
By sharing her blood,
You were given birth, O sons!
And by sharing the property,
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
பெத்தா இவ மூணு புள்ள
ஒண்ணுக்கொண்ணு சேரவில்ல
ஒண்ணா இப்ப சேந்திருக்கு
பெத்தவள தூக்கயிலே
தள்ளியே வெச்சு வெந்தது பாதி
கொள்ளியே வெச்சு வேகணும் மீதி
தொட்டிலில் போட்டவ தாலாட்டி
தோள்களில் வைத்தவ சீராட்டி
ஒவ்வொரு வேளையும் சோறூட்டி
உங்கள தாங்கிய மூதாட்டி
புண்ணான நெஞ்சோடு
பூமிய விட்டு போறாளே
She gave birth to three children,
None of whom stood united with one another.
Now they have finally come together,
Only to carry her corpse!
Pushed aside, half of her burned in sorrow while alive,
Now lighting her pyre, the remaining half must burn.
She placed you in the cradle and sang lullabies,
She carried you on her shoulders and pampered you,
She fed you meal after meal,
The elderly woman who bore and supported you,
With a wounded heart,
She is leaving this earth forever.
ரத்தத்தப் பங்கு வெச்சு
உங்களுக்கு பொறப்பு வந்ததடா
சொத்தையும் பங்கு வச்சு
பெத்தெடுத்த பொறுப்பும் தீர்ந்ததடா
By sharing her blood,
You were given birth, O sons!
And by sharing the property,
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Rathatha pangu vechu
By sharing her blood,
Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa
You were given birth, O sons!
Rathatha pangu vechu
By sharing her blood,
Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa
You were given birth, O sons!
Sothaiyum pangu vechu
And by sharing the property,
Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Sothaiyum pangu vechu
And by sharing the property,
Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Naethu vara othumaiyaa
Until yesterday, in unity,
Vaazhndhirundha sondhamadaa
This was a family that lived together.
Yaaru kannu pattadhuvo
Whose evil eye fell upon it,
Ooru kooda solludhadaa
Even the village is talking about it.
Vidhiyaa thattu ketta madhiyaa
Is it fate, or corrupted wisdom?
Vinaiyaa mathavanga sadhiyaa
Is it karma, or the conspiracy of others?
Rathatha pangu vechu
By sharing her blood,
Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa
You were given birth, O sons!
Sothaiyum pangu vechu
And by sharing the property,
Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Ammaa mannil saaindhadhammaa
Mother has collapsed onto the soil,
Vaazha vecha vaazha maram
The banana tree that nurtured lives.
Sonnaa sollu thaangidumaa
Can mere words bear the pain,
Rosam ulla thaayin manam
Of a proud mother's heart?
Pillaigal pethaa nel mani kothaa
She bore children like heavy stalks of paddy,
Pethadhil enna punniyam kandaa
Yet what virtue did she reap for giving birth?
Bandhamum paasamum ennaachu
What became of the bonds and affection?
Pethava sandhiyil ninnaachu
The mother who gave birth ended up abandoned at the crossroads.
Paadugal aayiram pattaachu
She endured a thousand hardships,
Paechaiyum moochaiyum vittaachu
And now she has surrendered her speech and breath.
Ammaannu ammaannu
Calling out Mother, Mother,
Sonnadhu ellaam summaavaa
Was all of that just empty words?
Rathatha pangu vechu
By sharing her blood,
Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa
You were given birth, O sons!
Sothaiyum pangu vechu
And by sharing the property,
Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Pethaa iva moonu pulla
She gave birth to three children,
Onnukkonnu saera villa
None of whom stood united with one another.
Onnaa ippa saendhirukku
Now they have finally come together,
Pethavala thookkayilae
Only to carry her corpse!
Thalliyae vechu vendhadhu paadhi
Pushed aside, half of her burned in sorrow while alive,
Kolliyae vechu veganum meedhi
Now lighting her pyre, the remaining half must burn.
Thottilil pottava thaalaatti
She placed you in the cradle and sang lullabies,
Tholgalil vaithava seeraatti
She carried you on her shoulders and pampered you,
Ovvoru velaiyum sorootti
She fed you meal after meal,
Ungala thaangiya moodhaatti
The elderly woman who bore and supported you,
Punnaana nenjodu
With a wounded heart,
Boomiya vittu poraalae
She is leaving this earth forever.
Rathatha pangu vechu
By sharing her blood,
Ungalukku porappu vandhadhadaa
You were given birth, O sons!
Sothaiyum pangu vechu
And by sharing the property,
Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa
Has the responsibility of giving birth ended?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Periya Kudumbam' (1995) addresses the tragic neglect of a mother by her sons who become driven by greed, property division, and petty squabbles. It contrasts the mother's selfless sacrifices—nourishing them with her own blood, carrying them, feeding them, and sustaining the family like a banana tree—with the cold indifference of her children who divide her property and abandon her to die brokenhearted.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vaazha vecha vaazha maram”
Compares the mother to a 'vaazha maram' (banana tree), which selflessly yields everything to nurture its offspring.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thottilil pottava thaalaatti / Tholgalil vaithava seeraatti / Ovvoru velaiyum sorootti”
A sequence of lines ending with identical rhythmic suffixes ('-aatti' / '-ootti') creating a rhythmic, solemn cadence.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thottilil pottava thaalaatti / Tholgalil vaithava seeraatti”
Matching second consonants ('th' sound) across adjacent lines to structure the stanza rhythmically.
Rhetorical Question
“Sothaiyum pangu vechu / Pethedutha poruppum theerndhadhadaa”
Vaali uses sharp rhetorical questions to provoke moral reflection and guilt in the listeners.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Periya Kudumbam' (1995), directed by K. S. Ravikumar and starring Prabhu, features a soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Vaali penned this grief-stricken funeral song to capture the central dramatic turning point of the movie, highlighting the breakdown of joint family values in rural Tamil Nadu.
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