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Lyrics & meaning

Saanjaa Saayara Pakkame

From Rambaiyin Kaadhal · 1956

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Rambaiyin Kaadhal1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Unga saayam veluththu pogumYour fake colors will fade away,
Pazhaya yaedugalaaOh outdated palm-leaf manuscripts!
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Unga saayam veluththu pogumYour fake colors will fade away,
Pazhaya yaedugalaaOh outdated palm-leaf manuscripts!
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Male
Maeyira pakkaththa vittupputtuLeaving behind the grazing area,
Summaa maelayum keezhayum porigalaaWhy are you simply wandering up and down?
Maeyira pakkaththa vittupputtuLeaving behind the grazing area,
Summaa maelayum keezhayum porigalaaWhy are you simply wandering up and down?
Male
Unga meniya pudichi amukki poduvenI will grab your body and crush it down,
Medhuva ippadi vaarigalaAre you coming slowly like this?
Unga meniya pudichi amukki poduvenI will grab your body and crush it down,
Medhuva ippadi vaarigalaAre you coming slowly like this?
Male
Saanjaa saanjaaLeaning, leaning...
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Unga saayam veluththu pogumYour fake colors will fade away,
Pazhaya yaedugalaaOh outdated palm-leaf manuscripts!
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Male
Katta kombhu karuppaaduThe black sheep with thick horns,
Thullaattam podudhuIs jumping around excitedly!
Katta kombhu karuppaaduThe black sheep with thick horns,
Thullaattam podudhuIs jumping around excitedly!
Kaariyammaa vellaadu sollaama odudhuThe white goat runs away without saying a word!
Male
Katta kombhu karuppaaduThe black sheep with thick horns,
Thullaattam podudhuIs jumping around excitedly!
Kaariyammaa vellaadu sollaama odudhuThe white goat runs away without saying a word!
Motta kombhu murattaaduThe stubborn sheep with blunt horns,
Muzhichi muzhichi paakkudhuKeeps staring wide-eyed,
Pazhichi pazhichi kaattudhuAnd showing off mocked expressions!
Motta kombhu murattaaduThe stubborn sheep with blunt horns,
Muzhichi muzhichi paakkudhuKeeps staring wide-eyed,
Pazhichi pazhichi kaattudhuAnd showing off mocked expressions!
Male
Munnukku pora aatta paathuLooking at the goat moving forward,
Pinnukku ninnu yengudhuIt stands behind and longs for it!
Munnukku pora aatta paathuLooking at the goat moving forward,
Pinnukku ninnu yengudhuIt stands behind and longs for it!
Male
Saanjaa saanjaaLeaning, leaning...
Saanjaa saayira pakkamaeOh flock of sheep leaning towards whichever side leans down,
Saayira semmari aadugalaaOh flock of sheep that leans over!
Unga saayam veluththu pogumYour fake colors will fade away,
Pazhaya yaedugalaaOh outdated palm-leaf manuscripts!
Pazhaya yaedugalaaOh outdated palm-leaf manuscripts!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous and satirical folk song uses the metaphor of sheep ('semmari aadu') to mock opportunists and conformists who blindly follow whichever direction is convenient. The singer warns these foolish followers that their true colors will soon fade away like old, decaying palm-leaf manuscripts ('pazhaya yaedugalaa'). Through vivid descriptions of different goats—black sheep with thick horns jumping around, white goats running off quietly, and blunt-horned stubborn sheep staring enviously at those moving ahead—the lyricist delivers a sharp critique of human nature wrapped in playful rural folklore.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Saayira semmari aadugalaa

Comparing opportunistic, herd-mentality people to 'semmari aadu' (blindly following sheep) and outdated ideas to 'pazhaya yaedugalaa' (faded manuscripts).

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Saanjaa saayira pakkamae

Repetition of the initial 'S' sound creating a rhythmic, swaying effect echoing the word 'Saanjaa' (leaning).

Repetition / Reduplication (Adukku Thodar)

Muzhichi muzhichi paakkudhu

Doubling of words ('Muzhichi muzhichi', 'Pazhichi pazhichi') to emphasize continuous action and create rhythmic folk tempo.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rambaiyin Kaadhal (1956) is a classic Tamil fantasy comedy starring P. Bhanumathi and T. R. Ramachandran. The soundtrack was composed by T. R. Pappa, and legendary lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was acclaimed for incorporating sharp social commentary and traditional Tamil folk idioms into popular cinema songs.

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