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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sonna Pechcha Kekkanum

From Makkalai Petra Magarasi · 1957

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Bhanumathi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Makkalai Petra Magarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Sonna pecha kekkanumYou must listen to advice given
Munnum pinnum paakkanumYou must look in front and behind
Ninnu nallaa nimirndhu paathuStand tall, look straight with head held high
Naer vazhiyae nadakkanumAnd walk along the straight path
Sonna pecha kekkanum kekkanumYou must listen to advice given, listen indeed
Female
Sonna pecha kekkanumYou must listen to advice given
Munnum pinnum paakkanumYou must look in front and behind
Ninnu nallaa nimirndhu paathuStand tall, look straight with head held high
Naer vazhiyae nadakkanumAnd walk along the straight path
Sonna pecha kekkanum kekkanumYou must listen to advice given, listen indeed
Female
Adhaiyum idhaiyum ennikkittuPondering over this and that
Anguttum inguttum pathukkittuHiding here and lurking there
Yae chinnamutthu… dhaa durr…Hey Chinnamuthu... come on, durr...
Female
Adhaiyum idhaiyum ennikkittuPondering over this and that
Anguttum inguttum pathukkittuHiding here and lurking there
Anna nada poda koodaadhuYou shouldn't walk proudly like a swan
Paadhaiyilae anna nada poda koodaadhuOn the path, you shouldn't strut like a swan
Female
Avasarathil thala therikkaIn a hurry, running headlong
Kurukkum nedukkum paanji odiDashing across back and forth
Avasarathil thala therikkaIn a hurry, running headlong
Kurukkum nedukkum paanji odiDashing across back and forth
Aabatha velaikku vaanga koodaadhuYou shouldn't invite danger upon yourself
Neenga aabatha velaikku vaanga koodaadhuYou all shouldn't invite danger upon yourselves
Female
Sonna pecha kekkanumYou must listen to advice given
Munnum pinnum paakkanumYou must look in front and behind
Ninnu nallaa nimirndhu paathuStand tall, look straight with head held high
Naer vazhiyae nadakkanumAnd walk along the straight path
Sonna pecha kekkanum kekkanumYou must listen to advice given, listen indeed
Female
Kattuppaatta vittupputtuGiving up self-discipline
Kanda padi suthikkittuWandering around aimlessly
Yaei periyamuthu… indhaa baa baa baaHey Periyamuthu... here baa baa baa
Female
Kattuppaatta vittupputtuGiving up self-discipline
Kanda padi suthikkittuWandering around aimlessly
Kadamaiyil thavara koodaadhuYou should not fail in your duty
Nammudaiya kadamaiyil thavara koodaadhuWe should not fail in our duty
Female
Kaadhil ellaam vaangikkittuListening to everything with your ears
Kaathu vaakkil parakka vittuAnd letting it fly away in the breeze
Kaadhil ellaam vaangikkittuListening to everything with your ears
Kaathu vaakkil parakka vittuAnd letting it fly away in the breeze
Paadhaiyil vazhukki vizha koodaadhuYou shouldn't slip and fall on the path
Pogum paadhaiyil vazhukki vizha koodaadhuOn the path you travel, you shouldn't slip and fall
Female
Sonna pecha kekkanumYou must listen to advice given
Munnum pinnum paakkanumYou must look in front and behind
Ninnu nallaa nimirndhu paathuStand tall, look straight with head held high
Naer vazhiyae nadakkanumAnd walk along the straight path
Sonna pecha kekkanum kekkanumYou must listen to advice given, listen indeed
Neenga sonna pecha kekkanum kekkanumYou must listen to the advice given, listen indeed

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sonna Pecha Kekkanum is a rustic and didactic song from the 1957 Tamil film Makkalai Petra Magarasi, written by A. Maruthakasi. Delivered through rural folk phrasing and calls to farm animals like Chinnamuthu and Periyamuthu, the lyrics use road safety and walking carefully as a practical metaphor for navigating life's moral choices. The song urges individuals to pay attention to elders' wisdom, stay disciplined, fulfill their duties, and avoid reckless or prideful behavior that leads to downfall.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Paadhaiyil vazhukki vizha koodaadhu

Slipping on a path (Paadhaiyil vazhukki vizha koodaadhu) serves as a metaphor for slipping into moral negligence or life failures.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kattuppaatta vittupputtu / Kanda padi suthikkittu

The second consonants match in 'Kattuppaatta' and 'Kanda', giving a rhythmic cadence.

Anaphora

Sonna pecha kekkanum

The chorus phrase 'Sonna pecha kekkanum' is repeated continuously across stanzas for rhythmic emphasis and reinforcement of the core moral message.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Makkalai Petra Magarasi starred M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi with music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The song is famed for incorporating authentic Kongu-region pastoral calls used by cart-drivers and farmers directing their bullocks.

Keep listening

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