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Savaal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thanniye Pottaa

From Savaal · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Kalyani Menon, Sripriya
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Savaal
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
21 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ulagamae maayam vaazhvae maayam
Nilaiyaedhu naam kaanum sugamae maayam
Hoom……kaanum sugamae maayam
Mmmm….
Thanniyai pottaa santhosam pirakkum
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkum
Thanniyai pottaa santhosam pirakkum
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkum
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkum
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkum
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkum
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkum
Oo….paarvathi
Aei….naan paaru illa chandramugi
Paravaayilae adjust pannikkammaa
Paarvathiyalla devadaas
Nee paaru nallaa naan chandramugi
Paarvathiyalla devadaas
Nee paaru nallaa naan chandramugi
Ada…..Chandramugithaan paarvathi
Paarvathithaan chandramugi
Ha Chandramugithaan paarvathi
Paarvathithaan chandramugi
Naan enna kudichchavano
Vaerengum nadichchavano
Kadhalil tholvi kandaai
Ennidam oodi vanthaai
Kadhal raajaaththi ponaalammaa
Naanum kudikaaran aanean ammaa
Kadhal raajaaththi ponaalammaa
Naanum kudikaaran aanean ammaa
Indru naan unnai paarthaen ammaa
Maelum kudikaaran aanaen ammaa
Indru naan unnai paarthaen ammaa
Maelum kudikaaran aanaen ammaa
Ooo….paarvathi
Thanniyai potta santhosham pirakkum
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkum
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkum
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkum
Ooo….paarvathi
Aiyyo thukkamma paada vendiya idaththula
Santhosamaa paaduriyae
Ooo….paarvathi
Kadhaliththaal paarvathi
Aada vanthaal chandramugi
Ada rendu paerum pennammaa
Peathamenna sollammaa
Nee onnum kudikalaiyae
Niyaayangal puriyalaiyae
Niyaayaththai sollattumaa
Kaettathai kodukattumaa
Hai….hae….hae…..mm….a…..
Adichchaalum odhachchaalum varuvaendi
Angangae rendaaga theriveandi
Uttaalakkadi….
Adichchaalum odhachchaalum varuvaendi
Angangae rendaaga theriveandi
Eppothum en aasai vellumadi
Ellorum nandraaga rasiththaaradi
Idhupola dhinanthorum nadipomadi
Thanniyai potta santhosham pirakkum
Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkum
Ennaenna kavalai ellaamae parakkum
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkum
Eppothum manasu naalaarukkum
The world is an illusion, life is an illusion
Nothing lasts, the pleasure we see is an illusion
Hmmm... the pleasure we see is an illusion
Mmmm...
Have a drink, and happiness is born
Stumble and sway, and there is joy
Have a drink, and happiness is born
Stumble and sway, and there is joy
Whatever worries you have will all fly away
The mind will always feel so good
Whatever worries you have will all fly away
The mind will always feel so good
Oh... Parvathi!
Hey... I am not Paro, I am Chandramukhi!
That is alright, just adjust with it, dear!
I am not Parvathi, Devadas!
Look closely, I am Chandramukhi!
I am not Parvathi, Devadas!
Look closely, I am Chandramukhi!
Ah... Chandramukhi is Parvathi!
Parvathi is Chandramukhi!
Ha, Chandramukhi is Parvathi!
Parvathi is Chandramukhi!
Am I really drunk?
Or am I just acting elsewhere?
You were defeated in love,
and came running to me!
My queen of love left me,
and I became a drunkard, my dear!
My queen of love left me,
and I became a drunkard, my dear!
Today I saw you, my dear,
and became an even bigger drunkard!
Today I saw you, my dear,
and became an even bigger drunkard!
Oh... Parvathi!
Have a drink, and happiness is born
Stumble and sway, and there is joy
Whatever worries you have will all fly away
The mind will always feel so good
Oh... Parvathi!
Oh dear, where you should sing in sorrow,
you are singing so happily!
Oh... Parvathi!
When in love, she is Parvathi,
when she comes to dance, she is Chandramukhi!
Ah, both are women after all,
tell me, what is the difference?
You have not had a single drink,
so you do not understand the logic!
Shall I tell you the truth?
Shall I give you what you asked for?
Hai... hey... hey... mmm... ah...
Even if you hit or kick me, I will keep coming, girl!
You appear doubled everywhere, girl!
Full of tricks and bluff...
Even if you hit or kick me, I will keep coming, girl!
You appear doubled everywhere, girl!
My desire will always win, girl!
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, girl!
Let us act like this every single day, girl!
Have a drink, and happiness is born
Stumble and sway, and there is joy
Whatever worries you have will all fly away
The mind will always feel so good
The mind will always feel so good
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from Savaal (1981) offers a humorous and meta-textual reflection on heartbreak, alcohol, and love. Drawing heavily on the literary characters of Devadas, Parvathi, and Chandramukhi, the protagonist uses intoxication to temporarily erase his worries and heartbreak, maintaining that life and its worldly pleasures are ultimately illusory (Maayam).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion (Aalumaai)

Parvathiyalla devadaas / Nee paaru nallaa naan chandramugi

References the iconic characters Devadas, Parvathi, and Chandramukhi from Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's classic novel to highlight love, loss, and solace.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Thanniyai pottaa santhosam pirakkum / Thallaadi nadanthaal ullaasamirukkum

The second letters of consecutive lines share the same sound ('nn' / 'll'), creating rhythmic flow.

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Ulagamae maayam vaazhvae maayam

Repetition of the word 'Maayam' (illusion) to emphasize the core philosophical theme.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by M. S. Viswanathan for the movie Savaal (1981), starring Kamal Haasan and Sripriya. Kannadasan's lyrics playfully blend high philosophical ideas like 'Ulagamae Maayam' with contemporary drunk-song tropes.

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