Thappitthu Vandhanamma
From Poompuhar · 1964
- Lyricist
- Mayavanathan
- Singer
- K. B. Sundarambal
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Poompuhar1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Pavala manimaaligaiyil… | In the coral and gem-studded palace... |
| Pani malarin panjanaiyil… | On the bed of soft dewy flowers... |
| Paal pisaditha magam | A face soft and tender as milk, |
| Vazhi thavari chendradhanaal… | Because it lost its way and wandered off... |
| Thaazhndhu tharam izhandhu | Degraded and having lost its dignity, |
| Thannaiyae thaanizhandhu | Having lost his very self, |
| Thannaiyae thaanizhandhu… | Having lost his very self... |
| Female | |
| Thappithu vandhaanammaa | He escaped and returned, O mother, |
| Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa | Poor man, he stands alone, O mother. |
| Thappithu vandhaanammaa | He escaped and returned, O mother, |
| Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa | Poor man, he stands alone, O mother. |
| Kaalam karpitha paadathin | From the lessons taught by time, |
| Adi thaanga mudiyaamal | Unable to bear the painful blows, |
| Thappithu vandhaanammaa | He escaped and returned, O mother, |
| Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa | Poor man, he stands alone, O mother. |
| Kaalam karpitha paadathin | From the lessons taught by time, |
| Adi thaanga mudiyaamal | Unable to bear the painful blows, |
| Thappithu vandhaanammaa | He escaped and returned, O mother, |
| Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa | Poor man, he stands alone, O mother. |
| Female | |
| Kilai vittu kilai thaavi | Hopping from one branch to another, |
| Kudi vaithu kondavan | He who tried to build his home, |
| Midhi pattu vandhaanammaa | Has returned trampled down, O mother. |
| Kilai vittu kilai thaavi | Hopping from one branch to another, |
| Kudi vaithu kondavan | He who tried to build his home, |
| Midhi pattu vandhaanammaa | Has returned trampled down, O mother. |
| Indru manam kettu gunam kettu | Today, having lost his peace of mind and character, |
| Madhi kettu nidhi kettu | Having lost his intellect and wealth, |
| Nilai kettu vandhaanammaa | Having lost his status, he has returned, O mother. |
| Ingu naeraaga vandhaanammaa | He came directly here, O mother. |
| Female | |
| Thappithu vandhaanammaa | He escaped and returned, O mother, |
| Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa | Poor man, he stands alone, O mother. |
| Female | |
| Poi nellai kuthiyae | Pounding fake husk, |
| Ponga ninaithavan | He who thought he could cook a feast, |
| Kai nellum vittaanammaa | Lost even the real paddy in his hand, O mother. |
| Poi nellai kuthiyae ponga ninaithavan | He who thought he could cook a feast by pounding fake husk, |
| Kai nellum vittaanammaa | Lost even the real paddy in his hand, O mother. |
| Pallathil veezhndhu ezhundha pin | After falling into a pit and picking himself up, |
| Pallakkai thaedi nadandhaanammaa | He walked in search of a royal palanquin, O mother. |
| Ingu thaedi nadandhaanammaa | He walked searching for it here, O mother. |
| Female | |
| Ivan potta kanakkondru | The calculation he made was one, |
| Aval potta kanakkondru | The calculation she made was another, |
| Irandumae thavaraanadhu | And both turned out to be wrong. |
| Ivan potta kanakkondru | The calculation he made was one, |
| Aval potta kanakkondru | The calculation she made was another, |
| Irandumae thavaraanadhu | And both turned out to be wrong. |
| Yaar potta pudhirukko iruvarum vidaiyaagi | To a riddle posed by fate, both became the answer, |
| Nindradhae mudivaanadhu | And that became the final outcome. |
| Manidha kulathukkae kadhaiyaanadhu | It became a cautionary story for all of humanity, |
| Manidha kulathukkae kadhaiyaanadhu… | It became a cautionary story for all of humanity... |
பவள மணிமாளிகையில்...
பனி மலரின் பஞ்சணையில்...
பால் பிசடித்தமுகம் வழி தவறிச் சென்றதனால்...
தாழ்ந்து தரம் இழந்து தன்னையே தானிழந்து
தன்னையே தானிழந்து...
In the coral and gem-studded palace...
On the bed of soft dewy flowers...
A face soft and tender as milk,
Because it lost its way and wandered off...
Degraded and having lost its dignity,
Having lost his very self,
Having lost his very self...
தப்பித்து வந்தானம்மா
பாவம் தனியாக நின்றானம்மா
தப்பித்து வந்தானம்மா
பாவம் தனியாக நின்றானம்மா
காலம் கற்பித்த பாடத்தின்
அடி தாங்க முடியாமல்
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
From the lessons taught by time,
Unable to bear the painful blows,
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
From the lessons taught by time,
Unable to bear the painful blows,
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
தப்பித்து வந்தானம்மா
பாவம் தனியாக நின்றானம்மா
காலம் கற்பித்த பாடத்தின்
அடி தாங்க முடியாமல்
தப்பித்து வந்தானம்மா
பாவம் தனியாக நின்றானம்மா
Hopping from one branch to another,
He who tried to build his home,
Has returned trampled down, O mother.
Hopping from one branch to another,
He who tried to build his home,
Has returned trampled down, O mother.
Today, having lost his peace of mind and character,
Having lost his intellect and wealth,
Having lost his status, he has returned, O mother.
He came directly here, O mother.
கிளை விட்டுக் கிளை தாவி
குடி வைத்துக் கொண்டவன்
மிதி பட்டு வந்தானம்மா
கிளை விட்டுக் கிளை தாவி
குடி வைத்துக் கொண்டவன்
மிதி பட்டு வந்தானம்மா
இன்று மனம் கெட்டு குணம் கெட்டு
மதி கெட்டு நிதி கெட்டு
நிலை கெட்டு வந்தானம்மா
இங்கு நேராக வந்தானம்மா
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
தப்பித்து வந்தானம்மா
பாவம் தனியாக நின்றானம்மா
Pounding fake husk,
He who thought he could cook a feast,
Lost even the real paddy in his hand, O mother.
He who thought he could cook a feast by pounding fake husk,
Lost even the real paddy in his hand, O mother.
After falling into a pit and picking himself up,
He walked in search of a royal palanquin, O mother.
He walked searching for it here, O mother.
பொய் நெல்லை குத்தியே
பொங்க நினைத்தவன்
கை நெல்லும் விட்டானம்மா
பொய் நெல்லை குத்தியே பொங்க நினைத்தவன்
கை நெல்லும் விட்டானம்மா
பள்ளத்தில் வீழ்ந்து எழுந்த பின் பல்லக்கை
தேடி நடந்தானம்மா இங்கு தேடி நடந்தானம்மா
The calculation he made was one,
The calculation she made was another,
And both turned out to be wrong.
The calculation he made was one,
The calculation she made was another,
And both turned out to be wrong.
To a riddle posed by fate, both became the answer,
And that became the final outcome.
It became a cautionary story for all of humanity,
It became a cautionary story for all of humanity...
இவன் போட்ட கணக்கொன்று
அவள் போட்ட கணக்கொன்று
இரண்டுமே தவறானது
இவன் போட்ட கணக்கொன்று
அவள் போட்ட கணக்கொன்று இரண்டுமே தவறானது
யார் போட்ட புதிரிக்கோ இருவரும் விடையாகி
நின்றதே முடிவானது
மனித குலத்துக்கே கதையானது
மனித குலத்துக்கே கதையானது...
Pavala manimaaligaiyil…
In the coral and gem-studded palace...
Pani malarin panjanaiyil…
On the bed of soft dewy flowers...
Paal pisaditha magam
A face soft and tender as milk,
Vazhi thavari chendradhanaal…
Because it lost its way and wandered off...
Thaazhndhu tharam izhandhu
Degraded and having lost its dignity,
Thannaiyae thaanizhandhu
Having lost his very self,
Thannaiyae thaanizhandhu…
Having lost his very self...
Thappithu vandhaanammaa
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
Thappithu vandhaanammaa
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
Kaalam karpitha paadathin
From the lessons taught by time,
Adi thaanga mudiyaamal
Unable to bear the painful blows,
Thappithu vandhaanammaa
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
Kaalam karpitha paadathin
From the lessons taught by time,
Adi thaanga mudiyaamal
Unable to bear the painful blows,
Thappithu vandhaanammaa
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
Kilai vittu kilai thaavi
Hopping from one branch to another,
Kudi vaithu kondavan
He who tried to build his home,
Midhi pattu vandhaanammaa
Has returned trampled down, O mother.
Kilai vittu kilai thaavi
Hopping from one branch to another,
Kudi vaithu kondavan
He who tried to build his home,
Midhi pattu vandhaanammaa
Has returned trampled down, O mother.
Indru manam kettu gunam kettu
Today, having lost his peace of mind and character,
Madhi kettu nidhi kettu
Having lost his intellect and wealth,
Nilai kettu vandhaanammaa
Having lost his status, he has returned, O mother.
Ingu naeraaga vandhaanammaa
He came directly here, O mother.
Thappithu vandhaanammaa
He escaped and returned, O mother,
Paavam thaniyaaga nindraanammaa
Poor man, he stands alone, O mother.
Poi nellai kuthiyae
Pounding fake husk,
Ponga ninaithavan
He who thought he could cook a feast,
Kai nellum vittaanammaa
Lost even the real paddy in his hand, O mother.
Poi nellai kuthiyae ponga ninaithavan
He who thought he could cook a feast by pounding fake husk,
Kai nellum vittaanammaa
Lost even the real paddy in his hand, O mother.
Pallathil veezhndhu ezhundha pin
After falling into a pit and picking himself up,
Pallakkai thaedi nadandhaanammaa
He walked in search of a royal palanquin, O mother.
Ingu thaedi nadandhaanammaa
He walked searching for it here, O mother.
Ivan potta kanakkondru
The calculation he made was one,
Aval potta kanakkondru
The calculation she made was another,
Irandumae thavaraanadhu
And both turned out to be wrong.
Ivan potta kanakkondru
The calculation he made was one,
Aval potta kanakkondru
The calculation she made was another,
Irandumae thavaraanadhu
And both turned out to be wrong.
Yaar potta pudhirukko iruvarum vidaiyaagi
To a riddle posed by fate, both became the answer,
Nindradhae mudivaanadhu
And that became the final outcome.
Manidha kulathukkae kadhaiyaanadhu
It became a cautionary story for all of humanity,
Manidha kulathukkae kadhaiyaanadhu…
It became a cautionary story for all of humanity...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from the 1964 epic film Poompuhar narrates the tragic downfall, ruin, and humbled return of Kovalan to his wife Kannagi. Born into rich luxury, Kovalan strayed from the virtuous path and squandered his wealth, character, and status in pursuit of worldly illusions. The lyrics illustrate his deep repentance as he returns destitute, having learned harsh lessons from time and fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Pavala manimaaligaiyil… / Pani malarin panjanaiyil… / Paal pisaditha magam”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' across consecutive lines (Pavala, Pani, Paal).
Iyaibu / Antiyaip Thodai (Internal Rhyme & Rhythm)
“Indru manam kettu gunam kettu / Madhi kettu nidhi kettu / Nilai kettu vandhaanammaa”
Rhythmic rhyming endings using 'kettu' (hanam kettu, gunam kettu, madhi kettu, nidhi kettu, nilai kettu) to emphasize multi-faceted loss.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Kaalam karpitha paadathin / Adi thaanga mudiyaamal”
Personifying Time ('Kaalam') as an unyielding teacher delivering painful physical blows ('adi').
Allegory / Proverbial Metaphor
“Poi nellai kuthiyae / Ponga ninaithavan / Kai nellum vittaanammaa”
Comparing futile efforts to pounding empty husks ('poi nellai kuthiyae') expecting cooked grain, illustrating how pursuit of illusion leads to losing actual wealth.
Did you know?
Trivia
Poompuhar (1964) is a cinematic adaptation of the classical Tamil epic Silappatikaram. The film's acclaimed dialogues and screenplay were penned by M. Karunanidhi, showcasing rich literary Tamil register throughout the script and musical sequences.
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