Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thatti Paarthen

From Thangaikkor Geetham · 1983

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
T. Rajendar
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Thangaikkor Geetham1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thatti paaththaen kottaankutchiI tapped on a coconut shell,
Thaalam vanthathu paatta vechchiA rhythm emerged with a song.
Thatti paaththaen kottaankutchiI tapped on a coconut shell,
Thaalam vanthathu paatta vechchiA rhythm emerged with a song.
Male
Thookki valaththa anbu thangachiThe beloved younger sister I carried and raised,
Thookki valaththa anbu thangachiThe beloved younger sister I carried and raised,
Thookki erinjaa kannu kolamaachiShe threw me away, and my eyes became a tearful mess.
Thookki erinjaa kannu kolamaachiShe threw me away, and my eyes became a tearful mess.
Male
Thaenaaga nenaichchu thaan unna valaththaenI raised you thinking of you as sweet honey,
Neeyum thaelaaga kottivida naanum thudichchaenWhen you stung me like a scorpion, I writhed in pain.
Thaenaaga nenaichchu thaan unna valaththaenI raised you thinking of you as sweet honey,
Neeyum thaelaaga kottivida naanum thudichchaenWhen you stung me like a scorpion, I writhed in pain.
Male
Thatti paaththaen kottaankutchiI tapped on a coconut shell,
Thaalam vanthathu paatta vechchiA rhythm emerged with a song.
Male
Thookki valaththa anbu thangachiThe beloved younger sister I carried and raised,
Thookki erinjaa kannu kolamaachiShe threw me away, and my eyes became a tearful mess.
Male
Thol meethu thottil katti thaalaattinaenI tied a cradle on my shoulder and sang lulling songs,
Thaai pola naanthaanae seeraattinaenLike a mother, I cherished and pampered you.
Yaarendru nee ketka aalaaginaenYou grew up to ask who I am,
Yaarendru nee ketka aalaaginaenYou grew up to ask who I am,
Po endru nee virattum naayaagiraenI became a stray dog you shoo away,
Po endru nee virattum naayaagiraenI became a stray dog you shoo away,
Male
Malaraaga nenaichu thaan unna valaththaenI raised you thinking of you as a flower,
Neeyum mullaaga thachchi vida naanum thavichchaenWhen you pricked me like a thorn, I suffered in agony.
Male
Thatti paaththaen kottaankutchiI tapped on a coconut shell,
Thaalam vanthathu paatta vechchiA rhythm emerged with a song.
Male
Paathiyila vantha sontham perusu endruConsidering a relation that came halfway to be greater,
Aadhi mudhal valarththa enna veruththu vittaYou came to hate me, who raised you from the very beginning.
Paathiyila vantha sontham perusu endruConsidering a relation that came halfway to be greater,
Aadhi mudhal valarththa enna veruththu vittaYou came to hate me, who raised you from the very beginning.
Male
Paasam vecha en nenju punnaagavaeMy heart that showered love became a open wound,
Paasam vecha en nenju punnaagavaeMy heart that showered love became a open wound,
Purushan pakkam saernthuvitta thangachchiyaeOh sister, who sided completely with your husband!
Purushan pakkam saernthuvitta thangachchiyaeOh sister, who sided completely with your husband!
Male
Kiliyaaga nenaichchuthaan unna valarththaenI raised you thinking of you as a pet parrot,
Nee koththu vida vali pattu naanum thudichchenWhen you pecked me, I twitched in agonizing pain.
Male
Thatti paaththaen kottaankutchiI tapped on a coconut shell,
Thaalam vanthathu paatta vechchiA rhythm emerged with a song.
Male
Thookki valaththa anbu thangachiThe beloved younger sister I carried and raised,
Thookki erinjaa kannu kolamaachiShe threw me away, and my eyes became a tearful mess.
Male
Aaraari raaraari raaraariroLullaby refrain: Aaraari raaraari raaraariro...
Aaraari raaraari raaraariroLullaby refrain: Aaraari raaraari raaraariro...
Aaraari raaraari raaraariroLullaby refrain: Aaraari raaraari raaraariro...
Aaraari raaraari raaraariroLullaby refrain: Aaraari raaraari raaraariro...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional song depicts the agony and heart-wrenching pain of an elder brother who dedicated his life to raising his younger sister like a mother. He reminisces about how he cradled and cherished her from childhood, only to be abandoned and treated like a stranger after her marriage. He expresses grief as she prioritized her newly formed relationship over his lifelong sacrifices. Using stark contrasts such as honey vs. scorpion, flower vs. thorn, and pet parrot vs. pecking bird, T. Rajendar portrays the tragic irony of selfless sibling love met with harsh rejection, concluding with a sorrowful lullaby refrain that underscores his unending, broken tenderness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monne-rhyme / Second Letter Rhyming)

Thatti paaththaen kottaankutchi / Thaalam vanthathu...

The second consonant 'tt' (ட்) rhymes in consecutive lines ('Thatti' / 'Thaalam' / 'Thookki').

Contrast / Antithesis (Ethirnnilai)

Thaenaaga nenaichchu thaan unna valaththaen / Neeyum thaelaaga kottivida naanum thudichchaen

Contrasts the sweetness of honey (Thaen) with the painful sting of a scorpion (Thael).

Metaphor & Metonymy

Malaraaga nenaichu thaan unna valaththaen / Neeyum mullaaga thachchi vida...

Compares loving nurture to gentle flowers/parrots and betrayal to sharp thorns/pecking beak.

Simile (Upamai)

Thaai pola naanthaanae seeraattinaen

Compares his maternal affection and care to that of a birth mother ('Thaai pola').

Anaaphora / Repetition

Paathiyila vantha sontham perusu endru / Aadhi mudhal valarththa enna veruththu vitta

Repetition of lines and phrases emphasizing the depth of anguish and nostalgia.

Did you know?

Trivia

T. Rajendar wrote, composed, directed, and sang this song for 'Thangaikkor Geetham' (1983). The film centers around strong sibling bonds, a recurring theme in several of T. Rajendar's iconic hit movies during the 1980s.

Keep listening

More from Thangaikkor Geetham