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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirudaadhe Paapa Thirudaadhe

From Thirudathe · 1961

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Thirudathe1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Varumai nilaikku bayandhu vidaadhaeDo not be afraid of the state of poverty.
Varumai nilaikku bayandhu vidaadhaeDo not be afraid of the state of poverty.
Thiramai irukku marandhu vidaadhaeDo not forget that you possess talent and capability.
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Male
Sindhiththu paarthu seigaiyai maathuThink deep and change your actions.
Sirusaa irukkaiyil thiruthikko thavaruCorrect mistakes while they are still small.
Sirusaa irukkaiyil thiruthikkoCorrect them while they are small.
Sindhiththu paarthu seigaiyai maathuThink deep and change your actions.
Sirusaa irukkaiyil thiruthikko thavaruCorrect mistakes while they are still small.
Sirusaa irukkaiyil thiruthikkoCorrect them while they are small.
Male
Therinjum theriyaamae nadandhirundhaaIf a mistake happened knowingly or unknowingly,
Adhu thirumbavum varaama paatthukkoMake sure it does not happen again.
Therinjum theriyaamae nadandhirundhaaIf a mistake happened knowingly or unknowingly,
Adhu thirumbavum varaama paatthukkoMake sure it does not happen again.
Male
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Male
Thittam pottu thirudura koottamA group that plans and steals
Thirudi kondae irukkudhuKeeps on stealing continuously.
Thittam pottu thirudura koottamA group that plans and steals
Thirudi kondae irukkudhuKeeps on stealing continuously.
Male
Adhai sattam pottu thadukkura koottamThe force that makes laws to prevent them
Thaduthu kondae irukkudhuKeeps on stopping them continuously.
Sattam pottu thadukkura koottamThe force that makes laws to prevent them
Thaduthu kondae irukkudhuKeeps on stopping them continuously.
Male
Thirudaraai paarthu thirundhaa vittaalUnless thieves reform on their own volition,
Thiruttai ozhikka mudiyaadhuTheft can never be eradicated completely.
Thirudaraai paarthu thirundhaa vittaalUnless thieves reform on their own volition,
Thiruttai ozhikka mudiyaadhuTheft can never be eradicated completely.
Male
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Male
Kodukkura kaalam nerunguvadhaalAs an era of equal giving approaches,
Ini edukkura avasiyam irukkaadhuThere will no longer be a need to steal or take.
Kodukkura kaalam nerunguvadhaalAs an era of equal giving approaches,
Ini edukkura avasiyam irukkaadhuThere will no longer be a need to steal or take.
Ini edukkura avasiyam irukkaadhuThere will no longer be a need to steal or take.
Male
Irukkiradhellaam podhuvaai ponaalIf everything that exists becomes common property,
Irukkiradhellaam podhuvaai ponaalIf everything that exists becomes common property,
Padhukkura velaiyum irukkaadhuThere will be no reason to hoard wealth,
Odhukkura velaiyum irukkaadhuNor any reason to sideline or reject anyone.
Male
Uzhaikkira nokkam urudhiyaayittaa…If the resolve to work hard becomes firm...
Haaa…aaa…aa…haaa….aaa…aaa…Melodious vocal humming...
Uzhaikkira nokkam urudhiyaayittaaIf the resolve to work hard becomes firm,
Kedukkura nokkam valaraadhuDestructive motives will not grow.
Manam keezhum melum puralaadhuThe mind will not tumble up and down in turmoil.
Male
Uzhaikkira nokkam urudhiyaayittaa…If the resolve to work hard becomes firm...
Haaa…aaa…Melodious vocal humming...
Uzhaikkira nokkam urudhiyaayittaaIf the resolve to work hard becomes firm,
Kedukkura nokkam valaraadhuDestructive motives will not grow.
Male
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Varumai nilaikku bayandhu vidaadhaeDo not be afraid of the state of poverty.
Thiramai irukku marandhu vidaadhaeDo not forget that you possess talent and capability.
Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhaeDo not steal, little child, do not steal.
Paapaa thirudaadhaeLittle child, do not steal.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thirudaadhae Paapaa Thirudaadhae is an iconic moral advice song from the 1961 Tamil film Thirudathe starring M. G. Ramachandran. Written by the legendary progressive lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the song addresses a child—and by extension, society—advising against resorting to theft or crime regardless of financial distress. It inspires self-reliance by reminding listeners that poverty should not breed fear, as every individual possesses inherent talents and capacity for honest labor. The song further explores deep socio-political themes, highlighting that penal legislation and law enforcement alone cannot eliminate crime unless thieves undergo personal moral reform. Kalyanasundaram envisions an egalitarian socialist society where public ownership and fair sharing of resources eliminate the desire to hoard or steal, ultimately leading to a peaceful life driven by honest labor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Varumai nilaikku bayandhu vidaadhae / Thiramai irukku marandhu vidaadhae

The second consonant 'ra' (ரு/ர) rhymes across consecutive lines ('Varumai' and 'Thiramai'), creating a pleasant rhythmic flow while linking poverty with potential.

Antithesis / Parallelism

Thittam pottu thirudura koottam... Adhai sattam pottu thadukkura koottam

Contrasts the calculated criminal group ('thirudura koottam') directly with the law-enforcing authority ('thadukkura koottam') using matching rhythmic structures.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme & Refrain)

Thirudaadhae paapaa thirudaadhae

The prohibition 'thirudaadhae' repeats at the end of phrases to reinforce the core moral warning of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram passed away prematurely in October 1959 at the age of 29. Thirudathe was released posthumously in 1961 and became a blockbuster hit, significantly solidifying M. G. Ramachandran's screen persona as a moral guide and socio-political reformer.

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