Vaanam Thottu Pona
From Thevar Magan · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Chorus
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thevar Magan1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Aaaah…. aahhh.. | Aaaah…. aahhh.. |
| Male | |
| Vaanam thottu ponaan | He has departed, touching the very heavens, |
| Maanam ulla saami oh.. | the honorable deity! Oh... |
| Vaanam thottu ponaan | He has departed, touching the very heavens, |
| Maanam ulla saami | the honorable deity. |
| Male | |
| Thembuthaiyaa paavam | It is now weeping in grief, alas, |
| Devargalin bhoomi | the land of the Devars. |
| Pattathukku veru | To wear the royal crown, |
| Sittrasan yaaru | who else is there as a worthy leader? |
| Thangathukku veru | For pure gold, |
| Maatru unda kooru | tell me, is there any alternative measure? |
| Male | |
| Thirundhaama pochae | Without ever reforming, |
| Oorusanamthaan | the village people remain! |
| Thathalichu vaaduthaiya | Struggling and suffering in agony, |
| Ezha inam thaan | it is the poor community of people. |
| Male | |
| Pottri paadadi ponne | Sing in praise, oh girl! |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah…aa… |
| Male :Devar kaaladi mannae | Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar! |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah…aa… |
| Chorus | |
| Aaahh… aah… | Aaahh… aah… |
| Male | |
| Vettaruvaa thaangi oh.. | Wielding sharp sickles, |
| Veesugira ooril oh.. | in a village that slashes around, oh... |
| Vettaruvaa thaangi | Wielding sharp sickles, |
| Veesugira ooril | in a village that slashes around, |
| Male | |
| Vella kodi thooki | raising the white flag of peace, |
| Vandhavan neeyae | you are the one who arrived. |
| Nalla vazhi neethaan | Though you showed the righteous path, |
| Solli enna laabam | what was the use of advising them? |
| Sonnavanathaanae | It is the very peacemaker himself |
| Soozhdhathindru paavam | whom tragedy has surrounded today. |
| Male | |
| Kalangaathae raasa | Do not lose heart, my king, |
| Kaalam varattum | let the right time come. |
| Naliravu ponapinnae | After the deep dark night passes, |
| Velli molaikkum | the morning star shall rise. |
| Male | |
| Pottri paadadi ponne | Sing in praise, oh girl! |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah…aa… |
| Male :Devar kaaladi mannae | Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar! |
| Chorus: Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah…aa… |
| Male | |
| Thekku thesa aanda | The king who ruled the southern region, |
| Mannar ivanthaan | he is indeed this noble ruler. |
| Mookulatha chendha | Belonging to the traditional Mookulam lineage, |
| Devar maganthaan hoi | he is truly the son of Devar, hoi! |
| Male | |
| Pottri paadadi ponne | Sing in praise, oh girl! |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah…aa… |
| Male :Devar kaaladi mannae | Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar! |
| Chorus :Aaah…aa… | Chorus: Aaah…aa… |
ஹா....ஆஅ......ஆஅ....
Aaaah…. aahhh..
வானம் தொட்டு போனான்....
மானமுள்ள சாமி...ஓஓ.
வானம் தொட்டு போனான்
மானமுள்ள சாமி
He has departed, touching the very heavens,
the honorable deity! Oh...
He has departed, touching the very heavens,
the honorable deity.
தேம்புதைய்யா பாவம்
தேவர்களின் பூமி
பட்டத்துக்கு வேறு
சிற்றரசன் யாரு
தங்கத்துக்கு வேறு
மாற்று உண்டா கூறு
It is now weeping in grief, alas,
the land of the Devars.
To wear the royal crown,
who else is there as a worthy leader?
For pure gold,
tell me, is there any alternative measure?
திருந்தாம போச்சே
ஊருசனந்தான்
தத்தளிச்சி வாடுதைய்யா
ஏழை இனந்தான்
Without ever reforming,
the village people remain!
Struggling and suffering in agony,
it is the poor community of people.
ஆண்
: போற்றி பாடடி பொண்ணே....
குழு :
ஹா...ஆஅ......
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே….
குழு :
ஹா...ஆஅ......
Sing in praise, oh girl!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
ஹா...ஆஅ......ஆஅ......
Aaahh… aah…
வெட்டறுவா தாங்கி…ஓ...
வீசுகிற ஊரில்... ஓஓ
வெட்டறுவா தாங்கி
வீசுகிற ஊரில்
Wielding sharp sickles,
in a village that slashes around, oh...
Wielding sharp sickles,
in a village that slashes around,
வெள்ளக் கொடி தூக்கி
வந்தவணும் நீயே…
நல்லவழி நீ தான்
சொல்லி என்ன லாபம்
சொன்னவன தானே
சூழ்ந்ததின்று பாவம்
raising the white flag of peace,
you are the one who arrived.
Though you showed the righteous path,
what was the use of advising them?
It is the very peacemaker himself
whom tragedy has surrounded today.
கலங்காதே ராசா
காலம் வரட்டும்
நள்ளிரவு போனாப் பின்னே
வெள்ளி முளைக்கும்
Do not lose heart, my king,
let the right time come.
After the deep dark night passes,
the morning star shall rise.
ஆண்
: போற்றி பாடடி பொண்ணே....
குழு :
ஹா...ஆஅ......
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே….
குழு :
ஹா...ஆஅ......
Sing in praise, oh girl!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
தெக்கு திசை ஆண்ட
மன்னர் இனந்தாம்…
முக்குலத்தை சேர்ந்த
தேவர் மகன்தான் ஓய்
The king who ruled the southern region,
he is indeed this noble ruler.
Belonging to the traditional Mookulam lineage,
he is truly the son of Devar, hoi!
ஆண்
: போற்றி பாடடி பொண்ணே....
குழு :
ஹா...ஆஅ......
தேவர் காலடி மண்ணே….
குழு :
ஹா...ஆஅ......
Sing in praise, oh girl!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Aaaah…. aahhh..
Aaaah…. aahhh..
Vaanam thottu ponaan
He has departed, touching the very heavens,
Maanam ulla saami oh..
the honorable deity! Oh...
Vaanam thottu ponaan
He has departed, touching the very heavens,
Maanam ulla saami
the honorable deity.
Thembuthaiyaa paavam
It is now weeping in grief, alas,
Devargalin bhoomi
the land of the Devars.
Pattathukku veru
To wear the royal crown,
Sittrasan yaaru
who else is there as a worthy leader?
Thangathukku veru
For pure gold,
Maatru unda kooru
tell me, is there any alternative measure?
Thirundhaama pochae
Without ever reforming,
Oorusanamthaan
the village people remain!
Thathalichu vaaduthaiya
Struggling and suffering in agony,
Ezha inam thaan
it is the poor community of people.
Pottri paadadi ponne
Sing in praise, oh girl!
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Male :Devar kaaladi mannae
Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar!
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Aaahh… aah…
Aaahh… aah…
Vettaruvaa thaangi oh..
Wielding sharp sickles,
Veesugira ooril oh..
in a village that slashes around, oh...
Vettaruvaa thaangi
Wielding sharp sickles,
Veesugira ooril
in a village that slashes around,
Vella kodi thooki
raising the white flag of peace,
Vandhavan neeyae
you are the one who arrived.
Nalla vazhi neethaan
Though you showed the righteous path,
Solli enna laabam
what was the use of advising them?
Sonnavanathaanae
It is the very peacemaker himself
Soozhdhathindru paavam
whom tragedy has surrounded today.
Kalangaathae raasa
Do not lose heart, my king,
Kaalam varattum
let the right time come.
Naliravu ponapinnae
After the deep dark night passes,
Velli molaikkum
the morning star shall rise.
Pottri paadadi ponne
Sing in praise, oh girl!
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Male :Devar kaaladi mannae
Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar!
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Thekku thesa aanda
The king who ruled the southern region,
Mannar ivanthaan
he is indeed this noble ruler.
Mookulatha chendha
Belonging to the traditional Mookulam lineage,
Devar maganthaan hoi
he is truly the son of Devar, hoi!
Pottri paadadi ponne
Sing in praise, oh girl!
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Male :Devar kaaladi mannae
Male: Praise the sacred soil beneath the feet of the Devar!
Chorus :Aaah…aa…
Chorus: Aaah…aa…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Potri Paadadi Penne' is an iconic mournful and eulogistic song from the 1992 Tamil classic movie 'Thevar Magan'. Sung in the style of traditional Oppari (Tamil mourning song), it laments the passing of an honorable village patriarch (played by Sivaji Ganesan) while honoring his legacy and encouraging his son (Kamal Haasan) to lead the people out of violence and feud. The song contrasts the cycle of rural bloodshed with the vision of peace and enlightenment. Through poignant folk metaphors, it offers hope that after the darkness of strife and grief, a bright morning star will emerge to guide the community toward unity and righteousness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani (Metaphor)
“Naliravu ponapinnae Velli molaikkum”
Comparing the noble patriarch to gold ('Thangathukku veru maatru unda') and comparing the arrival of hope to the morning star ('Velli molaikkum') rising after dark night ('Naliravu').
Ethirsol (Contrast / Juxtaposition)
“Vettaruvaa thaangi... Vella kodi thooki”
Juxtaposes the violent culture of sickles ('Vettaruvaa') with the symbol of peace ('Vella kodi').
Monai (Alliteration)
“Vaanam thottu ponaan / Maanam ulla saami”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Va' in 'Vaanam' and 'Vettaruvaa' across lines for rhythmic emphasis.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, 'Potri Paadadi Penne' won widespread acclaim for its authentic rural orchestration and emotional weight. It became one of the defining cultural anthems of Tamil cinema in the 1990s, capturing the tragic folklore essence of southern Tamil Nadu.
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