Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Pudhu Manithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Valaikku Thappiya Meenu

From Pudhu Manithan · 1991

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Pudhu Manithan
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
6 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………………
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru… hoi
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
Poranthathu thanneerilae meenu azhivathu venneerilae
Poranthathu venneerilae manushan azhivathu kanneerilae
Ada meenum naanum onnallavo…
Andha nyaanam sernthathinrallavo
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
{Raaman senja paavam enna
Vanavaasam ponaanae
Dhrowbathiyin paavam enna
Sethu sethu nindraalae} (2)
Thangam urukkapadum…
Theeyil erikkapadum… athanaal pazhudhilla
Unma varuthapadum
Roatil nirutha padum athanaal izhivilla
Avamaanam kooda nyaanam aagum pizhaiyilla… hoi
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
{Saththiyangal thoonga koodum
Saththimayaai saagaadhu
Puthagathil ullathellaam
Puthi endru aagaathu} (2)
Vetri odhungi nikkum…
Satrae padungi nikkum… athanaal azhiyaadhu
Naththai vayithukullum…
Muthu olinthirukkum…. adhukkae theriyaathu
Pani moottam endrum vaanai mooda mudiyaadhu… hoi
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu
Ulaikku vanthathu paaru…
Poranthathu thanneerilae meenu azhivathu venneerilae
Poranthathu venneerilae manushan azhivathu kanneerilae
Ada meenum naanum onnallavo…
Andha nyaanam sernthathinrallavo
Ada meenum naanum onnallavo…
Andha nyaanam sernthathinrallavo
...
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot... hey!
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
The fish was born in cool water, but dies in boiling water;
man was born in warm water, but perishes in tears.
Aren't that fish and I just the same?
Didn't I realize this truth only today?
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
What sin did Rama ever commit,
yet he had to wander in exile in the forest?
What sin did Draupadi ever commit,
yet she suffered like death again and again?
Gold will be melted...
and burned in the fire, but it loses none of its worth.
Truth may be made to suffer
and stand humiliated on the street, but there is no shame in it.
Even dishonour becomes wisdom, there is no fault in that... hey!
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
The truth may fall asleep,
but truly, it will never die.
Not everything printed in books
can be called true wisdom.
Success may step aside for a while...
and lie low for a moment, but it will never be destroyed.
Even inside the belly of a shell...
a pearl stays hidden, without the shell even knowing it.
A blanket of fog can never cover the open sky... hey!
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
The fish that escaped the net, my friend,
look, it has ended up right in the boiling pot...
The fish was born in cool water, but dies in boiling water;
man was born in warm water, but perishes in tears.
Aren't that fish and I just the same?
Didn't I realize this truth only today?
Aren't that fish and I just the same?
Didn't I realize this truth only today?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Valaikku Thappiya Meenu from Pudhu Manithan (1991) is a philosophical and metaphorical song that uses simple allegories to reflect on human life, destiny, and resilience. Using the metaphor of a fish escaping a fishing net only to fall into a boiling pot, the lyrics portray how human existence often feels trapped in endless cycles of struggle and tears. By citing mythological references such as Lord Rama's forest exile and Draupadi's tragic ordeals, the lyricist emphasizes that suffering is not necessarily the result of sin, but an inevitable test faced even by the most righteous. Ultimately, the song delivers a message of resilience and hope. Just as gold becomes pure after being refined in fire and fog can never permanently obscure the sky, truth and success will always prevail over temporary humiliation and setbacks. Through these evocative nature metaphors, the song encourages perseverance and finding inner wisdom during life's darkest moments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Valaikku thappiya meenu maamu Ulaikku vanthathu paaru”

Compares the human struggle of surviving one crisis only to face another with a fish escaping a net and falling into a boiling pot.

Parallelism / Antithesis

“Poranthathu thanneerilae meenu azhivathu venneerilae / Poranthathu venneerilae manushan azhivathu kanneerilae”

Draws a structural contrast between the birth and death conditions of fish versus human beings.

Mythological Allusion

“Raaman senja paavam enna Vanavaasam ponaanae / Dhrowbathiyin paavam enna Sethu sethu nindraalae”

References Rama's exile and Draupadi's plight from Hindu epics to illustrate that righteousness does not exempt one from suffering.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Saththiyangal thoonga koodum / Saththimayaai saagaadhu”

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Sa' in consecutive lines for rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pudhu Manithan (1991) is a Tamil drama film directed by T. P. Gajendran starring Sathyaraj and Bhanupriya. The music for the film was composed by Deva, with lyrics written by Kalidasan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aduppil Pogai Aagum2023
Annapoorni – 2023 FilmResiliencePoverty
Yaezhaikku Ettatha1958
Aalai Kandu MayangatheFatePoverty
Brindavanam Yamuna Nadhi1977
Andru Sinthiya RathamPovertyMelancholic
Meenodu Meen Vandhu (Female)1983
Alai Payum NenjangalContemplativeNature
Thaam Thakka Theem Thakka2003
ThirumalaiResilienceHopeful
Nilladhey Nilladhey2018
LakshmiResilienceFate

From the same album

More songs from Pudhu Manithan

View album
Angam Unathu Angam1991
Pudhu ManithanPlayful
Thinam Thinam Pudhu1991
Pudhu ManithanDevotional
Nilavukku Thaalaattu1991
Pudhu ManithanMelancholic
Yelelankuyilae1991
Pudhu ManithanGrateful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.