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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yarappathiyum

From Pudhea Paadhai · 1989

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Pudhea Paadhai1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Yaara paththiyum ivanukkuHe does not care about anyone
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male :Oorai paththiyum ivanukumMale: He does not care about the town either
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male
Sokkanukku thevai ellamAll that Lord Shiva needs
Satti alavu…Is a potful measure...
Chorus :Satti alavu…Chorus: A potful measure...
Male :Ivanuku thevai ellamMale: All that he needs
Putti alavu….Is a bottleful measure...
Chorus :Putti alavuChorus: A bottleful measure
Male
Thanthaana thanathaana thanthaanThanthaana thanathaana thanthaan
ThanthaanathanthaanaaThanthaanathanthaanaa
Chorus :Thanthaana thanathaana thanthaanChorus: Thanthaana thanathaana thanthaan
Thanthaana thanthaanaaThanthaana thanthaanaa
Male
Yaara paththiyum ivanukkuHe does not care about anyone
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male :Oorai paththiyum ivanukumMale: He does not care about the town either
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male
Usuru irukkuthaiyyaaThere is life in this body, sir
Selavazhikka thuttu illaBut no money to spend
Ponaththin neththiyil panaththa vachchaaIf money is placed on a dead body's forehead
Eduththukittaa kuththam illaTaking it is no crime
Male
Pillaiyaar koyilukkuTo the Ganesha temple
Kodam kodamaa poguthillaMilk flows in pots and pots
Kodaththu paala kudichchuputtaaIf someone drinks a pot of that milk
Saamikkoru nattamillaThe God suffers no loss
Male
Vasathhikku thirudiputtaa adhula oruIf stolen for luxury, in that
Chorus :Kuththam IrukkuChorus: There is a fault
Male :Vayaththukku thirudi thinnaa adhula ennaMale: But if stolen to feed a hungry stomach, in that what
Chorus :Thappu irukkuChorus: Wrong is there?
Male
Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana thanthaanaThanthaana thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana
Thanthaanaa hahaahThanthaanaa hahaah
Chorus :Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaanaChorus: Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana
Thanthaana thanthaanaThanthaana thanthaana
Male
Yaara paththiyum ivanukkuHe does not care about anyone
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male :Oorai paththiyum ivanukumMale: He does not care about the town either
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male
Sokkanukku thevai ellamAll that Lord Shiva needs
Satti alavu…Is a potful measure...
Chorus :Satti alavu…Chorus: A potful measure...
Male :Ivanuku thevai ellamMale: All that he needs
Putti alavu….Is a bottleful measure...
Chorus :Putti alavuChorus: A bottleful measure
Male
Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana thanthaanaThanthaana thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana
Thanthaanaa thannanaana nannaaThanthaanaa thannanaana nannaa
Chorus :Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaanaChorus: Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana
Thanthaana thanthaanaThanthaana thanthaana
Chorus
………………….[Instrumental Interlude]
Male :…………………Male: [Instrumental Interlude]
Male
Thenee thaeneduththu seththu vaikkuthuThe honeybee gathers honey and saves it
KoottukullaeInside its honeycomb
Thaenai yaarum eduththukittaaIf anyone takes that honey
Thiruttunnu sonnathillaNo one calls it theft
Aambalainga koduththa thuttaMoney given by men
Amukki vachcha nenjukullaeIs tucked away inside the bosom
Amukki vachchatha azhuththiputtaanIf he squeezed and took what was tucked away
Adhula oru thappu illaThere is no wrong in that
Male
Saadhi madha pedhamellamDistinctions of caste and religion
IvanukillaHe does not have
Chorus :IvanukillaChorus: He does not have
Male :Sattapadi ivanukoru peyarumillaMale: By law, he does not even have a name
Chorus :PeyarumillaChorus: Has no name
Male
Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana thanthaanaThanthaana thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana
Thanthaanaa thaana thaanaaThanthaanaa thaana thaanaa
Chorus :Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaanaChorus: Thanthaana thanthaana thanthaana
Thanthaana thanthaanaThanthaana thanthaana
Male
Yaara paththiyum ivanukkuHe does not care about anyone
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male :Oorai paththiyum ivanukumMale: He does not care about the town either
Kavalai illaiNo care at all
Chorus :Kavalai illaiChorus: No care at all
Male
Sokkanukku thevai ellamAll that Lord Shiva needs
Satti alavu…Is a potful measure...
Chorus :Satti alavu…Chorus: A potful measure...
Male :Ivanuku thevai ellamMale: All that he needs
Putti alavu….Is a bottleful measure...
Chorus :Putti alavuChorus: A bottleful measure
Male
Thanthaana thanathaana thanthaanThanthaana thanathaana thanthaan
Thanthaana thaana nana nanaThanthaana thaana nana nana
Chorus :Thanthaana thanathaana thanthaanChorus: Thanthaana thanathaana thanthaan
Thanthaana thanthaanaaThanthaana thanthaanaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song introduces the rough, lawless character of the protagonist (Sitha, played by R. Parthiban). He lives on the fringes of society, completely indifferent to societal norms, rules, caste, or religious distinctions. He rationalizes his petty thefts and ruthless behavior through folk philosophy—arguing that stealing out of basic survival and hunger is fundamentally different from stealing for luxury.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Vasathhikku thirudiputtaa / Vayaththukku thirudi thinnaa

The second letter 'sa'/'ya' sound matching creates a natural poetic rhythm when contrasting stealing for comfort versus stealing for hunger.

Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)

Sokkanukku thevai ellam / Satti alavu

The repeating 'S' sound in Sokkanukku and Satti enhances the rhythmic flow of the folk verse.

Analogy

Thenee thaeneduththu seththu vaikkuthu... Thiruttunnu sonnathilla

The lyricist draws an analogy between humans taking honey from bees and a thief taking money, questioning the moral boundaries defined by society.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pudhea Paadhai' (1989) marked the directorial debut of actor R. Parthiban, who also played the lead role. The film's soundtrack was composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, and the song was sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The film went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.

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