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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aalai Aalai Paar

From Ratha Kanneer · 1954

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
T. V. Rathinam
Music director
C. S. Jayaraman
Details
Ratha Kanneer1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Female
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraar….He keeps scanning the person, person...
Female
Naattiyam endrae sonnaalIf you say it is a dance performance
Koottaththil kuraichchalillaiThere is no shortage in the crowd
Paattiyin raagam thaalamThe old woman's melody and rhythm
Ketka ingaarum varallaiNobody comes here to listen to
Female
Saettaigal seithumaeDoing mischievous acts
Kaatturaar thangapallaiHe shows off his golden tooth
Saettaigal seithumaeDoing mischievous acts
Kaatturaar thangapallaiHe shows off his golden tooth
Female
Kalyaana aasaiyaalaeOut of desire for marriage
Kannai kannai kaatturaarHe makes winking signals with his eyes
Kalyaana aasaiyaalaeOut of desire for marriage
Kannai kannai kaatturaarHe makes winking signals with his eyes
Female
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Female
Senthaazhampoovai kanduSeeing the fragrant screw-pine flower
Theeraatha mogam konduPossessing an insatiable lust
Thindaattam poduraarHe struggles and tosses around
Naarkaaliyodu urunduRolling around on the chair
Thindaattam poduraarHe struggles and tosses around
Naarkaaliyodu urunduRolling around on the chair
Female
Sontham kondaada enniWishing to claim a relationship
Chumma chumma paarkkiraarHe keeps staring needlessly
Sontham kondaada enniWishing to claim a relationship
Chumma chumma paarkkiraarHe keeps staring needlessly
Female
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Female
Cigarettai oodhi thalliPuffing and blowing out cigarette smoke
Saer meethu thulli thulliBouncing excitedly on the chair
Sinegithar thammai killiPinching his own friend
Sirikkiraar yaedho solliHe laughs, saying something or the other
Female
Singaaram pannuraarDressing up and adorning himself
Angoru rokka pulliThere sits a rich, wealthy man
Singaaram pannuraarDressing up and adorning himself
Angoru rokka pulliThere sits a rich, wealthy man
Female
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person
Aattaththai paarththidaamalWithout watching the dance performance
Aalai aalai paarkkiraarHe keeps scanning the person, person

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Aalai Aalai Paarkkiraar is a satirical dance song from the classic movie Ratha Kanneer (1954). Lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi humorously critiques wealthy, lustful men in the audience who attend cultural dance performances not to appreciate the art or classical music, but solely to ogle the female dancer. Through witty social commentary, the song highlights how these men puff cigarettes, show off their gold teeth, fidget in their chairs, and pinch their friends, completely ignoring the traditional art form.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Aalai aalai paarkkiraar

Words are repeated consecutively ('aalai aalai', 'kannai kannai', 'chumma chumma', 'thulli thulli') to emphasize the obsessive and continuous actions of the audience.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Cigarettai oodhi thalli

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, a signature feature of Tamil prosody (Cigarettai / Saer / Sinegithar / Sirikkiraar).

Satire and Irony

Paattiyin raagam thaalam Ketka ingaarum varallai

The lyrics contrast the high classical context of dance and music ('raagam thaalam') with the coarse, lustful behavior of wealthy patrons ('rokka pulli').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi for M. R. Radha's landmark movie Ratha Kanneer, the song serves as a social commentary on hypocritical wealthy elites. Performed on screen as a dance stage act, it reflects the Dravidian movement's reformist themes prevalent in Tamil cinema during the 1950s.

Keep listening

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