Alai Paayum
From Panja Bootham · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Panja Bootham1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hoo o o o hoo o | Hoo o o o hoo o |
| Alai paayum kaatrae | O wind surging like waves |
| Arugae nee varuvaayo | Will you come near me? |
| Alai paayum kaatrae | O wind surging like waves |
| Arugae nee varuvaayo | Will you come near me? |
| Ila malli poovil | Upon the tender jasmine flower |
| Vilaiyada vaarayoo | Will you come to play? |
| Ila malli poovil | Upon the tender jasmine flower |
| Vilaiyada vaarayoo | Will you come to play? |
| Female | |
| Hoo o o o hoo o | Hoo o o o hoo o |
| Alai paayum kaatrae | O wind surging like waves |
| Arugae nee varuvaayo | Will you come near me? |
| Ila malli poovil | Upon the tender jasmine flower |
| Vilaiyada vaarayoo | Will you come to play? |
| Female | |
| Mazhaikaala megangal | The monsoon rain clouds |
| Azhaikkindra raagangal | Are melodies that beckon |
| Manisangu osai kondu | With the sound of a resonant conch shell |
| Pudhupaadal paadum vandu | The beetle sings a fresh new song |
| Engae undu ingae undu | Where is it? It is right here |
| Vaaraai ingae | Come over here |
| Female | |
| Hoo o o o hoo o | Hoo o o o hoo o |
| Alai paayum kaatrae | O wind surging like waves |
| Arugae nee varuvaayo | Will you come near me? |
| Ila malli poovil | Upon the tender jasmine flower |
| Vilaiyada vaarayoo | Will you come to play? |
| Female | |
| Rathi devi nayanangal | The eyes like Goddess Rathi's |
| Malar maaran puruvangal | The eyebrows like Cupid's flower-bow |
| Vilaigindra kaatil indru | In this forest where nature flourishes today |
| Ezhudhaadha kalaimaan ondru | An unwritten, pristine stag |
| Aadal kandu koodal kolla | Seeing the dance and seeking union |
| Vaaraai ingae | Come over here |
| Female | |
| Hoo o o o hoo o | Hoo o o o hoo o |
| Alai paayum kaatrae | O wind surging like waves |
| Arugae nee varuvaayo | Will you come near me? |
| Ila malli poovil | Upon the tender jasmine flower |
| Vilaiyada vaarayoo | Will you come to play? |
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓ
அலை பாயும் காற்றே
அருகே நீ வாராயோ
அலை பாயும் காற்றே
அருகே நீ வாராயோ
இள மல்லிப் பூவில்
விளையாட வாராயோ
இள மல்லிப் பூவில்
விளையாட வாராயோ
Hoo o o o hoo o
O wind surging like waves
Will you come near me?
O wind surging like waves
Will you come near me?
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Will you come to play?
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Will you come to play?
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓ
அலை பாயும் காற்றே
அருகே நீ வாராயோ
இள மல்லிப் பூவில்
விளையாட வாராயோ
Hoo o o o hoo o
O wind surging like waves
Will you come near me?
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Will you come to play?
மழைக்கால மேகங்கள்
அழைக்கின்ற ராகங்கள்
மணிச்சங்கு ஓசைக் கொண்டு
புதுப்பாடல் பாடும் வண்டு
எங்கே உண்டு இங்கே உண்டு
வாராய் இங்கே
The monsoon rain clouds
Are melodies that beckon
With the sound of a resonant conch shell
The beetle sings a fresh new song
Where is it? It is right here
Come over here
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓ
அலை பாயும் காற்றே
அருகே நீ வாராயோ
இள மல்லிப் பூவில்
விளையாட வாராயோ
Hoo o o o hoo o
O wind surging like waves
Will you come near me?
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Will you come to play?
ரதி தேவி நயனங்கள்
மலர் மாறன் புருவங்கள்
விளைகின்ற காட்டில் இன்று
எழுதாத கலைமான் ஒன்று
ஆடல் கண்டு கூடல் கொள்ள
வாராய் இங்கே......
The eyes like Goddess Rathi's
The eyebrows like Cupid's flower-bow
In this forest where nature flourishes today
An unwritten, pristine stag
Seeing the dance and seeking union
Come over here
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓ
அலை பாயும் காற்றே
அருகே நீ வாராயோ
இள மல்லிப் பூவில்
விளையாட வாராயோ
Hoo o o o hoo o
O wind surging like waves
Will you come near me?
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Will you come to play?
Hoo o o o hoo o
Hoo o o o hoo o
Alai paayum kaatrae
O wind surging like waves
Arugae nee varuvaayo
Will you come near me?
Alai paayum kaatrae
O wind surging like waves
Arugae nee varuvaayo
Will you come near me?
Ila malli poovil
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Vilaiyada vaarayoo
Will you come to play?
Ila malli poovil
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Vilaiyada vaarayoo
Will you come to play?
Hoo o o o hoo o
Hoo o o o hoo o
Alai paayum kaatrae
O wind surging like waves
Arugae nee varuvaayo
Will you come near me?
Ila malli poovil
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Vilaiyada vaarayoo
Will you come to play?
Mazhaikaala megangal
The monsoon rain clouds
Azhaikkindra raagangal
Are melodies that beckon
Manisangu osai kondu
With the sound of a resonant conch shell
Pudhupaadal paadum vandu
The beetle sings a fresh new song
Engae undu ingae undu
Where is it? It is right here
Vaaraai ingae
Come over here
Hoo o o o hoo o
Hoo o o o hoo o
Alai paayum kaatrae
O wind surging like waves
Arugae nee varuvaayo
Will you come near me?
Ila malli poovil
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Vilaiyada vaarayoo
Will you come to play?
Rathi devi nayanangal
The eyes like Goddess Rathi's
Malar maaran puruvangal
The eyebrows like Cupid's flower-bow
Vilaigindra kaatil indru
In this forest where nature flourishes today
Ezhudhaadha kalaimaan ondru
An unwritten, pristine stag
Aadal kandu koodal kolla
Seeing the dance and seeking union
Vaaraai ingae
Come over here
Hoo o o o hoo o
Hoo o o o hoo o
Alai paayum kaatrae
O wind surging like waves
Arugae nee varuvaayo
Will you come near me?
Ila malli poovil
Upon the tender jasmine flower
Vilaiyada vaarayoo
Will you come to play?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Alai Paayum Kaatrae is a sensual and poetic song from the 1979 film Panja Bootham, featuring music composed by Sankar Ganesh and lyrics written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan. Sung with delicate grace by Vani Jayaram, the song features a heroine addressing the restless wind as a surrogate for her beloved, inviting it to come close and gently play among tender jasmine blossoms. She weaves a scene of natural splendor, where monsoon clouds invoke musical ragas and bees hum new melodies resembling the sacred sound of conch shells. In the latter verse, Kannadasan draws upon rich Hindu mythological imagery, comparing the maiden's eyes to Goddess Rathi's and her lover's features to Manmatha's floral bow. The song encapsulates romantic yearning, nature's harmony, and the eager anticipation of intimacy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Alai paayum kaatrae”
The wind is metaphorically described as surging waves ('Alai paayum kaatrae'), capturing its restless and rhythmic nature.
Personification (தற்குறிப்பேற்ற அணி)
“Ila malli poovil vilaiyada vaarayoo”
The wind is treated as a sentient lover who is invited to come near and play on tender jasmine flowers.
Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை - Edhugai)
“Mazhaikaala megangal / Azhaikkindra raagangal”
The second consonant 'zha' aligns between 'Mazhaikaala' and 'Azhaikkindra', creating rhythmic Tamil prosody.
Alliteration (மோனை - Monai)
“Engae undu ingae undu”
Repetition of initial phonemes 'E' and 'I' sound harmony across words in the line.
Classical Allusion (புராண உவமை)
“Rathi devi nayanangal / Malar maaran puruvangal”
References to Rathi Devi (goddess of love and beauty) and Malar Maaran (Manmatha/Cupid) to elevate the imagery of ideal romantic beauty.
Did you know?
Trivia
Panja Bootham (1979) was an action-drama movie scored by the veteran duo Sankar-Ganesh. Kannadasan's use of classic imagery like 'Malar Maaran' (a reference to Kamadeva who uses five flower arrows) and 'Rathi Devi' showcases his deep mastery of traditional Sangam and epic Tamil literary tropes blended into modern film music.
Keep listening
More from Panja Bootham
Panja Bootham
Panja Bootham
Panja Bootham