Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Paaladai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Duettu Duettu

From Paaladai · 1967

Lyricist
Thanjai Vaanan
Singers
Tharapuram Sundarajan, K. Jamunarani
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Paaladai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
4 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
Nee etti nee etti nee etti povadhum yenadiyoo
Haiyoo haiyoo
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
Nee etti nee etti nee etti povadhum yenadiyoo
Haiyoo haiyoo
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattu
Kaikattu pottaachu
Ini vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhal
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae
Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattu
Kaikattu pottaachu
Ini vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhal
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae
Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattu
Kaikattu pottaachu
Paalum pazhamum kaigalil yendhi
Tharuvaai enakku oruvaai boondhi
Paalum pazhamum kaigalil yendhi
Tharuvaai enakku oruvaai boondhi
Female :Indhaa indha indhaa thandhen laddu
Eduthu podavaa vaayilae puttu
Indhaa indha indhaa thandhen laddu
Eduthu podavaa vaayilae puttu
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
Female :Vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhal
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
Naethu kavalaigal aththodu pochu
Female :Innikki namakku ennamoo aachu
Male :Naethu kavalaigal aththodu pochu
Female :Innikki namakku ennamoo aachu
Innikkum iravinil ini enna pechu
Innikkum iravinil ini enna pechu
Male :Veliyilae kekkum vidathae moochu
Veliyilae kekkum vidathae moochu
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
Female :Vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhal
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet,
why are you moving away, moving away, moving away, my girl?
Oh dear, oh dear!
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet,
why are you moving away, moving away, moving away, my girl?
Oh dear, oh dear!
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet,
The bonds of marriage, the bonds of marriage,
the knots are firmly tied!
Now singing out loud, out loud, out loud
is not right at all, no, no, no!
The bonds of marriage, the bonds of marriage,
the knots are firmly tied!
Now singing out loud, out loud, out loud
is not right at all, no, no, no!
The bonds of marriage, the bonds of marriage,
the knots are firmly tied!
Carrying milk and fruit in your hands,
feed me a mouthful of sweet boondi!
Carrying milk and fruit in your hands,
feed me a mouthful of sweet boondi!
Female: Here, here, I give you a laddu,
shall I take some puttu and feed your mouth?
Here, here, I give you a laddu,
shall I take some puttu and feed your mouth?
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet,
Female: Singing out loud, out loud, out loud
is not right at all, no, no, no!
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet,
Yesterday's worries are gone with the past,
Female: and today something has happened to us!
Male: Yesterday's worries are gone with the past,
Female: and today something has happened to us!
On this sweet night, what need is there for words?
On this sweet night, what need is there for words?
Male: People outside will hear, do not even breathe loud!
People outside will hear, do not even breathe loud!
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet,
Female: Singing out loud, out loud, out loud
is not right at all, no, no, no!
On our first wedding night, made for singing a duet, duet, duet!
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Duettu Duettu' from the 1967 Tamil film 'Paaladai' is a playful, romantic wedding night (Mudhal Iravu) duet between a newly married couple. The enthusiastic groom urges his shy bride to embrace the romantic atmosphere and sing a duet with him, while the bride playfully chides him, reminding him that marriage requires restraint and decorum. Through lighthearted banter featuring traditional wedding treats—like milk, fruit, laddu, boondhi, and puttu—the couple playfully negotiates their shyness. The groom asks her to leave past worries behind and enjoy the moment, while humorously cautioning against breathing too heavily lest people outside hear them. The song perfectly captures the innocent, comedic charm typical of vintage Tamil cinema romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Repetition / Anaphora)

“Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravu”

Triplicate word repetition ('Duettu duettu duettu', 'nee etti nee etti', 'kaalkattu kaalkattu') creates a playful cadence and rhythmic momentum suitable for a comedic romantic exchange.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Naethu kavalaigal aththodu pochu / Innikki namakku ennamoo aachu”

Rhyming scheme based on end sounds such as 'pochu' / 'aachu' / 'pechu' / 'moochu', creating cohesive melodic couplets.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme) & Wordplay

“Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattu / Kaikattu pottaachu”

Matching second consonants between 'Kaalkattu' (leg-tie/marriage) and 'Kaikattu' (hand-restraint/bound by duty), playing cleverly on physical and social boundaries.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Paaladai' (1967) was directed by A. Bhimsingh and starred Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, and K. R. Vijaya. The music was scored by K. V. Mahadevan. Vocalist Tharapuram Sundarajan was a notable playback and folk singer of the 1960s, paired here with veteran singer K. Jamunarani to deliver a classic wedding-night romantic duet.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Idhuthan Mudhal Rathiri1976
Oorukku UzhaippavanWeddingCourtship
Pachai Kallu Mukutthi2000
Eazhaiyin SirippilMarriageWedding
Siva Rathiri1991
Michael Madana Kama RajanPlayful RomanceWedding
Poove Thamarai1974
Avalukku Nigar AvaleWeddingDesire
Saram Saramai Shenbagapoo1979
Porter PonnusamyMarriageWedding
Thirunirai Selvi1972
Idhaya VeenaiMarriageWedding

From the same album

More songs from Paaladai

View album
Pattadai Thottil1967
PaaladaiTender
En Kannukku1967
PaaladaiRomantic
Appadi Enna1967
PaaladaiRomantic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.