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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Duettu Duettu

From Paaladai · 1967

Lyricist
Thanjai Vaanan
Singers
Tharapuram Sundarajan, K. Jamunarani
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Paaladai1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet
Nee etti nee etti nee etti povadhum yenadiyooWhy are you stepping away, stepping away, stepping away, my dear?
Haiyoo haiyooOh dear, oh dear!
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet
Nee etti nee etti nee etti povadhum yenadiyooWhy are you stepping away, stepping away, stepping away, my dear?
Haiyoo haiyooOh dear, oh dear!
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet
Female
Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattuThe leg-shackle, leg-shackle, leg-shackle...
Kaikattu pottaachu...and hand-restraint have been placed!
Ini vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhalNow, singing aloud, aloud, aloud...
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae...is not fair, no, no, no!
Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattuThe leg-shackle, leg-shackle, leg-shackle...
Kaikattu pottaachu...and hand-restraint have been placed!
Ini vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhalNow, singing aloud, aloud, aloud...
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae...is not fair, no, no, no!
Kaalkattu kaalkattu kaalkattuThe leg-shackle, leg-shackle, leg-shackle...
Kaikattu pottaachu...and hand-restraint have been placed!
Male
Paalum pazhamum kaigalil yendhiHolding milk and fruit in your hands,
Tharuvaai enakku oruvaai boondhiFeed me a mouthful of boondhi!
Paalum pazhamum kaigalil yendhiHolding milk and fruit in your hands,
Tharuvaai enakku oruvaai boondhiFeed me a mouthful of boondhi!
Female :Indhaa indha indhaa thandhen ladduFemale: Here, take it, I gave you a laddu,
Eduthu podavaa vaayilae puttuShall I feed puttu into your mouth?
Indhaa indha indhaa thandhen ladduHere, take it, I gave you a laddu,
Eduthu podavaa vaayilae puttuShall I feed puttu into your mouth?
Male
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet
Female :Vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhalFemale: Singing aloud, aloud, aloud...
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae...is not fair, no, no, no!
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet
Male
Naethu kavalaigal aththodu pochuYesterday's worries vanished with yesterday
Female :Innikki namakku ennamoo aachuFemale: Today something peculiar has happened to us
Male :Naethu kavalaigal aththodu pochuMale: Yesterday's worries vanished with yesterday
Female :Innikki namakku ennamoo aachuFemale: Today something peculiar has happened to us
Innikkum iravinil ini enna pechuWhat talk is needed in tonight's darkness?
Innikkum iravinil ini enna pechuWhat talk is needed in tonight's darkness?
Male :Veliyilae kekkum vidathae moochuMale: Don't heavy-breathe, it might be heard outside!
Veliyilae kekkum vidathae moochuDon't heavy-breathe, it might be heard outside!
Male
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet
Female :Vaaivittu vaaivittu vaaivittu paadudhalFemale: Singing aloud, aloud, aloud...
Nyaayamillai illae illae illae...is not fair, no, no, no!
Duettu duettu duettu paadidum mudhal iravuIt is the wedding night where we sing a duet, duet, duet

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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.

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