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Kathanayaki album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Duraiye Ilamai Paaraai

From Kathanayaki · 1955

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. M. Rajah, K. Jamunarani
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Kathanayaki
Movie release year
1955
Lyrics added on
12 Sept 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Duraiyae ilamai paaraai
Kathaigal kelaai inge vaaraai
Thaniyae nillaathae kannaa odivaa
Vegamaai odi vaa
Duraiyae ilamai paaraai
Kathaigal kelaai inge vaaraai
Thaniyae nillaathae kannaa odivaa
Vegamaai odi vaa
Isai paadum kangal meedhey
Ila nenjam kaattum maathae
Unnai thedi vanthaal ayya
Mei inbam kaana vaaraai
Isai paadum kangal meedhey
Ila nenjam kaattum maathae
Isai paadum kangal meedhey
Ila nenjam kaattum maathae
Aa…aa…unnai thedi vanthaal ayya
Mei inbam kaana vaaraai
Unnai thedi vanthaal ayya
Mei inbam kaana vaaraai
Kannalae pesi varum
Kaantha silai maanvizhi
Kadhal geedham paadum thaenmozhi
Kannalae pesi varum
Kaantha silai maanvizhi
Kadhal geedham paadum thaenmozhi
Vaanavil varnang kaattum poongodiyai
Vanthu paar vanna therilae
Vaanavil varnang kaattum poongodiyai
Vanthu paar vanna therilae
Santhoshamae kondaadalaam
Thendral thaalaattum nal inba kaavilae
Santhoshamae kondaadalaam
Thendral thaalaattum nal inba kaavilae
Santhoshamae kondaadalaam
Thendral thaalaattum nal inba kaavilae
Kannalae pesi varum
Kaantha silai maanvizhi
Kadhal geedham paadum thaenmozhi
Vinyaana kannottam pothumae
Meinyaana pennaalai paarumae
Ullaasa ennangal illaatha ullangal
Vaazhvil inbam kaanumo
Vinyaana kannottam pothumae
Meinyaana pennaalai paarumae
Ullaasa ennangal illaatha ullangal
Vaazhvil inbam kaanumo
Kavipaadum kangal meethe
Kalai nyaanam koorum maathae
Kavipaadum kangal meethe
Kalai nyaanam koorum maathae
Aaa…aa….kanal maeni kandaen kannae
Mei kaadhal koora vaaraai
Kanal maeni kandaen kannae
Mei kaadhal koora vaaraai
My handsome lord, look at my youth,
Listen to my stories and come to me,
Do not stand alone, my darling, run to me,
Run to me quickly!
My handsome lord, look at my youth,
Listen to my stories and come to me,
Do not stand alone, my darling, run to me,
Run to me quickly!
With eyes that sing music,
O woman revealing your young heart,
When I come searching for you, sir,
Come and find true happiness!
With eyes that sing music,
O woman revealing your young heart,
With eyes that sing music,
O woman revealing your young heart,
Ah... ah... when I come searching for you, sir,
Come and find true happiness!
When I come searching for you, sir,
Come and find true happiness!
Speaking with her eyes,
A captivating beauty with deer-like eyes,
A sweet-voiced girl singing songs of love,
Speaking with her eyes,
A captivating beauty with deer-like eyes,
A sweet-voiced girl singing songs of love,
A slender beauty glowing in rainbow colours,
Come see her riding in a colourful chariot!
A slender beauty glowing in rainbow colours,
Come see her riding in a colourful chariot!
We can celebrate pure joy,
In this delightful grove where the breeze sings a lullaby,
We can celebrate pure joy,
In this delightful grove where the breeze sings a lullaby,
We can celebrate pure joy,
In this delightful grove where the breeze sings a lullaby!
Speaking with her eyes,
A captivating beauty with deer-like eyes,
A sweet-voiced girl singing songs of love,
Enough of your scientific outlook,
Look at me as a woman of true feeling!
Hearts that have no joyful thoughts,
Can they ever find happiness in life?
Enough of your scientific outlook,
Look at me as a woman of true feeling!
Hearts that have no joyful thoughts,
Can they ever find happiness in life?
With eyes that recite poetry,
O woman gifted with the knowledge of art,
With eyes that recite poetry,
O woman gifted with the knowledge of art,
Ah... ah... I have seen your glowing beauty, my love,
Come and speak of true love!
I have seen your glowing beauty, my love,
Come and speak of true love!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet from Kathanayaki (1955) captures a playful and tender exchange between lovers celebrating youth, beauty, and joy. The female protagonist beckons her lover to leave solitude behind, urging him to savor life's sweet pleasures and youthfulness. In response, the male protagonist marvels at her magnetic grace, poetically describing her eyes, voice, and radiant form. Interwoven with romantic affection are reflective insights—notably contrasting physical perception ('Vinyaana') with true inner wisdom ('Meinyaana'). The song concludes with a shared celebration of love set in a serene, breeze-filled grove, highlighting that true happiness in life requires a joyful, open heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Kaantha silai maanvizhi”

Describing the maiden as 'Poongodi' (flowery vine) and 'Kaantha silai' (magnetic statue) to emphasize her beauty and grace.

Contrast / Anthesis (Muran)

“Vinyaana kannottam pothumae / Meinyaana pennaalai paarumae”

Contrasting 'Vinyaana' (scientific/outward vision) with 'Meinyaana' (true spiritual wisdom/inner perception).

Rhyme (Edhukai)

“Vinyaana kannottam pothumae”

Second-letter rhyming between 'Vinyaana' and 'Meinyaana', creating melodic cadence.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

“Kannalae pesi varum”

Initial consonant matching with 'Kannalae' and 'Kaantha' or 'Kadhal' in consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan and written by Kannadasan, 'Duraiyae Ilamai Paaraai' showcases the early playback era chemistry between A. M. Rajah and K. Jamuna Rani. Kannadasan cleverly embedded philosophical concepts like 'Meinyaanam' and 'Vinyaanam' into a lightweight, romantic duelling duet.

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