Enna Pada Sad
From Aan Paavam · 1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Female | |
| Appa paadi parandha kuyil | The cuckoo that once sang and flew freely |
| Vaadi kedakkudhu | Is now lying withered |
| Kanneer kadalil idhu | In an ocean of tears, it is |
| Aadi kedakkudhu | Tossed about and floundering |
| Female | |
| Paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Female | |
| Poovaaramum nenachu | Thinking of flower garlands |
| Ponnoonjalum nenachu | Thinking of a golden swing |
| Punnaagi ponadhenna en manasu | Why did my heart end up turning into a wound? |
| Ellaamae poopadhilla | Not everything blossoms |
| Poothaalum kaaippadhilla | Even if it blossoms, it doesn't bear fruit |
| Ariyaama ponadhu thaan en thavaru | Not knowing this was my mistake |
| Female | |
| Vaaraadha thendralukku | For a gentle breeze that would not come |
| Vazhi paathu kaathirundhen | I kept watching the path and waiting |
| Idhazh vaadum pookkala pol | Like flowers with drooping petals |
| Naan irundhen | I remained |
| Female | |
| Kaanal neerukkul | Into a mirage of water |
| Naan thoondil pottaenae | I cast a fishing hook |
| Meena kaanaamal | Without finding any fish |
| Naan maatti kondenae | I ended up getting trapped |
| Sogam thaabam | When grief and longing |
| Nenja vaattum podhu | Torment my heart |
| Female | |
| Ippo paada chollaadhae | Now don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Female | |
| Onnaagavae irundhom | We were together as one |
| Onnaagavae parandhom | We flew together as one |
| Ullaasa kiligala pol | Like joyful parrots |
| Vaazhndhirundhom | We lived |
| Ooraarin kan pada thaan | Due to the evil eye of the townsfolk |
| Ullangal pun pada thaan | Due to our hearts getting wounded |
| Vevveru dhisaigalilae | In different directions |
| Poi vizhundhom | We fell apart |
| Female | |
| Yaarodu yaara kondu | Whom God will unite with whom |
| Dheivangal serkkum endru | Believing that |
| Puriyaama paattukkala | Without understanding, songs |
| Naam padichom | We sang |
| Female | |
| Paarvai podhaadho | Isn't a gaze enough? |
| Nam paasam paesaadho | Won't our affection speak? |
| Vaarthai yenammaa | Why are words needed, my dear? |
| Idhil maunam melammaa | Silence is better in this situation, my dear |
| Oru raagam oru thaalam | One melody, one rhythm |
| Adhu maari pochu ippo | That has changed now |
| Female | |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Female | |
| Appa paadi parandha kuyil | The cuckoo that once sang and flew freely |
| Vaadi kedakkudhu | Is now lying withered |
| Kanneer kadalil idhu | In an ocean of tears, it is |
| Aadi kedakkudhu | Tossed about and floundering |
| Female | |
| Paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
| Enna paada chollaadhae | Don't ask me to sing |
| Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu | I am a mute little cuckoo |
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
அப்ப பாடிப் பறந்த குயில்
வாடிக் கெடக்குது
கண்ணீர் கடலில் இது
ஆடிக் கெடக்குது
The cuckoo that once sang and flew freely
Is now lying withered
In an ocean of tears, it is
Tossed about and floundering
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
பூவாரமும் நெனச்சு
பொன்னூஞ்சலும் நெனச்சு
புண்ணாகி போனதென்ன என் மனசு
எல்லாமே பூப்பதில்ல
பூத்தாலும் காய்ப்பதில்ல
அறியாம போனதுதான் என் தவறு
Thinking of flower garlands
Thinking of a golden swing
Why did my heart end up turning into a wound?
Not everything blossoms
Even if it blossoms, it doesn't bear fruit
Not knowing this was my mistake
வாராத தென்றலுக்கு
வழிப் பார்த்து காத்திருந்தேன்
இதழ் வாடும் பூக்களைப்போல்
நான் இருந்தேன்
For a gentle breeze that would not come
I kept watching the path and waiting
Like flowers with drooping petals
I remained
கானல் நீருக்குள்
நான் தூண்டில் போட்டேனே
மீனக் காணாமல்
நான் மாட்டிக் கொண்டேனே
சோகம் தாபம் நெஞ்ச வாட்டும்போது
Into a mirage of water
I cast a fishing hook
Without finding any fish
I ended up getting trapped
When grief and longing
Torment my heart
இப்போ பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
Now don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
ஒண்ணாகவே இருந்தோம்
ஒண்ணாகவே பறந்தோம்
உல்லாசக் கிளிகளைப் போல்
வாழ்ந்திருந்தோம்
ஊராரின் கண் படத்தான்
உள்ளங்கள் புண்படத்தான்
வெவ்வேறு திசைகளிலே
போய் விழுந்தோம்
We were together as one
We flew together as one
Like joyful parrots
We lived
Due to the evil eye of the townsfolk
Due to our hearts getting wounded
In different directions
We fell apart
யாரோடு யாரக் கொண்டு
தெய்வங்கள் சேர்க்கும் என்று
புரியாம பாட்டுக்கள
நாம் படிச்சோம்
Whom God will unite with whom
Believing that
Without understanding, songs
We sang
பார்வை போதாதோ
நம் பாசம் பேசாதோ
வார்த்தை ஏனம்மா
இதில் மௌனம் மேலம்மா
ஒரு ராகம் ஒரு தாளம்
அது மாறிப்போச்சு இப்போ
Isn't a gaze enough?
Won't our affection speak?
Why are words needed, my dear?
Silence is better in this situation, my dear
One melody, one rhythm
That has changed now
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
அப்ப பாடிப் பறந்த குயில்
வாடிக் கெடக்குது
கண்ணீர் கடலில் இது
ஆடிக் கெடக்குது
The cuckoo that once sang and flew freely
Is now lying withered
In an ocean of tears, it is
Tossed about and floundering
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
என்ன பாடச் சொல்லாதே
நான் ஊமையான சின்னக் குயிலு
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
Don't ask me to sing
I am a mute little cuckoo
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Appa paadi parandha kuyil
The cuckoo that once sang and flew freely
Vaadi kedakkudhu
Is now lying withered
Kanneer kadalil idhu
In an ocean of tears, it is
Aadi kedakkudhu
Tossed about and floundering
Paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Poovaaramum nenachu
Thinking of flower garlands
Ponnoonjalum nenachu
Thinking of a golden swing
Punnaagi ponadhenna en manasu
Why did my heart end up turning into a wound?
Ellaamae poopadhilla
Not everything blossoms
Poothaalum kaaippadhilla
Even if it blossoms, it doesn't bear fruit
Ariyaama ponadhu thaan en thavaru
Not knowing this was my mistake
Vaaraadha thendralukku
For a gentle breeze that would not come
Vazhi paathu kaathirundhen
I kept watching the path and waiting
Idhazh vaadum pookkala pol
Like flowers with drooping petals
Naan irundhen
I remained
Kaanal neerukkul
Into a mirage of water
Naan thoondil pottaenae
I cast a fishing hook
Meena kaanaamal
Without finding any fish
Naan maatti kondenae
I ended up getting trapped
Sogam thaabam
When grief and longing
Nenja vaattum podhu
Torment my heart
Ippo paada chollaadhae
Now don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Onnaagavae irundhom
We were together as one
Onnaagavae parandhom
We flew together as one
Ullaasa kiligala pol
Like joyful parrots
Vaazhndhirundhom
We lived
Ooraarin kan pada thaan
Due to the evil eye of the townsfolk
Ullangal pun pada thaan
Due to our hearts getting wounded
Vevveru dhisaigalilae
In different directions
Poi vizhundhom
We fell apart
Yaarodu yaara kondu
Whom God will unite with whom
Dheivangal serkkum endru
Believing that
Puriyaama paattukkala
Without understanding, songs
Naam padichom
We sang
Paarvai podhaadho
Isn't a gaze enough?
Nam paasam paesaadho
Won't our affection speak?
Vaarthai yenammaa
Why are words needed, my dear?
Idhil maunam melammaa
Silence is better in this situation, my dear
Oru raagam oru thaalam
One melody, one rhythm
Adhu maari pochu ippo
That has changed now
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Appa paadi parandha kuyil
The cuckoo that once sang and flew freely
Vaadi kedakkudhu
Is now lying withered
Kanneer kadalil idhu
In an ocean of tears, it is
Aadi kedakkudhu
Tossed about and floundering
Paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Enna paada chollaadhae
Don't ask me to sing
Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu
I am a mute little cuckoo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Enna Paada Chollaadhae' is a deeply poignant song reflecting grief, heartbreak, and emotional paralysis following broken hopes and separation. The protagonist compares themselves to a 'mute cuckoo'—a bird once full of joy and song, now withered and drowning in an ocean of tears. The lyrics express the agonizing transformation of innocent dreams (symbolized by flower garlands and golden swings) into deep emotional wounds.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Naan oomaiyaana chinna kuyilu”
The speaker compares themselves directly to a 'mute cuckoo bird' unable to sing, representing lost voice, helplessness, and grief.
Metaphor
“Kanneer kadalil idhu aadi kedakkudhu”
Tears are metaphorically elevated to an 'ocean' in which the suffering cuckoo flounces helplessly.
Simile
“Idhazh vaadum pookkala pol naan irundhen”
Explicit comparison using 'pol' (like/as) comparing the speaker's languishing state to flowers with drooping petals.
Simile
“Ullaasa kiligala pol vaazhndhirundhom”
Uses 'pol' to compare the past joyful life of the lovers to carefree, playful parrots.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Poovaaramum nenachu / Ponnoonjalum nenachu”
The second letter 'n' (ன்/ன) creates a pleasing rhythmic rhyme across consecutive lines.
Imagery / Surrealistic Metaphor
“Kaanal neerukkul naan thoondil pottaenae”
Casting a fishing rod into a mirage creates vivid, heartbreaking imagery of seeking hope and sustenance in an illusion.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Enna Paada Chollaadhae' is from the hit 1985 Tamil romantic comedy 'Aan Paavam', directed by Pandiarajan in his directorial debut. The film's soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vaali. Despite being a lighthearted comedy film overall, this particular song stands out as one of its most emotional and soul-stirring melodies.
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