Ennathan Paaduvathu
From Naanal · 1965
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Naanal1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ennathaan paaduvathu | What am I to sing? |
| Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu | How am I to dance? |
| Ennathaan paaduvathu | What am I to sing? |
| Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu | How am I to dance? |
| Ingu koottam pottu | Here, gathering as a crowd, |
| Ennai paarkkum paarvai | The gazes that look at me, |
| Ingu koottam pottu | Here, gathering as a crowd, |
| Ennai paarkkum paarvai | The gazes that look at me, |
| Nenjil naanam modhum indha neram | At this moment when modesty fills my heart, |
| Ammammaa…ammammaa…. | Oh dear... Oh dear... |
| Female | |
| Ennathaan paaduvathu | What am I to sing? |
| Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu | How am I to dance? |
| Female | |
| Pennukku naanam podhuvallavoo | Isn't shyness natural for a woman? |
| Manam pesidum anubavam pudhidhallavoo | Isn't this experience of the heart speaking brand new? |
| Ennathai arindhavan neeyallavoo | Aren't you the one who knows my thoughts? |
| Naan irukkindra nilaiyae verallavoo | Isn't my current state altogether different? |
| Female | |
| Ennathaan paaduvathu | What am I to sing? |
| Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu | How am I to dance? |
| Ingu koottam pottu | Here, gathering as a crowd, |
| Ennai paarkkum paarvai | The gazes that look at me, |
| Nenjil naanam modhum indha neram | At this moment when modesty fills my heart, |
| Ammammaa…ammammaa…. | Oh dear... Oh dear... |
| Female | |
| Kaavalai meeravum thunivu illai | I lack the courage to cross the boundaries, |
| Adhan kaaranam kooravum mudiyavillai | I cannot even explain the reason for it, |
| Aavalai kaattidum nilaiyil illai | I am not in a position to display my longing, |
| Endhan atchathilae ullam udhavavillai | My heart does not support me in my fear, |
| Female | |
| Ennathaan paaduvathu | What am I to sing? |
| Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu | How am I to dance? |
| Female | |
| En iru kaigalil vilangu anindhaal | If my two hands are bound in handcuffs, |
| Unnai evvidham iraivaa vanangiduven | How can I worship you, Oh God? |
| En iru kaigalil vilangu anindhaal | If my two hands are bound in handcuffs, |
| Unnai evvidham iraivaa vanangiduven | How can I worship you, Oh God? |
| Unmai unakkum vilangaadhoo | Won't the truth be clear to you as well? |
| Unmai unakkum vilangaadhoo | Won't the truth be clear to you as well? |
| Andha oorvalam udanae thodangaadhoo | Won't that procession begin immediately? |
என்னதான் பாடுவது
நான் எப்படித்தான் ஆடுவது
என்னதான் பாடுவது
நான் எப்படித்தான் ஆடுவது
இங்கு கூட்டம் போட்டு
என்னை பார்க்கும் பார்வை
இங்கு கூட்டம் போட்டு
என்னை பார்க்கும் பார்வை
நெஞ்சில் நாணம் மோதும் இந்த நேரம்
அம்மம்மா.......... அம்மம்மா..........
What am I to sing?
How am I to dance?
What am I to sing?
How am I to dance?
Here, gathering as a crowd,
The gazes that look at me,
Here, gathering as a crowd,
The gazes that look at me,
At this moment when modesty fills my heart,
Oh dear... Oh dear...
என்னதான் பாடுவது
நான் எப்படித்தான் ஆடுவது
What am I to sing?
How am I to dance?
பெண்ணுக்கு நாணம் பொதுவல்லவோ
மனம் பேசிடும் அனுபவம் புதிதல்லவோ
எண்ணத்தை அறிந்தவன் நீயல்லவோ
நான் இருக்கின்ற நிலையே வேறல்லவோ
Isn't shyness natural for a woman?
Isn't this experience of the heart speaking brand new?
Aren't you the one who knows my thoughts?
Isn't my current state altogether different?
என்னதான் பாடுவது
நான் எப்படித்தான் ஆடுவது
இங்கு கூட்டம் போட்டு
என்னை பார்க்கும் பார்வை
நெஞ்சில் நாணம் மோதும் இந்த நேரம்
அம்மம்மா.......... அம்மம்மா..........
What am I to sing?
How am I to dance?
Here, gathering as a crowd,
The gazes that look at me,
At this moment when modesty fills my heart,
Oh dear... Oh dear...
காவலை மீறவும் துணிவு இல்லை
அதன் காரணம் கூறவும் முடியவில்லை
ஆவலைக் காட்டிடும் நிலையில் இல்லை
எந்தன் அச்சத்திலே உள்ளம் உதவவில்லை
I lack the courage to cross the boundaries,
I cannot even explain the reason for it,
I am not in a position to display my longing,
My heart does not support me in my fear,
என்னதான் பாடுவது
நான் எப்படித்தான் ஆடுவது
What am I to sing?
How am I to dance?
என் இரு கைகளில் விலங்கணிந்தால்
உன்னை எவ்விதம் இறைவா வணங்கிடுவேன்
என் இரு கைகளில் விலங்கணிந்தால்
உன்னை எவ்விதம் இறைவா வணங்கிடுவேன்
உண்மை உனக்கும் விளங்காதோ
உண்மை உனக்கும் விளங்காதோ
அந்த ஊர்வலம் உடனே தொடங்காதோ
If my two hands are bound in handcuffs,
How can I worship you, Oh God?
If my two hands are bound in handcuffs,
How can I worship you, Oh God?
Won't the truth be clear to you as well?
Won't the truth be clear to you as well?
Won't that procession begin immediately?
Ennathaan paaduvathu
What am I to sing?
Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu
How am I to dance?
Ennathaan paaduvathu
What am I to sing?
Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu
How am I to dance?
Ingu koottam pottu
Here, gathering as a crowd,
Ennai paarkkum paarvai
The gazes that look at me,
Ingu koottam pottu
Here, gathering as a crowd,
Ennai paarkkum paarvai
The gazes that look at me,
Nenjil naanam modhum indha neram
At this moment when modesty fills my heart,
Ammammaa…ammammaa….
Oh dear... Oh dear...
Ennathaan paaduvathu
What am I to sing?
Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu
How am I to dance?
Pennukku naanam podhuvallavoo
Isn't shyness natural for a woman?
Manam pesidum anubavam pudhidhallavoo
Isn't this experience of the heart speaking brand new?
Ennathai arindhavan neeyallavoo
Aren't you the one who knows my thoughts?
Naan irukkindra nilaiyae verallavoo
Isn't my current state altogether different?
Ennathaan paaduvathu
What am I to sing?
Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu
How am I to dance?
Ingu koottam pottu
Here, gathering as a crowd,
Ennai paarkkum paarvai
The gazes that look at me,
Nenjil naanam modhum indha neram
At this moment when modesty fills my heart,
Ammammaa…ammammaa….
Oh dear... Oh dear...
Kaavalai meeravum thunivu illai
I lack the courage to cross the boundaries,
Adhan kaaranam kooravum mudiyavillai
I cannot even explain the reason for it,
Aavalai kaattidum nilaiyil illai
I am not in a position to display my longing,
Endhan atchathilae ullam udhavavillai
My heart does not support me in my fear,
Ennathaan paaduvathu
What am I to sing?
Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu
How am I to dance?
En iru kaigalil vilangu anindhaal
If my two hands are bound in handcuffs,
Unnai evvidham iraivaa vanangiduven
How can I worship you, Oh God?
En iru kaigalil vilangu anindhaal
If my two hands are bound in handcuffs,
Unnai evvidham iraivaa vanangiduven
How can I worship you, Oh God?
Unmai unakkum vilangaadhoo
Won't the truth be clear to you as well?
Unmai unakkum vilangaadhoo
Won't the truth be clear to you as well?
Andha oorvalam udanae thodangaadhoo
Won't that procession begin immediately?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ennathaan Paaduvathu is a reflective, emotional song from the 1965 film Naanal, composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Aalangudi Somu and sung by P. Susheela. The song portrays the inner dilemma and hesitation of a protagonist standing before a crowd, grappling with feminine modesty, fear, and emotional turmoil. Through her song, she expresses how difficult it is to perform or express joy under the weight of public scrutiny and internal angst. She uses dramatic imagery—such as having her hands metaphorically bound in handcuffs—to signify her complete helplessness in worshiping the Divine or reaching out to her beloved, while pleading for understanding and deliverance from her plight.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Ennathaan paaduvathu / Naan eppadithaan aaduvadhu”
The opening lines frame questions that express internal struggle and helplessness rather than seeking direct answers.
End Rhyme / Refrain (Iyaibu Todai)
“Kaavalai meeravum thunivu illai / Adhan kaaranam kooravum mudiyavillai”
Lines in this stanza consistently end with the negative suffix '-illai', creating rhythmic unity and emphasizing helplessness.
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“En iru kaigalil vilangu anindhaal”
The phrase compares societal or emotional constraints directly to wearing physical handcuffs on one's hands.
Did you know?
Trivia
Naanal (1965) was directed by K. Balachander and featured music composed by V. Kumar, who was one of Balachander's early frequent musical collaborators. Lyricist Aalangudi Somu skillfully crafted the lyrics to double as both a stage performance song and an expression of the heroine's trapped situation.
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