Ettadukku Maligaiyil
From Paadha Kaanikkai · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Paadha Kaanikkai1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Ettaduku | { In an eight-story |
| Maligaiyil yetri vaitha | mansion he elevated me to, |
| En thalaivan vitu vitu | my beloved left me behind |
| Sendranadi indru | and walked away today, my friend, |
| Verupattu nindranadi } (2) | he stands today estranged } (2) |
| Female | |
| Indru | Today, |
| Verupattu nindranadi | he stands estranged, my friend. |
| Female | |
| { Therodum | { Thinking my life would be |
| Vaazhvil endru | a grand chariot procession, |
| Ododi vantha ennai | to me who came running eagerly, |
| Porada vaithaanadi | he made me struggle endlessly, |
| Kannil neeroda vittanadi } (2) | he let tears flow like a stream in my eyes } (2) |
| Kannil neeroda vittanadi | He let tears flow like a stream in my eyes. |
| Female | |
| { Kaiyalavu | { Having a hand-sized |
| Ullam vaithu kadal | heart, yet nurturing ocean-like |
| Pol aasai vaithu } (2) | desires inside } (2) |
| Vilaiyada sonnanadi | he asked me to play this game, |
| Ennai vilaiyada sonnanadi | he asked me to play with love, |
| Avanae vilaiyadi vittanadi | and then he himself played with my life! |
| Female | |
| Ettaduku | In an eight-story |
| Maligaiyil yetri vaitha | mansion he elevated me to, |
| En thalaivan vitu vitu | my beloved left me behind |
| Sendranadi indru | and walked away today, my friend, |
| Verupattu nindranadi | he stands estranged today. |
| Female | |
| { Kalangal | { As long as time |
| Ullavarai kanniyargal | exists, to any young maiden, |
| Yarkum indha } (2) | this kind of } (2) |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal | love |
| Vara vendamadi | should never come, my friend! |
| { Endhan kolam vara | { May my tragic plight |
| Vendamadi } (2) | never befall anyone } (2) |
| Female | |
| Ettaduku | In an eight-story |
| Maligaiyil yetri vaitha | mansion he elevated me to, |
| En thalaivan vitu vitu | my beloved left me behind |
| Sendranadi indru | and walked away today, my friend, |
| Verupattu nindranadi | he stands estranged today, |
| Female | |
| Indru | Today, |
| Verupattu nindranadi | he stands estranged, my friend. |
{ எட்டடுக்கு மாளிகையில்
ஏற்றி வைத்த என் தலைவன்
விட்டு விட்டு சென்றானடி
இன்று வேறு பட்டு நின்றானடி } (2)
{ In an eight-story
mansion he elevated me to,
my beloved left me behind
and walked away today, my friend,
he stands today estranged } (2)
இன்று வேறு
பட்டு நின்றானடி
Today,
he stands estranged, my friend.
{ தேரோடும் வாழ்வில்
என்று ஓடோடி வந்த என்னை
போராட வைத்தானடி கண்ணில்
நீரோட விட்டானடி } (2)
கண்ணில் நீரோட விட்டானடி
{ Thinking my life would be
a grand chariot procession,
to me who came running eagerly,
he made me struggle endlessly,
he let tears flow like a stream in my eyes } (2)
He let tears flow like a stream in my eyes.
{ கையளவு உள்ளம்
வைத்து கடல் போல்
ஆசை வைத்து } (2)
விளையாட சொன்னானடி
என்னை விளையாட
சொன்னானடி அவனே
விளையாடி விட்டானடி
{ Having a hand-sized
heart, yet nurturing ocean-like
desires inside } (2)
he asked me to play this game,
he asked me to play with love,
and then he himself played with my life!
எட்டடுக்கு மாளிகையில்
ஏற்றி வைத்த என் தலைவன்
விட்டு விட்டு சென்றானடி
இன்று வேறு பட்டு நின்றானடி
In an eight-story
mansion he elevated me to,
my beloved left me behind
and walked away today, my friend,
he stands estranged today.
{ காலங்கள் உள்ள
வரை கன்னியர்கள் யார்க்கும்
இந்த } (2)
{ As long as time
exists, to any young maiden,
this kind of } (2)
காதல் வர
வேண்டாமடி
{ எந்தன் கோலம்
வர வேண்டாமடி } (2)
love
should never come, my friend!
{ May my tragic plight
never befall anyone } (2)
எட்டடுக்கு மாளிகையில்
ஏற்றி வைத்த என் தலைவன்
விட்டு விட்டு சென்றானடி
இன்று வேறு பட்டு நின்றானடி
In an eight-story
mansion he elevated me to,
my beloved left me behind
and walked away today, my friend,
he stands estranged today,
இன்று வேறு
பட்டு நின்றானடி
Today,
he stands estranged, my friend.
{ Ettaduku
{ In an eight-story
Maligaiyil yetri vaitha
mansion he elevated me to,
En thalaivan vitu vitu
my beloved left me behind
Sendranadi indru
and walked away today, my friend,
Verupattu nindranadi } (2)
he stands today estranged } (2)
Indru
Today,
Verupattu nindranadi
he stands estranged, my friend.
{ Therodum
{ Thinking my life would be
Vaazhvil endru
a grand chariot procession,
Ododi vantha ennai
to me who came running eagerly,
Porada vaithaanadi
he made me struggle endlessly,
Kannil neeroda vittanadi } (2)
he let tears flow like a stream in my eyes } (2)
Kannil neeroda vittanadi
He let tears flow like a stream in my eyes.
{ Kaiyalavu
{ Having a hand-sized
Ullam vaithu kadal
heart, yet nurturing ocean-like
Pol aasai vaithu } (2)
desires inside } (2)
Vilaiyada sonnanadi
he asked me to play this game,
Ennai vilaiyada sonnanadi
he asked me to play with love,
Avanae vilaiyadi vittanadi
and then he himself played with my life!
Ettaduku
In an eight-story
Maligaiyil yetri vaitha
mansion he elevated me to,
En thalaivan vitu vitu
my beloved left me behind
Sendranadi indru
and walked away today, my friend,
Verupattu nindranadi
he stands estranged today.
{ Kalangal
{ As long as time
Ullavarai kanniyargal
exists, to any young maiden,
Yarkum indha } (2)
this kind of } (2)
Kaadhal
love
Vara vendamadi
should never come, my friend!
{ Endhan kolam vara
{ May my tragic plight
Vendamadi } (2)
never befall anyone } (2)
Ettaduku
In an eight-story
Maligaiyil yetri vaitha
mansion he elevated me to,
En thalaivan vitu vitu
my beloved left me behind
Sendranadi indru
and walked away today, my friend,
Verupattu nindranadi
he stands estranged today,
Indru
Today,
Verupattu nindranadi
he stands estranged, my friend.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Ettaduku Maligaiyil' from the 1962 movie Paadha Kaanikkai is a poignant lament sung by a heartbroken woman speaking to her companion ('adi'). She expresses deep sorrow over her lover who raised her hopes to immense heights—metaphorically placing her in an 'eight-story mansion'—only to abandon her completely. What she envisioned as a joyous, grand procession like a temple chariot turned into a bitter struggle filled with non-stop tears.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ettaduku Maligaiyil yetri vaitha”
The 'eight-story mansion' serves as a metaphor for raising someone's status, hopes, and expectations to supreme heights in a romantic relationship.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Ullam vaithu kadal Pol aasai vaithu”
Contrasts a tiny, hand-sized heart ('Kaiyalavu Ullam') with desires that are vast like an ocean ('kadal pol aasai').
Iyaipu (Rhyming Endings)
“Sendranadi indru / Verupattu nindranadi”
The rhythmic repetition of the end-suffix '-adi' across multiple line endings adds a conversational and sorrowful tone addressed to a female friend.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaiyalavu / Kadal”
The initial 'Ka' sound is repeated in 'Kaiyalavu' and 'Kadal' within the same verse, creating euphonic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed as Unknown in the prompt context, the music for Paadha Kaanikkai (1962) was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy (M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy). This timeless tragic track was sung by the acclaimed playback singer P. Susheela, with lyrics penned by Kaviarasu Kannadasan. The film featured Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, and Vijayakumari in prominent roles.
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