Gnaan Gnaan Paadanum
From Poonthalir · 1979
- Lyricist
- M. G. Vallaban
- Singer
- Jency
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Poonthalir1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum | I want to become a night bird and sing day and night |
| Pon nellin poo manam | The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields |
| Then thengil thoranam | Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees |
| Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae | Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this |
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum | I want to become a night bird and sing day and night |
| Pon nellin poo manam | The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields |
| Then thengil thoranam | Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees |
| Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae | Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this |
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Female | |
| Maanguyil jodigal | Pairs of cuckoos on the mango trees |
| Mella koovum ragasiyam | Softly whispering secrets to each other |
| Female | |
| Poovamban raagangal | Melodies woven by Cupid's floral arrows |
| Puriyaatha adhisayam | An incomprehensible, wondrous marvel |
| Poonthennal kaatrilae pushpa baana abinayam | The expressive dance of flower-arrows in the gentle breeze |
| Maanoda praemaiyae manadhaaril sugamayam | Love shared with a deer fills the heart with bliss |
| Aanandha raathiri kaanaa punjiri | A night of pure bliss, featuring a rare unseen smile |
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum | I want to become a night bird and sing day and night |
| Pon nellin poo manam | The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields |
| Then thengil thoranam | Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees |
| Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae | Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this |
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Female | |
| Poonthalir aadum pol | Just as young tender shoots sway gently |
| Thaliridum kaazhchagal | Sights and scenes sprout fresh anew |
| Female | |
| Paingili paadum pol | Just as green parrots sing freely |
| Paravasa thaalangal | Rhythms filled with ecstatic joy |
| Pragruthiyil kavidhagal ezhudhiya eeswaran | The Almighty Lord who wrote poetry across all of nature |
| Pala murai paadidum ilavaenil kaalangal | Springtime seasons that sing repeatedly |
| Aanandha raathiri kaanaa punjiri | A night of pure bliss, featuring a rare unseen smile |
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum | I want to become a night bird and sing day and night |
| Pon nellin poo manam | The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields |
| Then thengil thoranam | Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees |
| Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae | Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this |
| Female | |
| Nyaan nyaan paadanum | I want to sing and sing |
| Oonjaal aadanum | I want to ride the swing |
| Laa laa laallalaa laa laa laallalaa | Laa laa laallalaa laa laa laallalaa |
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
ராக்கிளி ஆகணும் ராப்பகல் கூவணும்
பொன் நெல்லின் பூ மணம்
தென் தெங்கில் தோரணம்
பனி நீர் தென்னலே இதிலே இதிலே
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
ராக்கிளி ஆகணும் ராப்பகல் கூவணும்
பொன் நெல்லின் பூ மணம்
தென் தெங்கில் தோரணம்
பனி நீர் தென்னலே இதிலே இதிலே
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
மாங்குயில் ஜோடிகள்
மெல்லக் கூவும் ரகசியம்
Pairs of cuckoos on the mango trees
Softly whispering secrets to each other
பூவம்பன் ராகங்கள் புரியாத்த அதிசயம்
பூந்தென்னல் காற்றிலே புஷ்ப பாண அபிநயம்
மானோட பிரேமையே மனதாரில் சுகமயம்
ஆனந்த ராத்திரி காணா பூஞ்சிரி
Melodies woven by Cupid's floral arrows
An incomprehensible, wondrous marvel
The expressive dance of flower-arrows in the gentle breeze
Love shared with a deer fills the heart with bliss
A night of pure bliss, featuring a rare unseen smile
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
ராக்கிளி ஆகணும் ராப்பகல் கூவணும்
பொன் நெல்லின் பூ மணம்
தென் தெங்கில் தோரணம்
பனி நீர் தென்னலே இதிலே இதிலே
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
பூந்தளிர் ஆடும் போள்
தளிரிடும் காழ்ச்சகள்
Just as young tender shoots sway gently
Sights and scenes sprout fresh anew
பைங்கிளி பாடும் போள்
பரவஸ தாளங்கள்
ப்ரக்ருதியில் கவிதகள் எழுதிய ஈஸ்வரன்
பல முறை பாடிடும் இளவேனில் காலங்கள்
ஆனந்த ராத்திரி காணா பூஞ்சிரி
Just as green parrots sing freely
Rhythms filled with ecstatic joy
The Almighty Lord who wrote poetry across all of nature
Springtime seasons that sing repeatedly
A night of pure bliss, featuring a rare unseen smile
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
ராக்கிளி ஆகணும் ராப்பகல் கூவணும்
பொன் நெல்லின் பூ மணம்
தென் தெங்கில் தோரணம்
பனி நீர் தென்னலே இதிலே இதிலே
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
ஞான் ஞான் பாடணும்
ஊஞால் ஆடணும்
லா லா லால்லலா லா லா லால்லலா
I want to sing and sing
I want to ride the swing
Laa laa laallalaa laa laa laallalaa
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
Pon nellin poo manam
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Then thengil thoranam
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
Pon nellin poo manam
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Then thengil thoranam
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Maanguyil jodigal
Pairs of cuckoos on the mango trees
Mella koovum ragasiyam
Softly whispering secrets to each other
Poovamban raagangal
Melodies woven by Cupid's floral arrows
Puriyaatha adhisayam
An incomprehensible, wondrous marvel
Poonthennal kaatrilae pushpa baana abinayam
The expressive dance of flower-arrows in the gentle breeze
Maanoda praemaiyae manadhaaril sugamayam
Love shared with a deer fills the heart with bliss
Aanandha raathiri kaanaa punjiri
A night of pure bliss, featuring a rare unseen smile
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
Pon nellin poo manam
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Then thengil thoranam
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Poonthalir aadum pol
Just as young tender shoots sway gently
Thaliridum kaazhchagal
Sights and scenes sprout fresh anew
Paingili paadum pol
Just as green parrots sing freely
Paravasa thaalangal
Rhythms filled with ecstatic joy
Pragruthiyil kavidhagal ezhudhiya eeswaran
The Almighty Lord who wrote poetry across all of nature
Pala murai paadidum ilavaenil kaalangal
Springtime seasons that sing repeatedly
Aanandha raathiri kaanaa punjiri
A night of pure bliss, featuring a rare unseen smile
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Raakkili aaganum raappagal koovanum
I want to become a night bird and sing day and night
Pon nellin poo manam
The floral fragrance of golden paddy fields
Then thengil thoranam
Festoons hanging on sweet coconut trees
Pani neer thennalae idhilae idhilae
Oh cool dew breeze, flow into this, into this
Nyaan nyaan paadanum
I want to sing and sing
Oonjaal aadanum
I want to ride the swing
Laa laa laallalaa laa laa laallalaa
Laa laa laallalaa laa laa laallalaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a joyful, carefree celebration of nature, innocence, and freedom, featuring a distinct Malayalam linguistic touch (such as using 'Nyaan' for 'I') to reflect a border/rural backdrop. The protagonist expresses a childlike desire to sing without stopping, swing freely, and blend into nature like a night bird calling endlessly. The poetic imagery vividly evokes lush countryside elements—fragrant golden paddy fields, coconut trees adorned like festival garlands, and gentle breezes laden with cool mist. As the song unfolds, nature becomes a divine canvas filled with wonder and romance. From the secrets whispered by pairs of cuckoos to the ecstatic melodies of green parrots, creation is depicted as poetry written directly by the Divine. The narrative captures a sublime state of happiness where human emotion, divine creation, and natural beauty exist in absolute harmony.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (Rhyming Refrain)
“Nyaan nyaan paadanum / Oonjaal aadanum”
The repetitive ending '-anum' creates a rhythmic, musical cadence across opening lines.
Simile (Upamai)
“Poonthalir aadum pol”
Compares new visual sights blossoming to the gentle swaying of young floral shoots ('pol' meaning 'like').
Metaphor (Urvakam)
“Pragruthiyil kavidhagal ezhudhiya eeswaran”
Metaphorically describes God as a poet who has written verses across the entire expanse of Nature.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Poonthalir aadum pol / Paingili paadum pol”
Repetition of the initial sound 'P' in consecutive lines enhances the poetic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Though listed as unknown in some archives, this iconic track from 'Poonthalir' (1979) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki with lyrics written by M.G. Vallaban. The song uniquely incorporates Malayalam words like 'Nyaan' (I) and 'Paadanum' (want to sing) into Tamil lyrics, reflecting the story's Kerala-border scenic setting and giving the track its endearing, cross-cultural charm.
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