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Anbulla Appa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idhu Paal Vadiyum Mugam

From Anbulla Appa · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Anbulla Appa
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
27 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Idhu paal vadiyum mugam
Idhai paarppadhu thaan sugam
Idhu kanavaa unmaiyaa
Ada idhu thaan penmaiyaa
Idhu paal vadiyum mugam
Idhai paarppadhu thaan sugam
Idhu kanavaa unmaiyaa
Ada idhu thaan aanmaiyaa
Aadaigal noolukku sondham
Aasaigal vaazhvukku sondham
Vaanukku chooriyan sondham
Vaarthaigal baashaikku sondham
Nee en sondham
Naan un sondham
Thandham yaanaikku
Thaanae sondham
Idhu paal vadiyum mugam
Idhai paarppadhu thaan sugam
Female :Idhu kanavaa unmaiyaa
Ada idhu thaan aanmaiyaa
Ponnukku
Nee niram thandhaai
Poovukku punnagai thandhaai
Veenaikku
Naadhangal thandhaai
En viralukku modhiram thandhaai
Ennai thandhen
Unnai thandhaai
Kaadhal sorgangal
Kannil thandhaai
Idhu paal vadiyum mugam
Idhai paarppadhu thaan sugam
Idhu kanavaa unmaiyaa
Ada idhu thaan penmaiyaa
Idhu paal vadiyum mugam
Idhai paarppadhu thaan sugam
Idhu kanavaa unmaiyaa
Ada idhu thaan aanmaiyaa
Lala laalalalaa lalaa
Female :Lala laalalalaa lalaa
Both :Lala laalaa laalalaa
Lala laalaa laalalaa…
This face is full of innocence,
Looking at it is pure joy.
Is this a dream or reality?
Ah, is this what womanhood is?
This face is full of innocence,
Looking at it is pure joy.
Is this a dream or reality?
Ah, is this what manhood is?
Clothes belong to yarn,
Desires belong to life,
The sun belongs to the sky,
Words belong to language,
You belong to me,
I belong to you,
Just as tusks
Belong to an elephant.
This face is full of innocence,
Looking at it is pure joy.
Is this a dream or reality?
Ah, is this what manhood is?
To gold,
You gave its golden glow,
To flowers, you gave their smile,
To the veena,
You gave its sweet music,
To my finger, you gave a ring.
I gave you myself,
You gave me yourself,
A paradise of love,
You brought into my eyes.
This face is full of innocence,
Looking at it is pure joy.
Is this a dream or reality?
Ah, is this what womanhood is?
This face is full of innocence,
Looking at it is pure joy.
Is this a dream or reality?
Ah, is this what manhood is?
La la laa la la la la
La la laa la la la la
La la laa laa laa laa
La la laa laa laa laa…
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Idhu Paal Vadiyum Mugam' from the movie Anbulla Appa (1987) is a romantic duet expressing deep affection, admiration, and mutual belonging between lovers. The song uses rich imagery to celebrate the innocence, beauty, and complementary nature of the couple, comparing their bond to natural and intrinsic relationships like thread to clothes, sun to the sky, and music to a veena. Written by lyricist Vairamuthu, the duet captures a tender realization of love, questioning whether such bliss is a dream or reality while honoring the concepts of manhood and womanhood.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Parallelism (Analogy)

“Aadaigal noolukku sondham / Aasaigal vaazhvukku sondham”

The song uses logical natural pairings (thread to clothes, sun to sky, words to language) to emphasize how natural and destined the lovers' relationship is.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Nee en sondham / Naan un sondham”

Repetition of the ending suffix '-sondham' across multiple consecutive lines creates a rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Idhu paal vadiyum mugam”

'Paal vadiyum mugam' literally translates to 'milk-dripping face', which is a classic Tamil metaphor representing extreme innocence and purity.

Hyperbole (Uruvagam / Athi-aayam)

“Ponnukku nee niram thandhaai / Poovukku punnagai thandhaai”

Attributing the beauty of elements (color of gold, smile of flowers) directly to the beloved's presence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from 'Anbulla Appa' (1987), starring Shivaji Ganesan and Nadhiya. The track features music composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, with vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, featuring lyrics by Vairamuthu.

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