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Pattikaattu Ponnaiya album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Iravugalai Paatha

From Pattikaattu Ponnaiya · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Pattikaattu Ponnaiya
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
25 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Iravugalai ss paarthadhundu
Uravugalai haao paarthadhillai
Thudithaen thavithaen
Unai thaan ninaithaen
Solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
Iravugalai paarthadhundu haa
Uravugalai paarthadhillai ss haa haa…
Thudithaen thavithaen
Unai thaan ninaithaen
Solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
Nilavum sirikkum
Thendral midhakkum
Thalaiyanai irukkum
Thazhuvi kondiruppen
Nilavum sirikkum
Thendral midhakkum
Thalaiyanai irukkum
Thazhuvi kondiruppen
Thazhuvidum sugangal
Illaiyae yena naan
Iravilae ellaam vizhithu kondiruppen
Aaraadho
Ariyaadhu
Theeraadho… haw
Theriyaadhu
Iravugalai
Paarthadhundu
Uravugalai
Paarthadhillai
Thudithaen thavithaen
Unai thaan ninaithaen
Solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
Sevvidhazh kinnam sindhidum
Mutham mutham
Haa…oh…
Alli iraithaal
En pasi theerum theerum
Haa ullavai ellaam
Unakkae sondham
Azhaithaal varuven aanandha manjam
Aa haa haa…
Aa haa haa…
Laa laalaa…
Laa laalaa…
Iravugalai
Paarthadhundu
Uravugalai
Paarthadhillai
Thuditthaen thavithaen
Unai thaan ninaithaen
Solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
Aa…
{Kan padum podhu
Kadhaigalai ketten
Kai padum podhu
Kalaigalai paarthaen} (2)
Manadhilirundhu
Madiyinil vizhundhaal
Sugamo sugamena
Sorgatthai kaanben
Aaraaro
Arivomae
Theeraadho
Therivomae
Iravugalai haao paarthadhundu
Uravugalai ssaa… paarthadhillai
Thudithaen thavithaen
Unai thaan ninaithaen
Solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
Solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
O… solla thaan vaarthaiyillai
I have seen lonely nights, ss
But I have never known love, ah
I yearned and I suffered
Thinking only of you
Yet I have no words to express it
I have seen lonely nights, ah
But I have never known love, ss ha ha...
I yearned and I suffered
Thinking only of you
Yet I have no words to express it
The moon would smile
The gentle breeze would drift by
There was a pillow beside me
And I would hold it close
The moon would smile
The gentle breeze would drift by
There was a pillow beside me
And I would hold it close
Because the joy of a true embrace
Was missing from my life,
I would stay awake through the whole night
Won't this longing ease?
Who knows
Won't this thirst be quenched? Ah
I do not know
Nights...
I have seen
Intimate love...
I have never known
I yearned and I suffered
Thinking only of you
Yet I have no words to express it
The cup of your red lips spills
Kisses upon kisses
Ah... oh...
If you shower them upon me
My hunger will surely be quenched
Ah, everything I have
Belongs only to you
If you call, I will come to our bed of bliss
Ah ha ha...
Ah ha ha...
La lala...
La lala...
Nights...
I have seen
Intimate love...
I have never known
I yearned and I suffered
Thinking only of you
Yet I have no words to express it
Ah...
When your eyes met mine,
I heard stories of love
When your hands touched mine,
I discovered the arts of love
Rising from the heart,
If I rest in your lap,
In boundless pleasure,
I will see heaven itself
Like a tender lullaby,
We shall come to know it
Won't this yearning be fulfilled?
We shall find out soon
I have seen lonely nights, ah
But I have never known love, ssa...
I yearned and I suffered
Thinking only of you
Yet I have no words to express it
Yet I have no words to express it
Oh... yet I have no words to express it
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Iravugalai Paarthadhundu from Pattikaattu Ponnaiya (1973) is a sensual romantic duet depicting a heroine expressing her sleepless, lonely nights before experiencing love. She describes how she used to hug her pillow through restless nights under the moon, yearning for a love she had never known. The song transitions as her lover reassures her, promising passion and affection that turn her lonely nights into heavenly happiness. Through Kannadasan's evocative poetry and K. V. Mahadevan's memorable tune, the song explores themes of longing, romantic discovery, and tender intimacy, perfectly captured by the expressive vocals of S. Janaki and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran)

Iravugalai paarthadhundu / Uravugalai paarthadhillai

Contrasts having seen many solitary nights (paarthadhundu) with having never experienced true intimate relationships (paarthadhillai).

Alliteration (Monaai)

Thudithaen thavithaen

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound creates a rhythmic sound pattern conveying physical agitation and yearning.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Nilavum sirikkum / Thendral midhakkum / Thalaiyanai irukkum

Lines end with the rhyming suffix '-um' (sirikkum, midhakkum, irukkum), creating a melodic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Sevvidhazh kinnam sindhidum

Red lips are metaphorically described as a chalice or cup ('kinnam') overflowing with kisses.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattikaattu Ponnaiya (1973) is a notable Tamil film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by 'Thirai Isai Thilagam' K. V. Mahadevan. This song is widely remembered for S. Janaki's expressive hums and vocal variations alongside S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's smooth rendition.

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