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En Uyir Kannamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naadodi Paattukkal

From En Uyir Kannamma · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
En Uyir Kannamma
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
26 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
Thamizh pannodu vaazhum
Indha mannoda vaasam
Adhu yem paattil veesum
Ingu ennaalum pesum pesum
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
Thendralum vandhu thangidum veedu
Senthamizh naattu sandhana kaadu
En paattu arangerum idam aachu
Thendralum vandhu thangidum veedu
Senthamizh naattu sandhana kaadu
En paattu arangerum idam aachu
Thennaiyai thottu punnaiya thottu
Thullura sittu sollura mettu
Naan paada uruvana sugamaachu
Naal thorum paatteduppen oor mayanga
Paattaali naan edutha per vilanga
Yedhaedho raagam adhu eppodho thonum
Ada thaenaana gaanam nenjil thaanaaga oorum
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
Kaavadi sindhu raamani sindhu
Kai vasam minnum kannigal undu
Yeraalam thamizh paattu theriyaadhaa haa
Kaavadi sindhu raamani sindhu
Kai vasam minnum kannigal undu
Yeraalam thamizh paattu theriyaadhaa
Naattuppurathu paatta padichaa
Naadi narambu aadi kudhikkum
Naan paada kettaalae puriyaadhaa
Thaalaatta thaayai vittaa yaar irukkaa
Thaayaarkku paattu solli yaar kodutthaa
Thooliyilae pottu ava sonnaalae paattu
Aalaanen naan thaan adha kaadhaara kettu
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
Thamizh pannodu vaazhum
Indha mannoda vaasam
Adhu yem paattil veesum
Ingu ennaalum pesum pesum
Naadodi paattugal naan padippen
Paattaalae naattaiyum naan pudippen
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
Living alongside Tamil melodies,
The sweet fragrance of this soil,
Will waft through every song of mine,
And keep speaking here forever.
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
The home where the gentle breeze comes to rest,
The sandalwood forests of the rich Tamil land,
Have become the stage for my songs.
The home where the gentle breeze comes to rest,
The sandalwood forests of the rich Tamil land,
Have become the stage for my songs.
Brushing past coconut palms and laurel trees,
The tune chirped by the hopping little bird,
Became a sweet melody made for me to sing.
Every day, I will sing and captivate the town,
Making my name as a working man shine bright.
All kinds of tunes arise unexpectedly at any moment,
Ah, sweet honeyed music springs up naturally from the heart!
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
From Kavadi Chindu (folk meter) to Ramani Chindu,
I have shining verses right at my fingertips,
Don't you know how many Tamil songs I know? Ha!
From Kavadi Chindu (folk meter) to Ramani Chindu,
I have shining verses right at my fingertips,
Don't you know how many Tamil songs I know? Ha!
When I sing a folk song from the countryside,
Every pulse and nerve will dance and leap!
Won't you see for yourself once you hear me sing?
Who is there to sing a lullaby except a mother?
And who was there to teach that mother to sing?
Rocking me in the cloth cradle, she sang her songs,
And listening closely to them, I grew into a man.
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
Living alongside Tamil melodies,
The sweet fragrance of this soil,
Will waft through every song of mine,
And keep speaking here forever.
I will sing the songs of a wanderer,
And with my songs, I will win over this land.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a spirited celebration of Tamil folk music and the deep cultural connection between a singer, his native land, and his listeners. The vocalist proudly proclaims that through the power of folk songs, he can captivate and conquer the entire land. He attributes his musical inspiration to nature—the breeze, sandalwood forests, sparrows, and palm trees—as well as the instinctual lullabies sung by mothers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Naadodi paattugal naan padippen

Repetition of the 'Na' sound across words in the line creates a rhythmic cadence characteristic of folk lyrics.

Metaphor (Uvamaai)

Ada thaenaana gaanam nenjil thaanaaga oorum

The song compares music directly to honey ('Thaenaana gaanam') to describe its sweetness and natural flow into the heart.

Personification

Thendralum vandhu thangidum veedu

The gentle breeze ('Thendral') is personified as a traveler who comes and stays at a house.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kaavadi sindhu raamani sindhu

Rhyming endings ('sindhu') present across consecutive lines enhance the song's melodic structure.

Did you know?

Trivia

En Uyir Kannamma (1988) features iconic lyricism by Vaali, highlighting traditional Tamil folk genres like 'Kaavadi Sindhu' which are traditionally performed during pilgrimage processions.

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