Naan Enna Paada
From Ullathil Nalla Ullam · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Ullathil Nalla Ullam1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Male | |
| Or veetu kuruvigal | The sparrows of a household |
| Podatha maedaiyil | On a stage not built for them |
| Paadalaagumo nilai maaralaagumo | Can they sing, or can their circumstance change? |
| Female | |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Female | |
| Or veetu kuruvigal | The sparrows of a household |
| Podatha maedaiyil | On a stage not built for them |
| Paadalaagumo nilai maaralaagumo | Can they sing, or can their circumstance change? |
| Female | |
| Paadhai maari ponathu enna | Why has the path deviated? |
| Paadal kooda maaruvathenna | Why has even the song changed? |
| Aayiram vaesham poduvathenna | Why put on a thousand disguises? |
| Aangalil kaalama | Is this the era of men? |
| Male | |
| Kaalam maara kandathum enna | What was observed as time changed? |
| Kaaval kaathu kondathum enna | Why keep up a guarded vigil? |
| Gnyangal thaedum nilavaram enna | What is the condition of justice sought? |
| Nizhal nijam aanatho | Has a shadow become the truth? |
| Female | |
| Neeyum naalai maara vaendum | You too must change tomorrow |
| Podhum naadagam | Enough of this pretense and drama |
| Nilai maarum naal varum | A day will come when circumstances change |
| Male | |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Female :Naan enna paada | Female: What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Male | |
| Or veetu kuruvigal | The sparrows of a household |
| Podatha maedaiyil | On a stage not built for them |
| Female :Paadalaagumo | Female: Can they sing, |
| Nilai maaralaagumo | Or can their circumstance change? |
| Male | |
| Poovai vanthu vaeliyai pottal | If a flower comes and builds a fence, |
| Pootu kooda pon vilangaagum | Even a lock becomes golden fetters. |
| Irudhayam endra ragasiya veetil | Inside the secret home called the heart, |
| Dhinasari naadagam | It is a daily drama. |
| Male | |
| Naeril vanthu paavaiyai paarthaal | If one comes in person to look at the maiden, |
| Nilamum kooda nilamena aagum | Even the shaky ground becomes solid earth. |
| Nilai thadumaari vazhi adhu maarum | Losing footing, the path alters, |
| Nilai vara vaendumaa | Must stability finally arrive? |
| Male | |
| Paarthu paarthu nenjil | Having watched continuously, inside the heart |
| Maatram aagi ponathae | A transformation has taken place, |
| Vazhi maari ponathae | The path has strayed. |
| Female | |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Male :Naan enna paada | Male: What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Female | |
| Or veetu kuruvigal | The sparrows of a household |
| Podatha maedaiyil | On a stage not built for them |
| Male :Paadalaagumo | Male: Can they sing, |
| Nilai maaralaagumo | Or can their circumstance change? |
| Female | |
| Naan enna paada | What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
| Male :Naan enna paada | Male: What song shall I sing? |
| Thaalangal poda | To what beats shall I step? |
ஆண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட
நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட
ஓர் வீட்டு குருவிகள் போடாத மேடையில்
பாடலாகுமோ நிலை மாறலாகுமோ
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
பெண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட
நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட..
ஓர் வீட்டு குருவிகள் போடாத மேடையில்
பாடலாகுமோ நிலை மாறலாகுமோ
The sparrows of a household
On a stage not built for them
Can they sing, or can their circumstance change?
பெண்
: பாதை மாறிப் போனது என்ன
பாடல் கூட மாறுவதென்ன
ஆயிரம் வேஷம் போடுவதென்ன
ஆண்களில் காலமா
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
ஆண்
: காலம் மாற கண்டதும் என்ன
காவல் காத்து கொண்டதும் என்ன
ஞாயங்கள் தேடும் நிலவரம் என்ன
நிழல் நிஜம் ஆகுமோ
The sparrows of a household
On a stage not built for them
Can they sing, or can their circumstance change?
பெண்
: நீயும் நாளை மாற வேண்டும்
போதும் நாடகம் நிலை மாறும் நாள் வரும்
Why has the path deviated?
Why has even the song changed?
Why put on a thousand disguises?
Is this the era of men?
ஆண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட
பெண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட..
ஆண்
: ஓர் வீட்டு குருவிகள் போடாத மேடையில்
பெண்
: பாடலாகுமோ நிலை மாறலாகுமோ
What was observed as time changed?
Why keep up a guarded vigil?
What is the condition of justice sought?
Has a shadow become the truth?
ஆண்
: பூவை வந்து வேலியை போட்டாள்
பூட்டுக் கூட பொன் விலங்காகும்
இருதயம் என்ற ரகசிய வீட்டில்
தினசரி நாடகம்
You too must change tomorrow
Enough of this pretense and drama
A day will come when circumstances change
பெண்
: நேரில் வந்து பாவையை பார்த்தால்
நிலவும் கூட நிலமென ஆகும்
நிலை தடுமாறி வழி அது மாறும்
நிலை வர வேண்டுமோ...
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
Female: What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
ஆண்
: பார்த்து பார்த்து நெஞ்சில்
மாற்றமாகி போனதே வழி மாறி போனதே
The sparrows of a household
On a stage not built for them
Female: Can they sing,
Or can their circumstance change?
பெண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட
ஆண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட..
பெண்
: ஓர் வீட்டு குருவிகள் போடாத மேடையில்
ஆண்
: பாடலாகுமோ நிலை மாறலாகுமோ
If a flower comes and builds a fence,
Even a lock becomes golden fetters.
Inside the secret home called the heart,
It is a daily drama.
பெண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட
ஆண்
: நான் என்ன பாட தாளங்கள் போட..
If one comes in person to look at the maiden,
Even the shaky ground becomes solid earth.
Losing footing, the path alters,
Must stability finally arrive?
Having watched continuously, inside the heart
A transformation has taken place,
The path has strayed.
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
Male: What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
The sparrows of a household
On a stage not built for them
Male: Can they sing,
Or can their circumstance change?
What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
Male: What song shall I sing?
To what beats shall I step?
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Or veetu kuruvigal
The sparrows of a household
Podatha maedaiyil
On a stage not built for them
Paadalaagumo nilai maaralaagumo
Can they sing, or can their circumstance change?
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Or veetu kuruvigal
The sparrows of a household
Podatha maedaiyil
On a stage not built for them
Paadalaagumo nilai maaralaagumo
Can they sing, or can their circumstance change?
Paadhai maari ponathu enna
Why has the path deviated?
Paadal kooda maaruvathenna
Why has even the song changed?
Aayiram vaesham poduvathenna
Why put on a thousand disguises?
Aangalil kaalama
Is this the era of men?
Kaalam maara kandathum enna
What was observed as time changed?
Kaaval kaathu kondathum enna
Why keep up a guarded vigil?
Gnyangal thaedum nilavaram enna
What is the condition of justice sought?
Nizhal nijam aanatho
Has a shadow become the truth?
Neeyum naalai maara vaendum
You too must change tomorrow
Podhum naadagam
Enough of this pretense and drama
Nilai maarum naal varum
A day will come when circumstances change
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Female :Naan enna paada
Female: What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Or veetu kuruvigal
The sparrows of a household
Podatha maedaiyil
On a stage not built for them
Female :Paadalaagumo
Female: Can they sing,
Nilai maaralaagumo
Or can their circumstance change?
Poovai vanthu vaeliyai pottal
If a flower comes and builds a fence,
Pootu kooda pon vilangaagum
Even a lock becomes golden fetters.
Irudhayam endra ragasiya veetil
Inside the secret home called the heart,
Dhinasari naadagam
It is a daily drama.
Naeril vanthu paavaiyai paarthaal
If one comes in person to look at the maiden,
Nilamum kooda nilamena aagum
Even the shaky ground becomes solid earth.
Nilai thadumaari vazhi adhu maarum
Losing footing, the path alters,
Nilai vara vaendumaa
Must stability finally arrive?
Paarthu paarthu nenjil
Having watched continuously, inside the heart
Maatram aagi ponathae
A transformation has taken place,
Vazhi maari ponathae
The path has strayed.
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Male :Naan enna paada
Male: What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Or veetu kuruvigal
The sparrows of a household
Podatha maedaiyil
On a stage not built for them
Male :Paadalaagumo
Male: Can they sing,
Nilai maaralaagumo
Or can their circumstance change?
Naan enna paada
What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Male :Naan enna paada
Male: What song shall I sing?
Thaalangal poda
To what beats shall I step?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Naan Enna Paada' from 'Ullathil Nalla Ullam' (1988) is a poignant duet that reflects on emotional turmoil, societal facades, and shifting life circumstances. Using the metaphor of sparrows attempting to perform on an unbuilt stage, the song captures the helplessness of individuals trapped in unpredictable situations and forced emotional pretense. The lyrics express a yearning for truth, stability, and authentic resolution amidst confusion and life's dramatic twists.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagandhal)
“Or veetu kuruvigal / Podatha maedaiyil”
Comparing human hearts and domestic lives to sparrows ('kuruvigal') trying to perform on an unmade stage ('podatha maedaiyil').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Paadhai maari ponathu enna / Paadal kooda maaruvathenna”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'P' in 'Paadhai' and 'Paadal'.
Esuba / Anthesis (Contrast)
“Nizhal nijam aanatho”
Contrasting 'Nizhal' (shadow/illusion) with 'Nijam' (reality/truth).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and written by Gangai Amaran, 'Ullathil Nalla Ullam' features dynamic vocal chemistry between S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. The song showcases Gangai Amaran's signature style of blending conversational philosophy with expressive melodies.
Keep listening
More from Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Ullathil Nalla Ullam
Ullathil Nalla Ullam