Naan Paadum Sandham
From Duet · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Duet1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan paadum sandham | The rhythm that I sing, |
| Vaarthai un sondham | The words belong to you. |
| Kural veru aanaalum | Though the voices are different, |
| Porul ondru allavaa | Isn't the underlying meaning one and the same? |
| Male | |
| Ellaamae nam vaazhvil | Everything in our lives |
| Irandaaga ullathu | Exists as a pair in duality. |
| Kaalam oru duet adhilae | Time is a duet, in which |
| Iravu pagal rendum undu | Both night and day exist. |
| Male | |
| Naan paadum sandham | The rhythm that I sing, |
| Vaarthai un sondham | The words belong to you. |
| Kural veru aanaalum | Though the voices are different, |
| Porul ondru allavaa | Isn't the underlying meaning one and the same? |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai rendu | A river is one, but its banks are two, |
| Nadhiyin jathi ondru | Yet the rhythm of the river is one. |
| Vaazhkai oru duet adhilae | Life is a duet, in which |
| Inba thunbam rendum undu | Both joy and sorrow exist. |
| Male | |
| Thaai ondru magan rendu | The mother is one, but the sons are two, |
| Thamizhin kural ondru | Yet the voice of Tamil that binds them is one. |
| Anbu oru duet ithilae | Love is a duet, in which |
| Annan thambi iruvarum undu | Both elder and younger brothers exist. |
நான் பாடும் சந்தம்
வார்த்தை உன் சொந்தம்
குரல் வேறு ஆனாலும்
பொருள் ஒன்று அல்லவா
The rhythm that I sing,
The words belong to you.
Though the voices are different,
Isn't the underlying meaning one and the same?
எல்லாமே நம் வாழ்வில்
இரண்டாக உள்ளது
காலம் ஒரு டூயட் அதிலே
இரவு பகல் ரெண்டும் உண்டு
Everything in our lives
Exists as a pair in duality.
Time is a duet, in which
Both night and day exist.
நான் பாடும் சந்தம்
வார்த்தை உன் சொந்தம்
குரல் வேறு ஆனாலும்
பொருள் ஒன்று அல்லவா
The rhythm that I sing,
The words belong to you.
Though the voices are different,
Isn't the underlying meaning one and the same?
நதி ஒன்று கரை ரெண்டு
நதியின் ஜதி ஒன்று
வாழ்க்கை ஒரு டூயட் அதிலே
இன்ப துன்பம் ரெண்டும் உண்டு
A river is one, but its banks are two,
Yet the rhythm of the river is one.
Life is a duet, in which
Both joy and sorrow exist.
தாய் ஒன்று மகன் ரெண்டு
தமிழின் குரல் ஒன்று
அன்பு ஒரு டூயட் இதிலே
அண்ணன் தம்பி இருவரும் உண்டு
The mother is one, but the sons are two,
Yet the voice of Tamil that binds them is one.
Love is a duet, in which
Both elder and younger brothers exist.
Naan paadum sandham
The rhythm that I sing,
Vaarthai un sondham
The words belong to you.
Kural veru aanaalum
Though the voices are different,
Porul ondru allavaa
Isn't the underlying meaning one and the same?
Ellaamae nam vaazhvil
Everything in our lives
Irandaaga ullathu
Exists as a pair in duality.
Kaalam oru duet adhilae
Time is a duet, in which
Iravu pagal rendum undu
Both night and day exist.
Naan paadum sandham
The rhythm that I sing,
Vaarthai un sondham
The words belong to you.
Kural veru aanaalum
Though the voices are different,
Porul ondru allavaa
Isn't the underlying meaning one and the same?
Nadhi ondru karai rendu
A river is one, but its banks are two,
Nadhiyin jathi ondru
Yet the rhythm of the river is one.
Vaazhkai oru duet adhilae
Life is a duet, in which
Inba thunbam rendum undu
Both joy and sorrow exist.
Thaai ondru magan rendu
The mother is one, but the sons are two,
Thamizhin kural ondru
Yet the voice of Tamil that binds them is one.
Anbu oru duet ithilae
Love is a duet, in which
Annan thambi iruvarum undu
Both elder and younger brothers exist.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Naan Paadum Sandham from the movie Duet (1994) explores the philosophical theme of duality and unity in human existence, brotherhood, and nature. Through poetic metaphors, lyricist Vairamuthu highlights how contrasting elements—such as day and night, joy and sorrow, two riverbanks, or two brothers—come together to form a single, harmonious experience, much like a musical duet. The song underscores the deep bond between two brothers who, despite having different voices, talents, or paths, share the same underlying essence, mother, and language. It beautifully conveys that life itself is a duet composed of complementary opposites working in total harmony.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (உருவகம்)
“Kaalam oru duet adhilae / Vaazhkai oru duet adhilae”
Directly compares abstract concepts like Time ('Kaalam') and Life ('Vaazhkai') to a musical duet.
Antithesis / Oxymoron (முரண்)
“Iravu pagal rendum undu / Inba thunbam rendum undu”
Juxtaposes contrasting binary pairs (night/day, pleasure/pain, two banks/one river) to emphasize harmony in opposites.
Monorhyme / Second-letter Rhyme (எதுகை - Ethukai)
“Kural veru aanaalum / Porul ondru allavaa”
The second letter consonant match creates a rhythmic flow in paired lines such as Kural (குரல்) and Porul (பொருள்).
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed as unknown in the prompt, the soundtrack for Duet (1994) was composed by A.R. Rahman and directed by K. Balachander. This track features legendary saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath alongside vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The entire album is famous for bringing Indian classical music and Western jazz together through the saxophone.
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