Naan Paattu Ondru Paada
From Ragasiyam · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Ragasiyam1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaa…..aa….aa….aa…. | Aaa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aa…..aa….aa….aa…. | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aha….haa…..aa….aa….aa… | Aha... haa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Naan paattu ondru paada | For me to sing a song, |
| Naeram idhuthaanaa | Is this the right time? |
| Naan paattu ondru paada | For me to sing a song, |
| Naeram idhuthaanaa | Is this the right time? |
| Kann paarvai alai paaya | As my eyes wander like restless waves, |
| Paadum kuyil naanaa | Am I the singing cuckoo bird? |
| Female | |
| Oru puram kaliyaattam | On one side, there is merrymaking, |
| Maru puram thadumaattaram | On the other side, there is faltering struggle, |
| Iru puram irunthaalum | Even though both sides exist, |
| Idaiyinil arangettram | In the middle lies a debut stage performance. |
| Female | |
| Naan paattu ondru paada | For me to sing a song, |
| Naeram idhuthaanaa | Is this the right time? |
| Kann paarvai alai paaya | As my eyes wander like restless waves, |
| Paadum kuyil naanaa | Am I the singing cuckoo bird? |
| Female | |
| Ellorum ingae vanthu | While everyone comes here |
| Nal vaazhththu koora | To convey their good wishes, |
| Ennullam engo indru | My heart today, somewhere, |
| Dhisai maari vaada | Loses its direction and wilts. |
| Female | |
| Oru kadhai vaazhvilae vidukadhai aanatho | Has a life's story turned into a riddle? |
| Vidukadhai aanathaal vidaikalai thaedutho | Having become a riddle, is it searching for answers? |
| Oor maadhu en pol ingae yaedhu kettavudan | Is there any woman in this town like me, upon hearing... |
| Female | |
| Kettavudan naan paattu ondru paada | Upon hearing, for me to sing a song... |
| Naeram idhuthaanaa | Is this the right time? |
| Kann paarvai alai paaya | As my eyes wander like restless waves, |
| Paadum kuyil naanaa | Am I the singing cuckoo bird? |
| Female | |
| Mulvaeli poovai sutri | Even if a thorny fence |
| Mulaiththaalum kooda | Grows surrounding the flower, |
| Idhamaana vaasam veesum | It still spreads a pleasant fragrance, |
| Ilanthendral naada | Seeking the gentle breeze. |
| Female | |
| Sugangalae vaazhvilore sumaigalaai maarumo | Will life's pleasures turn into heavy burdens? |
| Mazhai varum vaelaiyil veyyilum kaayumo | Will the sun shine bright even when it rains? |
| Yaen eeram enthan kannin oram | Why is there moisture at the corner of my eyes? |
| Female | |
| Naadhamudan naan paattu ondru paada | With melody, for me to sing a song... |
| Naeram idhuthaanaa | Is this the right time? |
| Kann paarvai alai paaya | As my eyes wander like restless waves, |
| Paadum kuyil naanaa | Am I the singing cuckoo bird? |
| Female | |
| Oru puram kaliyaattam | On one side, there is merrymaking, |
| Maru puram thadumaattaram | On the other side, there is faltering struggle, |
| Iru puram irunthaalum | Even though both sides exist, |
| Idaiyinil arangettram | In the middle lies a debut stage performance. |
| Female | |
| Naan paattu ondru paada | For me to sing a song, |
| Naeram idhuthaanaa | Is this the right time? |
| Kann paarvai alai paaya | As my eyes wander like restless waves, |
| Paadum kuyil naanaa…. | Am I the singing cuckoo bird? |
ஆஅ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ......
அ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ......
அஹ.....ஹா.....ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....
Aaa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aha... haa... aa... aa... aa...
நான் பாட்டு ஒன்று பாட
நேரம் இதுதானா
நான் பாட்டு ஒன்று பாட
நேரம் இதுதானா
கண் பார்வை அலை பாய
பாடும் குயில் நானா
For me to sing a song,
Is this the right time?
For me to sing a song,
Is this the right time?
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
ஒரு புறம் களியாட்டம்
மறு புறம் தடுமாற்றம்
இரு புறம் இருந்தாலும்
இடையினில் அரங்கேற்றம்
On one side, there is merrymaking,
On the other side, there is faltering struggle,
Even though both sides exist,
In the middle lies a debut stage performance.
நான் பாட்டு ஒன்று பாட
நேரம் இதுதானா
கண் பார்வை அலை பாய
பாடும் குயில் நானா
For me to sing a song,
Is this the right time?
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
எல்லோரும் இங்கே வந்து
நல்வாழ்த்து கூற
என்னுள்ளம் எங்கோ இன்று
திசை மாறி வாட
While everyone comes here
To convey their good wishes,
My heart today, somewhere,
Loses its direction and wilts.
ஒரு கதை வாழ்விலே விடுகதை ஆனதோ
விடுகதை ஆனதால் விடைகளை தேடுதோ
ஓர் மாது என் போல் இங்கே ஏது கேட்டவுடன்
Has a life's story turned into a riddle?
Having become a riddle, is it searching for answers?
Is there any woman in this town like me, upon hearing...
கேட்டவுடன் நான் பாட்டு ஒன்று பாட
நேரம் இதுதானா
கண் பார்வை அலை பாய
பாடும் குயில் நானா
Upon hearing, for me to sing a song...
Is this the right time?
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
முள்வேலி பூவை சுற்றி
முளைத்தாலும் கூட
இதமான வாசம் வீசும்
இளந்தென்றல் நாட
Even if a thorny fence
Grows surrounding the flower,
It still spreads a pleasant fragrance,
Seeking the gentle breeze.
சுகங்களே வாழ்விலோர் சுமைகளாய் மாறுமோ
மழை வரும் வேளையில் வெய்யிலும் காயுமோ
ஏன் ஈரம் எந்தன் கண்ணின் ஓரம்
Will life's pleasures turn into heavy burdens?
Will the sun shine bright even when it rains?
Why is there moisture at the corner of my eyes?
நாதமுடன் நான் பாட்டு ஒன்று பாட
நேரம் இதுதானா
கண் பார்வை அலை பாய
பாடும் குயில் நானா
With melody, for me to sing a song...
Is this the right time?
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
ஒரு புறம் களியாட்டம்
மறு புறம் தடுமாற்றம்
இரு புறம் இருந்தாலும்
இடையினில் அரங்கேற்றம்
On one side, there is merrymaking,
On the other side, there is faltering struggle,
Even though both sides exist,
In the middle lies a debut stage performance.
நான் பாட்டு ஒன்று பாட
நேரம் இதுதானா
கண் பார்வை அலை பாய
பாடும் குயில் நானா
For me to sing a song,
Is this the right time?
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….
Aaa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa…..aa….aa….aa….
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aha….haa…..aa….aa….aa…
Aha... haa... aa... aa... aa...
Naan paattu ondru paada
For me to sing a song,
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Is this the right time?
Naan paattu ondru paada
For me to sing a song,
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Is this the right time?
Kann paarvai alai paaya
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
Oru puram kaliyaattam
On one side, there is merrymaking,
Maru puram thadumaattaram
On the other side, there is faltering struggle,
Iru puram irunthaalum
Even though both sides exist,
Idaiyinil arangettram
In the middle lies a debut stage performance.
Naan paattu ondru paada
For me to sing a song,
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Is this the right time?
Kann paarvai alai paaya
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
Ellorum ingae vanthu
While everyone comes here
Nal vaazhththu koora
To convey their good wishes,
Ennullam engo indru
My heart today, somewhere,
Dhisai maari vaada
Loses its direction and wilts.
Oru kadhai vaazhvilae vidukadhai aanatho
Has a life's story turned into a riddle?
Vidukadhai aanathaal vidaikalai thaedutho
Having become a riddle, is it searching for answers?
Oor maadhu en pol ingae yaedhu kettavudan
Is there any woman in this town like me, upon hearing...
Kettavudan naan paattu ondru paada
Upon hearing, for me to sing a song...
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Is this the right time?
Kann paarvai alai paaya
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
Mulvaeli poovai sutri
Even if a thorny fence
Mulaiththaalum kooda
Grows surrounding the flower,
Idhamaana vaasam veesum
It still spreads a pleasant fragrance,
Ilanthendral naada
Seeking the gentle breeze.
Sugangalae vaazhvilore sumaigalaai maarumo
Will life's pleasures turn into heavy burdens?
Mazhai varum vaelaiyil veyyilum kaayumo
Will the sun shine bright even when it rains?
Yaen eeram enthan kannin oram
Why is there moisture at the corner of my eyes?
Naadhamudan naan paattu ondru paada
With melody, for me to sing a song...
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Is this the right time?
Kann paarvai alai paaya
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
Oru puram kaliyaattam
On one side, there is merrymaking,
Maru puram thadumaattaram
On the other side, there is faltering struggle,
Iru puram irunthaalum
Even though both sides exist,
Idaiyinil arangettram
In the middle lies a debut stage performance.
Naan paattu ondru paada
For me to sing a song,
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Is this the right time?
Kann paarvai alai paaya
As my eyes wander like restless waves,
Paadum kuyil naanaa….
Am I the singing cuckoo bird?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Naan paattu ondru paada' from Ragasiyam (1985) captures the poignant emotional turmoil of a woman who is forced to sing and perform amidst severe inner distress. Surrounding guests gather to celebrate and shower good wishes, but her heart feels lost and directionless. She contemplates the ironic duality of her situation: while one side celebrates in joy ('kaliyaattam'), the other side suffers in chaos ('thadumaattaram'), leaving her trapped in a performance ('arangettram') in between. Through vivid lyricism by Vaali, the singer compares herself to a flower enclosed by a thorny fence ('mulvaeli') that still manages to give off fragrance. She questions whether her life's sweet story has turned into an unsolvable riddle and why tears gather in her eyes as she delivers her melody. The song stands as a powerful expression of tragic irony and emotional resilience.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Oru puram kaliyaattam / Maru puram thadumaattaram / Iru puram irunthaalum / Idaiyinil arangettram”
The second letters of 'kaliyaattam', 'thadumaattaram', and 'arangettram' share the 'da/tha' consonant sound pattern, establishing a lyrical rhythm.
Uruvagamm (Metaphor / Allegory)
“Mulvaeli poovai sutri / Mulaiththaalum kooda / Idhamaana vaasam veesum”
Comparing a soul trapped in hardship yet maintaining grace to a flower surrounded by a thorny fence emitting fragrance to the breeze.
Vinaa Aani (Rhetorical Questions)
“Sugangalae vaazhvilore sumaigalaai maarumo / Mazhai varum vaelaiyil veyyilum kaayumo”
The speaker repeatedly questions time, fate, and the paradoxes of life to highlight her helplessness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Penned by legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1985 film 'Ragasiyam', this song exemplifies Vaali's mastery of conveying profound grief beneath structured rhythm and stage-performance settings in Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Ragasiyam
Ragasiyam
Ragasiyam
Ragasiyam