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Ragasiyam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Paattu Ondru Paada

From Ragasiyam · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Ragasiyam
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
31 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….
Aa…..aa….aa….aa….
Aha….haa…..aa….aa….aa…
Naan paattu ondru paada
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Naan paattu ondru paada
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Kann paarvai alai paaya
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Oru puram kaliyaattam
Maru puram thadumaattaram
Iru puram irunthaalum
Idaiyinil arangettram
Naan paattu ondru paada
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Kann paarvai alai paaya
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Ellorum ingae vanthu
Nal vaazhththu koora
Ennullam engo indru
Dhisai maari vaada
Oru kadhai vaazhvilae vidukadhai aanatho
Vidukadhai aanathaal vidaikalai thaedutho
Oor maadhu en pol ingae yaedhu kettavudan
Kettavudan naan paattu ondru paada
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Kann paarvai alai paaya
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Mulvaeli poovai sutri
Mulaiththaalum kooda
Idhamaana vaasam veesum
Ilanthendral naada
Sugangalae vaazhvilore sumaigalaai maarumo
Mazhai varum vaelaiyil veyyilum kaayumo
Yaen eeram enthan kannin oram
Naadhamudan naan paattu ondru paada
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Kann paarvai alai paaya
Paadum kuyil naanaa
Oru puram kaliyaattam
Maru puram thadumaattaram
Iru puram irunthaalum
Idaiyinil arangettram
Naan paattu ondru paada
Naeram idhuthaanaa
Kann paarvai alai paaya
Paadum kuyil naanaa….
Aa......aa.....aa.....aa......
Ah......aa.....aa.....aa......
Aha.....haa.....aa......aa.....aa.....
For me to sing a song,
is this really the right time?
For me to sing a song,
is this really the right time?
With my eyes wandering restlessly,
am I the cuckoo meant to sing?
On one side, there is celebration,
on the other side, hesitation and turmoil.
Though caught between both sides,
the performance goes on in the middle.
For me to sing a song,
is this really the right time?
With my eyes wandering restlessly,
am I the cuckoo meant to sing?
While everyone gathers here
to offer their good wishes,
my heart has lost its way today,
drifting away and grieving.
Did a story in my life turn into a riddle?
And because it is a riddle, is it searching for answers?
Is there any woman like me who, the moment she is asked,
the moment she is asked, sings a song...
is this really the right time?
With my eyes wandering restlessly,
am I the cuckoo meant to sing?
Even if a fence of thorns
grows around a flower,
it still spreads a gentle fragrance,
longing for the tender breeze.
Can the joys in life turn into burdens?
Can the hot sun still scorch while the rain is falling?
Why are there tears at the corners of my eyes?
With melody in my voice, for me to sing a song,
is this really the right time?
With my eyes wandering restlessly,
am I the cuckoo meant to sing?
On one side, there is celebration,
on the other side, hesitation and turmoil.
Though caught between both sides,
the performance goes on in the middle.
For me to sing a song,
is this really the right time?
With my eyes wandering restlessly,
am I the cuckoo meant to sing?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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