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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naanaa Paaduvadhu

From Nool Veli · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam, L. R. Anjali
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Nool Veli1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naanaa paaduvadhu naanaa…Is it really me who is singing?
Naanum ilavayathu maanaaAm I a young deer?
Male
Very gudVery good
Female
Naanaa paaduvadhu naanaa…Is it really me who is singing?
Naanum ilavayathu maanaaAm I a young deer?
Male
{Isaikkolam un mangalam{A musical kolam pattern is your auspiciousness,
Adhil geetham un kungumamIn it, song is your sacred vermilion,
Uyarthalam nam sangamamA high stage is our union,
Nee paadu thaanae varum} (2)If you sing, it will come naturally} (2)
Female
NaanaaMe?
Male :HaanMale: Yeah
Female
Naanaa paaduvadhu naanaa…Is it really me who is singing?
Naanum ilavayathu maanaaAm I a young deer?
Female
Papa pappaa…rapapapappaa..Papa pappaa... rapapapappaa.. (Vocal scatting)
Papa pappaa rapapapappaa..Papa pappaa rapapapappaa.. (Vocal scatting)
Rururu..rampapa rampapa rampapa ramRururu.. rampapa rampapa rampapa ram (Vocal scatting)
Rampapa rampapa rampapa ram …Rampapa rampapa rampapa ram ... (Vocal scatting)
Rampapa rampapa rampapa ramRampapa rampapa rampapa ram (Vocal scatting)
Female
Kothai en nenjilaeKothai, in my heart,
En kudumbam nirkindradhuMy family stands,
Nalla samaiyal purigindrathuGood cooking is well understood,
Aanaal sangeetham puriyavillaiBut music is not understood!
Male
Hahahahhaa..Hahahahhaa..
Female
Ninisasa sasasasaNinisasa sasasasa (Musical swaras)
Thanini ninininiThanini nininini (Musical swaras)
Papathatha thathathaPapathatha thathatha (Musical swaras)
Mamapapa papapapaMamapapa papapapa (Musical swaras)
Mapama… pathapa…Mapama... pathapa... (Musical swaras)
Thanitha nisnee thanipaaThanitha nisnee thanipaa (Musical swaras)
Female
Kothai en nenjilaeKothai, in my heart,
En kudumbam nirkindradhuMy family stands,
Nalla samaiyal purigindrathuGood cooking is well understood,
Aanaal sangeetham puriyavillaiBut music is not understood!
Male
Thaayin thaalaattilaeIn a mother's lullaby,
Dhinam thonrum sangeethamaeMusic is born every single day!
Thaayin thaalaattilaeIn a mother's lullaby,
Dhinam thonrum sangeethamaeMusic is born every single day!
Neeyum thaayallavaaAren't you a mother as well?
Idhil yeno santhegamaeWhy is there any doubt in this?
Idhil yeno santhegamaeWhy is there any doubt in this?
Female
NaanaaMe?
Male
HmmHmm
Female
Paaduvadhu naanaa….Is it me who is singing?
Naanum…. ilavayathu maanaa….Am I a young deer?
Female
Dining dindiningDining dindining (Rhythmic vocalization)
Dindindindindining dindikuding..Dindindindindining dindikuding.. (Rhythmic vocalization)
Dining dindining dindindindindiningDining dindining dindindindindining (Rhythmic vocalization)
Female
Kavignan sollaathatho….Is it something no poet has ever spoken?
Thamizh kavithai kaanaathathoIs it something Tamil poetry hasn't seen?
Idhil ethai naan solvenammaaWhich of these shall I sing, my dear?
Indha sabaiyai velvenammaaI shall conquer this assembly!
Female
Kavignan sollaathatho….Is it something no poet has ever spoken?
Thamizh kavithai kaanaathathoIs it something Tamil poetry hasn't seen?
Idhil ethai naan solvenammaaWhich of these shall I sing, my dear?
Indha sabaiyai velvenammaaI shall conquer this assembly!
Male
Neenthum neram vanthaalWhen the time comes to swim,
Udan neechchal angae varumSwimming comes naturally right then!
Neenthum neram vanthaalWhen the time comes to swim,
Udan neechchal angae varumSwimming comes naturally right then!
Paadum aasaivandhaalWhen the desire to sing arises,
Endha paattum sabaiyil varumAny song will blossom in the gathering!
Endha paattum sabaiyil varumAny song will blossom in the gathering!
Female
NaanaaMe?
Male :HahahahahaMale: Hahahahaha
Female
Naanaa paaduvadhu naanaa…Is it really me who is singing?
Naanum ilavayathu maanaaAm I a young deer?
Male
Isaikkolam un mangalamA musical kolam pattern is your auspiciousness,
Adhil geetham un kungumamIn it, song is your sacred vermilion,
Uyarthalam nam sangamamA high stage is our union,
Nee paadu thaanae varumIf you sing, it will come naturally
Female
Naanaa paaduvadhu naanaa….Is it really me who is singing?
Naanum… ilavayathu maa.naa..Am I a young deer?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naanaa Paaduvadhu Naanaa from Nool Veli (1979) is a lighthearted, encouraging musical dialogue. The female protagonist expresses self-doubt and stage fright, questioning whether a gentle home-bound woman like her can sing before a crowd. Her male counterpart and companions playfully encourage her, reassuring her that music is inherently present in a woman's life—from daily household rhythms to a mother's lullaby. The song builds confidence through witty analogies, reminding her that just as swimming comes naturally when pushed into water, singing flows effortlessly once the heart desires it. Kannadasan's lyricism gracefully blends modesty with gentle encouragement, celebrating innate female artistic intuition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)

Naanum ilavayathu maanaa

Compares herself to a young deer (ilavayathu maanaa) to convey innocence, agility, and hesitation.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Naanaa paaduvadhu naanaa…

Uses questioning to express self-disbelief and wonder at her own capability to sing.

Cultural Imagery / Metaphor

Isaikkolam un mangalam / Adhil geetham un kungumam

Equates musical elements with sacred domestic symbols like Kolam and Kungumam to depict music as an integral part of womanhood.

Analogy (Pazhamozhi / Example)

Neenthum neram vanthaal / Udan neechchal angae varum

Draws an instinctive real-life analogy between swimming in water and singing in front of an audience.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was composed by legendary music director M. S. Viswanathan for K. Balachander's film 'Nool Veli' (1979). It uniquely blends traditional Carnatic swara passages (solkattu) with western jazz-style vocal scatting ('rapapapappaa'), creating a fusion that highlights M.S. Viswanathan's innovative arrangement style.

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