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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naano Kan Parthen

From Pudhiavan · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Music director
V. S. Narasimhan
Details
Pudhiavan1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Neeyo man paarthaaiBut you looked down at the ground
Pesavaa pennaeShall I speak, oh maiden?
Naal paarppom pinnaeWe shall see an auspicious day later
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Neeyo man paarthaaiBut you looked down at the ground
Pesavaa pennaeShall I speak, oh maiden?
Naal paarppom pinnaeWe shall see an auspicious day later
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Male
Idhu enna koothu adhisayamoWhat kind of playful wonder is this?
Ilaneer kaaikkum kodi idhuvoIs this a slender creeper that bears tender coconuts?
Idhu yenna kooththu athisayamoWhat kind of playful wonder is this?
Ilaneer kaaikkum kodi idhuvoIs this a slender creeper that bears tender coconuts?
Male
Paruvam adaindhaalOnce maturity and youth are attained
Oru panjam illaiThere is no scarcity of charm
Adadaa bhrammanAha, Lord Brahma
Avan kanjan illaiHe is certainly not a miser
Neeyae azhagin ellaiYou are the very limit of beauty
Male
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Neeyo man paarthaaiBut you looked down at the ground
Pesavaa pennaeShall I speak, oh maiden?
Naal paarppom pinnaeWe shall see an auspicious day later
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Male
Irudhayam yeno urangavillaiWhy has my heart not slept?
Imaigalum keezhae irangavillaiMy eyelids too have not come down
Irudhayam yeno urangavillaiWhy has my heart not slept?
Imaigalum keezhae irangavillaiMy eyelids too have not come down
Male
Pudhithaai pirandhenI was born anew
Idhu naanaa naanaaIs this really me, is it me?
Uyirai chududhaeIt scorches my soul
Idhu kaadhalthaanaaIs this truly love?
Neeyum en polthaanaaAre you feeling the same as me too?
Male
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Neeyo man paarthaaiBut you looked down at the ground
Pesavaa pennaeShall I speak, oh maiden?
Naal paarppom pinnaeWe shall see an auspicious day later
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes
Neeyo man paarthaaiBut you looked down at the ground
Pesavaa pennaeShall I speak, oh maiden?
Naal paarppom pinnaeWe shall see an auspicious day later
Naano kan paarthenI looked into your eyes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naano Kan Paarthen is a tender romantic song expressing the playful dynamic and deep awakening of love between two young people. The protagonist gazes into the maiden's eyes, while she shyly casts her eyes downward toward the earth. He admires her delicate physique, poetically comparing her form to a creeper bearing tender coconuts and praising the Creator for being generous with her beauty. As the song progresses, he reflects on how love has stolen his sleep and transformed his identity, leaving him to wonder if she experiences the same burning passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Ilaneer kaaikkum kodi idhuvo

The lyrics metaphorically compare a slender woman to a vine or creeper that impossibly bears tender coconuts.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Pesavaa pennae / Naal paarppom pinnae

The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes like 'pennae' and 'pinnae'.

Contrast (Maranbu)

Naano kan paarthen / Neeyo man paarthaai

Juxtaposes the hero looking up/directly into her eyes (kan paarthen) with the heroine looking down at the earth (man paarthaai) out of shyness.

Rhetorical Question

Uyirai chududhae / Idhu kaadhalthaanaa

The protagonist questions his own feelings and transformation brought about by love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from Pudhiavan (1984) features music composed by V. S. Narasimhan with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. It captures the traditional Tamil poetic trope of 'Naanam' (female modesty and bashfulness), where a woman refrains from direct eye contact with her suitor.

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