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Naalai Namadhe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naanoru Medai Paadagan

From Naalai Namadhe · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Naalai Namadhe
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
10 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan oru medai paadagan
Naan oru medai paadagan
Aayinum innum maanavan
Aayinum innum maanavan
Naan kattradhu kai alavu
Innum ulladhu kadalalavu
Naan kattradhu kai alavu
Innum ulladhu kadalalavu
Naan engengu ennenna
Sangeedham undendru
Angangu selgindravan
Naan oru medai paadagan
Is anybody interested
In singing with me
My self
Hahahaahaa… pleasure is mine
Please come…
One two three four
Naan sabai yerum naal vandhadhu
Naam sandhikkum nilai vandhadhu
Naan sabai yerum naal vandhadhu
Naam sandhikkum nilai vandhadhu
En sangeedham thaai thandhadhu
Thaen sandhangal thamizh thandhadhu
Naanum anbaana nanbargal munbaaga
Innaeram panpaada vandhen
Nenjil undaana ennathai
Ullaasa vannathai paattaaga thandhen
Paada paada raagam varum
Paarkka paarkka mogam varum
Paada paada raagam varum
Paarkka paarkka mogam varum
Naan ellorum tharugindra
Nal vaakkai thunai kondu
Selvaakkai perughindravan
Naan oru medai paadagan
Will anybody else join with me
A lady voice better choice
Shall i
O… you please come
One two three four
Naan arangaettram aagaadhaval
Yaar munnaalum paadaadhaval
Naan arangaettram aagaadhaval
Yaar munnaalum paadaadhaval
En sangeedham mazhalai mozhi
Naan nindraadum pavazha kodi
Am i correct
Perfectly all right..proceed
Paadhi kan kondu
Paarkkindra poo chendu
Pennendru mun vandhu paada
Andha pakkathil nirkkindra
Paruvathu nenjangal paarvaikkul aada
Kaadhal geedham undaagalaam
Paadum nenjam rendaagalaam
Naan vaai kondu sollaamal
Varugindra ennathai
Kan kondu solgindraval oo…
Naan oru medai paadagi
Laallaa laala laala laala laala laala lalallalaa
Paal nilavenna naer vandhadho
Nool idai kondu neligindradho
Sael vizhi enna mozhigindradho
Yaar uravendru purigindradho
Ingu vandondru sendondru
Endrendrum ondrendru kan kondu paesa
Andha baashaikkum aasaikkum
Arthangal karppikkum sirppangal koora
Kaalam naeram ponnaanadhu
Kaaval naeram nanjaanadhu
Naan yaarukku yaar meedhu
Naesangal undendru
Naerukku naer kandavan haa…
Naan oru medai paadagan
Aayinum innum maanavan
Naan kattradhu kai alavu
Innum ulladhu kadalalvu
Come on folks swing and sing
Everybody
Laallala laallala laallala laallala
Laallala laallala laallala
Laallala laallala laallala laallala
Laallala laallala laallala
Aaa…..aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…aa…
Aaa…..aa….aa….aaa…..aaa…aa…
Laalla laallaala laalaa laalla laallaala laalaa
Laalla laallaala laalaa laalla laallaala laalaa
Laalla laallaala laalaa laalla laallaala laalaa
Laalla laallaala laalaa laalla laallaala laalaa
I am a stage singer,
I am a stage singer,
yet I am still a student.
Yet I am still a student.
What I have learned is merely a handful,
what remains to be learned is as vast as an ocean.
What I have learned is merely a handful,
what remains to be learned is as vast as an ocean.
Wherever in this world
there is melody and song,
I am the one who goes seeking it.
I am a stage singer.
Is anybody interested
in singing with me?
Myself!
Hahahaha... the pleasure is mine!
Please come...
One, two, three, four!
The day has arrived for me to step on stage,
the moment has come for us to meet.
The day has arrived for me to step on stage,
the moment has come for us to meet.
My music was a gift from my mother,
sweet rhythms were gifted by Tamil.
Before all of you, my beloved friends,
I have come at this moment to sing with joy.
The thoughts rising in my heart,
painted in vibrant colors, I share as a song.
The more you sing, the richer the melody grows,
the more you gaze, the deeper desire grows.
The more you sing, the richer the melody grows,
the more you gaze, the deeper desire grows.
Supported by the kind words and goodwill
that everyone generously offers me,
I am one who earns your love and acclaim.
I am a stage singer.
Will anybody else join with me?
A lady's voice, a better choice!
Shall I?
Oh... you! Please come!
One, two, three, four!
I have never given a formal performance before,
I have never sung in front of anyone.
I have never given a formal performance before,
I have never sung in front of anyone.
My singing is simple, like a child's sweet chatter,
and I am like a swaying coral vine.
Am I correct?
Perfectly all right... proceed!
Peeking with half-closed eyes,
like a blooming bouquet of flowers,
as this young woman steps forward to sing,
standing right over on that side,
youthful hearts dance under the spell of her gaze.
A song of love might be born here,
two singing hearts may now unite.
Without putting my thoughts into words,
whatever feelings arise within me,
I express through my eyes, oh...
I am a stage singer.
Laalla laala laala laala laala laala lalallalaa
Has the milky white moon appeared before us?
Does it sway gently with a slender waist?
What are those glistening eyes trying to say?
Can we tell who is bound to whom in love?
Saying one thing upon arriving and another while leaving,
while her eyes silently declare that we are forever one,
giving meaning to that unspoken language and desire,
as if living sculptures are telling a tale!
Every fleeting moment is as precious as gold,
the time spent waiting has turned bitter as poison.
Seeing who truly holds love
in their heart for another,
I have witnessed it face to face, ha!
I am a stage singer,
yet I am still a student.
What I have learned is merely a handful,
what remains to be learned is as vast as an ocean.
Come on folks, swing and sing!
Everybody!
Lallala lallala lallala lallala
Lallala lallala lallala
Lallala lallala lallala lallala
Lallala lallala lallala
Aaaa.....aa....aa....aaaa.....aaaa...aa...
Aaaa.....aa....aa....aaaa.....aaaa...aa...
Lalla laallaala laalaa lalla laallaala laalaa
Lalla laallaala laalaa lalla laallaala laalaa
Lalla laallaala laalaa lalla laallaala laalaa
Lalla laallaala laalaa lalla laallaala laalaa
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic upbeat duet portrays a humble, passionate performer expressing his devotion to the art of music. Acknowledging that learning is an infinite ocean ('Kattradhu kai alavu, innum ulladhu kadalalavu'), he invites enthusiastic audience members to join him on stage. A female singer steps up, initially hesitant about her unpolished singing talent, but encouraged by the master performer, they engage in a poetic musical dialogue celebrating rhythm, love, and emotional connection through subtle glances and song.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Aphorism / Cultural Allusion

Naan kattradhu kai alavu / Innum ulladhu kadalalavu

Refers directly to the famous Avvaiyar proverb 'Kattradhu kai alavu, kalladhu ulagalavu' (What is learned is a handful, what is unlearned is the world/ocean).

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Paada paada raagam varum / Paarkka paarkka mogam varum

The second consonant sound 'da' matches across consecutive lines (Paada / Paarkka), giving a rhythmic cadence.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

En sangeedham mazhalai mozhi / Naan nindraadum pavazha kodi

Compares an untrained voice to 'mazhalai mozhi' (baby babble) and a graceful dancer to a 'pavazha kodi' (coral vine).

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Paada paada raagam varum

Repetition of words like 'Paada paada' and 'Paarkka paarkka' to emphasize continuous action leading to mastery or passion.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naan Oru Medai Paadagan' is from the 1975 MGR blockbuster 'Naalai Namadhe', composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali. The song features iconic spoken English interludes characteristic of 1970s Tamil stage performance songs, sung by T. M. Soundararajan and S. Janaki.

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