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Pattondru Ketten album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ninappathu Nadappathillai

From Pattondru Ketten · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Music director
C. Ramachandra
Movie name
Pattondru Ketten
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
21 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Varuvathum therivathillai
Vaazhnthum palanillai
Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Varuvathum therivathillai
Vaazhnthum palanillai
Palanillai palanillai
Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Sonnaalum puriyavillai..aa…aa…aa…
Sonnaalum puriyavillai
Sollaamal irupatharkkum mudiyavillai
En vaazhvil inbamillai
Inbamillai inbamillai
Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Varuvathum therivathillai
Vaazhnthum palanillai
Palanillai palanillai
Vaazhaamal vaazhvathakaa
Saagaamal saavatharkaa
Vaazhaamal vaazhvathakaa
Saagaamal saavatharkaa
Yaen padaiththaai iraivaa iraivaa
Yaen padaiththaai iraivaa
En manathil amaithiyillai
Ini endrum sirippumillai
Sirippumillai sirippumillai
Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Varuvathum therivathillai
Vaazhnthum palanillai
Palanillai palanillai
: Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Alaikkadal ointhaalum
Aasaikkadal oivathillai
Aasai azhainthaalum anbu azhavathillai
Anbu azhaivathillai
Anbaal inainthuvittaal
Nenjam marappathillai
Marappathillai marappathillai
Ninaippathu nadappathillai
Ketpathu kidaippathillai
Varuvathum therivathillai
Vaazhnthum palanillai
Palanillai palanillai
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given,
What lies ahead is never known,
There is no point in living...
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given,
What lies ahead is never known,
There is no point in living,
No point, no point...
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given.
Even if I tell it, no one understands... ah... ah... ah...
Even if I tell it, no one understands,
And I cannot keep it to myself either;
There is no joy in my life,
No joy, no joy.
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given,
What lies ahead is never known,
There is no point in living,
No point, no point.
Is it to live without truly living?
Is it to die without truly dying?
Is it to live without truly living?
Is it to die without truly dying?
Why did you create me, O God, O God?
Why did you create me, O God?
There is no peace in my heart,
Never again will there be laughter,
No laughter, no laughter.
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given,
What lies ahead is never known,
There is no point in living,
No point, no point.
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given.
Even if the wavy ocean comes to rest,
The sea of desire never calms;
Even if desire perishes, love never dies,
Love never dies.
Once united by love,
The heart never forgets,
Never forgets, never forgets.
What we wish for never happens,
What we ask for is never given,
What lies ahead is never known,
There is no point in living,
No point, no point...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a poignant, philosophical reflection on human helplessness, unfulfilled dreams, and the unpredictability of fate. The protagonist grieves over life's harsh realities where expectations rarely come true, communication fails, and peace remains elusive. Trapped in a state between living and dying, the speaker questions God about the ultimate purpose of human existence and suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Ninaippathu nadappathillai / Ketpathu kidaippathillai”

The lines end with similar sounding rhythmic suffixes ('-athillai'), creating a soothing yet sorrowful cadence.

Metaphor

“Aasaikkadal oivathillai”

Desire is compared to a vast ocean ('Aasaikkadal'), symbolizing its endless and turbulent nature.

Muran (Antithesis)

“Vaazhaamal vaazhvathakaa / Saagaamal saavatharkaa”

Contrasts the paradox of living without truly living and dying without truly dying to highlight existential agony.

Anaphora (Repetition)

“Palanillai palanillai”

Repetition of words like 'palanillai' and 'inbamillai' emphasizes the depth of anguish and despair.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Pattondru Ketten' (1971) features music composed by C. Ramachandra, a legendary Hindi film composer who rarely scored for Tamil cinema. The deeply philosophical lyrics penned by Kannadasan reflect his signature style of questioning destiny and human sorrow.

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