Ondru Patta
From Thanga Padhumai · 1959
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- T. S. Bhagavathy
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Thanga Padhumai1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ondru patta kanavanukku | To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united, |
| Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku | To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united, |
| Ondru patta kanavanukku | To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united, |
| Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku | To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united, |
| Urimai kidaithidumaa sol | Tell me, will I get that right, |
| Vannakiliyae | Oh colorful parrot? |
| Anbin perumai nilaithidumaa sol | Tell me, will the greatness of love endure? |
| Anbin perumai nilaithidumaa sol | Tell me, will the greatness of love endure? |
| Female | |
| Kandru nattu neer iraithu | Planting a sapling and watering it, |
| Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu | Staying awake vigilantly and waiting, |
| Kandru nattu neer iraithu | Planting a sapling and watering it, |
| Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu | Staying awake vigilantly and waiting, |
| Female | |
| Pinjuvittu kaniyaagum bodhilae | Just when the young fruit ripens into sweetness, |
| Kilaiyil thundupattaal | If it gets severed from the branch, |
| Enna palan vaazhvilae | What is the point of living? |
| Kilaiyil thundupattaal | If it gets severed from the branch, |
| Enna palan vaazhvilae | What is the point of living? |
| Female | |
| Ondru patta kanavanukku | To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united, |
| Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku | To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united, |
| Urimai kidaithidumaa sol | Tell me, will I get that right, |
| Vannakiliyae | Oh colorful parrot? |
| Anbin perumai nilaithidumaa sol… | Tell me, will the greatness of love endure? |
ஒன்று பட்ட கணவனுக்கு
தொண்டு செய்து வாழ்வதற்கு
ஒன்று பட்ட கணவனுக்கு
தொண்டு செய்து வாழ்வதற்கு
உரிமை கிடைத்திடுமா சொல்
வண்ணக்கிளியே
அன்பின் பெருமை நிலைத்திடுமா சொல்
அன்பின் பெருமை நிலைத்திடுமா சொல்
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Tell me, will I get that right,
Oh colorful parrot?
Tell me, will the greatness of love endure?
Tell me, will the greatness of love endure?
கன்று நட்டு நீரிரைத்து
கண் விழித்து காத்திருந்து
கன்று நட்டு நீரிரைத்து
கண் விழித்து காத்திருந்து
Planting a sapling and watering it,
Staying awake vigilantly and waiting,
Planting a sapling and watering it,
Staying awake vigilantly and waiting,
பிஞ்சுவிட்டுக் கனியாகும் போதிலே
கிளையில் துண்டுபட்டால்
என்ன பலன் வாழ்விலே........
கிளையில் துண்டுபட்டால்
என்ன பலன் வாழ்விலே........
Just when the young fruit ripens into sweetness,
If it gets severed from the branch,
What is the point of living?
If it gets severed from the branch,
What is the point of living?
ஒன்று பட்ட கணவனுக்கு
தொண்டு செய்து வாழ்வதற்கு
உரிமை கிடைத்திடுமா சொல்
வண்ணக்கிளியே
அன்பின் பெருமை நிலைத்திடுமா சொல்...
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Tell me, will I get that right,
Oh colorful parrot?
Tell me, will the greatness of love endure?
Ondru patta kanavanukku
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Ondru patta kanavanukku
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Urimai kidaithidumaa sol
Tell me, will I get that right,
Vannakiliyae
Oh colorful parrot?
Anbin perumai nilaithidumaa sol
Tell me, will the greatness of love endure?
Anbin perumai nilaithidumaa sol
Tell me, will the greatness of love endure?
Kandru nattu neer iraithu
Planting a sapling and watering it,
Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu
Staying awake vigilantly and waiting,
Kandru nattu neer iraithu
Planting a sapling and watering it,
Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu
Staying awake vigilantly and waiting,
Pinjuvittu kaniyaagum bodhilae
Just when the young fruit ripens into sweetness,
Kilaiyil thundupattaal
If it gets severed from the branch,
Enna palan vaazhvilae
What is the point of living?
Kilaiyil thundupattaal
If it gets severed from the branch,
Enna palan vaazhvilae
What is the point of living?
Ondru patta kanavanukku
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku
To live serving the husband to whom my heart is united,
Urimai kidaithidumaa sol
Tell me, will I get that right,
Vannakiliyae
Oh colorful parrot?
Anbin perumai nilaithidumaa sol…
Tell me, will the greatness of love endure?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses a woman's emotional anguish and deep yearning for marital fulfillment. Addressing a parrot as her trusted confidante—a classic Tamil literary motif known as Kili Vidu Thoothu—she questions whether she will ever be granted the right to live with and care for the husband to whom she is emotionally devoted. She laments whether the sacredness and greatness of true love will be allowed to endure against life's cruel circumstances. To convey her sorrow, she uses a vivid metaphor of a devoted gardener who plants a sapling, waters it tirelessly, and watches over it with sleepless vigilance. If that tender fruit snaps off from the branch right at the moment it matures, all the effort, patience, and love invested in it become meaningless. Similarly, she questions the fruitfulness of her life if her deep love is severed right before reaching its fulfillment. Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram's lyrics beautifully combine classical Tamil poetic forms with accessible emotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Kili Vidu Thoothu (Apostrophe / Addressing a Bird)
“Vannakiliyae”
A traditional Tamil poetic device where the heroine pours out her heart and grief to a parrot ('Vannakiliyae') asking for answers.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kandru nattu neer iraithu... Pinjuvittu kaniyaagum bodhilae”
The effort of growing a tree from a sapling to a ripe fruit is used as a metaphor for nurturing a romantic relationship over time.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ondru patta kanavanukku / Thondu seidhu vaazhvadharkku”
The second consonants of 'Ondru' and 'Thondu' rhyme, creating a harmonious cadence typical of Tamil poetry.
Monai (Initial Consonant Alliteration)
“Kandru nattu neer iraithu / Kann vizhithu kaathirundhu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Kandru' and 'Kann') at the start of consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thanga Padhumai' (1959) is a classic Tamil historical drama starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. The song features expressive singing by T. S. Bhagavathy with music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram uniquely adapted ancient Sangam poetic conventions like 'Kili Vidu Thoothu' into mainstream cinema lyrics to convey profound emotional despair.
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