Oru Paadal Naan Ketten (Pathos)
From Osai · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Osai1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai | There is no independent meaning to life; |
| Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum | It is merely the story of you and me. |
| Male | |
| Nee paayum nadhi aanaai | You became the swift, flowing river, |
| Unnai thaangum karai aanaen | And I became the bank that holds you. |
| En vaazhkkaiyil nee paadhi | You are one half of my life, |
| Un vaazhkkaiyil naan paadhi | And I am one half of yours. |
| Male | |
| En kangalil samuththirangal | There are oceans filled within my eyes, |
| Adhil kaanbathu nampikkaigal | And what shines in them is hope. |
| Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai | There is no independent meaning to life; |
| Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum | It is merely the story of you and me. |
| Male | |
| Oru paadal naan kettaen… | I heard a song... |
| Male | |
| En oomai kuyilondru | My once-mute cuckoo bird, |
| Idhu paadum naalendru | Declares that today is the day it sings! |
| Un vaasagam ketkaathu | Without hearing your sweet words, |
| Vizhi vaasalum moodaathu | The doorway of my eyes shall not close. |
| Male | |
| En vaazhkkaiyin latchiyamae | The sole ambition of my life, |
| Un vaaimozhi ketpathuthaan | Is simply to listen to your voice. |
| Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai | There is no independent meaning to life; |
| Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum | It is merely the story of you and me. |
| Female | |
| Aa….aa…aaa….aaa….aa…aa… | Aa....aa...aaa....aaa....aa...aa... |
| Female | |
| Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai | There is no independent meaning to life; |
| Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum | It is merely the story of you and me. |
| Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum | It is merely the story of you and me. |
வாழ்க்கை என்று எதுவும் இல்லை
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதையாகும்..
There is no independent meaning to life;
It is merely the story of you and me.
நீ பாயும் நதி ஆனாய்
உன்னை தாங்கும் கரை ஆனேன்
என் வாழ்க்கையில் நீ பாதி
உன் வாழ்க்கையில் நான் பாதி
You became the swift, flowing river,
And I became the bank that holds you.
You are one half of my life,
And I am one half of yours.
என் கண்களில் சமுத்திரங்கள்
அதில் காண்பது நம்பிக்கைகள்
வாழ்க்கை என்று எதுவும் இல்லை
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதை ஆகும்..
There are oceans filled within my eyes,
And what shines in them is hope.
There is no independent meaning to life;
It is merely the story of you and me.
ஒரு பாடல் நான் கேட்டேன்
I heard a song...
என் ஊமை குயிலொன்று
இது பாடும் நாளென்று
உன் வாசகம் கேட்காது
விழி வாசலும் மூடாது
My once-mute cuckoo bird,
Declares that today is the day it sings!
Without hearing your sweet words,
The doorway of my eyes shall not close.
என் வாழ்க்கையின் லட்சியமே
உன் வாய்மொழி கேட்பதுதான்
வாழ்க்கை என்று எதுவும் இல்லை
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதையாகும்..
The sole ambition of my life,
Is simply to listen to your voice.
There is no independent meaning to life;
It is merely the story of you and me.
ஆ......ஆ...ஆஆ..ஆஆ....ஆஆ....ஆ......
Aa....aa...aaa....aaa....aa...aa...
வாழ்க்கை என்று எதுவும் இல்லை
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதையாகும்..
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதையாகும்
There is no independent meaning to life;
It is merely the story of you and me.
It is merely the story of you and me.
ஒரு பாடல் நான் கேட்டேன்
உன் பாசம் அதில் பார்த்தேன்....
வாழ்க்கை என்று எதுவும் இல்லை
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதையாகும்..
ஒரு பாடல் நான் கேட்டேன்
உன் பாசம் அதில் பார்த்தேன்....
வாழ்க்கை என்று எதுவும் இல்லை
உந்தன் எந்தன் கதையாகும்..
ஒரு பாடல் நான் கேட்டேன்
Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai
There is no independent meaning to life;
Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum
It is merely the story of you and me.
Nee paayum nadhi aanaai
You became the swift, flowing river,
Unnai thaangum karai aanaen
And I became the bank that holds you.
En vaazhkkaiyil nee paadhi
You are one half of my life,
Un vaazhkkaiyil naan paadhi
And I am one half of yours.
En kangalil samuththirangal
There are oceans filled within my eyes,
Adhil kaanbathu nampikkaigal
And what shines in them is hope.
Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai
There is no independent meaning to life;
Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum
It is merely the story of you and me.
Oru paadal naan kettaen…
I heard a song...
En oomai kuyilondru
My once-mute cuckoo bird,
Idhu paadum naalendru
Declares that today is the day it sings!
Un vaasagam ketkaathu
Without hearing your sweet words,
Vizhi vaasalum moodaathu
The doorway of my eyes shall not close.
En vaazhkkaiyin latchiyamae
The sole ambition of my life,
Un vaaimozhi ketpathuthaan
Is simply to listen to your voice.
Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai
There is no independent meaning to life;
Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum
It is merely the story of you and me.
Aa….aa…aaa….aaa….aa…aa…
Aa....aa...aaa....aaa....aa...aa...
Vaazhkkai endru edhuvum illai
There is no independent meaning to life;
Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum
It is merely the story of you and me.
Unthan enthan kadhaiyaagum
It is merely the story of you and me.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful duet from 'Osai' (1984) portrays the profound interdependence and emotional unity between two lovers. The lyrics convey that life has no individual existence in isolation; rather, its true purpose and meaning are created jointly through their shared story. Using timeless metaphors—such as a flowing river supported by its bank—the song illustrates how one partner gives strength, stability, and direction to the other's passion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nee paayum nadhi aanaai / Unnai thaangum karai aanaen”
Compares the beloved to a free-flowing river and the speaker to the supportive riverbank that contains and guides it.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vizhi vaasalum moodaathu”
Refers to the eyes as a 'doorway' (vizhi vaasal) that stays open in anticipation of seeing the loved one.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Parallel Structure)
“En vaazhkkaiyil nee paadhi / Un vaazhkkaiyil naan paadhi”
Repeats 'paadhi' (half) at the end of symmetrical lines to emphasize mutual completeness.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Un vaasagam ketkaathu / Vizhi vaasalum moodaathu”
The words 'ketkaathu' and 'moodaathu' rhyme at the line endings, creating melodic continuity.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Osai' (1984) featured music composed by the veteran duo Shankar–Ganesh, with lyrics by the legendary Vaali. The film starred Mohan (famously dubbed 'Mic' Mohan for his musical roles) and Radhika. S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam's vocal chemistry in this track made it one of the standout romantic duets from the movie's soundtrack.
Keep listening
More from Osai
Osai
Osai
Osai
Osai
Osai