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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Paattu Om Manasa Sad

From Paasa Mazhai · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Paasa Mazhai1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa… aa… aa… aaa… aa…Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah…
Aa… aa… aa… aaa… aa…aa..Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah..
Female
Oru paattuDoes a song
On manasa izhukkudhaaPull at your heart?
Adha kettuHearing that,
On usuru thudikkudhaaDoes your soul beat with joy?
Female
Indha paattukkaethaMatching this song,
Thaalam podumKeeping the rhythm,
Kaattil paayum odai thaanIs the stream rushing through the forest!
Pookkal pootha thottam koodaEven the garden brimming with flowers
Aattam podum velai thaanIs dancing at this magical hour!
Maalai neram thaan solai oramIt is evening time, right beside the grove.
Female
Oru paattuDoes a song
On manasa izhukkudhaaPull at your heart?
Adha kettuHearing that,
On usuru thudikkudhaaDoes your soul beat with joy?
Female
Megangalin paattula thaanOnly to the song of the clouds,
Thogai mayil aadudhuThe peacock dances with open feathers.
Minnalgalin paattula thaanOnly to the song of the lightnings,
Thaazhai madal pookkudhuThe screwpine flower blooms.
Odaigalin paattula thaanOnly to the song of the streams,
Naanal thalai aattudhuThe reed nods its head in rhythm.
Ullangalin paattula thaanOnly through the song of hearts,
Sondham uruvaagudhuRelationships take shape.
Female
Aaga mottham paattula thaanIn total, inside music,
Nooru vagai irukkudhuThere are a hundred varieties!
Thoongugira aalai ellaamEveryone who is asleep,
Thatti thatti ezhuppudhuIt gently taps and awakens!
Paalaarum oru thaenaarumA river of milk and a river of honey,
Naan paadum podhu…When I sing…
Naan paadum poWhen I sing...
Paadum podhuWhen singing,
Naan paadum podhuWhen I sing,
Naan paadum podhuWhen I sing,
Paayum paaru oorae neeraadaFlow so the entire town can bathe!
Female
Oru paattuDoes a song
On manasa izhukkudhaaPull at your heart?
Adha kettuHearing that,
On usuru thudikkudhaaDoes your soul beat with joy?
Female
Vaana mazhai pola inguLike rain from the sky, here,
Gaana mazhai oothudhuA rain of music is pouring down!
Gaana mazhai oothurappoWhen the rain of music pours,
Kaattu malli poothadhuThe wild jasmine blossomed.
Kaattu malli poothadhai thaanSeeing that the wild jasmine blossomed,
Vandu vandhu paathadhuThe bumblebee came to behold it.
Vandu vandhu paakkurappoWhen the bee came to gaze,
Vanna malar naanudhuThe colorful flower felt shy!
Female
Ethanaiyo raagam vandhuSo many melodies come and
En manasil koodudhuGather in my heart!
Ennam ennum poonguruviThe little bird called 'thought',
Etti thisai odudhuFlies across all eight directions!
Naan paada pudhu thaen odaAs I sing and fresh honey flows,
En kooda kooda neeyum paadaTo sing along right beside me,
Aasai thonaadhaaDon't you feel the desire?
Female
Oru paattuDoes a song
On manasa izhukkudhaaPull at your heart?
Adha kettuHearing that,
On usuru thudikkudhaaDoes your soul beat with joy?
Female
Indha paattukkaethaMatching this song,
Thaalam podumKeeping the rhythm,
Kaattil paayum odai thaanIs the stream rushing through the forest!
Pookkal pootha thottam koodaEven the garden brimming with flowers
Aattam podum velai thaanIs dancing at this magical hour!
Maalai neram thaan solai oram thaanIt is evening time, right beside the grove.
Maalai neram thaan solai oram thaanIt is evening time, right beside the grove.
Female
Oru paattuDoes a song
On manasa izhukkudhaaPull at your heart?
Adha kettuHearing that,
On usuru thudikkudhaaDoes your soul beat with joy?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This uplifting and romantic song celebrates the spellbinding power of music and its deep connection to both nature and human soul. The singer asks if a melody can tug at one's heartstrings and move their spirit, describing how nature itself responds in harmony—clouds make peacocks dance, streams make reeds sway, and a shower of music inspires flowers to bloom and bumblebees to court them. Written with classic poetic flair by Vaali, the song draws a sweet parallel between the rhythmic harmony of nature and the blossoming of love between two souls. As ragas gather in the mind like a bird flying in all directions, music becomes a flowing river of honey inviting the beloved to join in song and share the joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ennam ennum poonguruvi

Human thoughts are metaphorically compared to a free-flying little bird ('poonguruvi') navigating all eight directions.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Gaana mazhai oothudhu

The flow of melody is poetically described as a heavy pour of rain ('Gaana mazhai').

Personification

Vanna malar naanudhu

The colorful flower is given human emotional qualities as it 'blushes' or 'feels shy' when the bumblebee gazes at it.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Thogai mayil aadudhu / Thaazhai madal pookkudhu / Naanal thalai aattudhu

The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming verbal suffixes ('aadudhu', 'pookkudhu', 'aattudhu'), enhancing the musical cadence of the verse.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Megangalin paattula thaan / Minnalgalin paattula thaan

The second letter consonant harmony ('ga' / 'n') across lines creates classic Tamil poetic internal rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features lyrics by legendary lyricist Vaali from the 1989 movie 'Paasa Mazhai'. Vaali's lyrics frequently juxtaposed natural elements (rain, flowers, streams, birds) with deep emotional experiences, creating vivid imagery that complemented Ilaiyaraaja's musical compositions during this era.

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