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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Padalai Pala Ragathil

From Malligai Mogini · 1979

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Malligai Mogini1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.
Pala jenmangal unai thedinenI searched for you across many lifetimes,
Indru neril kangirenToday, I see you in person.
Male
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.
Male
Endhan paadhaiyil indha devadhaiOn my path, this angel's
Kural oosai ketkkirenSound of voice, I hear.
Undhan nyaabagam varum bodhellaamWhenever your memories come to me,
Naan vaanil parakkirenI fly in the sky.
Vizhi moganam tharum mandhiramThe enchanting spell cast by your eyes,
Vizhi moganam tharum mandhiramThe enchanting spell cast by your eyes,
Adhu moga kaaviyamThat is an epic of passion.
Male
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.
Male
Pani malligai mana moginiDewy jasmine-scented enchantress,
Unai marakka mudiyumooCan I ever forget you?
Ooraayiram kavi paadinumEven if thousands of poems are composed,
Idhai eedu seiyumooCan anything ever equal this?
Ezhulagamum sendru thedinumEven if searched across all seven worlds,
Ezhulagamum sendru thedinumEven if searched across all seven worlds,
Idhai kaana koodumooWill it ever be possible to find this?
Male
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.
Male
Mazhai kaalangal varum vaelaiyilWhen the rainy season arrives,
Unai megam aakkuvenI will make you the cloud.
Ilam kodaiyil endhan jadaiyilIn the soft summer, in my tresses,
Unai thendral aakkuvenI will make you the gentle breeze.
En nenjamae oru aalayamMy heart itself is a temple,
En nenjamae oru aalayamMy heart itself is a temple,
Unai deivam aakkuven….I will enshrine you as the deity.
Male
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.
Pala jenmangal unai thedinenI searched for you across many lifetimes,
Indru neril kangirenToday, I see you in person.
Male
Oru paadalai pala raagathilA single song in many ragas,
Unai paarthu paadinenLooking at you, I sang.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Oru Paadalai Pala Raagathil' expresses a deep, transcendent love that spans lifetimes. The protagonist reflects on meeting their beloved after searching across countless births, comparing the joy of finding them to hearing an angel's voice or flying high in the sky. The beauty and gaze of the beloved are described as a magical spell and a classic epic of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En nenjamae oru aalayam / Unai deivam aakkuven

The singer directly compares his heart to a temple and his beloved to the ruling deity residing within it.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Pala jenmangal unai thedinen / Ezhulagamum sendru thedinum

Exaggeration used to emphasize devotion by claiming to search for the beloved across multiple lifetimes and seven worlds.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Pani malligai mana mogini

Repetition of nasal 'm' sounds ('mana mogini') creates a melodious phonetic rhythm.

Rhetorical Question

Unai marakka mudiyumoo

A poetical question asked not for an answer, but to strongly affirm that forgetting the beloved is impossible.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from 'Malligai Mogini' (1979) was composed by G. K. Venkatesh, a veteran music director famous for introducing classical nuances into Tamil film music and serving as a mentor to Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The song features expressive vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam paired with poetic Tamil lines penned by the renowned lyricist Pulamaipithan.

Keep listening

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