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Maattukara Velan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Pakkam Pakkira

From Maattukara Velan · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Maattukara Velan
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
24 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Oru pakkam
Paarkura oru kanna
Saaikura ava udhata
Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga
Sirikira sirikira sirikira } (2)
{ Aadaiyae
Thiruthura alli alli
Sorugura } (2)
{ Araikora
Vaarthai solli
Paadhiya muzhungura } (2)
Pinnalai
Munnae vitu
Pinni pinni kaatura
Pinaalae thooki vitu
Kaiyalae izhukura
Poo polae
Kaal eduthu boomiya
Alakura pottunnu thulli
Thulli sitaaga parakura
{ Nelaiyilae
Kaiya vechu nikira
Nimiruraa } (2)
Niruthi
Moochu vitu
{ Nenjai thaalaatura } (2)
Oru pakkam
Paarkura oru kanna
Saaikura ava udhata
Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga
Sirikira sirikira sirikira
{ Kaalaalae
Nilathula kolam
Potu kaatura
Kambi
Pota jannalilae
Kannatha theikura } (2)
Kangala
Moodi moodi
Jaadai konjam kaatura
Karandha
Paalae naan kodutha
Kaiya thottu vaangura
En kaiya thottu vaangura
Kai viral
Pattadhilae paal
Sombu kulungudhu
Kaiya
Izhuthu kitu
Paalodu odhungudhu
{ Unna
Polae enni enni
En kita mayangudhu } (2)
Un mugam
Paarthadhum thaan
Unmai ellam vilangudhu
Oru pakkam
Paarkura oru kanna
Saaikura ava udhata
Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga
{ Sirikira sirikira sirikira } (2)
{ Looking to one side,
she glances, winking an eye;
tilting her head, she bites her lip,
and softly,
she smiles, smiles, smiles! } (2)
{ She adjusts her dress,
gathering the pleats again and again
to tuck them in! } (2)
{ She mumbles half-spoken words,
speaking haltingly,
and swallows half of what she says! } (2)
Bringing her braid
to the front,
she plays with it and shows it off;
tossing it behind her,
she pulls it back with her hand!
Stepping lightly like a flower,
she measures the earth
with her feet, and suddenly leaping,
she flits about like a sparrow!
{ Resting her hand
on the doorway, she stands
and straightens up! } (2)
Pausing,
catching her breath,
{ she lets her chest heave gently! } (2)
Looking to one side,
she glances, winking an eye;
tilting her head, she bites her lip,
and softly,
she smiles, smiles, smiles!
{ With her foot,
she draws patterns
in the dirt;
against the barred
window,
she rubs her cheek! } (2)
Fluttering
her eyes shut,
she drops teasing hints;
when I hand her
freshly milked milk,
she touches my hand as she takes it—
she touches my hand as she takes it!
As our fingers
touch, the milk
pot trembles;
pulling back
her hand,
she steps away with the milk!
{ Mistaking me
for you,
she is completely charmed by me! } (2)
Only after seeing
your face
does the whole truth become clear!
Looking to one side,
she glances, winking an eye;
tilting her head, she bites her lip,
and softly,
{ she smiles, smiles, smiles! } (2)
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from 'Maattukara Velan' captures the adorable, shy, and playful mannerisms of a coy young woman through the observant eyes of the male protagonist. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance paints a vivid portrait of feminine bashfulness ('Naanam')—describing her glances, the biting of her lips, the adjustment of her attire, her playful twirling of hair braids, and her light-footed steps compared to a sparrow. As the narrative unfolds, her subtle romantic gestures are highlighted: drawing patterns on the floor with her toes, leaning bashfully against window bars, and the electrifying momentary touch of hands while exchanging a pot of milk. The song delightfully celebrates innocent romantic playfulness and the charming misinterpretations of love before clarity dawns.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Poo polae kaal eduthu boomiya alakura”

Compares her gentle, delicate stepping onto the ground to the softness of a flower ('poo polae').

Metaphor / Imagery (Uvamaani)

“Thulli sitaaga parakura”

Compares her energetic, playful leaps to a sparrow ('sittu') flying around freely.

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for poetic emphasis)

“Sirikira sirikira sirikira / Thulli thulli”

Repetition of words like 'sirikira' (laughs) and 'thulli' (leaping) enhances the rhythmic charm and highlights the continuous playful nature of the heroine.

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Pinnalai / Pinaalae”

The second letter 'n' (ன) matches in consecutive ideas ('Pinnalai' and 'Pinaalae'), creating a lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the blockbuster 1970 Tamil film 'Maattukara Velan' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) in a dual role alongside Jayalalithaa and Lakshmi. The film's musical score was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. Lyricist Kannadasan famously penned the song to reflect traditional Tamil feminine coy expressions (Nava Rasas).

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