Oru Pakkam Pakkira
From Maattukara Velan · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Maattukara Velan1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Oru pakkam | { She turns to one side |
| Paarkura oru kanna | She looks out of one eye, |
| Saaikura ava udhata | Tilting her lips |
| Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga | And biting them softly, |
| Sirikira sirikira sirikira } (2) | She laughs, she laughs, she laughs } (2) |
| Male | |
| { Aadaiyae | { Her dress, |
| Thiruthura alli alli | She gathers and adjusts, |
| Sorugura } (2) | And tucks it in } (2) |
| Male | |
| { Araikora | { Incomplete, |
| Vaarthai solli | Words she speaks, |
| Paadhiya muzhungura } (2) | Swallowing half of them } (2) |
| Male | |
| Pinnalai | Her braided hair, |
| Munnae vitu | Bringing to the front, |
| Pinni pinni kaatura | She twirls and shows it off, |
| Pinaalae thooki vitu | Flipping it back behind her, |
| Kaiyalae izhukura | She pulls it softly with her hand. |
| Male | |
| Poo polae | Softly like a flower, |
| Kaal eduthu boomiya | Stepping onto the ground, |
| Alakura pottunnu thulli | She measures her path, suddenly leaping, |
| Thulli sitaaga parakura | Leaping and flying around like a sparrow. |
| Male | |
| { Nelaiyilae | { On the doorframe, |
| Kaiya vechu nikira | Resting her hand, she stands, |
| Nimiruraa } (2) | Standing tall } (2) |
| Male | |
| Niruthi | Pausing, |
| Moochu vitu | Taking a deep breath, |
| { Nenjai thaalaatura } (2) | { She lets her heart sway like a lullaby } (2) |
| Male | |
| Oru pakkam | She turns to one side, |
| Paarkura oru kanna | She looks out of one eye, |
| Saaikura ava udhata | Tilting her lips, |
| Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga | And biting them softly, |
| Sirikira sirikira sirikira | She laughs, she laughs, she laughs. |
| Male | |
| { Kaalaalae | { With her feet, |
| Nilathula kolam | Rangoli patterns on the ground, |
| Potu kaatura | She draws and shows, |
| Male | |
| Kambi | Against the iron |
| Pota jannalilae | Bars of the window, |
| Kannatha theikura } (2) | She rubs her cheek } (2) |
| Male | |
| Kangala | Her eyes, |
| Moodi moodi | Closing and opening, |
| Jaadai konjam kaatura | She makes coy gestures. |
| Male | |
| Karandha | Freshly milked |
| Paalae naan kodutha | Milk when I offer her, |
| Kaiya thottu vaangura | She touches my hand as she receives it, |
| En kaiya thottu vaangura | She touches my hand as she receives it. |
| Male | |
| Kai viral | When my fingers |
| Pattadhilae paal | Touched it, the milk |
| Sombu kulungudhu | Pot trembled. |
| Male | |
| Kaiya | Her hand |
| Izhuthu kitu | Pulling back, |
| Paalodu odhungudhu | She retreats along with the milk. |
| Male | |
| { Unna | { Thinking of you |
| Polae enni enni | Again and again, |
| En kita mayangudhu } (2) | She swoons near me } (2) |
| Male | |
| Un mugam | Only when your face |
| Paarthadhum thaan | She beholds, |
| Unmai ellam vilangudhu | Does the complete truth become clear. |
| Male | |
| Oru pakkam | She turns to one side, |
| Paarkura oru kanna | She looks out of one eye, |
| Saaikura ava udhata | Tilting her lips, |
| Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga | And biting them softly, |
| { Sirikira sirikira sirikira } (2) | { She laughs, she laughs, she laughs } (2) |
{ ஒரு பக்கம்
பாா்க்குறா ஒரு கண்ண
சாய்க்குறா அவ உதட்ட
கடிச்சிக்கிட்டு மெதுவாக
சிரிக்கிறா சிரிக்கிறா
சிரிக்கிறா } (2)
{ She turns to one side
She looks out of one eye,
Tilting her lips
And biting them softly,
She laughs, she laughs, she laughs } (2)
{ ஆடையை
திருத்துறா அள்ளி
அள்ளி சொருகுறா } (2)
{ Her dress,
She gathers and adjusts,
And tucks it in } (2)
{ அரை கொறை
வார்த்தை சொல்லி
பாதிய முழுங்குறா } (2)
{ Incomplete,
Words she speaks,
Swallowing half of them } (2)
பின்னலை முன்னே
விட்டு பின்னி பின்னி காட்டுறா
பின்னாலே தூக்கி விட்டு
கையாலே இழுக்குறா
Her braided hair,
Bringing to the front,
She twirls and shows it off,
Flipping it back behind her,
She pulls it softly with her hand.
பூப் போல
காலெடுத்து பூமிய
அளக்குறா பொட்டுணு
துள்ளி துள்ளி சிட்டாக
பறக்குறா
Softly like a flower,
Stepping onto the ground,
She measures her path, suddenly leaping,
Leaping and flying around like a sparrow.
{ நெலையிலே
கைய வெச்சு நிக்கிறா
நிமிருறா } (2)
{ On the doorframe,
Resting her hand, she stands,
Standing tall } (2)
நிறுத்தி
மூச்சு விட்டு
{ நெஞ்சை தாலாட்டுறா } (2)
Pausing,
Taking a deep breath,
{ She lets her heart sway like a lullaby } (2)
ஒரு பக்கம்
பாா்க்குறா ஒரு கண்ண
சாய்க்குறா அவ உதட்ட
கடிச்சிக்கிட்டு மெதுவாக
சிரிக்கிறா சிரிக்கிறா
சிரிக்கிறா
She turns to one side,
She looks out of one eye,
Tilting her lips,
And biting them softly,
She laughs, she laughs, she laughs.
{ காலாலே
நிலத்துல கோலம்
போட்டு காட்டுறா
{ With her feet,
Rangoli patterns on the ground,
She draws and shows,
கம்பி போட்ட
ஜன்னலிலே கன்னத்த
தேய்க்குறா } (2)
Against the iron
Bars of the window,
She rubs her cheek } (2)
கண்கள மூடி
மூடி ஜாடை கொஞ்சம்
காட்டுறா
Her eyes,
Closing and opening,
She makes coy gestures.
கரந்த பாலை
நான் கொடுத்தா கைய
தொட்டு வாங்குறா
என் கைய தொட்டு
வாங்குறா
Freshly milked
Milk when I offer her,
She touches my hand as she receives it,
She touches my hand as she receives it.
கை விரல்
பட்டதிலே பால்
சொம்பு குலுங்குது
When my fingers
Touched it, the milk
Pot trembled.
கைய இழுத்து
கிட்டு பாலோடு
ஒதுங்குது
Her hand
Pulling back,
She retreats along with the milk.
{ உன்ன போலே
எண்ணி எண்ணி
என்கிட்ட மயங்குது } (2)
{ Thinking of you
Again and again,
She swoons near me } (2)
உன் முகம்
பார்த்ததும் தான்
உண்மை எல்லாம்
விளங்குது
Only when your face
She beholds,
Does the complete truth become clear.
ஒரு பக்கம்
பாா்க்குறா ஒரு கண்ண
சாய்க்குறா அவ உதட்ட
கடிச்சிக்கிட்டு மெதுவாக
{ சிரிக்கிறா சிரிக்கிறா
சிரிக்கிறா } (2)
She turns to one side,
She looks out of one eye,
Tilting her lips,
And biting them softly,
{ She laughs, she laughs, she laughs } (2)
{ Oru pakkam
{ She turns to one side
Paarkura oru kanna
She looks out of one eye,
Saaikura ava udhata
Tilting her lips
Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga
And biting them softly,
Sirikira sirikira sirikira } (2)
She laughs, she laughs, she laughs } (2)
{ Aadaiyae
{ Her dress,
Thiruthura alli alli
She gathers and adjusts,
Sorugura } (2)
And tucks it in } (2)
{ Araikora
{ Incomplete,
Vaarthai solli
Words she speaks,
Paadhiya muzhungura } (2)
Swallowing half of them } (2)
Pinnalai
Her braided hair,
Munnae vitu
Bringing to the front,
Pinni pinni kaatura
She twirls and shows it off,
Pinaalae thooki vitu
Flipping it back behind her,
Kaiyalae izhukura
She pulls it softly with her hand.
Poo polae
Softly like a flower,
Kaal eduthu boomiya
Stepping onto the ground,
Alakura pottunnu thulli
She measures her path, suddenly leaping,
Thulli sitaaga parakura
Leaping and flying around like a sparrow.
{ Nelaiyilae
{ On the doorframe,
Kaiya vechu nikira
Resting her hand, she stands,
Nimiruraa } (2)
Standing tall } (2)
Niruthi
Pausing,
Moochu vitu
Taking a deep breath,
{ Nenjai thaalaatura } (2)
{ She lets her heart sway like a lullaby } (2)
Oru pakkam
She turns to one side,
Paarkura oru kanna
She looks out of one eye,
Saaikura ava udhata
Tilting her lips,
Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga
And biting them softly,
Sirikira sirikira sirikira
She laughs, she laughs, she laughs.
{ Kaalaalae
{ With her feet,
Nilathula kolam
Rangoli patterns on the ground,
Potu kaatura
She draws and shows,
Kambi
Against the iron
Pota jannalilae
Bars of the window,
Kannatha theikura } (2)
She rubs her cheek } (2)
Kangala
Her eyes,
Moodi moodi
Closing and opening,
Jaadai konjam kaatura
She makes coy gestures.
Karandha
Freshly milked
Paalae naan kodutha
Milk when I offer her,
Kaiya thottu vaangura
She touches my hand as she receives it,
En kaiya thottu vaangura
She touches my hand as she receives it.
Kai viral
When my fingers
Pattadhilae paal
Touched it, the milk
Sombu kulungudhu
Pot trembled.
Kaiya
Her hand
Izhuthu kitu
Pulling back,
Paalodu odhungudhu
She retreats along with the milk.
{ Unna
{ Thinking of you
Polae enni enni
Again and again,
En kita mayangudhu } (2)
She swoons near me } (2)
Un mugam
Only when your face
Paarthadhum thaan
She beholds,
Unmai ellam vilangudhu
Does the complete truth become clear.
Oru pakkam
She turns to one side,
Paarkura oru kanna
She looks out of one eye,
Saaikura ava udhata
Tilting her lips,
Kadichu kitu medhuvaaga
And biting them softly,
{ Sirikira sirikira sirikira } (2)
{ She laughs, she laughs, she laughs } (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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