Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oyila Paadum Paatula

From Seevalaperi Pandi · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Adithyan
Details
Seevalaperi Pandi1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Oyila paadum paatulaIn the song sung with grace
Aaduthu aaduThe sheep is dancing
Kuyilae nee en paatulaOh cuckoo, in my song
Sangathi poduAdd your musical nuances
Female
Karisal kaatu kaadaiyaeOh quail of the dry black-soil forest
Kaadu kodutha odaiyaeOh stream gifted by the forest
Kaatuku veli thevaiyum illaiThe forest needs no fence
En paatuku thaalam thevaiyum illaiMy song needs no rhythm
Female
Oyila paadum paatulaIn the song sung with grace
Aaduthu aaduThe sheep is dancing
Kuyilae nee en paatulaOh cuckoo, in my song
Sangathi poduAdd your musical nuances
Female
Adi santhosa koothaduDance around in joy
En sangetham sapaaduMy music is my food
Yei malaiyae malaiyaeHey mountain, mountain
Megathai eduthu thavani nee poduTake the cloud and wear it as a half-saree
Female
Indha kaadae en veeduThis forest is my home
En uravae en aaduMy relatives are my sheep
Ada kaneer santhosamAh, tears and joy
Athu rendum en paaduBoth are my burden and melody
Female
Mazhai vanthal enna..What if the rain comes?
Idi vanthal ennaWhat if thunder strikes?
Nee thuninchu villaiyadu..Play courageously
Nee thuninchu villaiyaduPlay courageously
Female
Oyila paadum paatulaIn the song sung with grace
Aaduthu aaduThe sheep is dancing
Kuyilae nee en paatulaOh cuckoo, in my song
Sangathi poduAdd your musical nuances
Female
Naan muppoluthumAll three times of the day
MulichiurukkenI stay awake
Naan epothum thanichirukkenI am always alone
Ada aasthiyum illa avasthaiyum illaI have no wealth and no misery
Annadam sirichirukkenI smile every single day
Female
Oru kuruvikku koodu irukku..A bird has a nest
Indha kumarikku veeduirukkaDoes this young girl have a home?
Andha aathukku kilai irukkuThat river has branches
Oru adaikalam enakirukkaDo I have a shelter?
Veyil vanthaalenna irul vanthaalennaWhat if sunlight comes, what if darkness comes?
En santhosam korainchurukkaHas my happiness decreased?
En santhosam korainchurukkaHas my happiness decreased?
Female
Oyila paadum paatulaIn the song sung with grace
Aaduthu aaduThe sheep is dancing
Kuyilae nee en paatulaOh cuckoo, in my song
Sangathi poduAdd your musical nuances
Female
Karisal kaatu kaadaiyaeOh quail of the dry black-soil forest
Kaadu kodutha odaiyaeOh stream gifted by the forest
Kaatuku veli thevaiyum illaiThe forest needs no fence
En paatuku thaalam thevaiyum illaiMy song needs no rhythm
Female
Aaaa….aaa…..aaa……aaa…Aaaa....aaa.....aaa......aaa...
Aaaa…..aaa…..aaa……aaa…….aa…..Aaaa.....aaa.....aaa......aaa.......aa.....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Seevalaperi Pandi captures the spirit of carefree pastoral living, resilience, and harmony with nature. The female protagonist expresses her deep connection to her surroundings, considering the wild black-soil landscape, mountains, streams, and her herd of sheep as her true family and sanctuary. Despite facing hardship, solitude, and lack of shelter, she finds ultimate joy and fulfillment in music and nature, declaring that her happiness remains untamed and unconfined by societal boundaries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Yei malaiyae malaiyae / Megathai eduthu thavani nee podu

Addressing the mountain as a maiden and asking it to drape a cloud as a half-saree ('Megathai eduthu thavani nee podu').

Metaphor

En sangetham sapaadu

Comparing music to food ('En sangetham sapaadu'), showing that song nourishes her soul like food nourishes the body.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Karisal kaatu kaadaiyae / Kaadu kodutha odaiyae

The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('kaadaiyae' and 'odaiyae').

Rhetorical Question

Oru kuruvikku koodu irukku.. / Indha kumarikku veeduirukka

Asking whether she has shelter like birds or rivers do, highlighting her nomadic solitude without seeking pity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Seevalaperi Pandi (1994) featured music composed by Adithyan, whose rustic folk tunes and background score contributed significantly to the film's cult status. Lyricist Vairamuthu used authentic imagery from the 'Karisal' (dryland) region of southern Tamil Nadu to reflect the film's realistic rural setting.

Keep listening

More from Seevalaperi Pandi