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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paadariyen Padippariyen

From Sindhu Bhairavi · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sindhu Bhairavi1985

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Yettula ezhudhavillaIt wasn't written down in manuscripts
Ezhudhivechi pazhakkamillaI have no habit of writing and keeping notes
Elakkanam padikkavillaI haven't studied grammar
Thalaganamum enakku illaNor do I possess any arrogance or ego
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Arththaththa vittupputtaaIf you leave out the meaning of the words
Adhukkoru baavamillaMusic holds no soul or emotion
Pazhagina bhaashayilaSinging in a language one is familiar with
Padippadhu paavamillaIs certainly no sin at all
Ennamo raagam ennannamo thaalamWhatever ragam it is, whatever thalam it is
Thalaiya aattum puriyaadha koottamA clueless crowd simply nods its head
Female
Ellaamae sangeedhandhaan…Everything is music after all...
Aaaaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…Aaaaaa...aaa...aaa...aaa...
Ellaamae sangeedhandhaanEverything is music after all
Saththaththil porandha sangadhidhaanIt is a musical expression born from sound
Sadjamam enbadhum dhaivadham enbadhumConcepts like Shadjamam and Dhaivadham
Panja parambaraikku appurandhaanAre far beyond the reach of poor, ordinary folks
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Kavala yedhumillaThere is no worry or trouble at all
Rasikkum mettukkudiThe elite class who appreciate music
Cherikkum seravenumShould also reach out to the working-class slums
Adhukkoru paatta padiSing a song that they too can understand
Female
Enniyae paaruJust look around and count
Eththana peruHow many common people are there
Thangamae neeyumMy dear precious one, you too
Thamizh paattum paaduSing songs in the Tamil language
Female
Sonnadhu thappaa thappaa..Is what I said wrong, tell me, is it wrong?
Aaaaaaa…aaa….aa…..Aaaaaaa...aaa....aa.....
Sonnadhu thappaa thappaaIs what I said wrong, tell me, is it wrong?
Raagaththil pudusu ennudhappaaWhat is so brand new in a raagam, my friend?
Ammiyarachchava kummiyadichchavaThe women who grind stone and play kummi dance
Naattupporaththula sonnadhappaaExpressed this very truth in the countryside
Ammiyarachchava kummiyadichchavaThe women who grind stone and play kummi dance
Naattupporaththula sonnadhappaaExpressed this very truth in the countryside
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Yettula ezhudhavillaIt wasn't written down in manuscripts
Ezhudhivechi pazhakkamillaI have no habit of writing and keeping notes
Elakkanam padikkavillaI haven't studied grammar
Thalaganamum enakku illaNor do I possess any arrogance or ego
Female
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pallikkoodam dhaanariyenI don't even know what a school is
Yedariyen ezhuththariyenI don't know palm leaf scripts, nor reading
Ezhuththuvaga naanariyenI do not know how to write letters
Female
Ma pa da maSolfège swaras: Ma Pa Da Ma
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Sa ri ga ma pa da maSolfège swaras: Sa Ri Ga Ma Pa Da Ma
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Pa da ni sa ni da ma ga ga riSolfège swaras: Pa Da Ni Sa Ni Da Ma Ga Ga Ri
Paadariyen padippariyenI don't know songs, nor do I have formal education
Sa sa ri ga sa ri ga ma ga sa pa da maSolfège swaras: Sa Sa Ri Ga Sa Ri Ga Ma Ga Sa Pa Da Ma
Ma ma pa da ma pa da ni da ma pa da niSolfège swaras: Ma Ma Pa Da Ma Pa Da Ni Da Ma Pa Da Ni
Pa da ni sa ri ga sa ni da ma pa da niSolfège swaras: Pa Da Ni Sa Ri Ga Sa Ni Da Ma Pa Da Ni
Sa ni da pa da ni da ma pa ma daSolfège swaras: Sa Ni Da Pa Da Ni Da Ma Pa Ma Da
Ga ma pa da ma ga ma ga saSolfège swaras: Ga Ma Pa Da Ma Ga Ma Ga Sa
Sa sa sa sa sa sa sa ri ga pa ga pa sa ri daSolfège swaras: Sa Sa Sa Sa Sa Sa Sa Ri Ga Pa Ga Pa Sa Ri Da
Ma ma ma ma ma ma pa da ni sa ri sa ri ga ma gaSolfège swaras: Ma Ma Pa Da Ni Sa Ri Sa Ri Ga Ma Ga
Sa sa ri ri ga ga ma ma pa pa da da ni ni saSolfège swaras: Sa Sa Ri Ri Ga Ga Ma Ma Pa Pa Da Da Ni Ni Sa
Ri ga sa sa ni sa ni ni daSolfège swaras: Ri Ga Sa Sa Ni Sa Ni Ni Da
Ma pa da ni da ni da pa maSolfège swaras: Ma Pa Da Ni Da Ni Da Pa Ma
Ga ma ga sa ri ga ma pa da ma pa da ni saSolfège swaras: Ga Ma Pa Da Ma Pa Da Ni Sa
Ri ga pa ga sa ni da pa gaSolfège swaras: Ri Ga Pa Ga Sa Ni Da Pa Ga
Female
Mari mari ninnae muralidharClassical Tyagaraja Kriti: Time and again to You, O Lord Krishna
Nee manasuna daya raadha ….uu….Does your heart not feel compassion?
Mari mari ninnae muralidharTime and again to You, O Lord Krishna
Nee mana…suna daya raadha ….Does your heart not feel compassion?
Mari mari ninnaeTime and again to You
Mari mari ninnaeTime and again to You

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paadariyen Padippariyen is a landmark song from the 1985 Tamil film Sindhu Bhairavi, composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu and sung by K. S. Chithra. The song serves as a central ideological debate in the film, where an uneducated folk singer challenges the elitism and exclusivity of classical Carnatic music. She argues that music should be accessible to common people, sung in their mother tongue with emotion and meaning, rather than being confined to rigid grammatical rules, complex technical swaras, and elite patronage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Emonai)

“Paadariyen padippariyen / Pallikkoodam dhaanariyen”

The repeated ending with 'ariyen' (do not know) creates a rhythmic, humble refrain highlighting unpretentious folk wisdom.

Contrast / Antimetabole

“Elakkanam padikkavilla / Thalaganamum enakku illa”

Contrasts formal education ('Elakkanam') with personal humility ('Thalaganam' or arrogance).

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethukai)

“Ammiyarachchava kummiyadichchava”

Use of matching internal sounds ('Ammiyarachchava' / 'Kummiyadichchava') typical of Tamil folk oral traditions.

Did you know?

Trivia

K. S. Chithra won her first National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for this song. The composition seamlessly transitions folk rhythms into classical Carnatic swara passages set in Raga Saramati, concluding with snippets of Saint Tyagaraja's famous kriti 'Mari Mari Ninne'.

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