Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paadavaa Un Paadalai Sad

From Naan Paadum Paadal · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Naan Paadum Paadal1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aaa….haaa..aaa aaaAaa... aaa... haaa... aaa aaa
Aaa…aaa…haaa…aaaa…Aaa... aaa... haaa... aaaa...
Aaa….aaa….haaa…aaa…aaaAaa... aaa... haaa... aaa... aaa
Female
Hmm mmm mmmmHmm mmm mmmm
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Enn kannilae yen neerodai hoWhy is there a stream of tears in my eyes, ho?
Enn kannilae yen neerodai hoWhy is there a stream of tears in my eyes, ho?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Female
Thengum kanneerilIn the pooled tears,
Undhan bimbamIs your reflection.
Poovin nenjil boogambamAn earthquake inside the heart of a flower.
Thengum kanneerilIn the pooled tears,
Undhan bimbamIs your reflection.
Poovin nenjil boogambamAn earthquake inside the heart of a flower.
Female
Sudaraodu eriyathuIt will not burn with a flame,
Thiri pona deepamA lamp that has lost its wick.
Uyir pona pinnaalumEven after life has departed,
Udal ingu vaazhumThe body lives on here.
Kanneril sugamWill the mind not find,
Kaanatho manamComfort in tears?
Nee thantha maangalyamThe sacred thread you gave,
En jenma saabalyamIs the fulfillment of my birth.
Female
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Enn kannilae yen neerodai hoWhy is there a stream of tears in my eyes, ho?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Female
Kanna en nenjilOh my Beloved, in my heart,
Kaadhal kaayamIs a wound of love.
Aaruthal sollum aagaayamThe sky offers words of comfort.
Kanna en nenjilOh my Beloved, in my heart,
Kaadhal kaayamIs a wound of love.
Aaruthal sollum aagaayamThe sky offers words of comfort.
Female
Puyalodu poraadumA life like a fragile flower,
Poovaagum vaazhkkaiFighting against a storm.
Irunthaalum en nenjilEven so, in my heart,
Yen intha vetkkaiWhy is there this shyness?
Un paadhai enageWhere is your path?
En paadham angaeMy footstep is over there.
Valaraamal theiyaamalNeither growing nor waning,
Vaazhgindra nilavingaeHere lives the moon.
Female
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Enn kannilae yen neerodai hoWhy is there a stream of tears in my eyes, ho?
Enn kannilae yen neerodai hoWhy is there a stream of tears in my eyes, ho?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?
Paadava un paadalaiShall I sing your song?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paadava Un Paadalai from the 1984 movie Naan Paadum Paadal, penned by lyricist Vairamuthu and set to music by Ilaiyaraaja, is a melancholic expression of grief, love, and emotional turbulence. The speaker reflects on her sorrow, visualizing her beloved's reflection in her tears while describing her heart as a delicate flower enduring an earthquake. She compares her lifeless existence to a lamp missing its wick, yet finds spiritual solace in the sacred marital bond (maangalyam) given to her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Poovin nenjil boogambam

Comparing the inner turmoil of a fragile heart to an earthquake hitting a delicate flower (Poovin nenjil boogambam).

Paradox

Uyir pona pinnaalum udal ingu vaazhum

Describing a state of living death where life has departed yet the physical body endures.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Puyalodu poraadum Poovaagum vaazhkkai

Repetition of the 'P' sound creates a rhythmic flow across words in the line.

Rhyme (Edhugai / Iyaibu)

Nee thantha maangalyam En jenma saabalyam

End-rhyme between 'maangalyam' and 'saabalyam' emphasizes the emotional peak of marital devotion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Naan Paadum Paadal (1984) was directed by R. Sundarrajan with iconic music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. This solo track features rendering by S. Janaki (and a counterpart version by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam), widely remembered for its soulful melody and expressive vocal modulations.

Keep listening

More from Naan Paadum Paadal