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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paadum Baktha Meera

From Chinnappadass · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinnappadass1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Un karunaiyil vizhiyil oru naal ennai paarumLook at me one day with your merciful eyes.
En udalum uyirum uravum unnai serumMy body, life, and soul shall unite with you.
En geethaiyin naayaganaeOh Hero of my Gita!
Pen paedhaiyin kaavalanaeOh Protector of this innocent woman!
En geethaiyin naayaganaeOh Hero of my Gita!
Pen paedhaiyin kaavalanaeOh Protector of this innocent woman!
Female
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Female
Yerudhu yerudhu mogam thaanInfatuation keeps rising and rising.
Ada yen ippa maarudhu vaegam thaanHey, why is the speed changing now?
Yendhidathaan oru neram thaanIt is time to lift up.
Ada eranguthu eranguthu baaram thaanHey, the heavy burden is lightening down.
Male
Ishtapadi paadathae enna vandhu moodathaeDon't sing as you please, don't come and cover me.
Thottu thottu koodathae solli puttu oodathaeDon't touch repeatedly, don't say something and run away.
Ishtapadi paadathae enna vandhu moodathaeDon't sing as you please, don't come and cover me.
Thottu thottu koodathae solli puttu oodathaeDon't touch repeatedly, don't say something and run away.
Female
Naan unnaiyae nenachuThinking only of you...
Thaniyae malarndha rojaa...I am a rose that bloomed in solitude.
Ada ularal pidhattral ellaam edhukku raajaHey my King, why all this blabbering and babbling?
Male
Em manasukku pudikkavillaMy heart does not like this.
Adi vazhi vidu vayasu pullaHey young girl, step aside and give way!
Em manasukku pudikkavillaMy heart does not like this.
Adi vazhi vidu vayasu pullaHey young girl, step aside and give way!
Female
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Female
Aazhilai mel vizhi moodavaaShall I close my eyes on the banyan leaf?
Pala aanandha raagangal paadavaaShall I sing many blissful ragas?
Paavaiyum paarkadal allavaaIsn't the maiden herself the Ocean of Milk?
Adhil panjanai mael thuyil kollavaaShall I sleep on the soft bed inside it?
Male
Ooril ulla kambam ellam oodhum kuzhal aagaathuNot every pole in the town can become a flute.
Oora vechu parthaalum ippa idhu vegaathuEven if you soak it, this will not work or cook now.
Ooril ulla kambam ellam oodhum kuzhal aagaathuNot every pole in the town can become a flute.
Oora vechu parthaalum ippa idhu vegaathuEven if you soak it, this will not work or cook now.
Female
Pala adiyaar ketkkum arulai kodukkum kannaOh Krishna, who grants grace requested by many devotees!
Ada azhaga paesi anbai thandhaal ennaHey, what if you speak beautifully and grant love?
Male :Adi yerudhu thalai kirukkuMale: Hey, giddiness is rising in my head!
Ada yedhukku indha manakanakkuHey, why all these mental calculations?
Adi yerudhu thalai kirukkuMale: Hey, giddiness is rising in my head!
Ada yedhukku indha manakanakkuHey, why all these mental calculations?
Male
Kanni ponu meera kaadhal pannu joraaYoung maiden Meera, express love grandly!
Kanni ponu meera kaadhal pannu joraaYoung maiden Meera, express love grandly!
Female :Naan kannan kaiyil aadumpachai moongilFemale: I am the green bamboo flute playing in Krishna's hands.
Male :En kangal moodum maedai indha koondhalMale: Her hair is the stage where my eyes close.
Female :En mannavan ulla varaiFemale: As long as my king resides within...
En manadhinil yedhu kurai...what deficiency is there in my heart?
En mannavan ulla varaiFemale: As long as my king resides within...
En manadhinil yedhu kurai...what deficiency is there in my heart?
Female
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?
Paadum bhaktha meera neeyum naanum vaeraSinging devotee Meera, are you and I different?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet features a young woman comparing her romantic obsession to the divine devotion of Saint Meera for Lord Krishna. She views her lover as her divine protector and hero, pleading with him to accept her love and comparing herself to a rose blooming for him or a bamboo flute in his hands. The male protagonist initially resists her earnest and poetic advances with humorous reluctance, warning her not to babble or attempt to woo him with grand comparisons. However, through persistent charm and metaphorical banter involving Vaishnavite iconography (banyan leaf, ocean of milk, Krishna's flute), his reluctance breaks down into mutual affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Female :Naan kannan kaiyil aadumpachai moongil

The singer directly equates herself to a green bamboo flute held and played by Krishna.

Devotional Imagery (Bhakthi / Uvamaani)

Aazhilai mel vizhi moodavaa / Paavaiyum paarkadal allavaa

Uses classical Vaishnavite mythological motifs like Lord Vishnu reclining on a banyan leaf (Vatapatrasayi) and resting on the Milk Ocean (Paarkadal).

Rhyme / Monai & Etukai

Ishtapadi paadathae enna vandhu moodathae / Thottu thottu koodathae solli puttu oodathae

Employs second-letter rhyming (Etukai) between adjacent lines ('Ishtapadi' / 'Thottu thottu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in some records, this song is from 'Chinnappadass' (1989), which featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Gangai Amaran. The duet was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, featuring Sathyaraj and Radha on screen.

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