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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paalatril Selaadudhu

From Koduthu Vaithaval · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, K. Jamunarani
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Koduthu Vaithaval
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
12 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paalaattril saelaadudhu
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
Maeni paalaattril saelaadudhu
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
Thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
Manadhu poraadudhu
Kaadhal thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
Manadhu poraadudhu
Aaraezhu vayadhinilae
Ambuliyaai paartha nilaa
Aaraezhu vayadhinilae
Ambuliyaai paartha nilaa
Eeraezhu vayadhil maarudhu
Adhu yaedhaedho kadhaigal koorudhu
Ennirandu vayadhinilae
Kannirandu maarupattu
Ennirandu vayadhinilae
Kannirandu maarupattu
Pen manadhu oonjalaadudhu
Adhan paechum moochum
Vegamaagudhu
Paalaattril saelaadudhu
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
Thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
Manadhu poraadudhu
Kodai kaala maalaiyilae
Kulirndha malar cholaiyilae
Kodai kaala maalaiyilae
Kulirndha malar cholaiyilae
Vaadai thendral irandum vandhadhu
Un aadai thottu aadugindradhu
Aadai thotta thendralukkaa
Athai magal sondhamendru
Aadai thotta thendralukkaa
Athai magal sondhamendru
Kaalai ullam vaadugindradhu
Ennam karai kadandhu odugindradhu
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…
Male :Paalaattril saelaadudhu
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…mmm
Female :Thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
Manadhu poraadudhu
Fish dance in a river of milk,
Two spear-like eyes dance,
And a thread-slender waist sways.
On your milky body, fish-like eyes dance,
Two spear-like eyes dance,
And a thread-slender waist sways.
Bathing in a river of honey,
A chariot of beauty rolls along,
And my heart struggles inside.
Bathing in a river of love's sweet honey,
A chariot of beauty rolls along,
And my heart struggles inside.
At six or seven years of age,
The moon was just a childhood playmate.
At six or seven years of age,
The moon was just a childhood playmate.
At fourteen, it looks so different,
And whispers all kinds of romantic tales.
At the sweet age of sixteen,
When both her eyes gaze differently,
At the sweet age of sixteen,
When both her eyes gaze differently,
A young woman's heart sways like a swing,
And her speech and breath
Begin to quicken.
Fish dance in a river of milk,
Two spear-like eyes dance,
And a thread-slender waist sways.
Bathing in a river of honey,
A chariot of beauty rolls along,
And my heart struggles inside.
On a warm summer evening,
In a cool garden of flowers,
On a warm summer evening,
In a cool garden of flowers,
The winter wind and gentle breeze both arrived,
Dancing as they brushed against your clothes.
Does the breeze that touched your dress think
That my cousin belongs to it alone?
Does the breeze that touched your dress think
That my cousin belongs to it alone?
This young man's heart aches with longing,
As his thoughts overflow and run wild.
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Aaha ho... oho ho...
[Male]: Fish dance in a river of milk,
Two spear-like eyes dance,
And a thread-slender waist sways.
Mmm... mmm... mmm...
Aaha ho... oho ho... mmm...
[Female]: Bathing in a river of honey,
A chariot of beauty rolls along,
And my heart struggles inside.
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet captures the blossoming of love and youth through rich Classical Tamil imagery. The lovers describe each other's beauty and physical transformation over time, tracing the passage of age from childhood (ages 6-7) to adolescence (age 14) and young adulthood (age 16), highlighting how youthful innocence evolves into deep romantic affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

“Paalaattril saelaadudhu”

Comparing fair skin and body to a river of milk ('Paalaaru') and eyes to fish ('Sael').

Metaphor

“Irandu vaelaadudhu”

Comparing sharp, piercing eyes to sharp spears ('Vael').

Wordplay / Mathematical Rhyming

“Aaraezhu vayadhinilae... Eeraezhu vayadhil... Ennirandu vayadhinilae”

Kannadasan creatively uses numbers ('Aaraezhu' = 6 or 7, 'Eeraezhu' = 2x7=14, 'Ennirandu' = 8x2=16) to trace age progression rhythmically.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Koduthu Vaithaval' (1963) stars M. G. Ramachandran, E. V. Saroja, and L. Vijayalakshmi. The music for the film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by Kannadasan, and this iconic duet was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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