Paalatril Selaadudhu
From Koduthu Vaithaval · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan, K. Jamunarani
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Koduthu Vaithaval1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paalaattril saelaadudhu | A carp fish dances in a river of milk |
| Irandu vaelaadudhu | Two spear-like eyes dance in grace |
| Idaiyil noolaadudhu | A thread-like slender waist sways in between |
| Maeni paalaattril saelaadudhu | In the milk-river of her body, fish dance |
| Irandu vaelaadudhu | Two spear-like eyes dance in grace |
| Idaiyil noolaadudhu | A thread-like slender waist sways in between |
| Female | |
| Thaenaattril neeraadudhu | Bathing in a sweet river of honey |
| Azhaghu thaerodudhu | A chariot of beauty glides along |
| Manadhu poraadudhu | The heart struggles in intense yearning |
| Kaadhal thaenaattril neeraadudhu | Bathing in the river of honey called love |
| Azhaghu thaerodudhu | A chariot of beauty glides along |
| Manadhu poraadudhu | The heart struggles in intense yearning |
| Male | |
| Aaraezhu vayadhinilae | At six or seven years of age |
| Ambuliyaai paartha nilaa | The moon was seen merely as a playful friend (Ambuli) |
| Aaraezhu vayadhinilae | At six or seven years of age |
| Ambuliyaai paartha nilaa | The moon was seen merely as a playful friend (Ambuli) |
| Eeraezhu vayadhil maarudhu | At fourteen years of age, things change |
| Adhu yaedhaedho kadhaigal koorudhu | It starts whispering various romantic stories |
| Female | |
| Ennirandu vayadhinilae | At sixteen years of age |
| Kannirandu maarupattu | Both eyes look back with transformed emotions |
| Ennirandu vayadhinilae | At sixteen years of age |
| Kannirandu maarupattu | Both eyes look back with transformed emotions |
| Pen manadhu oonjalaadudhu | The young woman's heart swings like a cradle |
| Adhan paechum moochum | Her speech and her breath |
| Vegamaagudhu | Become faster and deeper with passion |
| Male | |
| Paalaattril saelaadudhu | A carp fish dances in a river of milk |
| Irandu vaelaadudhu | Two spear-like eyes dance in grace |
| Idaiyil noolaadudhu | A thread-like slender waist sways in between |
| Female | |
| Thaenaattril neeraadudhu | Bathing in a sweet river of honey |
| Azhaghu thaerodudhu | A chariot of beauty glides along |
| Manadhu poraadudhu | The heart struggles in intense yearning |
| Male | |
| Kodai kaala maalaiyilae | On a warm summer evening |
| Kulirndha malar cholaiyilae | In a cool, fragrant flower garden |
| Kodai kaala maalaiyilae | On a warm summer evening |
| Kulirndha malar cholaiyilae | In a cool, fragrant flower garden |
| Vaadai thendral irandum vandhadhu | Both the northern breeze and gentle south wind arrived |
| Un aadai thottu aadugindradhu | Touching your garment and dancing away |
| Female | |
| Aadai thotta thendralukkaa | Is it only for the breeze that touched her dress |
| Athai magal sondhamendru | That my cousin belongs to? |
| Aadai thotta thendralukkaa | Is it only for the breeze that touched her dress |
| Athai magal sondhamendru | That my cousin belongs to? |
| Kaalai ullam vaadugindradhu | The young man's heart wilts in longing |
| Ennam karai kadandhu odugindradhu | His thoughts break all boundaries and run wild |
| Female | |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm…. | Mmm…mmm…mmm…. |
| Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo… | Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo… |
| Male :Paalaattril saelaadudhu | Male: A carp fish dances in a river of milk |
| Irandu vaelaadudhu | Two spear-like eyes dance in grace |
| Idaiyil noolaadudhu | A thread-like slender waist sways in between |
| Male | |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm…. | Mmm…mmm…mmm…. |
| Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…mmm | Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…mmm |
| Female :Thaenaattril neeraadudhu | Female: Bathing in a river of honey |
| Azhaghu thaerodudhu | A chariot of beauty glides along |
| Manadhu poraadudhu | The heart struggles in intense yearning |
பாலாற்றில் சேலாடுது
இரண்டு வேலாடுது
இடையில் நூலாடுது
மேனி பாலாற்றில் சேலாடுது
இரண்டு வேலாடுது
இடையில் நூலாடுது
A carp fish dances in a river of milk
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
In the milk-river of her body, fish dance
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
தேனாற்றில் நீராடுது
அழகு தேரோடுது
மனது போராடுது
காதல் தேனாற்றில் நீராடுது
அழகு தேரோடுது
மனது போராடுது
Bathing in a sweet river of honey
A chariot of beauty glides along
The heart struggles in intense yearning
Bathing in the river of honey called love
A chariot of beauty glides along
The heart struggles in intense yearning
ஆறேழு வயதினிலே
அம்புலியாய் பார்த்த நிலா
ஆறேழு வயதினிலே
அம்புலியாய் பார்த்த நிலா
ஈரேழு வயதில் மாறுது
அது ஏதேதோ கதைகள் கூறுது
At six or seven years of age
The moon was seen merely as a playful friend (Ambuli)
At six or seven years of age
The moon was seen merely as a playful friend (Ambuli)
At fourteen years of age, things change
It starts whispering various romantic stories
எண்ணிரண்டு வயதினிலே
கண்ணிரண்டு மாறுபட்டு
எண்ணிரண்டு வயதினிலே
கண்ணிரண்டு மாறுபட்டு
பெண் மனது ஊஞ்சலாடுது
அதன் பேச்சும் மூச்சும்
வேகமாகுது
At sixteen years of age
Both eyes look back with transformed emotions
At sixteen years of age
Both eyes look back with transformed emotions
The young woman's heart swings like a cradle
Her speech and her breath
Become faster and deeper with passion
பாலாற்றில் சேலாடுது
இரண்டு வேலாடுது
இடையில் நூலாடுது
A carp fish dances in a river of milk
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
தேனாற்றில் நீராடுது
அழகு தேரோடுது
மனது போராடுது
Bathing in a sweet river of honey
A chariot of beauty glides along
The heart struggles in intense yearning
கோடைக்கால மாலையிலே
குளிர்ந்த மலர்ச் சோலையிலே
கோடைக்கால மாலையிலே
குளிர்ந்த மலர்ச் சோலையிலே
வாடைத் தென்றல் இரண்டும் வந்தது
உன் ஆடை தொட்டு ஆடுகின்றது
On a warm summer evening
In a cool, fragrant flower garden
On a warm summer evening
In a cool, fragrant flower garden
Both the northern breeze and gentle south wind arrived
Touching your garment and dancing away
பெண்
: ஆடை தொட்ட தென்றலுக்கா
அத்தை மகள் சொந்தமென்று
ஆடை தொட்ட தென்றலுக்கா
அத்தை மகள் சொந்தமென்று
காளையுள்ளம் வாடுகின்றது
எண்ணம் கரை கடந்து ஓடுகின்றது
Is it only for the breeze that touched her dress
That my cousin belongs to?
Is it only for the breeze that touched her dress
That my cousin belongs to?
The young man's heart wilts in longing
His thoughts break all boundaries and run wild
ம்ம்ம்......ம்ம்ம்......ம்ம்ம்....
ஆஹா ஹோ ஓஹோ ஹோ.....
பாலாற்றில் சேலாடுது
இரண்டு வேலாடுது
இடையில் நூலாடுது
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…
Male: A carp fish dances in a river of milk
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
ம்ம்ம்.....ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்.....
ஆஹா ஹோ ஓஹோ ஹோ.....
தேனாற்றில் நீராடுது
அழகு தேரோடுது
மனது போராடுது
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…mmm
Female: Bathing in a river of honey
A chariot of beauty glides along
The heart struggles in intense yearning
Paalaattril saelaadudhu
A carp fish dances in a river of milk
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
Maeni paalaattril saelaadudhu
In the milk-river of her body, fish dance
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
Thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Bathing in a sweet river of honey
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
A chariot of beauty glides along
Manadhu poraadudhu
The heart struggles in intense yearning
Kaadhal thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Bathing in the river of honey called love
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
A chariot of beauty glides along
Manadhu poraadudhu
The heart struggles in intense yearning
Aaraezhu vayadhinilae
At six or seven years of age
Ambuliyaai paartha nilaa
The moon was seen merely as a playful friend (Ambuli)
Aaraezhu vayadhinilae
At six or seven years of age
Ambuliyaai paartha nilaa
The moon was seen merely as a playful friend (Ambuli)
Eeraezhu vayadhil maarudhu
At fourteen years of age, things change
Adhu yaedhaedho kadhaigal koorudhu
It starts whispering various romantic stories
Ennirandu vayadhinilae
At sixteen years of age
Kannirandu maarupattu
Both eyes look back with transformed emotions
Ennirandu vayadhinilae
At sixteen years of age
Kannirandu maarupattu
Both eyes look back with transformed emotions
Pen manadhu oonjalaadudhu
The young woman's heart swings like a cradle
Adhan paechum moochum
Her speech and her breath
Vegamaagudhu
Become faster and deeper with passion
Paalaattril saelaadudhu
A carp fish dances in a river of milk
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
Thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Bathing in a sweet river of honey
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
A chariot of beauty glides along
Manadhu poraadudhu
The heart struggles in intense yearning
Kodai kaala maalaiyilae
On a warm summer evening
Kulirndha malar cholaiyilae
In a cool, fragrant flower garden
Kodai kaala maalaiyilae
On a warm summer evening
Kulirndha malar cholaiyilae
In a cool, fragrant flower garden
Vaadai thendral irandum vandhadhu
Both the northern breeze and gentle south wind arrived
Un aadai thottu aadugindradhu
Touching your garment and dancing away
Aadai thotta thendralukkaa
Is it only for the breeze that touched her dress
Athai magal sondhamendru
That my cousin belongs to?
Aadai thotta thendralukkaa
Is it only for the breeze that touched her dress
Athai magal sondhamendru
That my cousin belongs to?
Kaalai ullam vaadugindradhu
The young man's heart wilts in longing
Ennam karai kadandhu odugindradhu
His thoughts break all boundaries and run wild
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…
Male :Paalaattril saelaadudhu
Male: A carp fish dances in a river of milk
Irandu vaelaadudhu
Two spear-like eyes dance in grace
Idaiyil noolaadudhu
A thread-like slender waist sways in between
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Mmm…mmm…mmm….
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…mmm
Aaahaa hooo ohoo hooo…mmm
Female :Thaenaattril neeraadudhu
Female: Bathing in a river of honey
Azhaghu thaerodudhu
A chariot of beauty glides along
Manadhu poraadudhu
The heart struggles in intense yearning
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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