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Lyrics & meaning

Paarthadhu Podhaadhu

From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
C. N. Pandurangan
Details
Thiru Neelakandar1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paarththathu pothaathuMerely looking at each other is not enough
Mugam paarththathu pothaathuJust looking at the face is not enough
Pasi idhil theeraathuThe hunger of desire will not be satisfied with this
Pakkaththil oru murai varalaamaa….May I come near you just once?
Female
Paarththathu pothaathuMerely looking at each other is not enough
Mugam paarththathu pothaathuJust looking at the face is not enough
Pasi idhil theeraathuThe hunger of desire will not be satisfied with this
Pakkaththil oru murai varalaamaa….May I come near you just once?
Female
Therukku thirunaalumA festive day for the street
Devikku sila naalumA few special days dedicated to the Goddess
Thevai endrariyaamalWithout understanding what is really needed
Paruva kaala kanavu kandu oruvarai oruvarDreaming youthful dreams while gazing at one another...
Paarththathu pothaLooking at each other is not...
Female
Paarththathu pothaathuMerely looking at each other is not enough
Mugam paarththathu pothaathuJust looking at the face is not enough
Pasi idhil theeraathuThe hunger of desire will not be satisfied with this
Pakkaththil oru murai varalaamaa….May I come near you just once?
Female
Thamarai kulungaamal megalai nadungaamalWithout the lotus shaking, without the waist-ornament trembling
Thaen kinnam mayangaamal sugamethuWhat bliss is there without the cup of honey becoming entranced?
Maamani medaiyil maaranin kanai thoduththuAiming the arrow of Cupid on the stage of precious gems
Vanithaiyin kalai paarththu uravaaduEnjoy intimacy by appreciating the art of the woman
Female
Paarththathu pothaathuMerely looking at each other is not enough
Mugam paarththathu pothaathuJust looking at the face is not enough
Pasi idhil theeraathuThe hunger of desire will not be satisfied with this
Pakkaththil oru murai varalaamaa….May I come near you just once?
Female
Vaanaththai naan paarkkaWhile I gaze up at the sky
Poomeththai nee paarkkumAnd you gaze down at the bed of flowers
Nyaalaththil irangaamalWithout descending down to the real world
Paruva kaala kanavu kandu oruvarai oruvarDreaming youthful dreams while gazing at one another...
Female
Paarththathu pothaathuMerely looking at each other is not enough
Mugam paarththathu pothaathuJust looking at the face is not enough
Pasi idhil theeraathuThe hunger of desire will not be satisfied with this
Pakkaththil oru murai varalaamaa….May I come near you just once?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paarththathu pothaathu from the movie Thiru Neelakandar (1972) is a sensual and poetic track expressing romantic longing and the desire for intimacy. Sung with classical grace by P. Leela to Kannadasan's lyrics, the song features a woman expressing that exchange of distant glances and hesitant gazes can never fulfill the deep emotional and physical hunger of love. She invites her lover to move past shy hesitations and embrace physical and emotional closeness, drawing upon classical metaphors of Cupid's arrows, flowers, and ornaments to describe the delicate ecstasy of true union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Pasi idhil theeraathu

Pasi (hunger) is used as a metaphor for intimate physical and emotional desire.

Edukku (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thamarai kulungaamal megalai nadungaamal

The second letters 'lu' in kulungaamal and 'du' in nadungaamal create a rhythmic rhyme structure.

Monai (Alliteration)

Maamani medaiyil maaranin kanai thoduththu

Repetition of the 'Ma' sound across words creates melodic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thiru Neelakandar (1972) featured music by C. N. Pandurangan and starred T. R. Mahalingam. Kannadasan's lyrics seamlessly blend classical Tamil poetic metaphors with accessible, romantic film song conventions.

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