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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paarthai Paarthen

From Pasamum Nesamum · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. M. Raja, P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Movie name
Pasamum Nesamum
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
1 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paarthai paarthaen
Sirithaai sirithaen
Iravum pagalum ninaivil valarum
Idhuthaan kaadhala
Paarthaal paarkkum
Sirithaal sirikkum
Iaravum pagalum ninaivil vlarum
Idhuthaan kaadhala
Paarthai paarthaen
Sirithaai sirithaen
Thaniyaai irukkum velaiyilae unnai
Parkka vaenum pol irukkudhu
Dhinam saapida marandhu thookkathai izhandhu
Sindhikka manasu thudikkudhu
Dhinam saapida marandhu thookkathai izhandhu
Sindhikka manasu thudikkudhu
Paarthai paarthaen
Sirithaai sirithaen
Andhiyil vaanil chandhiran vandhaal
Sindhaiyum theeyaai kodhikkudhu
Unnai kandathum thondrum aanandha vellam
Thanimai theeyai anaikkudhu
Unnai kandathum thondrum aanandha vellam
Thanimai theeyai anaikkudhu
Kannangariya koondhalilae oru
Malligai malarai soodavaa
Un kannamirandai pirar kaanamal
Kaigalinaale moodavaa
Kannamirandai pirar kaanamal
Kaigalinaale moodavaa
Paarthaai
Male :Paarthaen
Female :Sirithaai
Male :Sirithaen
Both :Iravum pagalum ninaivil valarum
Adhuthaan kaadhalae….
You looked at me, I looked at you
You smiled, and I smiled too
Growing in our thoughts day and night,
is this what love is?
Looking back when you look,
smiling back when you smile,
growing in our thoughts day and night,
is this what love is?
You looked at me, I looked at you
You smiled, and I smiled too
Whenever I am all alone,
I feel such a longing to see you
Forgetting to eat each day and losing sleep,
my restless heart yearns only to think of you
Forgetting to eat each day and losing sleep,
my restless heart yearns only to think of you
You looked at me, I looked at you
You smiled, and I smiled too
When the moon rises in the evening sky,
my thoughts burn hot like fire
The flood of joy that rises when I see you
puts out the fire of loneliness
The flood of joy that rises when I see you
puts out the fire of loneliness
In your jet-black hair,
shall I tuck a jasmine flower?
So no one else can see your cheeks,
shall I cover them with my hands?
So no one else can see your cheeks,
shall I cover them with my hands?
You looked
Male: I looked
Female: You smiled
Male: I smiled
Both: Growing in our thoughts day and night,
that truly is love...
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Paarthai Paarthaen' captures a tender dialogue of romantic realization between two lovers. They recall how a simple exchange of glances and smiles bloomed into a deep, inescapable affection that occupies their thoughts through day and night. The lovers express classic symptoms of love—loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and the pain of solitude that burns like fire when the evening moon appears.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Paarthai paarthaen / Sirithaai sirithaen

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Paarthai' and 'Sirithaai' (sharing the 'r' / 'rth' flow and structural rhythm) and 'Andhiyil' / 'Sindhaiyum' ('ndh').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Unnai kandathum thondrum aanandha vellam / Thanimai theeyai anaikkudhu

Comparing happiness upon seeing the beloved to a flood ('aanandha vellam') and loneliness to a burning fire ('thanimai theeyai').

Antithesis (Muran)

Iravum pagalum ninaivil valarum

Juxtaposition of opposing forces: night and day ('Iravum pagalum'), as well as fire ('theeyai') and water/flood ('vellam' / 'anaikkudhu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by S. Vedhachalam for the 1964 film Pasamum Nesamum, the song features lyricist Kannadasan's signature romantic conversational style. Sung delightfully by A. M. Raja and P. Susheela, it remains a classic representation of early 1960s Tamil cinema duets.

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