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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
Details
Pasamum Nesamum1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paarthai paarthaenYou looked, I looked
Sirithaai sirithaenYou smiled, I smiled
Iravum pagalum ninaivil valarumGrowing in thoughts day and night
Idhuthaan kaadhalaIs this what love is?
Female
Paarthaal paarkkumWhen looked at, looking back in return
Sirithaal sirikkumWhen smiled at, smiling back in return
Iaravum pagalum ninaivil vlarumGrowing in thoughts day and night
Idhuthaan kaadhalaIs this what love is?
Male
Paarthai paarthaenYou looked, I looked
Sirithaai sirithaenYou smiled, I smiled
Male
Thaniyaai irukkum velaiyilae unnaiIn moments spent all alone
Parkka vaenum pol irukkudhuI feel an intense desire to see you
Dhinam saapida marandhu thookkathai izhandhuForgetting to eat daily and losing sleep
Sindhikka manasu thudikkudhuMy mind longs eagerly to keep pondering
Dhinam saapida marandhu thookkathai izhandhuForgetting to eat daily and losing sleep
Sindhikka manasu thudikkudhuMy mind longs eagerly to keep pondering
Male
Paarthai paarthaenYou looked, I looked
Sirithaai sirithaenYou smiled, I smiled
Female
Andhiyil vaanil chandhiran vandhaalWhen the moon ascends in the evening sky
Sindhaiyum theeyaai kodhikkudhuMy mind boils like an burning fire
Unnai kandathum thondrum aanandha vellamThe flood of joy that surges upon seeing you
Thanimai theeyai anaikkudhuExtinguishes the fire of solitude
Unnai kandathum thondrum aanandha vellamThe flood of joy that surges upon seeing you
Thanimai theeyai anaikkudhuExtinguishes the fire of solitude
Male
Kannangariya koondhalilae oruIn your pitch-black silky hair
Malligai malarai soodavaaShall I adorn a jasmine blossom?
Un kannamirandai pirar kaanamalSo that others do not gaze upon your tender cheeks
Kaigalinaale moodavaaShall I shield them gently with my hands?
Kannamirandai pirar kaanamalSo that others do not gaze upon your tender cheeks
Kaigalinaale moodavaaShall I shield them gently with my hands?
Female
PaarthaaiYou looked
Male :PaarthaenI looked
Female :SirithaaiYou smiled
Male :SirithaenI smiled
Both :Iravum pagalum ninaivil valarumGrowing in thoughts day and night
Adhuthaan kaadhalae….That indeed is true love!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

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