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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paarthen Paarkaatha Azhagae

From Kettikaran · 1971

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kettikaran1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagaeI saw a beauty never seen before
Kettaen ketkaatha isaiyaeI heard a music never heard before
Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagaeI saw a beauty never seen before
Kettaen ketkaatha isaiyaeI heard a music never heard before
Female
Paarkkum azhakenna azhagoWhat kind of beauty is this beauty we behold?
Paarkkum azhakenna azhagoWhat kind of beauty is this beauty we behold?
Ketkum isaiyenna isaiyoWhat kind of music is this music we hear?
Male
Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagaeI saw a beauty never seen before
Female :Kettaen ketkaatha isaiyaeFemale: I heard a music never heard before
Male
Naan paada neeyaada sabaiyaeralaamAs I sing and you dance, we can step onto the stage
Radhiyaaga madhanaaga uravaadalaamLike Rathi and Madhana, we can bond intimately
Naan paada neeyaada sabaiyaeralaamAs I sing and you dance, we can step onto the stage
Radhiyaaga madhanaaga uravaadalaamLike Rathi and Madhana, we can bond intimately
Female
Uravaadum ennam manam kollalaamThe heart can cherish the thought of bonding
Uravaadum ennam manam kollalaamThe heart can cherish the thought of bonding
Unaith thedi varumpothu athai sollalaamI can tell you that when I come seeking you
Male
Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagaeI saw a beauty never seen before
Female :Kettaen ketkaatha isaiyae…aa…..aa…aa….Female: I heard a music never heard before... aa... aa... aa...
Male
Nadhiyaaga nadhi serum kadalaagalaamLike a river, we can become the sea that rivers merge into
Pudhupaathai thanil saernthu nadai podalaamTogether on a new path, we can walk
Nadhiyaaga nadhi serum kadalaagalaamLike a river, we can become the sea that rivers merge into
Pudhupaathai thanil saernthu nadai podalaamTogether on a new path, we can walk
Female
En paathai veru un paathai veruMy path is different, your path is different
En paathai veru un paathai veruMy path is different, your path is different
Iru veru nerkkodu inaiyaathathuTwo different straight lines that shall never intersect
Male
Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagaeI saw a beauty never seen before
Kettaen ketkaatha isaiyae..I heard a music never heard before..
Female :Paarkkum azhakenna azhagoFemale: What kind of beauty is this beauty we behold?
Paarkkum azhakenna azhagoFemale: What kind of beauty is this beauty we behold?
Ketkum isaiyenna isaiyoWhat kind of music is this music we hear?
Male
Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagaeI saw a beauty never seen before
Female :Kettaen ketkaatha isaiyae..Female: I heard a music never heard before..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagae is a captivating duet from the 1971 movie Kettikaran, penned by A. Maruthakasi and set to music by Shankar-Ganesh. The song portrays two lovers expressing profound admiration for each other, comparing their newfound joy to seeing an unseen beauty and hearing unheard melody. They dream of joining together in art, dance, and love, comparing their bond to divine lovers Rathi and Madhan or rivers uniting into the vast ocean. However, a poignant sense of tragic realism surfaces when they reflect on their diverging life paths, comparing themselves to parallel straight lines that can never meet.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron

Parthaen paarkkaatha azhagae

The phrase combines 'saw' (parthaen) with 'unseen' (paarkkaatha) to create a striking paradoxical expression describing extraordinary beauty.

Mythological Allusion

Radhiyaaga madhanaaga uravaadalaam

Compares the romantic relationship to Rathi and Madhana (Manmatha), the mythological deities of love and desire in Hindu lore.

Metaphor

Iru veru nerkkodu inaiyaathathu

Uses the geometric concept of parallel straight lines that never intersect to represent destiny and incompatible paths of life.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Naan paada neeyaada sabaiyaeralaam

The repetition of the '-alaam' suffix across consecutive lines creates rhythmic musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from Kettikaran (1971), starring Jaishankar and Leelavathi. Composed by the popular duo Shankar-Ganesh, it stands out for Maruthakasi's lyricism using geometric metaphors like 'nerkkodu' (straight lines) in Tamil film music.

Keep listening

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