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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paarvaiyile Pandhal Katti

From Thaayin Madiyil · 1964

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Thaayin Madiyil1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paarvaiyilae pandhal katti…Erecting a wedding canopy with glances…
Paarvaiyilae pandhal kattiErecting a wedding canopy with glances,
Paarvaiyilae pandhal kattiErecting a wedding canopy with glances,
Paruva nenjilae melam kottiBeating drums inside a youthful heart,
Paruva nenjilae melam kottiBeating drums inside a youthful heart,
Paavai vandhen paavai vandhenI came as a maiden, I came as a maiden,
Paarkka villaiyaeYet you did not look.
Paavai vandhen paavai vandhenI came as a maiden, I came as a maiden,
Paarkka villaiyaeYet you did not look.
Female
Kannodu kannai vaithaenI locked my eyes with yours,
Kannarugae ennai vaithaenI placed myself right before your eyes,
Female
Kannodu kannai vaithaenI locked my eyes with yours,
Kannarugae ennai vaithaenI placed myself right before your eyes,
Innoruthi unnarugae pazhaga vandhaalae…Even as another woman came near you to get close…
Female
Paarvaiyilae pandhal katti…Erecting a wedding canopy with glances…
Female
Koiyaadha poovai koidhuPlucking an unplucked flower,
Kothodu kaniya seidhuTransforming it into a cluster of ripe fruit,
Female
Koiyaadha poovai koidhuPlucking an unplucked flower,
Kothodu kaniya seidhuTransforming it into a cluster of ripe fruit,
Kaigalilae thaeneduthu parugavillaiyae…Taking honey in hands, yet you didn't sip it…
Female
Paarvaiyilae pandhal katti…Erecting a wedding canopy with glances…
Female
Pooveduthaen thalai mudithaenI gathered flowers and adorned my hair,
Pon mugathil pottum vaithaenI placed a bindi on my golden face,
Female
Pooveduthaen thalai mudithaenI gathered flowers and adorned my hair,
Pon mugathil pottum vaithaenI placed a bindi on my golden face,
En manadhil un manadhai serkkavillaiyae…Yet you did not unite your heart with mine…
Female
Paarvaiyilae pandhal kattiErecting a wedding canopy with glances,
Paruva nenjilae melam kottiBeating drums inside a youthful heart,
Paavai vandhen paavai vandhenI came as a maiden, I came as a maiden,
Paarkka villaiyaeYet you did not look.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures the emotional distress and unrequited yearning of a young woman longing for her beloved's attention. She metaphorically builds a marriage pavilion out of her loving glances and feels the joyful drumming of passion within her youthful heart. Dressed in her finest with flowers in her hair and a tilak on her forehead, she offers her pure love like fresh blossom and honey, yet suffers as he remains distant and indifferent to her presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Paarvaiyilae pandhal katti... Paruva nenjilae melam kotti... Paavai vandhen

The repetition of the 'Pa' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, musical flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Paarvaiyilae pandhal katti / Paruva nenjilae melam kotti

Visualizing love and yearning through traditional marriage elements, comparing glances to a canopy ('pandhal') and heartbeat to festive drums ('melam').

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Koiyaadha poovai koidhu / Kothodu kaniya seidhu

The second consonant 'i' / 't' creates structural harmony across adjacent lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1964 MGR-starrer 'Thaayin Madiyil', this track features lyrics by Vaali and music by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Sung by P. Susheela, it is celebrated for its poetic imagery depicting romantic longing.

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