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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paattondru Paadattuma

From Vesham · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Vivek Sarathy
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Vesham
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
24 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………..
Paattondru paadattumaa
Yaarendru kaattattumaa
Naanthaanae kalikaala manmathan
Pen dhesam arasaalum mannavan
Vaalibarae vandugale
Thaenmalarai killungalaen
Paattondru paadattumaa
Yaarendru kaattattumaa
Naanthaanae kalikaala manmathan
Pen dhesam arasaalum mannavan
Vaalibarae vandugale
Thaenmalarai killungalaen…..ae…..
……………..
Pennai maranthu
Yaen piththan alainthaan
Illam thuranthu yaen puththan thirinthaan
Pennai maranthu
Yaen piththan alainthaan
Illam thuranthu yaen puththan thirinthaan
Pudavai nizhalthaan pothimaramae
Vilakkai anaiththaal nyaanam varumae
Aahaa pon sorkkam
Pen kann kaattumae
Paattondru paadattumaa
Yaarendru kaattattumaa
Naanthaanae kalikaala manmathan
Pen dhesam arasaalum mannavan
Vaalibarae vandugale
Thaenmalarai killungalaen…..
……………..
Kattru tharuvaen oru muththa oththigali
Muththam muzhuthum en moththa kuththagai
Kattru tharuvaen oru muththa oththigali
Muththam muzhuthum en moththa kuththagai
Evarum varalaam edharkku vazhakku
Udhattil edharkku kizhakku maerkku
Yaaro penn yaaro
En thol saerppathu
Paattondru paadattumaa
Yaarendru kaattattumaa
Naanthaanae kalikaala manmathan
Pen dhesam arasaalum mannavan
Vaalibarae vandugale
Thaenmalarai killungalaen…..
...
Shall I sing a song?
Shall I show you who I am?
I am the Manmatha of this modern age of Kali,
The king who rules over the realm of women!
O young men, you bumblebees,
Come pluck the honey-filled flowers!
Shall I sing a song?
Shall I show you who I am?
I am the Manmatha of this modern age of Kali,
The king who rules over the realm of women!
O young men, you bumblebees,
Come pluck the honey-filled flowers!
...
Forgetting women,
Why did the madman wander?
Renouncing home, why did the Buddha roam?
Forgetting women,
Why did the madman wander?
Renouncing home, why did the Buddha roam?
The shadow of a saree is the true Bodhi tree!
When you turn off the light, enlightenment comes!
Ah, a golden heaven,
A woman's eyes will show you!
Shall I sing a song?
Shall I show you who I am?
I am the Manmatha of this modern age of Kali,
The king who rules over the realm of women!
O young men, you bumblebees,
Come pluck the honey-filled flowers!
...
I will teach you a rehearsal of kisses!
All kisses are under my total monopoly!
I will teach you a rehearsal of kisses!
All kisses are under my total monopoly!
Anyone can come, why make a dispute?
On lips, why worry about east or west?
Whichever woman it may be,
She rests upon my shoulders!
Shall I sing a song?
Shall I show you who I am?
I am the Manmatha of this modern age of Kali,
The king who rules over the realm of women!
O young men, you bumblebees,
Come pluck the honey-filled flowers!
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and seductive song presents the protagonist proclaiming himself as the modern-day Manmatha (Cupid) who reigns supreme over the kingdom of romantic desire. Addressing young men as bees drawn to flowers, he encourages them to freely partake in romance and celebrate bodily pleasures without hesitation. Through witty and subversively humorous lyrics, Vairamuthu contrasts ascetic ideals with sensory indulgence, questioning why figures like Buddha gave up worldly life. The song argues that true paradise and wisdom are found in the warmth and gaze of a woman, presenting romantic love as the ultimate enlightenment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vaalibarae vandugale

Compares young men directly to bees seeking honeyed flowers, enhancing the sensual mood of the track.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Paattondru paadattumaa

Consecutive lines end with matching phonetic sounds ('paadattumaa' / 'kaattattumaa') creating a memorable rhythmic flow.

Irony / Subversion

Pudavai nizhalthaan pothimaramae

Playfully turns spiritual enlightenment on its head by calling a saree's shade the Bodhi tree and turning off lights the path to wisdom.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Vairamuthu for the 1985 movie 'Vesham', the lyrics feature his signature witty wordplay that cleverly twists solemn spiritual metaphors—like Buddha's enlightenment—into lighthearted, sensual commentary.

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