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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paatukku Patteduthu

From Padagotti · 1964

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Padagotti1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{ Paatuku paateduthuTaking song after song,
Naan paaduvadhai kettayoDid you hear me singing?
Thulli varum velalaiyaeO bounding wave of the white sea,
Nee poi thoodhu solla maatayo } (2)Won't you go and deliver my message?
Male
{ Kothum kiliThe pecking parrot
Ingiruka oi kovaiIs here, oh, while the red Kovai
Pazham angiruka } (2)Fruit is over there.
Male
{ Thathi varumO bouncing
Velalaiyae neepoiWhite sea wave, won't you go
Thoodhu solla maatayo } (2)And deliver my message?
Male
Kothum kiliThe pecking parrot
Ingiruka kovaiIs here, while the red Kovai
Pazham angiruka hoiFruit is over there, hoi!
Male
Thathi varumO bouncing
Velalaiyae neepoiWhite sea wave, won't you go
Thoodhu solla maatayoAnd deliver my message?
Female
Ilam vaazhamLike a young tender banana
Thandaaga elumichamStem, and like a lemon
Kodiyaaga irunthavalaiVine she was,
Kai pudichu iravellam kanHolding her hand, staying awake all night
Muzhichu illaadha aasaiyilaeWith boundless desire,
En manasa aadavittanHe made my heart sway.
Female
Aadavitta machanaeThe beloved who made my heart sway,
Odam vittu ponanaeLeft the boat and went away.
Odam vittu ponanae oh oh..Left the boat and went away, oh oh..
Odam vittu ponanaeLeft the boat and went away.
Female
OorengumWhen the whole town
Thoonkaiyilae naanIs sleeping, while I
Ullmoochu vaangaiyilae hoiAm breathing heavily, hoi!
Osaiyidum poonkaatraeO rustling breeze,
Needhaan odipoi sollividuYou must run and tell him.
Male
Minnalaai vagideduthuParting hair like a lightning bolt,
Megamaai thalaimudithuWith hair like dark clouds,
Pinnalaai jadaipotu enBraiding it into a plait,
Manasa edaipotuWeighing my heart,
Male
Meen pudikaThe one who came to catch fish,
Vandhavalae naanIs the one I am
Pudika porenaeGoing to catch now.
Male
Mai ezhudhumWith eyes lined with kohl,
Kannaalae poiShe wrote lies
Ezhudhi ponaalaeAnd departed.
Male
Aasaiku aasaiDesire upon desire
Vachen naan appurandhaanI harbored, and only then
Kaadhalichen hoi osaiyidumDid I fall in love, hoi! O rustling
Poonkaatrae needhaan odipoi sollividuBreeze, you must run and tell her.
Female
VaazhaipooUsing a banana flower
Thiriyeduthu vennaiyilaeAs a wick, and butter
Neiyeduthu ezhai manaAs ghee, in the poor man's
Kudisaiyilae yethi vachanHut of a heart, I lit
Oru vilakuA lamp.
Female
Yethi vachaIn those hands that lit
Kaigalilae en manasaThe lamp, my heart
Naan koduthenI surrendered.
Female
Nenju matumWhile my heart alone
Angiruka naan matumIs over there, and I alone
Ingiruka naan matum ingirukaAm here, I alone am here,
Ho ho ho naan matum ingirukaHo ho ho, I alone am here.
Male
Thamarai avalirukaWhile she is the lotus over there,
Ingae sooriyan naaniruka hoAnd I am the sun over here, ho!
Saatchi sollum chandhiranaeO moon who stands as witness,
Neepoi sedhi solla maatayoWon't you go and deliver my message?
Female
…………………………………....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paattukku Paatteduthu is a famous romantic duet from the 1964 Tamil film Padagotti, starring M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela with music by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and lyrics by Vaali, the song portrays a fisherman and fisherwoman expressing their mutual romantic longing across the shore. They appeal to nature elements such as ocean waves, gentle breezes, and the moon to carry messages of love back and forth. Rich in metaphors rooted in rural and coastal lifestyle, the song illustrates innocence, affection, and emotional bonding between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thoodhu (Messenger Motif)

Thulli varum velalaiyae nee poi thoodhu solla maatayo

A traditional classical Tamil poetic device where elements of nature like waves (Velalai), wind (Poonkaatru), and the moon (Chandhran) are implored to act as emissaries between separated lovers.

Upama (Simile)

Ilam vaazham thandaaga elumicham kodiyaaga irunthavalai

Compares the woman's delicate physique to a tender banana stem and a lemon vine.

Rupaka (Metaphor)

Minnalaai vagideduthu megamaai thalaimudithu

Compares the parting of hair to a bolt of lightning and dense dark hair to rain clouds.

Yugma / Contrast Metaphor

Thamarai avaliruka ingae sooriyan naaniruka

Uses the eternal natural relationship between the lotus and the sun to symbolize the lovers' cosmic bond.

Did you know?

Trivia

Padagotti (1964) was one of M. G. Ramachandran's most successful sea-backdrop films. The song features iconic choreography on the shore and boats, with music composed by the celebrated Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo and lyrics written by Vaali, who penned many of MGR's signature songs.

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