Paavai Paavai Aasai
From Enga Mama · 1970
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Enga Mama1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Paavai paavai thaan | A maiden is indeed a maiden. |
| Aasai aasai thaan | Desire is indeed desire. |
| Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan | Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure. |
| Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo | Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance? |
| Female | |
| Anaikkum pazhakkam | The habit of embracing, |
| Kodukkum mayakkam | Gives an intoxication. |
| Anaikkum pazhakkam | The habit of embracing, |
| Kodukkum mayakkam | Gives an intoxication. |
| Aan pennidam thandhadho kandadho | Did man give it to woman, or discover it in her? |
| Enakkum unakkum irukkum nerukkam | The closeness that exists between me and you, |
| Enakkum unakkum irukkum nerukkam | The closeness that exists between me and you, |
| Yaar yaaridam kandadho thandhadho | Who found it or gave it to whom? |
| Female | |
| Paavai paavai thaan | A maiden is indeed a maiden. |
| Aasai aasai thaan | Desire is indeed desire. |
| Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan | Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure. |
| Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo | Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance? |
| Female | |
| Ponnai thatti pottu kondaal | If gold is beaten and worn as jewelry, |
| Nenjil mattum minnalaam… | It might flash only on the chest... |
| Ennai katti pottu kondaal | But if you tie me up and hold me close, |
| Manjam thottu konjalaam | We can touch the bed and caress affectionately. |
| Konjalaam konjalaam | We can caress, we can caress. |
| Kasappum inippum manathin ninaippu | Bitterness and sweetness are just thoughts of the mind, |
| Orr pennidam ulladhae nalladhu | Having them in a woman is for the best. |
| Female | |
| Paavai paavai thaan | A maiden is indeed a maiden. |
| Aasai aasai thaan | Desire is indeed desire. |
| Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan | Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure. |
| Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo | Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance? |
| Female | |
| Endha pennai sondham endru | Which woman as your own, |
| Undhan kangal sollumo… | Will your eyes proclaim... |
| Andha pennai munnae vaithaal | If that woman is placed right before you, |
| Nenjam engae sellumo sellumo sellumo | Where will your heart wander, wander, wander? |
| Jolikkum vilakkil irukkum neruppu | The fire residing inside a glowing lamp, |
| Paadhaiyum kaattalaam | Can light up a path, |
| Theeyaiyum moottalaam | Or set off a flame. |
| Female | |
| Paavai paavai thaan | A maiden is indeed a maiden. |
| Aasai aasai thaan | Desire is indeed desire. |
| Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan | Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure. |
| Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo | Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance? |
பாவை பாவைத்தான்
ஆசை ஆசைத்தான்
பார்த்து பேசினால் ஏக போகம்தான்
தானே வந்தால் வாசம் இல்லையோ
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Desire is indeed desire.
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
பாவை பாவைத்தான்
ஆசை ஆசைத்தான்
பார்த்து பேசினால் ஏக போகம்தான்
தானே வந்தால் வாசம் இல்லையோ
The habit of embracing,
Gives an intoxication.
The habit of embracing,
Gives an intoxication.
Did man give it to woman, or discover it in her?
The closeness that exists between me and you,
The closeness that exists between me and you,
Who found it or gave it to whom?
அணைக்கும் பழக்கம்
கொடுக்கும் மயக்கம்
அணைக்கும் பழக்கம்
கொடுக்கும் மயக்கம்
ஆண் பெண்ணிடம் தந்ததோ கண்டதோ
எனக்கும் உனக்கும் இருக்கும் நெருக்கம்
எனக்கும் உனக்கும் இருக்கும் நெருக்கம்
யார் யாரிடம் கண்டதோ தந்ததோ
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Desire is indeed desire.
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
பாவை பாவைத்தான்
ஆசை ஆசைத்தான்
பார்த்து பேசினால் ஏக போகம்தான்
தானே வந்தால் வாசம் இல்லையோ
If gold is beaten and worn as jewelry,
It might flash only on the chest...
But if you tie me up and hold me close,
We can touch the bed and caress affectionately.
We can caress, we can caress.
Bitterness and sweetness are just thoughts of the mind,
Having them in a woman is for the best.
பொன்னைத் தட்டி போட்டுக் கொண்டால்
நெஞ்சில் மட்டும் மின்னலாம்....
என்னை கட்டிப் போட்டுக் கொண்டால்
மஞ்சம் தொட்டுக் கொஞ்சலாம்
கொஞ்சலாம் கொஞ்சலாம்
கசப்பும் இனிப்பும் மனத்தின் நினைப்பும்
ஓர் பெண்ணிடம் உள்ளதே நல்லது
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Desire is indeed desire.
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
பாவை பாவைத்தான்
ஆசை ஆசைத்தான்
பார்த்து பேசினால் ஏக போகம்தான்
தானே வந்தால் வாசம் இல்லையோ
Which woman as your own,
Will your eyes proclaim...
If that woman is placed right before you,
Where will your heart wander, wander, wander?
The fire residing inside a glowing lamp,
Can light up a path,
Or set off a flame.
எந்தப் பெண்ணை சொந்தம் என்று
உந்தன் கண்கள் சொல்லுமோ
எந்தப் பெண்ணை சொந்தம் என்று
உந்தன் கண்கள் சொல்லுமோ
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Desire is indeed desire.
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
அந்த பெண்ணை முன்னே வைத்தால்
நெஞ்சம் எங்கே செல்லுமோ செல்லுமோ
ஜொலிக்கும் விளக்கில் இருக்கும் நெருப்பு
பாதையும் காட்டலாம்
தீயையும் மூட்டலாம்
பாவை பாவைத்தான்
ஆசை ஆசைத்தான்
பார்த்து பேசினால் ஏக போகம்தான்
தானே வந்தால் வாசம் இல்லையோ
Paavai paavai thaan
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Aasai aasai thaan
Desire is indeed desire.
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
Anaikkum pazhakkam
The habit of embracing,
Kodukkum mayakkam
Gives an intoxication.
Anaikkum pazhakkam
The habit of embracing,
Kodukkum mayakkam
Gives an intoxication.
Aan pennidam thandhadho kandadho
Did man give it to woman, or discover it in her?
Enakkum unakkum irukkum nerukkam
The closeness that exists between me and you,
Enakkum unakkum irukkum nerukkam
The closeness that exists between me and you,
Yaar yaaridam kandadho thandhadho
Who found it or gave it to whom?
Paavai paavai thaan
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Aasai aasai thaan
Desire is indeed desire.
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
Ponnai thatti pottu kondaal
If gold is beaten and worn as jewelry,
Nenjil mattum minnalaam…
It might flash only on the chest...
Ennai katti pottu kondaal
But if you tie me up and hold me close,
Manjam thottu konjalaam
We can touch the bed and caress affectionately.
Konjalaam konjalaam
We can caress, we can caress.
Kasappum inippum manathin ninaippu
Bitterness and sweetness are just thoughts of the mind,
Orr pennidam ulladhae nalladhu
Having them in a woman is for the best.
Paavai paavai thaan
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Aasai aasai thaan
Desire is indeed desire.
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
Endha pennai sondham endru
Which woman as your own,
Undhan kangal sollumo…
Will your eyes proclaim...
Andha pennai munnae vaithaal
If that woman is placed right before you,
Nenjam engae sellumo sellumo sellumo
Where will your heart wander, wander, wander?
Jolikkum vilakkil irukkum neruppu
The fire residing inside a glowing lamp,
Paadhaiyum kaattalaam
Can light up a path,
Theeyaiyum moottalaam
Or set off a flame.
Paavai paavai thaan
A maiden is indeed a maiden.
Aasai aasai thaan
Desire is indeed desire.
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Looking and talking leads to supreme pleasure.
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Does a flower coming on its own lack fragrance?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Paavai Paavai Thaan from Enga Mama (1970) is a romantic song that explores attraction, emotional intimacy, and human desire. The lyrics ponder the origin of romance and closeness between partners, questioning whether love is something given or discovered.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paavai paavai thaan / Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan”
Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds across words like Paavai and Paarthu in consecutive lines.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Ponnai thatti pottu kondaal / Ennai katti pottu kondaal”
Rhyming of second letters ('nn' sound) between Ponnai and Ennai.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Anaikkum pazhakkam / Kodukkum mayakkam”
Matching ending rhyming sounds between pazhakkam and mayakkam.
Metaphor
“Jolikkum vilakkil irukkum neruppu / Paadhaiyum kaattalaam / Theeyaiyum moottalaam”
The fire inside a glowing lamp is used as a metaphor for passion, which can either guide a path or consume like a flame.
Did you know?
Trivia
Enga Mama (1970) is a Tamil remake of the 1968 Hindi hit Brahmachari. The film features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Vaali, starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa.
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