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Isaimozhi
Enga Mama album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Paavai Paavai Aasai

From Enga Mama · 1970

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Enga Mama
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
1 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Paavai paavai thaan
Aasai aasai thaan
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Anaikkum pazhakkam
Kodukkum mayakkam
Anaikkum pazhakkam
Kodukkum mayakkam
Aan pennidam thandhadho kandadho
Enakkum unakkum irukkum nerukkam
Enakkum unakkum irukkum nerukkam
Yaar yaaridam kandadho thandhadho
Paavai paavai thaan
Aasai aasai thaan
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Ponnai thatti pottu kondaal
Nenjil mattum minnalaam…
Ennai katti pottu kondaal
Manjam thottu konjalaam
Konjalaam konjalaam
Kasappum inippum manathin ninaippu
Orr pennidam ulladhae nalladhu
Paavai paavai thaan
Aasai aasai thaan
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
Endha pennai sondham endru
Undhan kangal sollumo…
Andha pennai munnae vaithaal
Nenjam engae sellumo sellumo sellumo
Jolikkum vilakkil irukkum neruppu
Paadhaiyum kaattalaam
Theeyaiyum moottalaam
Paavai paavai thaan
Aasai aasai thaan
Paarthu pesinaal yega bogam thaan
Thaanae vandhaal vaasam illaiyo
A woman is truly a woman,
Desire is truly desire.
Looking and talking to each other is pure bliss;
If she comes to you on her own, won't it have its sweet fragrance?
The habit of embracing,
And the intoxicating thrill it brings—
The habit of embracing,
And the intoxicating thrill it brings—
Did a man give it to a woman, or discover it in her?
This closeness between you and me,
This closeness between you and me,
Who found it in whom, and who gave it to whom?
A woman is truly a woman,
Desire is truly desire.
Looking and talking to each other is pure bliss;
If she comes to you on her own, won't it have its sweet fragrance?
If you wear crafted gold,
It may only glitter upon your chest...
If you hold me close and keep me captive,
We can cuddle closely on the bed.
We can cuddle, we can cuddle.
Bitterness and sweetness are only thoughts in the mind;
Everything within a woman is pure goodness.
A woman is truly a woman,
Desire is truly desire.
Looking and talking to each other is pure bliss;
If she comes to you on her own, won't it have its sweet fragrance?
Whichever woman your eyes declare
To be your very own...
If that woman stands before you,
Where will your heart wander, wander, wander?
The flame inside a glowing lamp
Can guide the way,
Or it can start a fire.
A woman is truly a woman,
Desire is truly desire.
Looking and talking to each other is pure bliss;
If she comes to you on her own, won't it have its sweet fragrance?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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