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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pachchai Nirame

From Alaipayuthey · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo, Hariharan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Alaipayuthey2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sagiyae snegidhiyaeOh friend, my female companion
Kaadhalil kaadhalilIn love, in love
Kaadhalil niramunduLove has colors
Sagiyae snegidhiyaeOh friend, my female companion
En anbae anbaeMy love, my love
Unakkum niramundu..ohooo…You too have colors.. ohooo...
Male
Pachai niramaeOh green color
Pachai niramaeOh green color
Ichchai moottum pachai niramaeThe desire-arousing green color
Pullin sirippum pachai niramaeThe smile of grass is green color
Enakku sammadham tharumaeIt gives me its consent
Male
Pachai niramaeOh green color
Pachai niramaeOh green color
Ilaiyin ilamai pachchai niramaeThe youthfulness of leaves is green color
Undhan narambum pachchai niramaeYour veins too are green color
Enakku sammadham tharumaeIt gives me its consent
Enakku sammadham tharumaeIt gives me its consent
Enakku sammadham tharumaeIt gives me its consent
Chorus
Ahaaa..aahaaaa..Ahaaa.. aahaaaa..
Ahaaa…ahaaaa..aaaa….aaa…Ahaaa... ahaaaa.. aaaa.... aaa...
Male
Kilaiyil kaanumSeen on the branch
Kiliyin mookkuThe parrot's beak
Vidalai penninA young adolescent girl's
Vetrilai naakkuBetel-stained tongue
Puththam pudhidhaaiBrand new
Raththa rojaaBlood red rose
Bhoomi thodaadhaNever touching the ground
Pillaiyin paadham…An infant's tender foot...
Ellaa sivappum undhan kovamAll these reds represent your anger
Ellaa sivappum undhan kovamAll these reds represent your anger
Male
Andhi vaanamThe dusk sky
Araikkum manjalGround turmeric yellow
Aggini kozhundhilIn the flame of fire
Pooththa manjalBlossomed yellow
Thanga thoduA golden earring
Janiththa manjalBorn yellow
Kondrai poovilIn the Cassia flower
Kuliththa manjalBathed yellow
Manjal manjal manjalYellow yellow yellow
Maalai nilavin maragadha manjalThe emerald-yellow of the evening moon
Ellaam thangum undhan nenjilAll these reside inside your heart
Male
Sagiyae..mm.. snegidhiyae..mmOh friend.. mm.. female companion.. mm
Kaadhalil kaadhalilIn love, in love
Kaadhalil niramunduLove has colors
Wooh..ohooo..Wooh.. ohooo..
Sagiyae..mm.. snegidhiyae..mm..Oh friend.. mm.. female companion.. mm..
En anbae anbaeMy love, my love
Unakkum niramundu..You too have colors..
Male
Alaiyillaadha aazhi vannamThe color of a waveless ocean
Mugilillaadha vaanin vannam..mm..The color of a cloudless sky.. mm..
Mayilin kazhuththil vaarum vannamThe color seen on a peacock's neck
Kuvalai poovil kuzhaiththa vannamThe color blended into a blue lotus flower
Oodhaa poovil ootriya vannam..mmm..The color poured into a purple flower.. mmm..
Ellaam serndhu un kannil minnum..mm..All combined shine together in your eyes.. mm..
Ellaam serndhu un kannil minnum..mmAll combined shine together in your eyes.. mm
Male
Iravin niramae iravin niramaeColor of night, color of night
Yeah..heeYeah.. hee
Kaarkaalaththin moththa niramaeThe total color of the rainy season
Kaakkai siragil kaanum niramaeThe color seen on a crow's feather
Penmai ezhudhum kanmai niramaeThe color of eyeliner applied by a maiden
Veyilil paadum kuyilin niramae..ae…The color of a cuckoo singing in the sun.. ae...
Ellaam serndhu koondhal niramae..ae…All combined become the color of your hair.. ae...
Ellaam serndhu koondhal niramae…ae..All combined become the color of your hair... ae..
Male
Sagiyae..mm.. snegidhiyae..mmOh friend.. mm.. female companion.. mm
Kaadhalil kaadhalilIn love, in love
Kaadhalil niramunduLove has colors
Wooh..ohooo..Wooh.. ohooo..
Sagiyae..mm.. snegidhiyae..mm..Oh friend.. mm.. female companion.. mm..
En anbae anbaeMy love, my love
Yeah..hee…yeah…Yeah.. hee... yeah...
Unakkum niramundu..You too have colors..
Male
Vellai niramae vellai niramaeOh white color, white color
Female :Ahaa..aaaa….aaa…Female: Ahaa.. aaaa.... aaa...
Mazhaiyil mulaiyum thumbai niramaeThe color of the Thumbai flower sprouting in rain
Female :La la la la la…Female: La la la la la...
Male
Vellai niramae vellai niramaeOh white color, white color
Vizhiyil paadhi ulla niramaeThe color in half of your eyes
Mazhaiyil mulaiyum thumbai niramaeThe color of the Thumbai flower sprouting in rain
Unadhu manasin niramaeIs the color of your heart
Unadhu manasin niramaeIs the color of your heart
Unadhu manasin niramae…Is the color of your heart...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Pachai Nirame', the protagonist poetically associates every color found in nature with different facets, emotions, and physical attributes of his beloved. He sees green in her youth and veins, red in her passionate anger, yellow in the tender warmth of her heart, shades of blue and purple in her expressive eyes, black in her lustrous hair, and pure white in her untainted soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Imagery

Pullin sirippum pachai niramae / Undhan narambum pachchai niramae

Vairamuthu uses vivid nature metaphors, comparing natural colors (green grass, red roses, dusk sky, peacock neck) directly to physical features and emotions of the beloved.

Anaphora / Sound Repetition

Pachai niramae Pachai niramae

Repetition of color names (Pachai, Yellow, White) at the start or throughout stanzas creates a rhythmic and hypnotic musical quality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's iconic romantic drama Alaipayuthey (2000), 'Pachai Nirame' is widely considered a masterclass in synesthesia in Tamil film lyricism. Sung by Hariharan and K.S. Chithra, each stanza musically shifts to mirror the visual motif of the color described.

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