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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pakkathu Veettu

From Karpagam · 1963

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Karpagam1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hmm hmm hmmhmm hmm..Humming sounds..
Oho oho ohoho ho..Oho oho ohoho ho..
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Paarvayile padam pudichuTaking a picture with his gaze
Paavai nenjil idam pudichaan..He captured a place in this maiden's heart..
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Female
Manasukulle thaerottaTo run a chariot within my heart
Mai vizhiyil vadam pudichaanHe held the rope with his kohl-lined eyes
Manasukulle thaerottaTo run a chariot within my heart
Mai vizhiyil vadam pudichaanHe held the rope with his kohl-lined eyes
Female
Marikozhundhu vaasathileAmidst the fragrance of marjoram
Maanthopil vazhi marichaanHe blocked my path in the mango grove
Maanthopil vazhi marichuBlocking my path in the mango grove
Mayakathaiyae vara vazhaichaanHe summoned a spell of enchantment
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Paarvayile padam pudichuTaking a picture with his gaze
Paavai nenjil idam pudichaan..He captured a place in this maiden's heart..
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Female
Thai maasam thaalikattaTo tie the sacred knot in the month of Thai
Maargazhiyil kai pudichaanHe held my hand in the month of Maargazhi
Thai maasam thaalikattaTo tie the sacred knot in the month of Thai
Maargazhiyil kai pudichaanHe held my hand in the month of Maargazhi
Female
Yamunayile vellam illaiThere is no flood in the Yamuna river
Vidiyumvarai kadhai padichaanHe read stories until dawn
Vidiyumvarai kadhai padichuReading stories until dawn
Mudiyaamal mudichu vechaanHe left it tied without ending
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Female
Aaha haa..Aaha haa..
Oho ho..hmm mmmOho ho..hmm mmm
Female
Oorellaam urangi vidumThe entire town goes to sleep
Ullam mattum urangaadhuOnly my heart does not sleep
Oorellaam urangi vidumThe entire town goes to sleep
Ullam mattum urangaadhuOnly my heart does not sleep
Female
Osai ellaam adangividumAll noises subside and quiet down
Aasai mattum adangaadhuOnly my desire never subsides
Aasai mattum adangaamalWith desire unceasing
Avanai mattum nenachirupenI will keep thinking only of him
Female
Pakkathu veetu paruva machaanThe youthful man from the neighboring house
Paarvayile padam pudichaanTook a picture of me with his gaze
Paarvayile padam pudichuTaking a picture with his gaze
Paavai nenjil idam pudichaan..He captured a place in this maiden's heart..
Female
Aaha haaha hahahaa..Aaha haaha hahahaa..
Oho hoho hohoho..Oho hoho hohoho..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pakkathu Veetu Paruva Machaan from the 1963 film Karpagam is a playful romantic classic written by lyricist Vaali and set to music by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. Rendered by P. Susheela, the song captures a young woman expressing her deep infatuation and romantic longings for her handsome next-door neighbor. She colorfully describes how his lingering gaze captured her image like a photograph and captured her heart. Throughout the song, she paints vivid romantic imagery of their playful encounters, from blocking her path in a sweet-smelling mango orchard to dreaming about marriage and sleepless nights filled with love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Pakkathu veetu paruva machaan / Paarvayile padam pudichaan

Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound across consecutive words in a line to build rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Paarvayile padam pudichaan

Comparing a lover's intense and captivating gaze to capturing a photograph (padam pudichaan).

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Osai ellaam adangividum / Aasai mattum adangaadhu

The matching second consonant sound between contrasting lines ('Osai' and 'Aasai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Karpagam (1963), directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan, was a massive commercial hit and marked the acting debut of veteran actress K. R. Vijaya, on whom this iconic song was picturized.

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