Pal Vannam
From Paasam · 1962
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singers
- P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Paasam1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Paal vannam | Milk-complexioned |
| Paruvam kandu vel | Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like |
| Vannam vizhigal kandu | colored eyes |
| Maan vannam naan | Seeing her deer-like beauty, I |
| Kandu vaadugiren | see and wither away in longing. |
| Female | |
| Kan | Eye |
| Vannam angae | color/beauty there |
| Kanden kai vannam | I saw, the hand's artistry |
| Ingae kanden pen | here I saw, and in a maiden's |
| Vannam noi kondu vaadugiren | charm, I wither suffering love's sickness. |
| Female | |
| { Kannam | { Glowing cheeks |
| Minnum mangai | shining maiden's |
| Vannam undhan | beauty before |
| Munnum vandha pinnum | even after coming before you |
| Alli alli nenjil vaika aasaiyillaiyaa } (2) | don't you desire to gather and keep her in your heart? } (2) |
| Female | |
| { Kaar | { Dark |
| Vanna koondhal thottu | cloud-colored hair touching |
| Ther vanna meni thottu } (2) | carousal chariot-like body touching } (2) |
| Poo vanna paadam solla | To speak lessons of flower-like grace |
| Ennam illaiyaa | don't you have the thought? |
| Male | |
| Paal vannam | Milk-complexioned |
| Paruvam kandu vel | Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like |
| Vannam vizhigal kandu | colored eyes |
| Maan vannam naan | Seeing her deer-like beauty, I |
| Kandu vaadugiren | see and wither away in longing. |
| Male | |
| { Manjal | { Golden yellow |
| Vanna veyil pattu | sunlight touching |
| Konjum vanna vanji chittu | lisping colorful little bird |
| Anji anji kenjum bodhu | when she hesitantly begs you |
| Aasai illaiyaa } (2) | don't you have desire? } (2) |
| Male | |
| { Ner sendra | { When I strayed |
| Paadhai vitu naan | away from the straight path |
| Sendra bodhu vandhu } (2) | and went, coming along } (2) |
| Male | |
| Vaa vendru | saying 'Come' |
| Alli kolla mangai illaiyaa | is there no maiden to embrace you? |
| Female | |
| Kan | Eye |
| Vannam angae | color/beauty there |
| Kanden kai vannam | I saw, the hand's artistry |
| Ingae kanden pen | here I saw, and in a maiden's |
| Vannam noi kondu vaadugiren | charm, I wither suffering love's sickness. |
| Female | |
| Paruvam | Youthfulness |
| Vandha kaalam thottu | from the time it arrived |
| Pazhagum kangal paarvai | looking with accustomed eyes |
| Kettu endrum unnai enni | asking, always thinking of you |
| Enni yengavillaiyaa | didn't you long endlessly? |
| Male | |
| Naan | I |
| Kandu maalai ittu | having seen and garlanded you |
| Naan unnai tholil vaithu | placing you on my shoulders |
| Oorvalam poi vara | to carry you in procession |
| Aasai illaiyaa | don't you have the desire? |
| Female | |
| Kan | Eye |
| Vannam angae | color/beauty there |
| Kanden kai vannam | I saw, the hand's artistry |
| Ingae kanden pen | here I saw, and in a maiden's |
| Vannam noi kondu vaadugiren | charm, I wither suffering love's sickness. |
| Male | |
| Paal vannam | Milk-complexioned |
| Paruvam kandu vel | Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like |
| Vannam vizhigal kandu | colored eyes |
| Maan vannam naan | Seeing her deer-like beauty, I |
| Kandu vaadugiren | see and wither away in longing. |
பால் வண்ணம்
பருவம் கண்டு வேல்
வண்ணம் விழிகள் கண்டு
மான் வண்ணம் நான்
கண்டு வாடுகிறேன்
Milk-complexioned
Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like
colored eyes
Seeing her deer-like beauty, I
see and wither away in longing.
கண் வண்ணம்
அங்கே கண்டேன் கை
வண்ணம் இங்கே கண்டேன்
பெண் வண்ணம் நோய்
கொண்டு வாடுகிறேன்
Eye
color/beauty there
I saw, the hand's artistry
here I saw, and in a maiden's
charm, I wither suffering love's sickness.
{ கன்னம் மின்னும்
மங்கை வண்ணம் உந்தன்
முன்னும் வந்த பின்னும்
அள்ளி அள்ளி நெஞ்சில்
வைக்க ஆசை இல்லையா } (2)
{ Glowing cheeks
shining maiden's
beauty before
even after coming before you
don't you desire to gather and keep her in your heart? } (2)
{ கார் வண்ண
கூந்தல் தொட்டு தேர்
வண்ண மேனி தொட்டு } (2)
பூ வண்ண பாடம் சொல்ல
எண்ணம் இல்லையா
{ Dark
cloud-colored hair touching
carousal chariot-like body touching } (2)
To speak lessons of flower-like grace
don't you have the thought?
பால் வண்ணம்
பருவம் கண்டு வேல்
வண்ணம் விழிகள் கண்டு
மான் வண்ணம் நான்
கண்டு வாடுகிறேன்
Milk-complexioned
Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like
colored eyes
Seeing her deer-like beauty, I
see and wither away in longing.
{ மஞ்சள் வண்ண
வெயில் பட்டு கொஞ்சும்
வண்ண வஞ்சி சிட்டு
அஞ்சி அஞ்சி கெஞ்சும்
போது ஆசையில்லையா } (2)
{ Golden yellow
sunlight touching
lisping colorful little bird
when she hesitantly begs you
don't you have desire? } (2)
{ நேர் சென்ற
பாதை விட்டு நான்
சென்ற போது வந்து } (2)
{ When I strayed
away from the straight path
and went, coming along } (2)
வா வென்று
அள்ளிக் கொள்ள
மங்கை இல்லையா
saying 'Come'
is there no maiden to embrace you?
கண் வண்ணம்
அங்கே கண்டேன் கை
வண்ணம் இங்கே கண்டேன்
பெண் வண்ணம் நோய்
கொண்டு வாடுகிறேன்
Eye
color/beauty there
I saw, the hand's artistry
here I saw, and in a maiden's
charm, I wither suffering love's sickness.
பருவம் வந்த
காலம் தொட்டு பழகும்
கண்கள் பார்வை கெட்டு
என்றும் உன்னை எண்ணி
எண்ணி ஏங்கவில்லையா
Youthfulness
from the time it arrived
looking with accustomed eyes
asking, always thinking of you
didn't you long endlessly?
நான் கண்டு
மாலையிட்டு நான்
உன்னை தோளில்
வைத்து ஊர்வலம்
போய் வர ஆசை
இல்லையா
I
having seen and garlanded you
placing you on my shoulders
to carry you in procession
don't you have the desire?
கண் வண்ணம்
அங்கே கண்டேன் கை
வண்ணம் இங்கே கண்டேன்
பெண் வண்ணம் நோய்
கொண்டு வாடுகிறேன்
Eye
color/beauty there
I saw, the hand's artistry
here I saw, and in a maiden's
charm, I wither suffering love's sickness.
பால் வண்ணம்
பருவம் கண்டு வேல்
வண்ணம் விழிகள் கண்டு
மான் வண்ணம் நான்
கண்டு வாடுகிறேன்
Milk-complexioned
Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like
colored eyes
Seeing her deer-like beauty, I
see and wither away in longing.
Paal vannam
Milk-complexioned
Paruvam kandu vel
Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like
Vannam vizhigal kandu
colored eyes
Maan vannam naan
Seeing her deer-like beauty, I
Kandu vaadugiren
see and wither away in longing.
Kan
Eye
Vannam angae
color/beauty there
Kanden kai vannam
I saw, the hand's artistry
Ingae kanden pen
here I saw, and in a maiden's
Vannam noi kondu vaadugiren
charm, I wither suffering love's sickness.
{ Kannam
{ Glowing cheeks
Minnum mangai
shining maiden's
Vannam undhan
beauty before
Munnum vandha pinnum
even after coming before you
Alli alli nenjil vaika aasaiyillaiyaa } (2)
don't you desire to gather and keep her in your heart? } (2)
{ Kaar
{ Dark
Vanna koondhal thottu
cloud-colored hair touching
Ther vanna meni thottu } (2)
carousal chariot-like body touching } (2)
Poo vanna paadam solla
To speak lessons of flower-like grace
Ennam illaiyaa
don't you have the thought?
Paal vannam
Milk-complexioned
Paruvam kandu vel
Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like
Vannam vizhigal kandu
colored eyes
Maan vannam naan
Seeing her deer-like beauty, I
Kandu vaadugiren
see and wither away in longing.
{ Manjal
{ Golden yellow
Vanna veyil pattu
sunlight touching
Konjum vanna vanji chittu
lisping colorful little bird
Anji anji kenjum bodhu
when she hesitantly begs you
Aasai illaiyaa } (2)
don't you have desire? } (2)
{ Ner sendra
{ When I strayed
Paadhai vitu naan
away from the straight path
Sendra bodhu vandhu } (2)
and went, coming along } (2)
Vaa vendru
saying 'Come'
Alli kolla mangai illaiyaa
is there no maiden to embrace you?
Kan
Eye
Vannam angae
color/beauty there
Kanden kai vannam
I saw, the hand's artistry
Ingae kanden pen
here I saw, and in a maiden's
Vannam noi kondu vaadugiren
charm, I wither suffering love's sickness.
Paruvam
Youthfulness
Vandha kaalam thottu
from the time it arrived
Pazhagum kangal paarvai
looking with accustomed eyes
Kettu endrum unnai enni
asking, always thinking of you
Enni yengavillaiyaa
didn't you long endlessly?
Naan
I
Kandu maalai ittu
having seen and garlanded you
Naan unnai tholil vaithu
placing you on my shoulders
Oorvalam poi vara
to carry you in procession
Aasai illaiyaa
don't you have the desire?
Kan
Eye
Vannam angae
color/beauty there
Kanden kai vannam
I saw, the hand's artistry
Ingae kanden pen
here I saw, and in a maiden's
Vannam noi kondu vaadugiren
charm, I wither suffering love's sickness.
Paal vannam
Milk-complexioned
Paruvam kandu vel
Seeing her youthfulness, and spear-like
Vannam vizhigal kandu
colored eyes
Maan vannam naan
Seeing her deer-like beauty, I
Kandu vaadugiren
see and wither away in longing.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Paal Vannam Paruvam Kandu' is a poetic romantic duet from the 1962 Tamil film Paasam. The song depicts two lovers expressing their deep enchantment and longing for each other. Through rich romantic visual imagery, the male and female characters praise each other's beauty, comparing features like eyes, skin tone, hair, and grace to various natural elements like milk, spears, deer, clouds, and flowers. The song captures the playful banter, romantic vulnerability, and sweet desire for union between the lovers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Vannam)
“Paal vannam / Vel vannam / Maan vannam / Kai vannam”
The word 'Vannam' (meaning color, hue, grace, or character) is repeatedly used across multiple stanzas to create a rhythmic and thematic anchor.
Metaphor & Simile (Upama)
“Paruvam kandu vel vannam vizhigal kandu”
The lyricist compares physical beauty to natural objects: eyes like sharp spears ('Vel vannam vizhigal'), hair like dark clouds ('Kaar vanna koondhal'), and body like a chariot ('Ther vanna meni').
Rhyme & Alliteration (Ethukai & Monai)
“Anji anji kenjum bodhu aasai illaiyaa”
Classical Tamil poetic assonance and internal rhyming, seen in pairs like 'Kannam / Minnum' and 'Anji / Kenjum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Paal Vannam Paruvam Kandu' is a popular vintage Tamil song from the film Paasam (1962), starring M. G. Ramachandran and B. Saroja Devi. The song was composed by the duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, written by Kannadasan, and sung by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela.
Keep listening
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