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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Palakkattu Pakkaththile

From Vietnam Veedu · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Vietnam Veedu
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
27 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Paalakaatu
Pakkathilae oru
Appavi raja
Avar
Pazhakathilae
Kuzhanthaiyai
Poloru ammanji raja } (2)
{ Yarammaa
Adhu yarammaa } (2)
{ Paalakaatu
Rajavuku oru appavi
Rani ava selai katta
Paatha pothum
Ammami baani } (2)
{ Yaramma
Adhu yaramma } (2)
Paalirukum
Pazhamirukum
Palliyaraiyilae andha
Paapavukum rajavukum
Santhi mugurtham
Santhi
Endral ennavendru
Raniyai kettaram
Rani thaanum andha
Kelviyai rajavai kettalam
{ Yenamma
Adhu yenamma } (2)
Avar paditha
Buthagathil santhi illaiyae
Indha anubavathai solli
Thara palli illaiyae
Kavidhaiyilum
Kalaigalilum pazhakamillaiyae
Avar kaadhalika netru
Varai oruthi illaiyae
{ Yenamma
Adhu yenamma } (2)
Pookalilae
Vandurangum poigaiyai
Kandaram devi poojaiyilae
Eshwaranin palliyai kandaram
Mara
Kilaiyil anil irandu
Aadida kandaram
Raja manasukullae
Puthiyadhoru anubavam kondaram
{ Yenamma
Adhu yenamma } (2)
Paramasivan
Sakthiyai oar paathiyil
Vaithaar andha paramaguru
Rendu pakkam deviyai vaithaar
Paarkadalil
Madhavano pakkathil
Vaithaar raja pathmanaaban
Raniyai than nenjinil vaithaar
{ Yaramma
Adhu naanamma } (2)
Paalakaatu
Pakkathilae oru
Appavi raja
Avar
Pazhakathilae
Kuzhanthaiyai
Poloru ammanji raja
Paalakaatu
Rajavuku oru appavi
Rani ava selai katta
Paatha pothum
Ammami baani
Around the region of Palakkad,
in that neighborhood, lived
an innocent king.
In his
habits and nature,
just like a child,
a simple, innocent king!
Who is he, my dear?
Tell me, who is he?
For that Palakkad
king, there was an innocent
queen, and the way she draped her saree
looked just like a
traditional Ammami (Brahmin aunty) style!
Who is she, my dear?
Tell me, who is she?
With milk
and fruits ready
in the bridal bedroom, for
that innocent girl and the king,
it was their wedding night (shanthi muhurtham).
What 'Shanthi' (consummation)
actually meant,
he asked his queen!
And the queen herself
asked the king the very same question!
Why was that, my dear?
Why was it so?
In the books he had studied,
there was no mention of 'Shanthi',
and to teach this experience,
there was no school around!
In poetry
and the romantic arts, he had no experience,
and until yesterday, to fall in love with,
he had no woman in his life!
Why was that, my dear?
Why was it so?
In the flowers,
he saw bees sleeping in a pond;
during the goddess's worship,
he saw the sacred chamber of Shiva and Shakthi!
On a tree
branch, a pair of squirrels
he saw playing together;
and within his heart, the king
felt a brand-new experience awakening!
Why is that, my dear?
Why was it so?
Lord Shiva kept
Goddess Shakthi in one half of Himself,
and the supreme Master
kept His consorts on both sides;
in the ocean of milk,
Lord Vishnu kept His consort by His side,
and King Padmanabhan
enshrined his queen right inside his heart!
Who is that, my dear?
That is none other than me!
Around the region of Palakkad,
in that neighborhood, lived
an innocent king.
In his
habits and nature,
just like a child,
a simple, innocent king!
For that Palakkad
king, there was an innocent
queen, and the way she draped her saree
looked just like a
traditional Ammami (Brahmin aunty) style!
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful song from the classic movie Vietnam Veedu depicts a lighthearted banter between female companions celebrating a newly wedded couple. The lyrics whimsically highlight the groom's innocence and complete lack of romantic experience, describing him as a naive, childlike man from the Palakkad region who had only focused on books and duties without knowing anything about love or nuptial traditions. Through gentle references to nature and divine couples like Shiva-Parvati and Vishnu-Lakshmi, the song celebrates how love naturally awakens in the heart of the innocent groom as he embraces his new bride. Kannadasan crafts a delightful, culturally rich portrait of traditional South Indian Brahmin life and marriage rituals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Paalirukum / Pazhamirukum / Palliyaraiyilae / Paapavukum”

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' consonant sound across lines creating a rhythmic, musical flow typical in Tamil poetry.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Paalirukum / Pazhamirukum”

Repetition of the second letter 'ri' sound in consecutive lines enhancing melodic continuity.

Nature Imagery

“Mara Kilaiyil anil irandu Aadida kandaram”

Using natural sights like squirrels playing on branches and bees resting in flower-laden ponds to symbolize the subtle awakening of romantic feelings.

Divine Allusion (Upamana)

“Paramasivan Sakthiyai oar paathiyil Vaithaar”

Comparing the couple's bond to sacred divine unions of Lord Shiva-Shakti and Vishnu-Lakshmi to elevate conjugal love to a spiritual plane.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vietnam Veedu (1970), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini, features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Kannadasan. This song, sung by P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari, became extremely popular for its catchy Palakkad Brahmin dialect and lighthearted humor.

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