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Lyrics & meaning

Paalirukkum Pazhamirukkum

From Paava Mannippu · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Paava Mannippu1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paal irukumThere will be milk
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pazham irukumThere will be fruit
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pasi irukaathuBut there will be no appetite
Male
OhooOhoo
Female
PanjanaiyilOn the mattress of cotton
Kaatru varum thookam varaathuBreeze will come, but sleep won't come
Male
Hmm hmmHmm hmm
Female
PanjanaiyilOn the mattress of cotton
Kaatru varum thookam varaathuBreeze will come, but sleep won't come
Female
NaaluFour
Vagai gunamirukumTypes of innate qualities will remain
Male
Mmhmm….Mmhmm….
Female : Aasai vidaathuFemale : Desire won't leave
Female
NaaluFour
Vagai gunamirukumTypes of innate qualities will remain
Aasai vidaathuDesire won't leave
Female
NadakaTo walk
Varum kaalgalukumEven for the feet that step forward
ThunivirukaathuThere won't be courage
Female
Paal irukumThere will be milk
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pazham irukumThere will be fruit
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pasi irukaathuBut there will be no appetite
Male
OhooOhoo
Female
PanjanaiyilOn the mattress of cotton
Kaatru varumBreeze will come
{ Thookam varaathu } (2){ Sleep won't come } (2)
Female
KattavizhnthaUnbound
Kanirandum ungalai thedumBoth eyes will search for you
Paathi kanavu vanthuHalfway into a dream
Marupadiyum kangalai moodumThey will close the eyes again
Male
……………………
Female
KattavizhnthaUnbound
Kanirandum ungalai thedumBoth eyes will search for you
Kanavu vanthu marupadiyumA dream will come and again
Kangalai moodumClose the eyes
Female
Pattu nilaThe silky moon
Vaanveliyil kaaviyam paadumSings poetry across the open sky
Konda palliyarai penThe woman inside the bedchamber
Manathil porkalamaagumHas a battlefield in her heart
Male
…………………..
Female
Paal irukumThere will be milk
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pazham irukumThere will be fruit
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pasi irukaathuBut there will be no appetite
Male
OhooOhoo
Female
PanjanaiyilOn the mattress of cotton
Kaatru varumBreeze will come
{ Thookam varaathu } (2){ Sleep won't come } (2)
Female
KaadhalukuFor love
Jaathi illai mathamum illaiyaeThere is no caste, nor is there religion
Kangal pesum vaarthaiyilaeIn the words spoken by the eyes
Betham illaiyaeThere is no discrimination
Male
……………………….
Female
KaadhalukuFor love
Jaathi illai mathamum illaiyaeThere is no caste, nor is there religion
Kangal pesum vaarthaiyilaeIn the words spoken by the eyes
Betham illaiyaeThere is no discrimination
Female
VethamellamAll sacred scriptures
Kaadhalaiyae marupathillaiyaeDo not deny love
Adhu megam seitha uruvamUnlike a shape made of clouds
Polae maraivathillaiyaeIt does not disappear
Female
Paal irukumThere will be milk
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pazham irukumThere will be fruit
Male
MmhmmMmhmm
Female
Pasi irukaathuBut there will be no appetite
Male
OhooOhoo
Female
PanjanaiyilOn the mattress of cotton
Kaatru varumBreeze will come
{ Thookam varaathu } (3){ Sleep won't come } (3)
Male
……………………

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic melody from 'Paava Mannippu' expresses the inner conflict, yearning, and social barriers faced by lovers. Through evocative imagery, lyricist Kannadasan contrasts physical luxury—such as rich milk, fruit, and a soft bed—with the emotional turmoil that robs a lover of sleep and appetite. The song captures the hesitation and fear that societal norms impose, even when the heart desires unity. In the latter half, the song delivers a powerful philosophical message about love transcending human division. It asserts that love recognizes no caste or religion, and that silent understanding through the eyes holds no bias. Scriptures themselves do not oppose love, and unlike temporary formations of clouds in the sky, genuine love is eternal and unwavering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Irony (Ethirsol / Paradox)

Paal irukum... Pasi irukaathu

Contrasting physical abundance and comfort with mental distress (having food but no hunger, having a soft bed and breeze but no sleep).

Monaikkal (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Paal irukum... Pazham irukum... Pasi irukaathu

Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound at the start of consecutive phrases ('Paal', 'Pazham', 'Pasi', 'Panjanaiyil').

Personification & Metaphor

Pattu nila vaanveliyil kaaviyam paadum

Attributing human speech to eyes ('Kangal pesum vaarthaiyil') and comparing the moonlit sky to an epic poem ('Pattu nila vaanveliyil kaaviyam paadum').

Simile (Upama)

Adhu megam seitha uruvam polae maraivathillaiyae

Comparing love to cloud shapes to emphasize its permanence by stating love is *not* transient like clouds.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy for the 1961 blockbuster movie 'Paava Mannippu', this song features vocals by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The film is celebrated for its themes of interfaith harmony, with Kannadasan's lyrics playing a major role in embedding progressive social messages into mainstream Tamil cinema.

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