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Palum Pazhamum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Palum Pazhamum

From Palum Pazhamum · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Palum Pazhamum
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
20 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………
{ Paalum pazhamum
Kaigalil yendhi pavazha
Vaayil punnagai sindhi kola
Mayil pol nee varuvayae
Konjum kiliyae amaidhi kolvayae } (2)
{ Unnum azhagai
Paarthirupayae uranga
Vaidhae vizhithirupayae } (2)
{ Kannai
Imaipol kaathirupayae
Kaadhar kodiyae kan malarvayae } (2)
Paalum pazhamum
Kaigalil yendhi pavazha
Vaayil punnagai sindhi kola
Mayil pol nee varuvayae
Konjum kiliyae amaidhi kolvayae
{ Pinju mugathin
Oli ilanthaayae pesi
Pazhagum mozhi marandhaayae } (2)
{ Anji nadakum
Nadai melindhaayae
Anna kodiyae amaidhi kolvaayae } (2)
Paalum pazhamum
Kaigalil yendhi pavazha
Vaayil punnagai sindhi kola
Mayil pol nee varuvayae
Konjum kiliyae amaidhi kolvayae
{ Eendra thaayai
Naan kandadhillai enadhu
Deivam verengum illai } (2)
{ Uyirai koduthum
Unai naan kaapen
Udhaya nilavae kan thuyilvayae } (2)
Paalum pazhamum
Kaigalil yendhi pavazha
Vaayil punnagai sindhi kola
Mayil pol nee varuvayae
Konjum kiliyae amaidhi kolvayae
……………………
...
Carrying milk and fruit
in your hands, with a smile
spilling from your coral lips,
you would come like a graceful peacock...
My sweet little parrot, rest peacefully now.
You would lovingly watch me eat,
and putting me to sleep,
you would stay awake yourself.
Like an eyelid
protecting the eye, you watched over me...
My vine of love, open your eyes!
Carrying milk and fruit
in your hands, with a smile
spilling from your coral lips,
you would come like a graceful peacock...
My sweet little parrot, rest peacefully now.
Your tender face
has lost its glowing light,
and you have forgotten your familiar speech.
Your timid, gentle steps
have grown so weak and frail,
my swan-like vine, rest peacefully now.
Carrying milk and fruit
in your hands, with a smile
spilling from your coral lips,
you would come like a graceful peacock...
My sweet little parrot, rest peacefully now.
The mother who gave me birth,
I have never seen;
I have no other god anywhere.
Even at the cost of my life,
I will save and protect you...
My rising moon, sleep peacefully now.
Carrying milk and fruit
in your hands, with a smile
spilling from your coral lips,
you would come like a graceful peacock...
My sweet little parrot, rest peacefully now.
...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from the 1961 classic film 'Paalum Pazhamum' expresses deep affection, comfort, and unconditional devotion towards a beloved who is in a vulnerable state. The speaker reminisces about her graceful, joyful presence when she brought milk and fruit with a sweet smile, contrasting it with her present frailty and distress. Expressing protective affection, the singer compares safeguarding her to an eyelid protecting the eye and vows to give up life itself to protect her, seeing in her the divine warmth of a mother he never knew.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mayil pol nee varuvayae

Compares the grace and beauty of the beloved's arrival to that of a peacock ('Mayil pol').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaadhar kodiyae kan malarvayae

Addresses the beloved as a blooming vine of love ('Kaadhar kodiyae') and a rising moon ('Udhaya nilavae').

Simile (Upamai)

Imaipol kaathirupayae

Compares protective vigilance to an eyelid safeguarding the eye ('Imaipol').

Alliteration (Monai)

Paalum pazhamum

Repetition of the initial sound 'Pa' in 'Paalum' and 'pazhamum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Paalum Pazhamum' (1961) was directed by A. Bhimsingh and starred Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. The music was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. This emotional melody sung by T. M. Soundararajan is considered one of the evergreen classics of Tamil cinema.

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