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Arasa Kattalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pan Paadum

From Arasa Kattalai · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Arasa Kattalai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
18 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Panpaadum paravaiyae
Enna thookkam
Panpaadum paravaiyae
Enna thookkam
Un pazhangaala kadhai indru
Yaarai thaakkum
Thanneerum rathamum ondru thaanaa
Nee thaayattra kandru pol aagalaamaa
Panpaadum paravaiyae
Enna thookkam
Un pazhangaala kadhai indru
Yaarai thaakkum
Thanneerum rathamum ondru thaanaa
Nee thaayattra kandru pol aagalaamaa
Panpaadum paravaiyae
Enna thookkam
Aandaandu kaalam naam
Aanda naadu
Annai thandhai makkal suttram
Vaazhndha naadu
Aandaandu kaalam naam aanda naadu
Annai thandhai makkal suttram
Vaazhndha naadu
Thondraamal thondrum veerar sondha naadu
Thondraamal thondrum veerar sondha naadu
Thoongi thoongi sorndhu vittadhindha naadu
Panpaadum paravaiyae
Enna thookkam
Adimai vaazhvu paadaminnum
Padikkalaamaa
Nalla amudhamendru nanjai alli kudikkalaama
Adimai vaazhvu paadaminnum
Padikkalaamaa
Nalla amudhamendru nanjai alli kudikkalaama
Thannalathil inbangaana ninaikkalaamaa
Thannalathil inbangaana ninaikkalaamaa
Pettra thaayidathil anbillaamal irukkalaamaa
Panpaadum paravaiyae
Enna thookkam
Pagutharindhu vaazhbavarai
Sarithiram pesum
Avar parambaraiyin kaalgal meedhum
Malargalai veesum
Bayandhu varum adimaigalai
Poonaiyum yaesum
Avan paal kuditha thaayai kooda
Peiyena pesum
Kuditha paalil veeram kalandhu
Koduthaal undhan annai
Kuditha piragum kurudaai irundhaal
Kozhai enbaal unnai
Urimai kuralai uyarthi ingae
Vidudhalai kaana thuditthu vaa
Urangiyadhellaam podhum podhum
Udanae vizhithu ezhundhu vaa
Ezhundhu vaa ezhundhu vaa
O singing bird,
why this deep sleep?
O singing bird,
why this deep sleep?
Whom will your ancient story
stir today?
Are water and blood the same?
Should you become like a motherless calf?
O singing bird,
why this deep sleep?
Whom will your ancient story
stir today?
Are water and blood the same?
Should you become like a motherless calf?
O singing bird,
why this deep sleep?
For ages and ages,
the land we ruled,
where our mothers, fathers, people, and kin
once lived,
The land we ruled for ages and ages,
where our mothers, fathers, people, and kin
once lived,
the homeland of heroes who rise without being seen,
the homeland of heroes who rise without being seen,
this land has grown weary from endless sleep.
O singing bird,
why this deep sleep?
Should we still keep learning
the lessons of a life in slavery?
Should we drink poison, mistaking it for sweet nectar?
Should we still keep learning
the lessons of a life in slavery?
Should we drink poison, mistaking it for sweet nectar?
Can we think of finding joy in selfishness?
Can we think of finding joy in selfishness?
Can we live without love for the mother who bore us?
O singing bird,
why this deep sleep?
Those who live with reason and wisdom,
history will praise them,
and at the feet of their descendants,
it will shower flowers.
Slaves who live in cowering fear,
even a cat will look down on them,
and even the mother who nursed him,
will be spoken of as a demon.
Blending bravery into the milk you drank,
your mother fed you.
If you stay blind even after drinking it,
she herself will call you a coward!
Raise your voice for your rights,
and surge forward, longing for freedom!
You have slept long enough, enough of this!
Wake up at once and rise!
Rise up and come! Rise up and come!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Panpaadum Paravaiyae is a powerful revolutionary awakening song from the 1967 Tamil film Arasa Kattalai. Addressing the populace metaphorically as a cultured songbird lost in deep slumber, the song laments the loss of historical pride, courage, and self-respect among people who have submitted to passive compliance and spiritual bondage. Lyricist Vaali uses striking imagery to challenge the audience: questioning whether they have forgotten their heroic roots and maternal duties, mistaking poison for nectar and servitude for safety. In the latter verses, the song emphasizes rational thinking, self-respect, and patriotic duty, urging citizens to rise up, claim their rights, and honor the brave heritage passed down by their ancestors.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Panpaadum paravaiyae”

Compares the sleeping, indifferent citizens to a songbird (Panpaadum paravai) that has forgotten its song and culture.

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Nee thaayattra kandru pol aagalaamaa”

Compares a directionless and helpless society to a motherless calf (thaayattra kandru).

Antithesis / Contrast

“Nalla amudhamendru nanjai alli kudikkalaama”

Juxtaposes sweet nectar (amudham) with deadly poison (nanjai) to highlight the folly of embracing servitude.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Edhugai)

“Kuditha paalil veeram kalandhu”

Utilizes rhythmic repetition of initial consonants (Kuditha / Koduthaal / Kuditha / Kozhai) to build motivational momentum.

Did you know?

Trivia

Arasa Kattalai (1967) is a historic swashbuckler film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), B. Saroja Devi, and J. Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan and the lyrics were written by Vaali, with playback vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. This song served a dual purpose as a dramatic cinematic element and an ideological anthem for MGR's Dravidian political movement during the pivotal late-1960s period in Tamil Nadu politics.

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