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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Para Para Sad

From Neer Paravai · 2012

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Shreya Ghoshal (Early Release: Chinmayi Sripada
Music director
N. R. Raghunanthan
Details
Neer Paravai2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Para para paravai ondruA fluttering bird
Kara kara karaiyil nindruStanding on the shore
Kanneeril kadal alai ninaikudhaeDrenches the ocean waves with her tears
Female
Endhevan pona dhisayilaeIn the direction where my beloved went
Jeevan serthu anupinenI sent my soul along with him
En jeevan vandhu serumaaWill my soul ever return to me?
Dhegam meendum vaazhumaaWill this body ever live again?
Female
Para para paravai ondruA fluttering bird
Kara kara karaiyil nindruStanding on the shore
Kanneeril kadal alai ninaikudhaeDrenches the ocean waves with her tears
Female
Thanneeril valayum nirkumA net can hold inside the water
Thanneeraa valayil nirkumBut can the water hold inside a net?
En dhevan eppodhum thirigiraanMy lord is constantly wandering
Female
Para para paravai ondruA fluttering bird
Kara kara karaiyil nindruStanding on the shore
Kanneeril kadal alai ninaikudhaeDrenches the ocean waves with her tears
Female
Oorengum mazhayum illaiThere is no rain anywhere in town
Verungum puyalum illaiThere is no storm anywhere either
Endraalum nenjil idi idikudhaeYet thunder strikes within my heart
Female
Para para paravai ondruA fluttering bird
Kara kara karaiyil nindruStanding on the shore
Kanneeril kadal alai ninaikudhaeDrenches the ocean waves with her tears
Female
Endhevan pona dhisayilaeIn the direction where my beloved went
Jeevan serthu anupinenI sent my soul along with him
En jeevan vandhu serumaaWill my soul ever return to me?
Dhegam meendum vaazhumaaWill this body ever live again?
Female
Para para paravai ondruA fluttering bird
Kara kara karaiyil nindruStanding on the shore
Kanneeril kadal alai ninaikudhaeDrenches the ocean waves with her tears

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Para Para Paravai' expresses the profound grief and yearning of a woman waiting on the seashore for her missing lover. Comparing herself to a restless bird trapped on the shore, her sorrow is so vast that she metaphorically wets the ocean waves with her tears. Having sent her soul away with him, she wonders if she will ever be whole again or if her life is permanently paused without his presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi)

Para para paravai ondru / Kara kara karaiyil nindru

The words 'Para para' and 'Kara kara' use rhythmic sound duplication to convey the fluttering motion of wings and the coarse texture of the shore.

Hyperbole (Uruvagaimai / Atisayokti)

Kanneeril kadal alai ninaikudhae

Exaggerating the protagonist's weeping by describing her tears as being vast enough to drench the ocean waves.

Paradox / Metaphor

Thanneeril valayum nirkum / Thanneeraa valayil nirkum

Contrasting a net staying in water versus water staying in a net to symbolize the elusive and restless nature of her lover and her inability to hold onto him.

Contrast / Imagery

Oorengum mazhayum illai... Endraalum nenjil idi idikudhae

Pitting the external calm weather (no rain, no storm) against the internal emotional turmoil described as thunder in her heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 2012 Tamil drama film 'Neerparavai', directed by Seenu Ramasamy, this song highlights the tragic reality faced by the fishing community in Tamil Nadu. The music was composed by N. R. Raghunanthan, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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