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Lyrics & meaning

Parandhu Vandha

From Kaveriyin Kanavan · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Trichy Loganathan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kaveriyin Kanavan1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Onnai marandhu naanum thoonghuvadhu ennammaHow can I forget you and sleep, my dear?
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Onnai marandhu naanum thoonghuvadhu ennammaHow can I forget you and sleep, my dear?
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Male
Virundhu endru nadakkumunnuExpecting when the feast would happen,
Kathirundhen nichaiyammaI waited for sure, my dear.
Kaadhal virundhu endru nadakkumunnuExpecting when the feast of love would take place,
Kathirundhen nichaiyammaI waited for sure, my dear.
Therinjirundha manmadhan koodaKnowing this, even Lord Manmadhan
Manasu vechaan kachidhamaaGraciously blessed us perfectly.
Therinjirundha manmadhan koodaKnowing this, even Lord Manmadhan
Manasu vechaan kachidhamaaGraciously blessed us perfectly.
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Male
Pullaiyai thookkum vayasilae neeAt an age when you should be carrying a child,
Busthagam thookki vandhadhumYou came carrying schoolbooks,
Punnagaiyaal kadhaiyum pesiTalking stories with a gentle smile,
Un manasai thandhadhumAnd gave me your heart.
Pullaiyai thookkum vayasilae neeAt an age when you should be carrying a child,
Busthagam thookki vandhadhumYou came carrying schoolbooks,
Punnagaiyaal kadhaiyum pesiTalking stories with a gentle smile,
Un manasai thandhadhumAnd gave me your heart.
Male
Ullam onnu uruvam rendaaiOne heart existing in two physical bodies,
Olinji olinji thirinjathumWe wandered hiding and creeping around.
Ullam onnu uruvam rendaaiOne heart existing in two physical bodies,
Olinji olinji thirinjathumWe wandered hiding and creeping around.
Unakkum enakkum therinjittalumEven though you and I knew it,
Indha ulagam theriyavendum endruSo that this entire world should know it too,
Raam patta parambarai naanI am from the lineage of Lord Rama's fame,
Laalaa puram vadakaraiFrom the northern bank of Lalapuram.
Parandhu vandha ….Flying came...
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Male
Kaaveriyil potta thoondiWill a fishing hook cast in the Kaveri river
Ganga nadhiyil midhakkumaFloat all the way in the Ganges river?
Kaala menu kavvura mullaiWill the fish called Kaala that bites the bait
Kanda menu kavvidumaBite any random bait it sees?
Kaaveriyil potta thoondiWill a fishing hook cast in the Kaveri river
Ganga nadhiyil midhakkumaFloat all the way in the Ganges river?
Kaala menu kavvura mullaiWill the fish called Kaala that bites the bait
Kanda menu kavvidumaBite any random bait it sees?
Male
Saaveriyin aaroganamCan the ascending scale of raga Saaveri
Neelambarikku saerumaaBe suitable for raga Neelambari?
Saaveriyin aaroganamCan the ascending scale of raga Saaveri
Neelambarikku saerumaaBe suitable for raga Neelambari?
Sangadhi yaavum therinjadhaaleSince I know all these matters,
Indha jadhaiyin manasu purinjadhaaleAnd since I understand the heart of this pair,
Raam patta parambarai naanI am from the lineage of Lord Rama's fame,
Laalaa puram vadakaraiFrom the northern bank of Lalapuram.
Parandhu vandha ….Flying came...
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Male
Avunga planu ivanga planuTheir plan or these people's plan,
Evunga planu sellaadhuNobody's plan will work here.
Aagaayathil parandhu ponaEven an airplane that flies high up
Aeroplaneum nilladhuIn the sky will not stop.
Male
Amma podum anugunduthaanThe atom bomb dropped by mother
Yaaraiyumae velladhuCannot conquer anyone at all.
Amma podum anugunduthaanThe atom bomb dropped by mother
Yaaraiyumae velladhuCannot conquer anyone at all.
Adakkumurai koondukullaeInside the cage of oppression,
Unnai adaichu vechum adhisayamaaiEven after locking you up, miraculously,
Parandhu vandha ….Flying came...
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!
Onnai marandhu naanum thoonghuvadhu ennammaHow can I forget you and sleep, my dear?
Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaaO green parrot who came flying, my dear darling!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from 'Kaveriyin Kanavan' (1959) is a romantic and playful declaration of love sung by the male protagonist. He addresses his beloved affectionately as a 'green parrot' who miraculously escaped imprisonment or familial restrictions to be with him. He recalls how their romance blossomed during her school days, describing how two bodies became one united heart despite social obstacles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Parandhu vandha paingiliyae kannmaa

Compares the beloved to a green parrot ('paingili') that escaped confinement to reach her lover.

Anaphora / Alliteration (Monaai)

Ullam onnu uruvam rendaai

Repetition of initial vowel sounds ('Ullam' / 'Uruvam') emphasizing harmony and unity.

Carnatic Musical Analogy

Saaveriyin aaroganam Neelambarikku saerumaa

Uses the scales of classical ragas (Saaveri and Neelambari) to express philosophical questions about nature and compatibility.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, this song stands out for blending traditional Tamil poetic metaphors (parrots, rivers, ragas) with contemporary 1950s tropes like airplanes and atom bombs.

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