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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Paranthalum Vidamatten

From Guru · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Guru1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hey baby…. my dearHey baby, my dear
Look here…. here I sayLook here, here I say
Paranthaalum vida maatenEven if you fly away, I will not let you go
Pirar kaiyil thara maatenI will not give you into anyone else's hands
Male
Andru naan unnidamThat day, with you
Kaidhi aanenI became a prisoner
Indru naan unnaiyaeToday, you yourself
Kaidhu seivenI shall arrest
Edharkaaga varugindrenWhy am I coming?
Unakaaga thodargindrenI am following for your sake
Male
Senoritaa are you still in loveSenorita, are you still in love
With me now I sayWith me now, I say
Female
Parakaadhae kidaikaadhuDon't fly high, you won't get it
Ninaikadhae nadakaadhuDon't even think about it, it won't happen
Male
Koondillae kili allaI am not a parrot in a cage
Konji pesaTo talk to fondly
Thogai naan maan allaI am not a peacock or a deer with a plume
Valaiyai veesaTo cast a net over
Unakkaaga piranthenaaWas I born just for you?
Edharkaaga varugindraaiWhy are you coming after me?
Female
Hey..let me seeHey, let me see
What you can do…What you can do...
Male :HooMale: Hoo
Male
Radhi irrukku thalai kullikkaThe divine beauty is ready to bathe her hair
Vidhi irrukku manam mudikkaDestiny is set for us to get married
Inangi vitaal sugam irrukkuIf you agree, there is pleasure ahead
Idhayathillae idam irrukkuThere is a space reserved in my heart
Female :HaFemale: Ha
Male
Thodarkadhai ezhudhuvomWe shall write a continuing story
ViraivillaeVery soon
Female :Haha ha haFemale: Haha ha ha
Male :Thottakaaran poovai paadinaalMale: If the gardener sings to the flower
Paarkumae ketkumaeIt will look and listen
Female
Parakadhae kidaikaadhuDon't fly high, you won't get it
Male :Haan haaMale: Haan haa
Female :NinaikaadhaeFemale: Don't think about it
Male :Haha ha haMale: Haha ha ha
Female :NadakaadhuFemale: It won't happen
Male
Andru naan unnidamThat day, with you
Kaidhi aanenI became a prisoner
Indru naan unnaiyaeToday, you yourself
Kaidhu seivenI shall arrest
Female
Unakkaaga piranthenaaWas I born just for you?
Edharkaaga varugindraaiWhy are you coming after me?
Female
Vidhi vazhi thaanOnly along the path of fate
Kadhai nadakkumWill the story unfold
Adhigam sonaalIf you say too much
Udhai kidaikkumYou will get a kick
Female
Padhumai alla aati vaikkaI am not a doll to be manipulated
Paavai alla pooti vaikkaI am not a puppet to be locked away
Kaamugan manadhillum kavidhayaaIs there poetry even in a lustful man's mind?
Bodhai enna konjam konjamaaiWhat is this intoxication, bit by bit
Yerudho meerudhoIs it rising? Is it exceeding bounds?
Male
Paranthaalum haanEven if you fly, haan
Vvida maatenI will not let you go
Pirar kaiyil thara maatenI will not give you into anyone else's hands
Female
Koondillae killi allaNot a parrot in a cage
Konji pesaTo talk to fondly
Male :Haaan haanMale: Haaan haan
Female :Thogai naan maan allaFemale: I am not a peacock or a deer with a plume
Valaiyai veesaTo cast a net over
Male
Edharkaaga varugindrenWhy am I coming?
Unakaaga thodarginrenI am following for your sake
Hey baby…hey babyHey baby, hey baby
How do you feel about me now..haan haanHow do you feel about me now... haan haan
Female
Parakaadhae kidaikaadhuDon't fly high, you won't get it
Male : Paranthaalum vida maatennnnnnnMale: Even if you fly, I will not let you go!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful duet from the 1980 Tamil film 'Guru' features a spirited back-and-forth banter between the male and female leads. The male protagonist persistently pursues his love interest, humorously claiming that having been a 'prisoner' of her beauty in the past, he now intends to 'arrest' her heart and will never let her escape to anyone else. He sees their union as an inevitability orchestrated by fate. The heroine counters his advance with sharp, witty resistance. She asserts her independence, reminding him that she is neither a caged bird to be coaxed nor a wild creature to be netted and locked away. Despite her warnings and playful threats, the underlying chemistry and mutual attraction build as they engage in this captivating game of romantic pursuit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paranthaalum vida maaten / Pirar kaiyil thara maaten

Rhyming of the second character 'ra' across lines 'Paranthaalum' and 'Pirar'.

Monaai (Initial Letter Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kaidhi aanen / Indru naan unnaiyae / Kaidhu seiven

Alliteration on the sound 'Kai' in 'Kaidhi' and 'Kaidhu'.

Metaphor / Imagery

Koondillae kili alla / Konji pesa / Thogai naan maan alla

Using caged birds ('Koondillae kili') and wild deer ('Thogai maan') as metaphors for loss of freedom and captivity.

Antimetabole / Contrasting Paradox

Andru naan unnidam Kaidhi aanen / Indru naan unnaiyae Kaidhu seiven

Juxtaposition of being a prisoner in the past versus becoming the captor in the present.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Kannadasan, 'Paranthaalum Vida Maaten' from 'Guru' (1980) showcases a modern, westernized musical arrangement characteristic of late 70s and early 80s Tamil cinema. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, the track is renowned for its stylish blends of English interjections with rhythmic Tamil lyrics, complementing the slick action-thriller imagery of Kamal Haasan and Sridevi on screen.

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