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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pasam Prema Pasam

From Prema Pasam -1985 · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Prema Pasam -19851985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paasam prema paasam paasam prema paasamAffection, loving affection, affection, loving affection.
Oru dheivam illaatha verunkoyil dheepamA lamp in an empty temple without a deity.
Irunthaalum ponaalum evarkkenna laabamWhether I live or pass away, who profits from it?
Maraiyaathathu prema paasam paasamLoving affection is the one thing that never fades.
Male
Paasam prema paasam paasam prema paasamAffection, loving affection, affection, loving affection.
Male
Naan konda mogangal ellaamae maayamAll the desires I held were mere illusion.
Naalaagi ponaalum aaraatha kaayamA wound that never heals even as days pass by.
Yaarodu solveno naan pattapaaduTo whom shall I tell the suffering I have endured?
Kuyil vanthu seraamal puyal vantha kooduA nest hit by a storm before the nightingale could arrive.
Male
Kann moodinaal….aa…aa…aa….aa…When closing eyes... ah... ah... ah...
Kann moodumpothum idhu urangaatha paasamEven when eyes close in death, this affection never sleeps.
Male
Paasam prema paasam paasam prema paasamAffection, loving affection, affection, loving affection.
Male
Iranthaalum en paasam iravaamal vaazhumEven if I die, my affection will live on immortal.
Maru jenmam aanaalum maravaamal serumEven in a rebirth, it will unite without forgetting.
Nee ennai thaalaattum thaayaaga vendumYou must become the mother who lulls me to sleep.
Naan unthan madi meedhu seyaaga vendumI must become the child on your lap.
Male
Theyaamalae…ae…ae….ae…ae…ae….aa….aa…aa….Without waning... ah... ah... ah...
Theyaamal valarum idhu dheiveega paasamThis divine affection grows without waning.
Male
Paasam prema paasam paasam prema paasamAffection, loving affection, affection, loving affection.
Oru dheivam illaatha verunkoyil dheepamA lamp in an empty temple without a deity.
Irunthaalum ponaalum evarkkenna laabamWhether I live or pass away, who profits from it?
Maraiyaathathu prema paasam paasamLoving affection is the one thing that never fades.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song Prema Pasam expresses a deeply poignant lamentation on the unyielding and eternal nature of true love and emotional attachment. The protagonist feels like a lonely lamp burning inside an abandoned temple without a deity, lamenting that worldly desires have turned out to be mere illusions and unhealable wounds. Despite the grief and feeling like a bird's nest destroyed by a storm, the protagonist asserts that true affection transcends physical demise. Even across rebirths, this divine love is envisioned to endure, transforming into a pure mother-child bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Oru dheivam illaatha verunkoyil dheepam

Compares the protagonist's desolate soul to a lit lamp inside an empty temple that lacks a deity, symbolizing extreme loneliness and aimlessness.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kuyil vanthu seraamal puyal vantha koodu

Compares a broken life to a nest hit by a storm before the nightingale could find shelter, signifying unexpected tragedy before joy could arrive.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Iranthaalum en paasam iravaamal vaazhum

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'i' across words in the line creating musical harmony.

Paradox / Contrast

Iranthaalum en paasam iravaamal vaazhum

Contrasts physical death with eternal life of affection (Iranthaalum vs Iravaamal vaazhum) to stress immortality of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Prema Pasam (1985) starred legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan alongside Prabhu and Revathi. The song highlights the expressive vocal range of S. P. Balasubrahmanyam under Gangai Amaran's musical composition, with lyrics penned by Vaali capturing deep tragic sentimentalism.

Keep listening

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