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Ratha Thilagam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pasumai Niraintha

From Ratha Thilagam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Ratha Thilagam
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
24 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pasumai niraintha ninaivugalae
Paadi thirintha paravaigalae
Female :Pazhagi kazhitha thozhargalae
Paranthu selgindrom
{Kurangugal polae
Marangalin melae
Thaavith thirinthomae} (2)
{Kuyilgalai polae
Iravum pagalum
Koovith thirinthomae} (2)
{Varavillaamal selavugal seithu
Magizhnthirunthomae} (2)
Vaazhkai thunbam arinthidaamal
Vaazhnthu vandhomae
Naamae vaazhnthu vanthomae
{Entha ooril entha naattil
Endru kaanbomo} (2)
{Entha azhagai entha vizhiyil
Kondu selvomo} (2)
{Intha naalai vantha naalil
Maranthu povomo} (2)
Illam kandu palli kondu
Mayangi nirppomo
Endrum mayangi nirppomo
O evergreen memories,
O birds that flew around singing,
O friends with whom we spent our days,
We are now flying away.
Just like monkeys,
High in the trees,
We leaped and jumped around!
Just like cuckoos,
Both night and day,
We wandered about singing!
Spending money without an income,
We rejoiced and were glad!
Without knowing life's sorrows,
We lived our days,
Yes, we lived our carefree days!
In which town, in which land,
When will we meet again?
Whose beauty in which eyes,
Will we carry away with us?
In the days to come,
Will we forget this day?
Finding a home and settling down,
Will we stand lost in a daze?
Will we forever stand lost in a daze?
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic nostalgic song from 'Ratha Thilagam' (1963) captures the bittersweet emotions of friends graduating and parting ways. Lyricist Kannadasan compares carefree student life to wild birds, monkeys leaping on trees, and cuckoos singing continuously without any monetary or adult worries. As they bid farewell, they reflect on their carefree past and wonder where life will take them, questioning if marriage, family responsibilities, and distance will cause them to forget these precious golden days.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Kurangugal polae / Kuyilgalai polae”

Compares the youth directly to monkeys jumping on branches and cuckoos singing happily.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Pasumai niraintha ninaivugalae / Paadi thirintha paravaigalae”

Repetition of the 'P' consonant at the start of adjacent lines (Pasumai, Paadi, Pazhagi, Paranthu).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Thaavith thirinthomae / Koovith thirinthomae”

Rhythmic repetition of verb endings like 'thirinthomae' and 'vandhomae' to create melodic symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, this Kannadasan creation remains the ultimate nostalgia and farewell anthem in Tamil school and college culture for over six decades.

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