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Isaimozhi
Patham Pasali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pathampasali Mama

From Patham Pasali · 1970

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Patham Pasali
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
23 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pathampasali mama maamooi
Pathampasali mama
Andha paadam padikalama
Indha paruva ponnu nerungi vandhu
Padichu kodukklaama
Pathampasali mama
Andha paadam padikalama
Indha paruva ponnu nerungi vandhu
Padichu kodukklaama
Pathampasali mama maamooi
Pottathaan paakku vethala nerakkudhu
Nee thottalae kannam rendum sivakudhu..haan
Pottathaan paakku vethala nerakkudhu
Nee thottalae kannam rendum sivakudhu
Orachaathaan sandhanakattai manakkudhu..ahaan
Orachaathaan sandhanakattai manakkudhu
Jodi serndhathaan kaadhalingae porakkudhu
Maama..kannadikka kathukkanum
Kanakku panna theriyanum
Kanni ponna thoondi pottu
Pudikka theriyanum
Ada pathampasali mama maamooi
Valli murugan kaadhalukku
Naradhan paadupattaan
Alli archanan kadhalukku
Krishnan paadupattaan
Valli murugan kaadhalukku
Naradhan paadupattaan
Alli archanan kadhalukku
Krishnan paadupattaan
Naladhamayanthi sodi sera
Annatha thoodhu vittaan
Naladhamayanthi sodi sera
Annatha thoodhu vittaan
Naanum neeyum sodi sera
Koodaiya thookka vechaan
Saapaattu koodaiya thookka vechaan
Ada ennaiyaa aambala idhu unakkum puriyala
Ada ennaiyaa aambala idhu unakkum puriyala
Idhukku mela eduthu solla enakkum theriyala
Pathampasali mama maamooi
Pathampasali mama
Andha paadam padikalama
Indha paruva ponnu nerungi vandhu
Padichu kodukklaama
Pathampasali mama maamooi
You old-fashioned mister, oh mister...
You old-fashioned mister,
shall we study that lesson?
Should this young girl come close
and teach it to you?
You old-fashioned mister,
shall we study that lesson?
Should this young girl come close
and teach it to you?
You old-fashioned mister, oh mister...
Only when chewed do betel leaf and nut turn red,
but just with your touch, both my cheeks blush red!
Only when chewed do betel leaf and nut turn red,
but just with your touch, both my cheeks blush red!
Only when rubbed does a piece of sandalwood give fragrance, aha!
Only when rubbed does a piece of sandalwood give fragrance,
and only when a pair unites is love born here!
Mister, you must learn to wink,
you must know how to flirt and woo,
you must know how to cast a hook
and catch a young girl!
Ah, you old-fashioned mister, oh mister...
For the love of Valli and Murugan,
Narada worked hard.
For the love of Alli and Arjuna,
Krishna worked hard.
For the love of Valli and Murugan,
Narada worked hard.
For the love of Alli and Arjuna,
Krishna worked hard.
For Nala and Damayanti to unite as a pair,
a swan was sent as a messenger.
For Nala and Damayanti to unite as a pair,
a swan was sent as a messenger.
But for you and me to become a pair,
he made me carry a basket,
he made me carry a food basket!
Ah, what kind of man are you, that you cannot understand even this?
Ah, what kind of man are you, that you cannot understand even this?
Beyond this, even I do not know how to explain it to you!
You old-fashioned mister, oh mister...
You old-fashioned mister,
shall we study that lesson?
Should this young girl come close
and teach it to you?
You old-fashioned mister, oh mister...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In 'Patham Pasali', the heroine playful teases her naive and old-fashioned lover (referred to affectionately as 'Pathampasali mama'). She urges him to learn the art of romance, comparing love to natural pairs that only reveal their beauty when combined, such as betel leaf with nut, or sandalwood when ground. She humorously references mythological matchmakers like Narada, Krishna, and the Swan messenger, teasing him about how fate has brought them together through simple everyday situations while encouraging him to be more romantic and proactive.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Simile (Uvamai)

Pottathaan paakku vethala nerakkudhu

Compares love and romantic pairing to the chewing of betel nut/leaves giving red color, and sandalwood yielding fragrance when rubbed.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Valli murugan kaadhalukku / Alli archanan kadhalukku

Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines: 'Valli' / 'Alli'.

Mythological Allusion

Naladhamayanthi sodi sera Annatha thoodhu vittaan

References divine/legendary romantic pairs and matchmakers (Valli-Murugan, Alli-Arjuna, Nala-Damayanthi).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Patham Pasali' (1970) stars Gemini Ganesan and Nagesh. The song, sung energetically by L. R. Eswari and composed by V. Kumar, became a famous playful romantic track of the 1970s.

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