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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pattu Kannam

From Kaakki Sattai · 1985

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kaakki Sattai1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………………………………...
Male
Pattu kannam thottu kollaTo touch the silky cheek,
Otti kollumIt sticks close,
Otti kondu katti kollaTo stick close and embrace,
Ullam thullumThe heart leaps with joy.
Female
Thendral vandhuThe gentle breeze comes,
Ennai kanduSees me,
Mella mella raagam ondruAnd slowly, slowly a melody,
Paadudhammaa ..hooo hoi ….It sings, oh my... hooo hoi...
Female
Pattu kannam thottu kollaTo touch the silky cheek,
Otti kollumIt sticks close,
Otti kondu katti kollaTo stick close and embrace,
Ullam thullumThe heart leaps with joy.
Male
Neela nadhikkaraiOn the blue riverbank,
Orathil nindrirundhen… oru naalI stood on the edge... one day.
Undhan poovidhazh eerathilIn the moisture of your flower-like lips,
Ennai marandhirundhen… pala naalI forgot myself... for many days.
Female
Vaaanthu meengalaiLike the clouds hiding,
Megam maraithadhu pol…dhinamumThe stars in the sky... every day,
Endhan moghathai naanathilMy desire in shyness,
Moodi maraithirundhen…manadhilI kept hidden... in my heart.
Male
Naanam yaavum noolaadaiAll shyness is like a fine garment,
Naanae undhan pudhu melaadaiI am your new upper garment.
Female
Mangai ival angangalilOn the limbs of this young woman,
Ungal karam thodangalaamYour hands can begin,
Naadagamae …. hoi hoiThis drama... hoi hoi.
Male
Pattu kannam thottu kollaTo touch the silky cheek,
Otti kollumIt sticks close,
Otti kondu katti kollaTo stick close and embrace,
Ullam thullumThe heart leaps with joy.
Female
Thendral vandhuThe gentle breeze comes,
Ennai kanduSees me,
Mella mella raagam ondruAnd slowly, slowly a melody,
Paadudhammaa ..hooo hoi ….It sings, oh my... hooo hoi...
Male
Haha haahahaa…Haha haahahaa...
Female
Pattu kannam thottu kollaTo touch the silky cheek,
Otti kollumIt sticks close,
Otti kondu katti kollaTo stick close and embrace,
Ullam thullumThe heart leaps with joy.
Female
Karpanai konjidumCoaxed by imagination,
Kaavadi sandhangalae…adadaOh rhythm of Kaavadi... oh my!
Indha kaaviya kuyilaiThis poetic cuckoo bird,
Paarthu ezhudhiyadho…thalaivaDid they write after looking at her... my leader?
Male
Punnagai sindhidumSpilling a sweet smile,
Poonthamizh oviyamae…kiliyaeOh masterpiece of flower-like Tamil... parrot-like one!
Undhan poovudal paartha pinAfter seeing your flower-like body,
Sirpam vadithanaro…kaniyaeDid they sculpt statues... sweet fruit-like one?
Female
Aasai theeyai thoondaathaeDo not kindle the fire of desire,
Bodhai poovai dhinam thoovaathaeDo not scatter intoxicating flowers every day.
Male
Andhiyilae velli nilaaThe silver moon at dusk,
Alli tharum sugangalaeThe pleasures it offers,
Aaayiramae …. hoi hoiAre in thousands... hoi hoi.
Female
Pattu kannam thottu kollaTo touch the silky cheek,
Otti kollumIt sticks close,
Otti kondu katti kollaTo stick close and embrace,
Ullam thullumThe heart leaps with joy.
Male
Thendral vandhuThe gentle breeze comes,
Ennai kanduSees me,
Mella mella raagam ondruAnd slowly, slowly a melody,
Paadudhammaa ..hooo hoi ….It sings, oh my... hooo hoi...
Female
Pattu kannamSilky cheek,
Male :Thottu kollaMale: To touch,
Female :Otti kollumFemale: It sticks close,
Male :Otti konduMale: To stick close,
Female :Katti kollaFemale: And embrace,
Male :Ullam thullumMale: The heart leaps with joy.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pattu Kannam from Kaakki Sattai (1985) is a romantic duet expressing deep romantic intimacy and playful affection between lovers. The song uses rich nature imagery to describe the physical closeness and emotional warmth shared by the couple. The lyrics highlight themes of bashfulness, affection, and poetic praise, comparing the heroine's grace to Tamil art, sculptures, and sweet melodies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Alliteration (Moonaai / Ethirai)

Pattu kannam thottu kolla / Otti kollum

Rhythmic repetition of hard consonant sounds like 'tt' and 'kk' across adjacent words to create melodic flow.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Undhan poovidhazh eerathil

Comparing lips directly to flower petals in moisture.

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaanthu meengalai / Megam maraithadhu pol...dhinamum

Explicit comparison using 'pol' (like) comparing hidden passion behind shyness to clouds covering stars in the sky.

Repetition / Anaphora (Adukku Thodar)

Mella mella raagam ondru

Doubling of words for rhythmic emphasis and soft musical effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed without music director and singer details in the prompt, 'Pattu Kannam' is a very famous track composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki. Kaakki Sattai (1985) starred Kamal Haasan and Ambika in lead roles.

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