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Parakkum Paavai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pattu Paavadai Enge

From Parakkum Paavai · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Parakkum Paavai
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
16 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaal kattu kai kattu
Illaadha pengalukku
Kaadhal illai endraalum
Kaaval ondru vendumammaa
Kaaval ondru vendumammaa
Pattu paavaadai engae
Katti vaitha koondhal engae
Pottengae poovum engae
Sollammaa sollammaa
Pattu paavaadai engae
Katti vaitha koondhal engae
Pottengae poovum engae
Sollammaa sollammaa
Kattazhagai aadai kondu
Sutri vitta kolam enna
Vattamidum kangal rendum
Kotti vitta baavam enna
Penmai ondru aan endru
Maari vandha saedhi enna
Pattu paavaadai engae
Katti vaitha koondhal engae
Pottengae poovum engae
Sollammaa sollammaa
Kallirukkum mullai mottu
Kanneduthu paarppadhenna
Kannamennum velli thattu
Thulli vandhu ketpadhenna
Thaerodu sirpam vandhu
Oorvalanthaan povadhenna
Pattu paavaadai engae
Katti vaitha koondhal engae
Pottengae poovum engae
Sollammaa sollammaa
Pennukku pen kaadhal kollum
Kanni indru povadhengae
Munnum pinnum kaaval indri
Thannanthani aavadhengae
Murai sollum maappillai
Yarumindri selvadhengae
Pattu paavaadai engae
Katti vaitha koondhal engae
Pottengae poovum engae
Sollammaa sollammaa …sollammaa
For women who have no ties
to bind their hands and feet,
even if they have no love,
they still need a protector, my dear.
They still need a protector, my dear.
Where is your silk skirt?
Where is your neatly tied hair?
Where is your bindi, and where are your flowers?
Tell me... oh, tell me...
Where is your silk skirt?
Where is your neatly tied hair?
Where is your bindi, and where are your flowers?
Tell me... oh, tell me...
Wrapping your shapely beauty in these clothes,
what disguise have you put on?
What expressions
do your roving eyes pour out?
What is the story behind a woman
transforming into a man?
Where is your silk skirt?
Where is your neatly tied hair?
Where is your bindi, and where are your flowers?
Tell me... oh, tell me...
Like a jasmine bud soaked in wine,
why do your eyes glance this way?
Like a silver platter, why do your cheeks
bounce forward and ask for something?
Like a temple sculpture riding a chariot,
why are you marching in procession?
Where is your silk skirt?
Where is your neatly tied hair?
Where is your bindi, and where are your flowers?
Tell me... oh, tell me...
Making even women fall in love with you,
where is this young maiden heading today?
With no guard in front or behind,
where are you going all on your own?
Without a husband around
to find fault, where are you off to?
Where is your silk skirt?
Where is your neatly tied hair?
Where is your bindi, and where are your flowers?
Tell me... oh, tell me... tell me...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the movie Parakkum Paavai (1966) features playful, inquisitive lyrics where the narrator teases a young woman who appears to have disguised herself or abandoned traditional female attire and adornments. The narrator playfully questions where her silk skirt, neatly tied hair, bindi, and flowers have gone, marveling at how her striking beauty shines through despite her disguise. The lyrics express admiration for her charm while playfully cautioning her about traveling alone without protection or a rightful companion. Kannadasan crafts a lighthearted yet poetically rich dialogue that highlights feminine elegance and playful banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Pattu paavaadai engae / Katti vaitha koondhal engae”

The second letter 't' (ட்) rhymes across consecutive words, creating rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor (Uruvakgam)

“Kannamennum velli thattu”

The maiden's cheek is directly compared to a gleaming silver plate.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

“Sollammaa sollammaa”

The word 'sollammaa' is repeated continuously for rhythmic emphasis and persistent questioning.

Did you know?

Trivia

Parakkum Paavai (1966) is a Tamil circus-themed romantic thriller starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), B. Saroja Devi, and J. Jayalalithaa. The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Kannadasan.

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