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Naanum Oru Thozhilali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pattupoove Unnai Partha

From Naanum Oru Thozhilali · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Naanum Oru Thozhilali
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
17 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pattupoove unnai paartha
Pattupoove unnai paartha
Paattu paada aasai
Nadaiyor nadanam idaiyor nalinam
Nilavin rathi bimbam nee ulavum rathi vamsam
Iru puruvamum koon vizhum vaan pirai
Siru pani idhazh madal vidum thaamarai
Un poomaeni paaladai
Adhil naan thandha melaadai
Ammammaa un angam sen thangam
En kann koosudhae………
Pattupoove unnai paartha
Paattu paada aasai
Muzhangal alavu udaiyoo kuraivu
Adadaa adhu podhum
Mana kadalil alai modhum
Indha dharisanam kedaithadhu baakiyam
Idhai ezhudida ilai oru vakkiyam
Nee moovaaru pathinettu
Innum thaandaadha poonjittu
Adiyamma en kannum
En nenjam un pinnodudhae…hae…ae…ae…
Pattupoove unnai paartha
Paattu paada aasai
Inimel oruthi unnai pol azhagi
Iyarkkai padaikkadhu
Andha thiramai adharkkedhu
Adi unai vida kuraindhaval oorvasi
Undhan adimai endriruppaval menagai
Nee thalaadum pallakku
Thendral killadha poongothu
Adi amma en yogam un dhegam
En kann kondathae…….
Pattupoove unnai paartha
Paattu paada aasai
Thannaalae kavi aanen unnaalae
Oh my sweety oh dating beauty
Oh my sweety oh dating beauty
Pattupoove unnai paartha
Paattu paada aasai
Silken flower, just looking at you...
Silken flower, just looking at you...
I long to sing a song!
Your walk is like a dance, your waist is pure grace,
You are Rathi's (goddess of beauty) reflection in the moon, walking among us!
Both your eyebrows curve like the crescent moon in the sky,
Your dewy lips are like petals opening on a lotus,
Your flower-soft body is smooth as cream,
Draped with the dress I gave you.
Oh my, your body shines like pure gold,
It dazzles my eyes...
Silken flower, just looking at you...
I long to sing a song!
Your dress reaches only down to your knees,
Oh, that is more than enough,
To stir crashing waves in the ocean of my heart!
Getting this glimpse of you is my good fortune,
There is no sentence that can describe it.
You are three times six, just eighteen,
A tender little bird who hasn't crossed that age yet!
Oh girl, my eyes...
...and my heart go running after you! Hey... yeah...
Silken flower, just looking at you...
I long to sing a song!
Never again will such a beauty like you...
...be created by Nature,
For where does Nature have such skill?
Girl, even Urvashi falls short before you,
And Menaka would gladly live as your servant!
You are a gently swaying palanquin,
A bunch of flowers untouched even by the breeze,
Oh dear, what great luck that my eyes...
...have taken in your lovely form!
Silken flower, just looking at you...
I long to sing a song!
I became a poet naturally, all because of you,
Oh my sweetie, oh dating beauty!
Oh my sweetie, oh dating beauty!
Silken flower, just looking at you...
I long to sing a song!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Pattupoove Unnai Paartha is a romantic, upbeat song sung by the protagonist expressing his deep admiration for his beloved's radiant beauty and youth. He affectionately calls her a 'silken flower' (Pattupoo) and praises every facet of her charm, comparing her eyebrows to the crescent moon, her soft lips to a dew-kissed lotus, and her grace to celestial maidens like Rathi, Oorvasi, and Menaka. He notes that seeing her fills his heart with poetic inspiration and joy, declaring that even Nature lacks the skill to craft another masterpiece like her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile (உவமை)

Iru puruvamum koon vizhum vaan pirai

Comparing eyebrows to the curved crescent moon ('koon vizhum vaan pirai') and lips to a lotus blossom ('idhal madal vidum thaamarai').

Monaai (Ethir-Monaai / Alliteration)

Pattupoove unnai paartha / Paattu paada aasai

Repetition of the initial letter 'P' ('Pattupoove', 'paartha', 'Paattu', 'paada') creating rhythmic flow.

Atiyethukai (Assonance / Second Letter Rhyme)

Nadaiyor nadanam idaiyor nalinam / Nilavin rathi bimbam nee ulavum rathi vamsam

Matching second character sound across lines ('Na-daiyor' and 'Ni-lavin').

Uyarvu Navortchi Ani (Hyperbole)

Adi unai vida kuraindhaval oorvasi / Undhan adimai endriruppaval menagai

Exaggerating the heroine's beauty by claiming celestial nymphs Oorvasi and Menaka are inferior or mere servants to her.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja and featured in the 1986 Tamil action drama film 'Naanum Oru Thozhilali', starring Kamal Haasan and Ambika. SPB's vibrant vocals combined with Vaali's playful lyrical wordplay and modern English phrases ('Oh my sweety oh dating beauty') made it a popular youth track of the mid-1980s.

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