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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pattuvanna Chittu

From Parisu · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Parisu1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Alli kondai mudichchuTying up the hair bun with water lily flowers,
Arai kaasu pottu vachchuWearing a small gold ornament around the waist,
Velli salangai kattiTying silver anklets on her feet,
Vilakku vaikkum nerathilaeAt dusk, when lamps are lit,
Vilakku vaikkum nerathilaeAt dusk, when lamps are lit,
Male
Pattu vanna chittuO silky colourful little bird,
Padagu thurai vittuLeaving the boat jetty dock,
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Male
Pattu vanna chittuO silky colourful little bird,
Padagu thurai vittuLeaving the boat jetty dock,
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Male
Allikkodi polaeLike a water lily creeper,
Thaen aatrangkarai melaeOn the banks of the sweet honey river,
Allikkodi polaeLike a water lily creeper,
Thaen aatrangkarai melaeOn the banks of the sweet honey river,
Male
Mella mella idaiyasaiyaWith her waist swaying gently and slowly,
Vellichchilai polaeLike a silver statue standing tall,
Mella mella idaiyasaiyaWith her waist swaying gently and slowly,
Vellichchilai polaeLike a silver statue standing tall,
Male
Pattu vanna chittuO silky colourful little bird,
Padagu thurai vittuLeaving the boat jetty dock,
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Male
Aalai paartha vegamThe rush upon catching sight of him,
Avan azhagai paartha mogamThe infatuation from witnessing his beauty,
Aalai paartha vegamThe rush upon catching sight of him,
Avan azhagai paartha mogamThe infatuation from witnessing his beauty,
Male
Kaalai paarthu nadandha ponnuThe girl who used to walk looking down at her feet,
Kaattudhamma bhaavamNow expresses deep emotions and romance,
Kaalai paarthu nadandha ponnuThe girl who used to walk looking down at her feet,
Kaattudhamma bhaavamNow expresses deep emotions and romance,
Male
Pattu vanna chittuO silky colourful little bird,
Padagu thurai vittuLeaving the boat jetty dock,
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Male
Ponna porandhaalIf a girl is born into this world,
Oru purushannukku neraeDirectly before a worthy husband,
Ponna porandhaalIf a girl is born into this world,
Oru purushannukku neraeDirectly before a worthy husband,
Male
Ninnaagathaan venumShe must stand tall and proud,
Aval vaazhvil oru naalaeAt least for a single day in her life,
Ninnaagathaan venumShe must stand tall and proud,
Aval vaazhvil oru naalaeAt least for a single day in her life,
Male
Pattu vanna chittuO silky colourful little bird,
Padagu thurai vittuLeaving the boat jetty dock,
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?
Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadiWho are you looking for, my dear girl,
Anna nadai pottuWalking with the majestic stride of a swan?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil song captures playful teasing and admiration for a young woman who is dressed up and stepping out at dusk near a river dock. The narrator affectionately compares her to a colourful bird and a elegant swan, noticing how her posture and demeanor have transformed due to newfound love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Allikkodi polae / Vellichchilai polae

Compares the girl's delicate waist and graceful movement to a lily creeper ('Allikkodi polae') and a silver statue ('Vellichchilai polae').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Pattu vanna chittu

Addresses the young woman metaphorically as a colourful silk bird ('Pattu vanna chittu').

Metaphor / Analogy (Swan Walk)

Anna nadai pottu

Refers to her graceful and noble gait as 'Anna nadai' (swan walk), a classic poetic motif in Tamil literature.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Pattu vanna chittu / Padagu thurai vittu / Paarppadhuvum yaaraiyadi

Repetition of consonant sounds like 'P' in 'Pattu', 'Padagu', 'Paarppadhuvum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1963 film 'Parisu', this track showcases Kannadasan's mastery in blending traditional Tamil poetic metaphors with folk rhythmic patterns suited for modern cinema.

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