Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pavada Thavaniyum

From Chinnanjsiru Kiliye · 1980

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Chinnanjsiru Kiliye1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paavaadai aahaaSkirt, aha!
Paavaadai thaavaniyum potta chelammaaMy darling wearing a skirt and half-saree,
Unna paakka naanum kaaththirukkaen pakkam nillammaaI am waiting to see you, stand by my side darling.
Paavaadai kizhinja paavaadai thaavaniyum potta chellammaaTorn skirt, my darling wearing a skirt and half-saree,
Unna paakka naanum kaaththirukkaen pakkam nillammaaI am waiting to see you, stand by my side darling.
Male
Kaanaama thavichchen maanae araikkaapadi thaenaeI suffered when I could not see you, my doe, my measure of sweet honey,
Kalyaana panna vanthaen unna naanaeI came here to marry you myself.
Male
Paavaadai kizhinja paavaadai…..Torn skirt, skirt...
Male
Idhu thaavi vantha nenju aasa thanni patta panjuThis heart came leaping; desire is like cotton soaked in water,
Idhu thaavi vantha nenju aasa thanni patta panjuThis heart came leaping; desire is like cotton soaked in water,
Idhu thaalam pottu raagam pottuSetting a rhythm and setting a tune,
Thaavi thaavi thaanaadaLeaping and bounding to dance on its own,
Koththamalli poovae en kitta vaadiOh coriander flower, come near me!
Adi koththamalli poovae en kitta vaadiHey coriander flower, come near me!
Female
Paavaadai kizhinja paavaadai thaavaniyilIn the torn skirt and half-saree,
PaarththathennaiyyaaWhat is it that you saw, sir?
Enna paarththu paarththuLooking at me again and again,
Aasaiyaal thudippathennaiyyaaWhy are you throbbing with desire, sir?
Male
Kaanaama thavichchenae maanaeI suffered when I could not see you, my doe,
Araikkaapadi thaenaeMy measure of sweet honey,
Kalyaanam panna vanthaen unna naanaeI came here to marry you myself.
Male
Paavaadai kizhinja paavaadai…..Torn skirt, skirt...
Male
Kalyaanam namma kalyaaamWedding, our wedding,
Thaedhi onnu paaththu varuvaeI will fix an auspicious date and come,
Nalla kangaeya kayiru potta kattil vaanguvaenI will buy a bed woven with fine Kangayam rope,
Ishtappadi eppothum katti pidippaenI will embrace you as much as I wish at all times,
Anth yaezhu swaram melaeyum thottu pidippaenI will reach and touch beyond those seven musical notes,
Female
Nee enna sollu rasaaTell me what you think, my prince,
Naan unakku yaeththa rosaaI am the rose perfectly suited for you,
Nee enna sollu rasaaTell me what you think, my prince,
Naan unakku yaeththa rosaaI am the rose perfectly suited for you,
Unga ennam pola aadippaadaTo dance and sing according to your wishes,
Enakkum kooda aasaithaangaI too have immense desire,
Mama vanthu thottaakka nallaa irukkumIt will feel so wonderful if my beloved comes and touches me,
En mama vanthu thottaakka nallaa irukkumIt will feel so wonderful if my beloved comes and touches me,
Male
Paavaadai kizhinja paavaadai thaavaniyum potta chellammaaMy darling wearing a skirt and half-saree,
Unna paakka naanum kaaththirukkaen pakkam nillammaaI am waiting to see you, stand by my side darling.
Male
Kaanaama thavichchen maanae araikkaapadi thaenaeI suffered when I could not see you, my doe, my measure of sweet honey,
Kalyaana panna vanthaen unna naanaeI came here to marry you myself.
Haa kalyaana panna vanthaen unna naanaeAha, I came here to marry you myself.
Adi kalyaana panna vanthaen unna naanaeHey, I came here to marry you myself.
Haei kalyaana panna vanthaen unna naanaeHey, I came here to marry you myself.
Kalyaana panna vanthaen unna naanaeI came here to marry you myself.
Female
……………………...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paavaadai Kizhinja Paavaadai is a playful, romantic rural duet from the 1980 Tamil film Chinnanjiru Kiliye, composed by G. K. Venkatesh and written by Gangai Amaran. Sung with vibrant energy by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki, the song captures an affectionate dialogue between two lovers expressing their deep attraction, longing, and eager anticipation for their upcoming marriage. The hero teases his lover about her traditional attire and describes his restless passion, promising to build a life together. The heroine responds with equal warmth, playfully questioning his yearning gaze while eagerly confessing her own desire to be united with him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Metaphor (Uwamai)

Idhu thaavi vantha nenju aasa thanni patta panju

Desire is compared to 'thanni patta panju' (water-soaked cotton), illustrating how quickly and completely love absorbs and weighs down the heart.

Endearing Rural Metaphors (Uwamana Vili)

Kaanaama thavichchen maanae araikkaapadi thaenae

The lover addresses his beloved using sweet natural imagery such as 'maanae' (doe), 'araikkaapadi thaenae' (measure of honey), and 'koththamalli poovae' (coriander flower).

Monorhyme and Rhythm (Iyaibu)

Unna paakka naanum kaaththirukkaen pakkam nillammaa

Frequent repetition of rhythmic end-rhymes ('nillammaa', 'chellammaa', 'naanae') adds to the folk-dance cadence of the track.

Did you know?

Trivia

Chinnanjiru Kiliye (1980) featured music by the veteran composer G. K. Venkatesh, who was a key mentor to maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Gangai Amaran infused the track with authentic folk expressions and colloquial idioms, which singers Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki rendered with lively theatrical flair.

Keep listening

More from Chinnanjsiru Kiliye