Payanam Payanam
From Payanam 1976 Film · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Payanam 1976 Film1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Payanam payanam payanam | Journey, journey, journey. |
| Paththu maadha chithiramondru jananam | A ten-month painting is born as a life. |
| Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam | For how many days, and to where all is its journey? |
| Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam | For how many days, and to where all is its journey? |
| Male | |
| Payanam payanam payanam | Journey, journey, journey. |
| Male | |
| Aarambam pallikku payanam | In the beginning, a journey to school. |
| Pinbu aduthadhu aasaiyin payanam | Then next comes the journey of desires. |
| Aarambam pallikku payanam | In the beginning, a journey to school. |
| Pinbu aduthadhu aasaiyin payanam | Then next comes the journey of desires. |
| Ilam kaadhalar kangalil payanam | A journey seen through the eyes of young lovers. |
| Andha kalakkathil kanneeril payanam | A journey through tears amidst that confusion. |
| Iraivanum manidhanum payanam seidhaalae | If God and man travel together, |
| Evarai evar velluvaaro | who will triumph over whom? |
| Evarai evar velluvaaro | Who will triumph over whom? |
| Male | |
| Payanam payanam payanam | Journey, journey, journey. |
| Male | |
| Pugai vandi ottida oruvan | One person to drive the steam train, |
| Adhu pogindra vazhi solla oruvan | one person to mark the route it takes, |
| Andha iruvarai nambiya manidhan | and man who places his faith in both of them; |
| Avan idaiyinil ninaippavan iraivan | yet the one who contemplates in between is God. |
| Iraivanum manidhanum payanam seidhaalae | If God and man travel together, |
| Evarai evar velluvaaro | who will triumph over whom? |
| Evarai evar velluvaaro | Who will triumph over whom? |
| Male | |
| Sandhippu varuvadhu kandu | Seeing that meetings and encounters happen, |
| Palar sandhikkum idangalum undu | there are places where many people meet. |
| Avar sondhangalaavadhum undu | Some of them become relations, |
| Adhu thodar kadhai aavadhum undu | and it turns into a continuing story. |
| Iraivanum manidhanum payanam seidhaalae | If God and man travel together, |
| Evarai evar velluvaaro | who will triumph over whom? |
| Evarai evar velluvaaro | Who will triumph over whom? |
| Male | |
| Payanam payanam payanam | Journey, journey, journey. |
| Paththu maadha chithiramondru jananam | A ten-month painting is born as a life. |
| Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam | For how many days, and to where all is its journey? |
| Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam | For how many days, and to where all is its journey? |
| Male | |
| Payanam payanam payanam | Journey, journey, journey. |
பயணம் பயணம் பயணம்
பத்துமாத நித்திரை கண்டு ஜனனம்
அது எத்தனை நாளோ எங்கெங்கேயோ பயணம்
அது எத்தனை நாளோ எங்கெங்கேயோ பயணம்
Journey, journey, journey.
A ten-month painting is born as a life.
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
பயணம் பயணம் பயணம்
Journey, journey, journey.
ஆரம்பப் பள்ளிக்கு பயணம்
பின்பு அடுத்தது ஆசையின் பயணம்
ஆரம்பப் பள்ளிக்கு பயணம்
பின்பு அடுத்தது ஆசையின் பயணம்
இளங்காதலர் கண்களில் பயணம்
அந்தக் கலக்கத்தில் கண்ணீரில் பயணம்
இறைவனும் மனிதனும் பயணம் செய்தாலே
எவரை எவர் வெல்லுவாரோ......
எவரை எவர் வெல்லுவாரோ......
In the beginning, a journey to school.
Then next comes the journey of desires.
In the beginning, a journey to school.
Then next comes the journey of desires.
A journey seen through the eyes of young lovers.
A journey through tears amidst that confusion.
If God and man travel together,
who will triumph over whom?
Who will triumph over whom?
பயணம் பயணம் பயணம்
Journey, journey, journey.
புகை வண்டி ஓட்டிட ஒருவன்
அது போகின்ற வழி சொல்ல ஒருவன்
அந்த இருவரை நம்பிய மனிதன்
அவன் இடையினில் நினைப்பவன் இறைவன்
இறைவனும் மனிதனும் பயணம் செய்தால்
எவரை எவர் வெல்லுவாரோ........
எவரை எவர் வெல்லுவாரோ........
One person to drive the steam train,
one person to mark the route it takes,
and man who places his faith in both of them;
yet the one who contemplates in between is God.
If God and man travel together,
who will triumph over whom?
Who will triumph over whom?
சந்திப்பு வருவது கண்டு
பலர் சந்திக்கும் இடங்களும் உண்டு
அவர் சொந்தங்கள் ஆவதும் உண்டு
அது தொடர்கதை ஆவதும் உண்டு
இறைவனும் மனிதனும் பயணம் செய்தாலே
எவரை எவர் வெல்லுவாரோ......
எவரை எவர் வெல்லுவாரோ......
Seeing that meetings and encounters happen,
there are places where many people meet.
Some of them become relations,
and it turns into a continuing story.
If God and man travel together,
who will triumph over whom?
Who will triumph over whom?
பயணம் பயணம் பயணம்
பத்துமாத நித்திரை கண்டு ஜனனம்
அது எத்தனை நாளோ எங்கெங்கேயோ பயணம்
அது எத்தனை நாளோ எங்கெங்கேயோ பயணம்
Journey, journey, journey.
A ten-month painting is born as a life.
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
பயணம் பயணம் பயணம்
Journey, journey, journey.
Payanam payanam payanam
Journey, journey, journey.
Paththu maadha chithiramondru jananam
A ten-month painting is born as a life.
Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
Payanam payanam payanam
Journey, journey, journey.
Aarambam pallikku payanam
In the beginning, a journey to school.
Pinbu aduthadhu aasaiyin payanam
Then next comes the journey of desires.
Aarambam pallikku payanam
In the beginning, a journey to school.
Pinbu aduthadhu aasaiyin payanam
Then next comes the journey of desires.
Ilam kaadhalar kangalil payanam
A journey seen through the eyes of young lovers.
Andha kalakkathil kanneeril payanam
A journey through tears amidst that confusion.
Iraivanum manidhanum payanam seidhaalae
If God and man travel together,
Evarai evar velluvaaro
who will triumph over whom?
Evarai evar velluvaaro
Who will triumph over whom?
Payanam payanam payanam
Journey, journey, journey.
Pugai vandi ottida oruvan
One person to drive the steam train,
Adhu pogindra vazhi solla oruvan
one person to mark the route it takes,
Andha iruvarai nambiya manidhan
and man who places his faith in both of them;
Avan idaiyinil ninaippavan iraivan
yet the one who contemplates in between is God.
Iraivanum manidhanum payanam seidhaalae
If God and man travel together,
Evarai evar velluvaaro
who will triumph over whom?
Evarai evar velluvaaro
Who will triumph over whom?
Sandhippu varuvadhu kandu
Seeing that meetings and encounters happen,
Palar sandhikkum idangalum undu
there are places where many people meet.
Avar sondhangalaavadhum undu
Some of them become relations,
Adhu thodar kadhai aavadhum undu
and it turns into a continuing story.
Iraivanum manidhanum payanam seidhaalae
If God and man travel together,
Evarai evar velluvaaro
who will triumph over whom?
Evarai evar velluvaaro
Who will triumph over whom?
Payanam payanam payanam
Journey, journey, journey.
Paththu maadha chithiramondru jananam
A ten-month painting is born as a life.
Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
Adhu ethanai naalo engengaeyo payanam
For how many days, and to where all is its journey?
Payanam payanam payanam
Journey, journey, journey.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a deep philosophical reflection on human life, framing it entirely as an unpredictable journey ('Payanam'). It traces human existence from birth—described beautifully as a ten-month creation—through childhood education, youthful desire, romance, and the emotional turmoil that follows. Kannadasan uses the extended metaphor of a train journey to illustrate how humans plan their paths, yet ultimate control rests with a higher power. Throughout the track, the poet questions the dynamic between human willpower and divine destiny ('If God and man travel together, who will win?'). It highlights how random encounters at life's stops create long-lasting relationships and stories, emphasizing that while man acts and travels, destiny quietly shapes the destination.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Paththu maadha chithiramondru jananam”
Compares a child taking birth after ten months in the womb to a delicately crafted painting ('chithiram').
Repetition / Anaphora (Adukkuthodar)
“Payanam payanam payanam”
The word 'Payanam' is repeated consecutively to rhythmically emphasize the core theme of continuous life motion.
Allegory / Extended Metaphor
“Pugai vandi ottida oruvan... Avan idaiyinil ninaippavan iraivan”
Uses a train journey with a driver and route-pointer as an allegory for human life driven by intellect and guided by destiny.
Rhetorical Question
“Evarai evar velluvaaro”
Asks who will conquer whom when God and man journey together, pondering destiny versus free will.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan was famous for embedding deep Advaita philosophy into simple film song lyrics about travel and life, drawing parallels to his other iconic travel-themed songs like 'Athan Ennathan' and 'Ullathil Nall Ullam'.
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