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Arasa Kattalai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Putham Puthiya Puthagamae

From Arasa Kattalai · 1967

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Arasa Kattalai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
28 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Putham puthiya puthagamae
Unnai puratti paarkkum pulavan naan
Putham puthiya puthagamae
Unnai puratti paarkkum pulavan naan
Podhigai valarndha senthamizhae
Unnai paattil vadikkum kavinjan naan
Podhigai valarndha senthamizhae
Unnai paattil vadikkum kavinjan naan
Palliyarai ennum palliyilae indru
Puthidhaai vandha maanavi naan
Palliyarai ennum palliyilae indru
Puthidhaai vandha maanavi naan
Yaettai puratti paattai padikkum
Veettu pulavan naayagi naan
Yaettai puratti paattai padikkum
Veettu pulavan naayagi naan
Palliyarai ennum palliyilae…
Anju viral pattaal enna
Anjugathai thottaal enna
Anju viral pattaal enna
Anjugathai thottaal enna
Thotta sugam ondraa enna
Thullum ullam pandhaa enna
Thotta sugam ondraa enna
Thullum ullam pandhaa enna
Sevvidhazhai kandaal enna
Thaeneduthu undaal enna
Sevvidhazhai kandaal enna
Thaeneduthu undaal enna
Kothu malar chendaa enna
Konjum mannan vandaa enna
Kothu malar chendaa enna
Konjum mannan vandaa enna
Putham puthiya puthagamae
Unnai puratti paarkkum pulavan naan
Yaettai puratti paattai padikkum
Veettu pulavan naayagi naan
Putham puthiya puthagamae…
Kaiyanaikka vandhaal enna
Meiyanaithu kondaal enna
Kaiyanaikka vandhaal enna
Meiyanaithu kondaal enna
Mutha mazhai endraal enna
Sorkkam ondru undaa enna
Mutha mazhai endraal enna
Sorkkam ondru undaa enna
Vetkam varum vandhaal enna
Vaendiyadhai thandhaal enna
Vetkam varum vandhaal enna
Vaendiyadhai thandhaal enna
Innum konjam sonnaal enna
Inbam inbam endraal enna
Innum konjam sonnaal enna
Inbam inbam endraal enna
Putham puthiya puthagamae
Unnai puratti paarkkum pulavan naan
Yaettai puratti paattai padikkum
Veettu pulavan naayagi naan
Putham puthiya puthagamae…
O brand new book!
I am the poet who turns your pages.
O brand new book!
I am the poet who turns your pages.
O pure Tamil born in the Podhigai hills!
I am the poet who shapes you into song.
O pure Tamil born in the Podhigai hills!
I am the poet who shapes you into song.
In this bedroom that is a school, today
I am a newly arrived student.
In this bedroom that is a school, today
I am a newly arrived student.
Turning the pages and reading the poem,
I am the heroine of this household poet.
Turning the pages and reading the poem,
I am the heroine of this household poet.
In this bedroom that is a school...
What if my five fingers touch you?
What if I touch this gentle parrot?
What if my five fingers touch you?
What if I touch this gentle parrot?
Is the pleasure of touch only one?
Is my leaping heart a bouncing ball?
Is the pleasure of touch only one?
Is my leaping heart a bouncing ball?
What if I gaze at your red lips?
What if I taste the honey from them?
What if I gaze at your red lips?
What if I taste the honey from them?
Am I a bunch of blossoming flowers?
Is my loving king a honeybee?
Am I a bunch of blossoming flowers?
Is my loving king a honeybee?
O brand new book!
I am the poet who turns your pages.
Turning the pages and reading the poem,
I am the heroine of this household poet.
O brand new book...
What if my arms come to embrace you?
What if I hold your body close?
What if my arms come to embrace you?
What if I hold your body close?
What is this shower of kisses?
Is there really a heaven?
What is this shower of kisses?
Is there really a heaven?
Shyness will come, but so what if it does?
What if you give me what I desire?
Shyness will come, but so what if it does?
What if you give me what I desire?
Why not tell me a little more?
What is this thing called bliss?
Why not tell me a little more?
What is this thing called bliss?
O brand new book!
I am the poet who turns your pages.
Turning the pages and reading the poem,
I am the heroine of this household poet.
O brand new book...
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet from 'Arasa Kattalai' uses rich literary metaphors to depict intimacy between newly wedded lovers. The male lead addresses his beloved as a fresh, unread book and as pure Tamil nurtured in the Podhigai hills, casting himself as the eager poet seeking to explore and compose music out of her grace. In response, the female lead playfully views their bedchamber as a classroom where she is the new pupil learning the language of love from her poet husband.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagamb (Metaphor)

Putham puthiya puthagamae

Comparing the beloved to a brand new book ('Putham puthiya puthagamae') and pure Tamil ('senthamizhae').

Moonaip (Alliteration)

Putham puthiya puthagamae / Unnai puratti paarkkum pulavan naan

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'P' across words: Putham, puthiya, puthagamae, puratti, pulavan.

Emonai / Rhyme

Anju viral pattaal enna / Anjugathai thottaal enna

Rhyming end sounds in romantic questioning lines ('enna' repeating across lines).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, this iconic track showcases lyricist Vaali's mastery in blending classical Tamil literary metaphors with romantic intimacy.

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