Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Tamil Paadattum

From Nermai · 1985

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Nermai1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Laalaala laalalaLaalaala laalala
Female
Laalaala laalalaLaalaala laalala
Male
Laalaala laalalaLaalaala laalala
Female
Laalaala laalalaLaalaala laalala
Male
Thamizh paadattum manam aadattumLet Tamil sing, let the mind dance
Udal koodattum sugam thaedattumLet bodies unite, let them seek pleasure
Alli kolla vandha thunaiyaeOh companion who came to embrace me
Female
Enai allattum udal thullattumLet her scoop me up, let the body leap with joy
Vizhi minnattum idai pinnattumLet eyes shine, let the waist twist
Thulli vandha velli radhamaeOh silver chariot that came bouncing along!
Male
Sithirai manimaadamIn the gem-studded mansion of the month of Chithirai
Siru kodiyidai aadumA slender, creeper-like waist sways
Female
Anbae oru raagamMy love, give me a melody
Thandhae suga naadhamGive me a blissful sound
Male
Koondhal ennumHer hair acts as...
Oonjal kattum penmaiyaeWomanhood that ties a swing with her hair
Female
Enai allattum udal thullattumLet her scoop me up, let the body leap with joy
Vizhi minnattum idai pinnattumLet eyes shine, let the waist twist
Thulli vandha velli radhamaeOh silver chariot that came bouncing along!
Male
Thamizh paadattum manam aadattumLet Tamil sing, let the mind dance
Udal koodattum sugam thaedattumLet bodies unite, let them seek pleasure
Alli kolla vandha thunaiyaeOh companion who came to embrace me
Male
Aagaayam paarkkumRed banana flowers...
Sevvaazhai pookkal...looking up at the sky
Naan ingu thaan indru paarthenI saw them right here today
Female
Paaraattu paadumSinging praises...
Un sollin jaalam...the magic of your words
Naan ingu thaan indru kettenI heard it right here today
Male
Aagaayam paarkkumRed banana flowers...
Sevvaazhai pookkal...looking up at the sky
Naan ingu thaan indru paarthenI saw them right here today
Female
Paaraattu paadumSinging praises...
Un sollin jaalam...the magic of your words
Naan ingu thaan indru kettenI heard it right here today
Male
Azhagiya kalaimaanaeOh beautiful stag-deer
Uruvagam idhu thaanaeIs this not a metaphor?
Female
Mayangudhu manam thaanaeThe mind is mesmerized indeed
Maruvidum kodi naanaeI am the creeper that clings around you
Male
Aadai katti kodai thendral vandhadhoHas the summer breeze arrived draped in clothes?
Male
Thamizh paadattum manam aadattumLet Tamil sing, let the mind dance
Udal koodattum sugam thaedattumLet bodies unite, let them seek pleasure
Alli kolla vandha thunaiyaeOh companion who came to embrace me
Female
Enai allattum udal thullattumLet her scoop me up, let the body leap with joy
Vizhi minnattum idai pinnattumLet eyes shine, let the waist twist
Thulli vandha velli radhamaeOh silver chariot that came bouncing along!
Female
Thallaadum megamSwaying clouds
Thaalaattum vaanamLullaby-singing sky
Engengum panneerai thoovumSprinkling rosewater everywhere
Male
Kalloorum dhegamThe body dripping with sweet nectar
Kaiyodu aadumDances hand in hand
Aanandha kanneerai thoovumShedding tears of joy
Female
Thallaadum megamSwaying clouds
Thaalaattum vaanamLullaby-singing sky
Engengum panneerai thoovumSprinkling rosewater everywhere
Male
Kalloorum dhegamThe body dripping with sweet nectar
Kaiyodu aadumDances hand in hand
Aanandha kanneerai thoovumShedding tears of joy
Female
Viralodu viral seraAs finger joins finger
Vizhigalin niram maaraAs the color of the eyes changes
Male
Idhazhgalil madhu ooraAs nectar oozes on the lips
Iruvarum parimaaraAs both exchange sweetness
Female
Kaaman ennum dhevan koyil pandigaiIt is a temple festival of the God of Love, Manmatha
Male
Thamizh paadattum manam aadattumLet Tamil sing, let the mind dance
Udal koodattum sugam thaedattumLet bodies unite, let them seek pleasure
Alli kolla vandha thunaiyaeOh companion who came to embrace me
Female
Enai allattum udal thullattumLet her scoop me up, let the body leap with joy
Vizhi minnattum idai pinnattumLet eyes shine, let the waist twist
Thulli vandha velli radhamaeOh silver chariot that came bouncing along!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sensual duet expresses the passionate physical and romantic union of two lovers. Set against poetic imagery of nature, summer breezes, flower blossoms, and rain, the song compares intimate togetherness to a sweet Tamil melody and a divine festival of Kamadeva (the god of love). The couple celebrates their deep attraction, describing each other through vivid metaphors like silver chariots, deer, and flowering creepers. Written by Pulamaipithan, the lyrics effortlessly blend traditional Tamil literary tropes with romantic intimacy. The rhythm carries a sense of celebration, capturing the joy of physical closeness, visual adoration, and emotional bliss between two soulmates.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thulli vandha velli radhamae

Comparing the beloved to a silver chariot ('velli radhamae') and her hair to a swing ('oonjal').

Rhythm and Rhyme (Iyaibu & Edhugai)

Thamizh paadattum manam aadattum

The song makes extensive use of matching suffixes (-attum) in line endings, creating a natural musical cadence.

Personification

Thallaadum megam Thaalaattum vaanam

Attributing human actions like lulling to sleep ('thaalaattum') and sprinkling rosewater ('panneerai thoovum') to the sky and clouds.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1985 Tamil film 'Nermai', starring Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha. The lyrics were written by the renowned poet Pulamaipithan, known for his classical Tamil vocabulary seamlessly woven into contemporary film songs.

Keep listening

More from Nermai