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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Un Radhaiyai Paar

From Pandhattam · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Manorama
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Pandhattam1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaaLook at your Radha in intoxication, oh Krishna!
Naan raapagalaa yaengukindra pennaaAm I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaaLook at your Radha in intoxication, oh Krishna!
Naan raappagalaa yaengukindra pennaaAm I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Female
Unakkum enakkum ragasiyangal onnaaAre the secrets between you and me one and the same?
Unakkum enakkum ragasiyangal onnaaAre the secrets between you and me one and the same?
Nee oorariya maalaiyittaa ennaaWhat if you garlanded me in front of the whole town?
Female
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaaLook at your Radha in intoxication, oh Krishna!
Naan raappagalaa yaengukindra pennaaAm I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Female
Antha aayarpaadi kannanThat Krishna of Gokulam (Aayarpaadi)
Gopika sthrigalai azha vachchaanMade the Gopi maidens weep.
Intha aaduthurai kannanThis Krishna of Aaduthurai
Intha sundharavalli naachchiyaara azha vachchuttaanHas made this Sundharavalli Nachiyar weep.
Female
Naan azhuthaathaan unakku santhosamnaaIf my crying brings you happiness,
Unakkaga naan azhugiraen azhigiraenI am crying and perishing for you!
Kannaa unakkaga naan mattumaa azharaenKrishna, am I the only one crying for you?
Ennoda saernthuAlong with me,
En naathaswaramum azhuthae ketkiriyaaEven my Nadaswaram cries, do you hear it?
Female
Kannaa katcheriyilOh Krishna, in music concerts,
Pala raagam vaasichcha ennaiMe, who played so many ragas,
Vaazhkkaiyilae mugaari raagaththaiIn life, the sorrowful Mugaari raga
Mattumae vaasikka vachuttiyaeYou made me play only that!
Unnai eppadi ennaala marakka mudiyum kannaaHow can I ever forget you, oh Krishna?
Female
Unnai marappatharkkuTo forget you,
Kudikkanumaa kalluMust I drink liquor?
Un ninaippai vidaIs there any intoxication
Bodhai undo solluGreater than your memory? Tell me!
Female
Naan ninaikkirappoWhenever I think of you,
Neril vanthu nilluCome and stand before me in person!
Rompa kodumaiyappaaOh, it is so terribly cruel,
Manmathanin villuThe bow of Lord Manmatha (Cupid)!
Female
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaaLook at your Radha in intoxication, oh Krishna!
Naan raappagalaa yaengukindra pennaaAm I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Female
Kannaa paanjaali kaththunappoKrishna, when Draupadi cried out in distress,
Podavaiyoda vanthaeYou appeared with sarees to protect her!
Kajenthiran kaththurappoWhen Gajendra the elephant cried out,
Karudanoda vantaheYou came flying on your Garuda!
Female
Intha sundharavalli kaththurappoWhen this Sundharavalli cries out,
Thaviloda vaayaenPlease come along with the Thavil percussion!
Kannaa kanna kannaOh Krishna, Krishna, Krishna!
Female
Enna thavilapola nee nenachchu nesiThink of me like a Thavil instrument and cherish me,
Nallaa thazhuvikittu thaalaththoda vaasiEmbrace me tightly and play me to the rhythm!
Un inimaikkellaam naanthaanae raasiAm I not the lucky charm for all your sweetness?
Ennai tholaikkuthaiyyaa thanimaiyennum oosiThe sharp needle called solitude is pricking and ruining me, sir!
Female
Enkittae olinju vilaiyaadariyaaAre you playing hide and seek with me?
Nee enga ponaalum unna naan vidamaattaenWherever you go, I will not let you go!
Kannaa kanna kannaOh Krishna, Krishna, Krishna!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Pandhattam' (1974) is a dramatically poignant yet intoxicated plea by a female Nadaswaram artist named Sundharavalli to her lover, whom she affectionately addresses as Krishna. Expressed in a state of emotional and literal drunkenness, she draws mythological parallels between Lord Krishna's divine rescues (such as saving Draupadi and Gajendra) and her own desperate yearning for his presence and love. She laments that while she used to perform joyous ragas in concerts, her personal life has been reduced to playing 'Mugaari'—a raga associated with sorrow and mourning. Through rich musical metaphors involving instruments like the Nadaswaram and Thavil, lyricist Vaali captures the raw vulnerability, despair, and deep affection of a woman tormented by solitude and love's cruel arrows.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor / Classical Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Vaazhkkaiyilae mugaari raagaththai / Mattumae vaasikka vachuttiyae

Compares her melancholy life to 'Mugaari raagam' (a mournful raga) and solitude to a piercing needle ('thanimaiyennum oosi').

Mythological Allusion (புராணக் குறிப்பு)

Kannaa paanjaali kaththunappo / Podavaiyoda vanthae

References stories from Hindu mythology including Draupadi's vastraharan (Paanjaali), Gajendra Moksham (Kajenthiran), and Lord Krishna's leelas with the Gopis of Aayarpaadi.

Wordplay / Rhyme (எதுகை - Monai)

Enna thavilapola nee nenachchu nesi / Nallaa thazhuvikittu thaalaththoda vaasi

Uses end-rhyme and word play pairing musical instruments and actions like 'nesi' (love) with 'vaasi' (play) and 'raasi' (lucky star).

Did you know?

Trivia

This song is a rare gem performed by legendary actress and singer Manorama, showcasing her exceptional ability to sing in character with realistic drunk/intoxicated inflections and emotions. The music composed by Shankar-Ganesh blends traditional South Indian classical instruments (Nadaswaram and Thavil) with modern film arrangement to depict the protagonist's musical background.

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