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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Un Radhaiyai Paar

From Pandhattam · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Manorama
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Pandhattam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
16 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaa
Naan raapagalaa yaengukindra pennaa
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaa
Naan raappagalaa yaengukindra pennaa
Unakkum enakkum ragasiyangal onnaa
Unakkum enakkum ragasiyangal onnaa
Nee oorariya maalaiyittaa ennaa
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaa
Naan raappagalaa yaengukindra pennaa
Antha aayarpaadi kannan
Gopika sthrigalai azha vachchaan
Intha aaduthurai kannan
Intha sundharavalli naachchiyaara azha vachchuttaan
Naan azhuthaathaan unakku santhosamnaa
Unakkaga naan azhugiraen azhigiraen
Kannaa unakkaga naan mattumaa azharaen
Ennoda saernthu
En naathaswaramum azhuthae ketkiriyaa
Kannaa katcheriyil
Pala raagam vaasichcha ennai
Vaazhkkaiyilae mugaari raagaththai
Mattumae vaasikka vachuttiyae
Unnai eppadi ennaala marakka mudiyum kannaa
Unnai marappatharkku
Kudikkanumaa kallu
Un ninaippai vida
Bodhai undo sollu
Naan ninaikkirappo
Neril vanthu nillu
Rompa kodumaiyappaa
Manmathanin villu
Un rathaiyai paar bodhaiyilae kannaa
Naan raappagalaa yaengukindra pennaa
Kannaa paanjaali kaththunappo
Podavaiyoda vanthae
Kajenthiran kaththurappo
Karudanoda vantahe
Intha sundharavalli kaththurappo
Thaviloda vaayaen
Kannaa kanna kanna
Enna thavilapola nee nenachchu nesi
Nallaa thazhuvikittu thaalaththoda vaasi
Un inimaikkellaam naanthaanae raasi
Ennai tholaikkuthaiyyaa thanimaiyennum oosi
Enkittae olinju vilaiyaadariyaa
Nee enga ponaalum unna naan vidamaattaen
Kannaa kanna kanna
Look at your Radha in her intoxication, Kannan!
Am I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Look at your Radha in her intoxication, Kannan!
Am I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Are the secrets between you and me just one?
Are the secrets between you and me just one?
What would be wrong if you garland me before the whole town?
Look at your Radha in her intoxication, Kannan!
Am I not the woman who yearns day and night?
That Kannan of Ayarpadi
Made the gopi women weep;
This Kannan of Aduthurai
Has made this Sundaravalli Nachiyar weep!
If it brings you joy only when I weep,
Then I am weeping for you, I am weeping!
Kannan, am I the only one weeping for you?
Together with me,
My nadaswaram (reed pipe) weeps too, do you hear it?
Kannan, in concerts
I used to play so many ragas,
Yet in my life, the Mukhari raga (raga of grief)
You have made me play only that!
How could I ever forget you, Kannan?
To forget you,
Do I really need to drink liquor?
More than the thought of you,
Is there any greater intoxication? Tell me!
Whenever I think of you,
Come and stand before me!
It is so cruel,
The bow of Manmatha (god of love)!
Look at your Radha in her intoxication, Kannan!
Am I not the woman who yearns day and night?
Kannan, when Panchali cried out,
You came to her with a sari;
When Gajendran the elephant cried out,
You came riding Garuda (the divine eagle mount);
When this Sundaravalli cries out,
Why don't you come with a thavil (drum)?
Kannan... Kannan... Kannan...
Think of me as a thavil (drum) and love me,
Hold me tight and play to the rhythm!
For all your sweetness, am I not your lucky match?
The needle called loneliness is piercing me!
Are you playing hide-and-seek with me?
Wherever you go, I will never let you go!
Kannan... Kannan... Kannan...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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