In Praise of Colours
I spent the weekend obsessing over colours. It was for an upcoming site design, and there couldn’t be better music playing in the background than “Pachai Nirame” (Alaipayuthey, 2000), a song that is every bit about colour. From the visuals, to the lyrics, and the tune — it all sings praise for colour in our lives, in love, and on this good earth.
Pachai Nirame — Lyrics and English Translation
Sakiyae… Snehidhiyae… (O Companion… O Friend…)
Kaadhalil kaadhalil kaadhalil niramoondu, (In love there is colour.)
Sakiyae… snehidhiyae… (O Companion… O Friend…)
Yen anbae anbae oonakkum niramoondu, (There is colour in you.)
Pachai niramae, pachai niramae, (O green colour, O green colour,)
Ichai oottum pachai niramae, (The green that provokes my desire,)
Pullin sirippum pachai niramae, (The green of glittering (smiling) grass,)
Yenakku samatham tharumae… (It will say “yes” to me.)
Pachai niramae pachai niramae, (O green colour, O green colour,)
Elaiyin ilamai pachai niramae, (Th green in the youth of leaves,)
Oonthan narambum pachai niramae, (The green in your veins,)
Yenakku samatham tharumae… (It will say “yes” to me,)
Yenakku samatham tharumae… (It will say “yes” to me,)
Yenakku samatham tharumae. (It will say “yes” to me.)
Kilaiyil kaanum kiliyin mookku, (The beak of a beautiful parrot,)
Vidalai pennin vettrilai nakku, (The tongue of a young girl,)
Puttham puthithayy ratha roja, (A rose that has just blossomed,)
Boomi thodatha pillaiyin paatham, (A child’s feet untouched by earth,)
Ellaam sivappum oonthan kobam, (All that red shows in your anger,)
Ellaam sivappum oonthan kobam, (All that red shows in your anger.)
Anthivaanam varaikkum manjal, (The yellow of the evening sky,)
Agni kolathil pootha manjal, (The yellow within fire,)
Thangathodu janitha manjal, (The yellow that glitters in gold,)
Kandrai poovil kulitha manjal, (The yellow flower that smiles,)
Manjal manjal manjal, (Yellow, yellow, yellow,)
Maalai nilavin maragatha manjal, (The yellow of the evening moon,)
Ellam thangam oonthan nenjil, (It all resides in your heart.)
Ellaiyillaatha alli vannam, (The colour that has no borders,)
Mukilil illatha vaanin vannam, (The colour of the cloudless sky,)
Mayilin kaluthil vaalum vannam, (The colour on a peacock’s neck,)
Kuvalai poovil kulaitha vannam, (The colour of beautiful flowers,)
Ootha poovil ootriya vannam, (The colour that bathes in flowers,)
Ellaam saernthaan kannil minnum, (All these shine in your eyes,)
Ellaam saernthaan kannil minnum. (All these shine in your eyes.)
Iravin niramae iravin niramae, (The colour of night, the colour of night,)
Karkaalathin motha niramae, (The entire colour of a stormy day,)
Kaakkai siragil kaanum niramae, (The colour on a crow’s wing,)
Penmai aeluthum kanmai niramae, (The colour of a woman’s eyeliner,)
Veyilil paadum kuyilin niramae, (The colour of a bird singing before the sun,)
Ellaam sairnthu koonthal niramae, (It is all the colour of your hair,)
Ellaam sairnthu koonthal niramae, (It is all the the colour of your hair.)
Vellai niramae vellai niramae, (O white colour, o white colour,)
Malaiyil oodaiyum thumbai niramae, (The colour of clouds breaking rain,)
Vellai niramae vellai niramae, (O white colour, o white colour,)
Viliyil pathi oolla niramae, (The colour of half of your eyes,)
Malaiyil oodaiyum thumbai niramae, (It’s the colour of clouds breaking rain,)
Oonathu manasin niramae, (It’s the colour of your heart,)
Oonathu manasin niramae, (It’s the colour of your heart,)
Oonathu manasin niramae. (It’s the colour of your heart.)
