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Lyrics & meaning

Aagayathil Thottil Kattum

From Thunive Thunai · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thunive Thunai1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aagaayaththil thottil kattumIf the maiden who ties a cradle in the sky sees you
Mangai unnai kandaalIf the maiden sees you
Aagaayaththil thottil kattumIf the maiden who ties a cradle in the sky sees you
Mangai unnai kandaalIf the maiden sees you
Aasai thaeril yaerikonduRiding upon the chariot of desire
Neril ingae vanthaalIf she comes here in person
Female
Inneraththil vanthaen endruDo not think ill of me, wondering
Yaedho enna vendaamWhy I came at such an hour
Pennaagaththaan vanthaen inguI came here solely as a woman
Kannaa un meal ennam unduOh my beloved, my thoughts are filled with you
Female
Aagaayaththil thottil kattumIf the maiden who ties a cradle in the sky sees you
Mangai unnai kandaalIf the maiden sees you
Aasai thaeril yaerikonduRiding upon the chariot of desire
Neril ingae vanthaalIf she comes here in person
Female
Inneraththil vanthaen endruDo not think ill of me, wondering
Yaedho enna vendaamWhy I came at such an hour
Pennaagaththaan vanthaen inguI came here solely as a woman
Kannaa un meal ennam unduOh my beloved, my thoughts are filled with you
Female
Alli varum poovaasamThe fragrance of flowers wafting towards me
Vellai muthu ponnaaramWhite pearls and golden garlands
Thulli varum poongaattruThe gentle breeze bounding forward
Vellai nira poonjolaiA white flower garden
Female
Kaalalavu karungkoonthalMy dark hair reaching down to my feet
Kanni endru sollaathoDoes it not tell you that I am a young maiden?
Kaaman rathi sugavaasamThe sweet abode of Kamadeva and Rathi
Nee ariyakoodaathoShould you not come to know of it?
Female
Kannai thottu kaiyil kattuTouch my eyes and bind me in your hands
Unnai konjum mullai mottuI am a jasmine bud caressing you
Female
Aagaayaththil thottil kattumIf the maiden who ties a cradle in the sky sees you
Mangai unnai kandaalIf the maiden sees you
Female
Uchi veyil varumpothuWhen the scorching noon sun arrives
Pachai niram en maeniMy body takes on a vibrant green hue
Anthi pattu inneramIn this dusk hour embraced by evening
Chanthiranin sanjaaramIt is time for the moon to wander
Female
Aalamaram nizhalinilae….nizhalinilaeUnder the shade of the banyan tree... in the shade...
Aalamaram nizhalinilae naal muzhuthum naaniruppaenI will remain under the shade of the banyan tree all day
Aadhariththu neeyanaiththaalIf you support me and embrace me
Vedhanaikku sugam tharuvenI will offer sweet delight to heal all pain
Female
Manjal vanna pottum unduI wear the yellow turmeric mark on my forehead
Manjam mattum innum illaiOnly the marital bed is yet to be set
Female
Aagaayaththil thottil kattumIf the maiden who ties a cradle in the sky sees you
Mangai unnai kandaalIf the maiden sees you
Aasai thaeril yaerikonduRiding upon the chariot of desire
Neril ingae vanthaalIf she comes here in person
Female
Inneraththil vanthaen endruDo not think ill of me, wondering
Yaedho enna vendaamWhy I came at such an hour
Pennaagaththaan vanthaen inguI came here solely as a woman
Kannaa un meal ennam unduOh my beloved, my thoughts are filled with you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Aagaayaththil thottil kattum' from the 1976 movie Thunive Thunai is a romantic and poetic expression of a woman's deep love and yearning for her lover. She uses heavenly and natural allegories, describing herself as a celestial nymph descending on a chariot of desire. She gently asks her beloved not to judge her for approaching him late, asserting that her affection is genuine and purely rooted in her womanhood. Throughout the song, nature imagery—breezes, flowers, banyan tree shade, and moonlight—highlights her beauty and emotional warmth. She conveys her readiness to provide soothing comfort to his pain and expresses her longing for marriage and union, symbolically mentioning the yellow mark on her forehead while waiting for the marital bed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Aasai thaeril yaerikondu

Describing desire as a chariot ('Aasai thaeril') creates a vivid metaphor of unstoppable longing.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Manjal vanna pottum undu / Manjam mattum innum illai

The second letter 'n' rhymes between 'Manjal' and 'Manjam', creating melodic rhythm.

Imagery / Nature Allegory

Vellai nira poonjolai

Uses vivid visual imagery of flower gardens, pearls, breezes, and banyan shade to evoke romantic mood.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thunive Thunai' (1976) is a crime action film starring Jaishankar and Rajasree. The song features music by M. S. Viswanathan, lyrics by Kannadasan, and vocals by Vani Jairam, whose expressive rendition gave this sensual track an enduring classic status in Tamil cinema.

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