Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Thangamadi Thangam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Athamaga Thangathukku

From Thangamadi Thangam · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
P. Susheela, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thangamadi Thangam
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
27 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aththai maga thangaththukku enna mayakkam
Niththam niththam pasikkuthu nenju varaikkum
Sembaga pon arumbae katti vatcha karumbae
Thooli aada vaa…..tholil aada vaa…..
Aththai maga thangaththukku enna mayakkam
Niththam niththam pasikkuthu nenju varaikkum
Sembaga pon arumbae katti vatcha karumbae
Thooli aada vaa…..tholil aada vaa…..
Sodi kili venuminnu
Solluthadi maman ponnu
Sodi kili venuminnu
Solluthadi maman ponnu
Kannukkullae sunakkam
Kandathilla urakkam maeni vaaduthae….
Kaanji pochchu kambangkollai
Thanni paaichcha naeramillai
Kaanji pochchu kambangkollai
Thanni paaichcha naeramillai
Maegam paaththu elangodi vadhanguthu
Aththai maga thangaththukku enna mayakkam
Niththam niththam pasikkuthu nenju varaikkum
Hae….mazhai thanni illaama
Hae….manthoppu vaaduthannae
Thanni vanthu paanjiputtaa
Thanga maangaa kaaikkum annae
Yaelae yaelaelaelo….
Thondaikullae vikkuthadi
Vaarththaiyellaam sikkuthadi
Thondaikullae vikkuthadi
Vaarththaiyellaam sikkuthadi
Kolusu sollum enthan manasu
Ketkkavillaiyaa
Paala podum thennampullai
Thedhi neram paarppathillai
Paala podum thennampullai
Thedhi neram paarppathillai
Kaalam vanthaa mayilukku mazhai varum….
Aththai maga thangaththukku enna mayakkam
Niththam niththam pasikkuthu nenju varaikkum
Male : Sembaga pon arumbae katti vatcha karumbae
Sembaga pon arumbae katti vatcha karumbae
Thooli aada vaa…..tholil aada vaa…..
Thooli aada vaa…..tholil aada vaa…..
What is this spell on my aunt's golden girl?
Every single day, a hunger aches right up to my heart.
O golden champak bud, O bundle of sweet sugarcane!
Come swing in a cradle... come swing in my arms...
What is this spell on my aunt's golden girl?
Every single day, a hunger aches right up to my heart.
O golden champak bud, O bundle of sweet sugarcane!
Come swing in a cradle... come swing in my arms...
Saying she needs a partner bird,
that is what my uncle's daughter says!
Saying she needs a partner bird,
that is what my uncle's daughter says!
There is a longing in her eyes,
she has had no sleep, and her body is wilting...
The pearl millet field has dried up,
there has been no time to water it.
The pearl millet field has dried up,
there has been no time to water it.
Looking at the passing clouds, the tender vine is withering.
What is this spell on my aunt's golden girl?
Every single day, a hunger aches right up to my heart.
Hey... without any rainwater,
hey... the mango grove is withering, brother!
If only the water flows in,
it will yield golden mangoes, brother!
Aele aelelelo...
Hiccups rise in my throat,
and all my words get stuck!
Hiccups rise in my throat,
and all my words get stuck!
My anklets speak what is in my heart,
can't you hear them?
A young coconut tree putting out its first blossom
does not check the date or time!
A young coconut tree putting out its first blossom
does not check the date or time!
When the time is right, rain will arrive for the peacock...
What is this spell on my aunt's golden girl?
Every single day, a hunger aches right up to my heart.
O golden champak bud, O bundle of sweet sugarcane!
O golden champak bud, O bundle of sweet sugarcane!
Come swing in a cradle... come swing in my arms...
Come swing in a cradle... come swing in my arms...
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Aththai Maga Thangaththukku' is a charming romantic Tamil duet laced with rural folk metaphors. The song captures the playful banter and deep yearning between cross-cousins (maman ponnu and aththai magan) in a traditional village setup. The lyrics express how love and longing cause emotional restlessness, sleeplessness, and hesitation to articulate feelings directly. Through agricultural imagery—such as dried millet fields waiting for rain, mango groves blossoming with water, and coconut trees blooming naturally—the lyricist highlights how love blossoms naturally when the right time arrives. The lovers express their affection using affectionate terms like 'sembaga pon arumbu' (golden champak bud) and 'katti vatcha karumbu' (bundled sugarcane), creating a warm, nostalgic atmosphere of innocent rural romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Sembaga pon arumbae katti vatcha karumbae”

The beloved is metaphorically addressed as a golden champak bud ('sembaga pon arumbu') and bundled sugarcane ('katti vatcha karumbu') to convey sweet affection.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

“Niththam niththam pasikkuthu nenju varaikkum”

'Niththam niththam' uses word repetition to emphasize the relentless, daily nature of romantic hunger and yearning.

Agricultural Allegory (Ullurai)

“Kaanji pochchu kambangkollai / Thanni paaichcha naeramillai”

The drying up of fields and waiting for rain serves as an allegory for youthful romantic longing and the natural arrival of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features classic lyrics by Vairamuthu from the 1984 movie 'Thangamadi Thangam', relying heavily on rustic, agricultural imagery typical of 1980s Tamil cinema romance tracks.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Thanni Thavikuthu1986
Thaaiku Oru ThaalaattuDesirePlayful Romance
Singara Kaathu1986
Namma Ooru Nalla OoruLongingPlayful Romance
Muthu Pavalam Mukkani1971
ArunodhayamDesireAttraction
Kangala Thiranthu Vidunga1988
Manamagale VaaLongingDesire
Maegam Thiraludhadi1981
Thanneer ThanneerNatureLonging
Pothi Vecha2013
AnnakodiLongingDesire

From the same album

More songs from Thangamadi Thangam

View album
Enna Paaru Oru1984
Thangamadi ThangamRomantic
Rottoram Seriyile Pooththu1984
Thangamadi ThangamDefiant
Kaalam Ilamai Kaalam1984
Thangamadi ThangamCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.