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Ratchagan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Chandiranai Thottathu

From Ratchagan · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Ratchagan
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
17 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ohoo hooooo hoo hooo hoo hoooo
Hoo hoo ooh hoo ooh hoo ooh hoo ooh hooo
Ooh hoo ooh hoo ooh hoo oooooo hooo hoo
Chandhiranai thottadhu yaar
Armstrongaa adi armstrongaa
Sathiyamaai thottadhu yaar
Naandhaanae adi naandhaanae
{ Kanavu devathaiyae nilavu needhaanae
Un nizhalum naandhaanae } (2)
Chandhiranai thottadhu yaar
Needhaanaa ada needhaanaa
Sathiyamaai thottavanum
Needhaanaa adhu needhaanaa
Nerungi thottavanae nilavu naandhaana
Un nilavu naandhaana un nilavu naandhaana
Hey pookalai chedikodiyin porulendru ninaithirundhen
Ooh pookalai chedikodiyin porulendru ninaithirundhen
Poovai unnai paartha pinnae pookalin mozhi arindhen
Ooh thalaiyanai enbadhellam thalaikendru Ninaithirundhen
Thalaivanai pirigaiyilae thalaiyanai thunai arindhen
Theepandham pondravan naan dheepamendru aagivitten
Puyaluku pirandhaval naan thendralendru maarivitten
Karungallai pondravan naan karpooram aagivitten
Chandhiranai …..
……………
Chandhiranai thottadhu yaar
Armstrongaa adi armstrongaa
Sathiyamaai thottadhu yaar
Naandhaanae adi naandhaanae
{ Kanavu devathaiyae nilavu needhaanae
Un nizhalum naandhaanae } (2)
Thaamarai malarkondu udal seitha oviyamae
Ennudal baaram mattum endha vidham thaangugirai
Meengalai sumapathondrum neeruku baaramillai
Kaadhalai sumakaiyilae kaadhalarum baaramillai
Sorgathirku vandhuvittom dharkathirku neramillai
Muthangalai nee vazhangu idhazhuku neramillai
Thodanguthal miga yelidhu mudipathudan periya thollai
Chandhiranae ….
Chandhiranai thottadhu yaar
Armstrongaa adi armstrongaa
Sathiyamaai thottadhu yaar
Naandhaanae adi naandhaanae
{ Kanavu devathaiyae nilavu needhaanae
Un nizhalum naandhaanae } (2)
Oho hohoho ho hoho ho hoho
Ho ho oh ho oh ho oh ho oh hoho
Oh ho oh ho oh ho oooooo hoho ho
Who was the one who touched the moon?
Was it Armstrong? Tell me, was it Armstrong?
In truth, who really touched it?
It was me, girl, it was me!
Goddess of my dreams, you are the moon,
and I am your shadow, aren't I?
Who was the one who touched the moon?
Was it you? Tell me, was it you?
And the one who truly touched it,
is it you? Is it really you?
You who touched me so close, am I really the moon?
Am I your moon? Am I really your moon?
Hey, I used to think flowers belonged only to plants and vines
Oh, I used to think flowers belonged only to plants and vines
But after seeing you, my flower, I understood the language of flowers
Oh, I used to think pillows were only meant for resting one's head
When separated from my love, I found comfort in my pillow
I was like a blazing torch, but I have become a gentle lamp
I was born of a storm, but I have turned into a soft breeze
I was like solid stone, but I have turned into pure camphor
Who touched the moon...
...
Who was the one who touched the moon?
Was it Armstrong? Tell me, was it Armstrong?
In truth, who really touched it?
It was me, girl, it was me!
Goddess of my dreams, you are the moon,
and I am your shadow, aren't I?
O work of art crafted from a lotus flower,
how do you manage to bear the weight of my body?
Carrying fish is no burden to the water,
and when carrying love, a lover is no burden at all.
We have reached heaven, there is no time for arguments.
Shower me with your kisses, our lips have no time to lose.
Starting is so easy, but stopping is such a struggle!
O moon...
Who was the one who touched the moon?
Was it Armstrong? Tell me, was it Armstrong?
In truth, who really touched it?
It was me, girl, it was me!
Goddess of my dreams, you are the moon,
and I am your shadow, aren't I?
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Chandhiranai Thottadhu Yaar' is a playful romantic duet from the film Ratchagan (1997), composed by A.R. Rahman and written by Vairamuthu. The song uses Neil Armstrong's historical moon landing as an extended metaphor: while Neil Armstrong may have been the first human on the moon, the hero claims he is the true person who touched the moon because his beloved is his moon. Throughout the verses, the lovers express how love has altered their temperaments and perceptions of life. The male protagonist transitions from a fiery, hard-hearted individual into a gentle light and soft camphor, while the female protagonist transitions from a tempest into a soft breeze. The lyricism emphasizes that lovers carry each other effortlessly, just as water carries fish without feeling any weight.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“{ Kanavu devathaiyae nilavu needhaanae / Un nizhalum naandhaanae }”

Comparing the heroine directly to the moon ('nilavu needhaanae') and the hero to her shadow ('un nizhalum naandhaanae').

Historical Allusion

“Armstrongaa adi armstrongaa”

Referencing Neil Armstrong's historic 1969 moon landing to create a witty romantic comparison.

Simile (உவமை)

“Meengalai sumapathondrum neeruku baaramillai”

Using the relationship between water and fish as an analogy for lovers carrying the weight of love effortlessly.

Contrast (முரண்)

“Puyaluku pirandhaval naan thendralendru maarivitten”

Contrasting hard/stormy nature with soft/gentle transformations caused by love (storm to breeze, black stone to camphor).

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