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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dhaagam Theerum

From Anaiya Vilakku · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Anaiya Vilakku1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaagam theerum thiraatchai raasamThe grape juice that quenches thirst
Ennodu kudi kondathuHas taken up residence within me
Thevaipattaal kannaa nee kudi endrathuSaid, "Oh Kannan, drink if you need it"
Female
Madhukkadal ondru edhirvara kanduSeeing an ocean of wine appearing before them
Sugangalai kondu thudiththavar unduThere are those who quivered with pleasure
Madhukkadal ondru edhirvara kanduSeeing an ocean of wine appearing before them
Sugangalai kondu thudiththavar unduThere are those who quivered with pleasure
Female
Thaagam theerum thiraatchai raasamThe grape juice that quenches thirst
ENnodu kudi kondathuHas taken up residence within me
Thevaipattaal kannaa nee kudi endrathuSaid, "Oh Kannan, drink if you need it"
Female
Sirpa saaththiram yaavaium konduTaking all the scriptures of sculpture
Katti vaiththor gopuram endruCalling it a temple tower built with perfection
Arththa raaththiri aasaiyil nindruStanding with desire in the dark midnight
Archchanaigalai seithavar unduThere are those who performed holy offerings
Kalaiththiran yaavum nilaiththidum vannamIn a manner that all artistic skill endures
Padaiththavan kooda adaikkalam ingae….Even the Creator finds refuge here...
Female
……………..[Instrumental Music]
Female
Thaagam theerum thiraatchai raasamThe grape juice that quenches thirst
Ennodu kudi kondathuHas taken up residence within me
Thevaipattaal kannaa nee kudi endrathuSaid, "Oh Kannan, drink if you need it"
Female
Kumba raasi en kodiyidaiyil thondraAquarius appearing in my slender waist like a pot
Meenaraasi en poovizhiyil thondraPisces appearing in my flower-like fish eyes
Kanni rasiyil thondriya paavaiA maiden born under the sign of Virgo
Nallaraasithaan ennenna thevaiIs a good fortune, what else is needed?
Surangalil yaezhum sugangalil noorumAll seven musical notes and a hundred pleasures
Suvaigalil aarum kalanthathen thegam….And all six tastes are blended in my body...
Female
……………..[Instrumental Music]
Female
Thaagam theerum thiraatchai raasamThe grape juice that quenches thirst
Ennodu kudi kondathuHas taken up residence within me
Thevaipattaal kannaa nee kudi endrathuSaid, "Oh Kannan, drink if you need it"
Female
……………..[Outro]

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Thaagam Theerum Thiraatchai Raasam" is a iconic seductive cabaret/dance song from the 1975 Tamil film Anaiya Vilakku, composed by M. S. Viswanathan and performed by L. R. Eswari. In the song, the heroine/dancer invites her lover (referred to as "Kannan") to indulge in her beauty, describing her body as intoxicating fine wine that quenches deep thirst. Lyricist Vaali subtly elevates what could be a standard club song into a rich poetic work by using architectural and astrological imagery. Her body is metaphorically compared to a sculpted temple tower (gopuram), and her physical features are aligned with zodiac signs—pot-shaped waist (Kumba/Aquarius), fish-like eyes (Meena/Pisces), and maidenly charm (Kanni/Virgo). She claims to embody all seven musical swaras, six tastes, and a hundred delights, asserting that even the divine Creator would find refuge in her perfection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thaagam theerum thiraatchai raasam

Compares her alluring persona and body to 'thiraatchai raasam' (grape juice/wine) and an ocean of wine ('madhukkadal').

Architectural Imagery / Metaphor

Sirpa saaththiram yaavaium kondu / Katti vaiththor gopuram endru

Compares her body structure to a grand temple tower (gopuram) carved strictly following ancient sculpting treatises (sirpa saaththiram).

Astrological Wordplay (Sleidai / Metaphor)

Kumba raasi en kodiyidaiyil thondra / Meenaraasi en poovizhiyil thondra

Plays on zodiac sign names that mirror physical traits: Kumba (pot-waist), Meena (fish-eyes), and Kanni (virgin damsel).

Pun (Sleidai)

Ennodu kudi kondathu

'Kudi' means both 'to reside/dwell' and 'to drink', providing a dual sensual meaning to 'ennodu kudi kondathu'.

Alliteration & Consonance (Monai & Edhugai)

Surangalil yaezhum sugangalil noorum / Suvaigalil aarum kalanthathen thegam….

Rhythmic pairing of words using 'Surangalil', 'Sugangalil', 'Suvaigalil' along with numbers (7, 100, 6).

Did you know?

Trivia

L. R. Eswari was the undisputed queen of seductive and club songs in South Indian cinema throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The film Anaiya Vilakku stars M. K. Muthu (the eldest son of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi) alongside Padmapriya. Vaali's lyricism in this track is often celebrated for blending classical aesthetics (architecture, astrology, classical music swaras, and the six tastes) seamlessly into a Western-influenced seductive track composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

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