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Isaimozhi
Maari album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Donu Donu Donu

From Maari · 2015

Lyricist
Dhanush
Singers
Alisha Thomas, Anirudh Ravichander
Music director
Anirudh Ravichander
Movie name
Maari
Movie release year
2015
Lyrics added on
9 Dec 2016

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Donu donu donu
Female :Naa unnoda gold meenu
Male :Sceneu sceneu sceneu
Female :Nee thotathellam sceneu
Male:Maanu maanu maanu
Female :Naan unnoda caffineu
Male: Goneu goneu goneu
Female :Nee paathale naan goneu
Gundaana kanaala kuthama kuthatha
Nee unna thandhalum pathaathadi
Roja poo dhegathaal raja naan saanjuten
Un munne en gethu nikkadhadi
Uruguthae unthan aanmai paarthu
Mayanguthae indha paavai thaan
Thavikuthae yellai thaandi paarkka
Thadukuthae pen naanam thaan
{I’m a loyal husband
Giving you royal treatment
And your daily shopping is guarenteed
You’re ma meesai maama
I’m your naughty maami
Giving you a life time service warranty}(2)
Hey vaa maa twinkleu.. come and mingleu
Namma kaatula naan thaan kingu
Female :Modern manmadha.. aasa koodudha
Kanna kattudha.. give me ringu
Male: Naan sokkuren di.. vikkuren di
Othaiyila nikkurendi
Female :Naan thithikavaa.. pathikavaa
Oththaikkotha aada ready
Uruguthae.. mayanguthae..
Ehh thavikuthae. ehh. thadukuthae pen naanam thaan
Female :Uruguthae unthan aanmai paarthu
Mayanguthae indha paavai thaan
Thavikuthae yellai thaandi paarkka
Thadukuthae pen naanam thaan
: Donu donu donu
Female :Naa unnoda gold meenu
Male :Sceneu sceneu sceneu
Female: Nee thotathellam sceneu
Male :Maanu maanu maanu
Female :Naan unnoda caffineu
Male :Goneu goneu goneu
Female :Nee paathale naan goneu
Gudnaana kanaala kuthama kuthatha
Nee unna thandhalum pathaathadi
Roja poo dhegathaal raja naan saanjuten
Un munne en gethu nikkadhadi
{I’m a loyal husband
Giving you royal treatment
And your daily shopping is guarenteed
You’re ma meesai maama
I’m your naughty maami
Giving you a life time service warranty}(2)
Don, my Don, my Don
Female: I'm your little goldfish
Male: Scene, big scene, grand scene
Female: Whatever you touch turns into a sensational scene
Male: My doe, my deer, my sweet girl
Female: I'm your daily caffeine
Male: Gone, gone, gone
Female: Just one look from you and I'm completely gone
Don't stab my heart without mercy with those big, round eyes
Even if you give yourself completely to me, it won't be enough, girl
Seduced by your rose-like body, I, the king, have fallen
All my tough swagger just melts away before you, girl
My heart melts seeing your manly charm
This girl is swooning over you
Longing to cross every boundary
Yet a woman's shyness holds me back
{I'm a loyal husband
Giving you royal treatment
And your daily shopping is guaranteed
You're my handsome, moustached man
I'm your naughty little woman
Giving you a lifetime service warranty} (x2)
Hey, come on, twinkle... come and mingle
In our domain, I am the king
Female: Modern Cupid... is desire rising?
Are your eyes spinning? Give me a ring
Male: I'm completely captivated, girl... totally sold on you, girl
I'm standing here all alone, girl
Female: Shall I taste sweet to you... or set you ablaze?
I'm ready to dance with you one-on-one
Melting... swooning...
Yeah, yearning... yeah, yet a woman's shyness holds me back
Female: My heart melts seeing your manly charm
This girl is swooning over you
Longing to cross every boundary
Yet a woman's shyness holds me back
Don, my Don, my Don
Female: I'm your little goldfish
Male: Scene, big scene, grand scene
Female: Whatever you touch turns into a sensational scene
Male: My doe, my deer, my sweet girl
Female: I'm your daily caffeine
Male: Gone, gone, gone
Female: Just one look from you and I'm completely gone
Don't stab my heart without mercy with those big, round eyes
Even if you give yourself completely to me, it won't be enough, girl
Seduced by your rose-like body, I, the king, have fallen
All my tough swagger just melts away before you, girl
{I'm a loyal husband
Giving you royal treatment
And your daily shopping is guaranteed
You're my handsome, moustached man
I'm your naughty little woman
Giving you a lifetime service warranty} (x2)
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Donu Donu Donu' from the 2015 movie 'Maari' is a playful, romantic duet featuring lighthearted banter between the local don Maari and his love interest Sridevi. The lyrics blend urban Tanglish (Tamil-English) slang with classic romantic tropes, highlighting the playful chemistry, flirtatious teasing, and mutual attraction between the two characters.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyming Slang / Tanglish Wordplay

Donu donu donu / Female :Naa unnoda gold meenu

Extensive use of rhythmic English-Tamil rhyming suffixes (e.g., gold meenu, caffeineu, twinkleu, mingleu).

Eukai (Iyai / End Rhyme)

Male: Naan sokkuren di.. vikkuren di / Othaiyila nikkurendi

Consonance of end sounds creating a rhythmic bounce throughout the verse ('sokkuren di', 'vikkuren di', 'nikkurendi').

Metaphor

Roja poo dhegathaal raja naan saanjuten

Comparing the female protagonist's softness and beauty to a rose ('Roja poo dhegam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Anirudh Ravichander and written by Dhanush, 'Donu Donu Donu' became a massive viral hit across South India. Sung by Anirudh himself along with Alisha Thomas, the song showcased Tanglish pop aesthetics that defined Tamil cinema soundtrack trends in the mid-2010s.

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