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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enthan Paadalkalil

From Uravai Kaatha Kili · 1984

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Uravai Kaatha Kili1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanavennum aalaikkulO sugarcane trapped inside the mill of dreams
Agappatta karumbaeO sugarcane trapped within
Ninaivennum cholaikkulInside the grove of memories
Pooththitta aarumbaeO flower bud that bloomed
Male
Enthan paadalgalil nee neelaampariIn my songs, you are the raga Neelambari
Unnai paaraamalae manam thoongaathadiWithout seeing you, my heart cannot sleep
Chorus
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Male
Enthan paadalgalil nee neelaampariIn my songs, you are the raga Neelambari
Unnai paaraamalae manam thoongaathadiWithout seeing you, my heart cannot sleep
Valampuri sangai koodaEven the rare right-whorled conch shell
Un kazhuththu minjuthadi vanji malaraeIs surpassed by your neck, O creeper blossom
Oh nilavathan thangai ena un jolippuOh, your radiance makes you look like the moon's younger sister
Solluthadi vaira silaiyae….So speaks the diamond statue...
Male
Enthan paadalgalil nee neelaampariIn my songs, you are the raga Neelambari
Unnai paaraamalae manam thoongaathadiWithout seeing you, my heart cannot sleep
Vasantham ennum oru paavaiYou are a maiden named spring
Nee asainthu vantha oru cholaiYou are a garden swaying towards me
Vasantham ennum oru paavaiYou are a maiden named spring
Nee asainthu vantha oru cholaiYou are a garden swaying towards me
Chorus
…………….[Music / Interlude]
Chorus
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Male
Poigai thamaraiyilIn the pond's lotus flower
Puguntha vandu ondru ammammaaA beetle that entered, oh my
Bodhai yaetrikkollaTo get intoxicated
Thaalam poduthadi ammaammaaKeeps beating time and rhythm, oh my
Male
Poigai thamaraiyilIn the pond's lotus flower
Puguntha vandu ondru ammammaaA beetle that entered, oh my
Bodhai yaetrikkollaTo get intoxicated
Thaalam poduthadi ammaammaaKeeps beating time and rhythm, oh my
Female
Poigai vandaai un kai maaraAs your hands reach out like a beetle to the pond
Mangai naana seigai seithaaiYou made gestures at me with shy feelings, O maiden
Vaigai pol nanaththil valaigindraenaeI bend with shyness like the river Vaigai
Vai kai nee endrunnai solgindraenaeI tell you, 'Place your hands on me'
Female
Enthan paadalgalil nee neelaampariIn my songs, you are the raga Neelambari
Unnai paaraavidil niththam urangaavizhiIf I do not see you, my eyes cannot sleep every day
Chorus
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Theemthana theemthana theemthanaaTheemthana theemthana theemthanaa
Male
Pachchai arisi ennumLike white grains of raw rice
Parkal konda unthan punsirippuIs your gentle smile revealing teeth
Nenja paanaiyilaIn the pot of my heart
Niththam vegirathu un ninaippuYour memory cooks every single day
Male
Pachchai arisi ennumLike white grains of raw rice
Parkal konda unthan punsirippuIs your gentle smile revealing teeth
Nenja paanaiyilaIn the pot of my heart
Niththam vegirathu un ninaippuYour memory cooks every single day
Female
Vaarththai thendral nee veesumpothuWhen you blow a gentle breeze of words
Aadum poovaai aanaen maathuI became a dancing flower, O lady
Idhazhoram sillendru nanaigindrathuIt grows coolly moist at the edge of the lips
Sinthum thaenkooda sinthondru punaigindrathuEven the dripping honey composes a melodic song
Male
Enthan paadalgalil nee neelaampariIn my songs, you are the raga Neelambari
Unnai paaraamalae manam thoongaathadiWithout seeing you, my heart cannot sleep
Valampuri sangai koodaEven the rare right-whorled conch shell
Un kazhuththu minjuthadi vanji malaraeIs surpassed by your neck, O creeper blossom
Oh nilavathan thangai ena un jolippuOh, your radiance makes you look like the moon's younger sister
Solluthadi vaira silaiyae….So speaks the diamond statue...
Male
Vasantham ennum oru paavaiYou are a maiden named spring
Nee asainthu vantha oru cholaiYou are a garden swaying towards me
Vasantham ennum oru paavaiYou are a maiden named spring
Nee asainthu vantha oru cholaiYou are a garden swaying towards me

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Enthan Paadalgalil Nee Neelambari' from the movie 'Uravai Kaatha Kili' (1984) is a romantic duet capturing the deep affection, poetic praise, and playful romantic banter between two lovers. The male lover serenades his beloved, comparing her presence in his musical world to Raga Neelambari—the divine melody known for inducing peaceful sleep—while acknowledging that without seeing her, he suffers sleepless nights. He admires her delicate features using evocative imagery, comparing her neck to a sacred right-whorled conch, her smile to bright raw rice grains, and her glow to the moon's sister. The female lover reciprocates with equal passion, expressing how his words act like a gentle breeze making her flower-like heart sway. She describes her shyness bending gracefully like the winding Vaigai river. Composed, written, and directed by T. Rajendar, the track combines classical carnatic musical references, rhythmic scatting ('Theemthana'), and signature Tamil folk-metaphors to portray an enchanting vision of romantic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Kanavennum aalaikkul / Agappatta karumbae

Compares dreams to a sugar factory/mill ('aalaikku') and the beloved to sugarcane ('karumbu') being processed inside.

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

Enthan paadalgalil nee neelaampari

Compares the beloved directly to Raga Neelambari, suggesting she is the soothing classical melody inhabiting his songs.

Upamai (Simile)

Vaigai pol nanaththil valaigindraenae

Explicitly compares the female lover's bashful bending posture to the curving path of the river Vaigai ('Vaigai pol').

Metaphor

Nenja paanaiyila / Niththam vegirathu un ninaippu

Metaphorically frames the heart as a clay pot ('nenja paanai') in which memories of the beloved are continually cooking ('vegirathu').

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kanavennum aalaikkul / Ninaivennum cholaikkul

The second letter 'na' (ன) in 'Kanavennum' and 'Ninaivennum' creates a harmonious second-letter Tamil rhyme scheme.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Uravai Kaatha Kili' (1984) was written, directed, and scored by multitalented filmmaker T. Rajendar, who also starred in the film. The song highlights his signature songwriting style—using deeply rhythmic, rhyming Tamil couplets along with unique everyday metaphors (such as raw rice cooking in a pot). Raga Neelambari is traditionally associated with soothing lullabies and sleep in South Indian classical music, which TR cleverly incorporates into the refrain: 'In my songs you are Neelambari, yet without seeing you my heart cannot sleep.'

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