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Dharma Devathai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idhu Nattanadu Raathiri

From Dharma Devathai · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Raveendran
Movie name
Dharma Devathai
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
25 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Oru maalai idu illa aala vidu
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Enakkena pirandhavan
Vishayangal therinjavan
Vevarangal purinjavan yaaruyaa
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Ellaarum paathaa ellaarum kettaa
Ennaagum en paadu
Machaanae neeyum achaaram podu
Appaala om paadu
Sillara ullavan vaangalaam
Ada mathavan paathu thaan yengalaam
Aei sillara ullavan vaangalaam
Ada matthavan paatthu thaan yaengalaam
Chinna vayasu ponnu
Ila vaazha kannu
Enna pudichirundhaa vaaiyaa
On madiyila thaan
Konjam ganam irundhaa
Enna azhaichukittu poiyaa
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Oru maalai idu illai aala vidu
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Kai kaasa podu enkooda aadu
Kadan solla koodaadhu
Kaadhoda yaarum poo sutha vandhaa
En kitta vegaadhu
Vandhavan yaarumae sokkanum
En vaasalil queuvilae nikkanum
Aei vandhavan yaarumae sokkanum
En vaasalil queuvilae nikkanum
Nenju thudikkiradhaa
Thandhi adikkiradhaa
Kaiyil kaasu irundhaa vaaiyaa
Vetti pasangalukkum
Vethu vettukkum thaan
Ingu edam illaiyae poiyaa
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Oru maalai idu illai aala vidu
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Enakkena pirandhavan
Vishayangal therinjavan
Vevarangal purinjavan yaaruyaa
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
Idhu natta nadu raathiri
Naan aththa mava maadhiri
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
Put a garland on me, or let me be!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
Where is the one born just for me,
The one who knows how things work,
Who is the man that truly understands?
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
If everyone stares and everyone asks for me,
What will become of me?
My dear man, put down an advance,
And after that, have it your way!
The one who has cash can win me over,
While the rest can only watch and yearn!
Hey, the one who has cash can win me over,
While the rest can only watch and yearn!
I am a girl in her youth,
Tender like a young banana shoot,
If you like me, come right here!
In your pocket,
If there is the weight of money,
Take me away with you!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
Put a garland on me, or let me be!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
Drop your cash and dance with me,
You cannot ask for credit here!
If anyone tries to take me for a fool,
It will never work with me!
Anyone who comes here must be spellbound,
And wait in a queue at my doorstep!
Hey, anyone who comes here must be spellbound,
And wait in a queue at my doorstep!
Is your heart racing?
Is it beating like a telegraph?
If you have money in hand, come on over!
For good-for-nothing fellows
And for useless show-offs,
There is no room here, so walk away!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
Put a garland on me, or let me be!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
Where is the one born just for me,
The one who knows how things work,
Who is the man that truly understands?
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
It is the dead of the night,
And I am just like your cousin bride!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Idhu Natta Nadu Raathiri from the 1986 Tamil film Dharma Devathai is a playful, seductive dance track written by lyricist Vaali. The song features a woman performing in the middle of the night, playfully teasing suitors while demanding that only men with real cash and genuine intent approach her, while dismissing idle talkers and penniless pretenders. Throughout the lyrics, she contrasts traditional romantic tropes like uncle's daughter and garlanding with bold, practical demands for upfront payment and real attention.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Sillara ullavan vaangalaam / Ada mathavan paathu thaan yengalaam

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'll' in 'Sillara' and 'mathavan' ('th/ll' phonetic rhyme scheme across lines).

Mohnai (Initial alliteration)

Kai kaasa podu enkooda aadu

Repetition of the 'K' sound across the line for rhythmic cadence.

Idiom / Metaphor

Kaadhoda yaarum poo sutha vandhaa / En kitta vegaadhu

Poo suthadhu (winding flowers around the ear) is a classic Tamil idiom meaning to fool or dupe someone.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dharma Devathai (1986) stars Vijayakanth, Radhika, and Pallavi, directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar with music composed by Raveendran.

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