Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Illavattam Kai Thattum

From My Dear Marthandan · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
My Dear Marthandan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Aaa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aaa…..aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aa....aa....aaa.....aaa....
Aaa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aaa…..aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aa....aa....aaa.....aaa....
Female
Ilavattam kai thattum dum dumYouthful hands clap to the rhythm, dum dum
Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dumLet it be heard across all eight directions, dum dum
Oru sontham pudhu pantham malarattum dumLet a relationship, a new bond, blossom, dum
Oru sorkkam adhil inbam thodarattum dumLet a heavenly bliss continue from it, dum
Female
Pooppol pooppol pooppaaLike a flower, like a flower, flower-like child
Paarththaal pothum paappaaJust a glance is enough, my dear child
Pooppol pooppol pooppaaLike a flower, like a flower, flower-like child
Paarththaal pothum paappaaJust a glance is enough, my dear child
Female
Ilavattam kai thattum dum dumYouthful hands clap to the rhythm, dum dum
Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dumLet it be heard across all eight directions, dum dum
Male
Kanavukkul kannukkul vanthaayoDid you enter my dreams and my eyes?
Manathukkul nenjukkul nindraayoDid you stand residing in my mind and heart?
Udalukkul ottikkol endraenoDid I say cling close within my body?
Udhadugal muththukkal thanthaenoDid my lips offer pearls of kisses?
Chorus
Aaa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aaa…..aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aa....aa....aaa.....aaa....
Aaa…..aaa…..aa….aa….aaa…..aaa….Aaa.....aaa.....aa....aa....aaa.....aaa....
Female
En polae penn thediSearching for a maiden like me
Nindraai neenda pozhuthaaiYou waited for a long duration
Nee thantha ennangalthe thoughts you bestowed upon me
Nenjil aazham vizhuthaaiHave cast deep aerial roots in my heart
Male
Kalyaana maalai kaiyodu konduBringing a wedding garland in hand
Vanthaalvaasal thirakkumIf you arrive, the entrance will open
Female :Pottodu pooovum pon manjal thaanumFemale: With bindi, flowers, and auspicious turmeric
Thanthaal vaazhvu sirakkumIf granted, life will grandly flourish
Female
Ilavattam kai thattum dum dumYouthful hands clap to the rhythm, dum dum
Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dumLet it be heard across all eight directions, dum dum
Oru sontham pudhu pantham malarattum dumLet a relationship, a new bond, blossom, dum
Oru sorkkam adhil inbam thodarattum dumLet a heavenly bliss continue from it, dum
Female
Pooppol pooppol pooppaaLike a flower, like a flower, flower-like child
Paarththaal pothum paappaaJust a glance is enough, my dear child
Pooppol pooppol pooppaaLike a flower, like a flower, flower-like child
Paarththaal pothum paappaaJust a glance is enough, my dear child
Male
Ilavattam kai thattum dum dumYouthful hands clap to the rhythm, dum dum
Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dumLet it be heard across all eight directions, dum dum
Female
Kural vannam konjattum kalyaaniLet the tone of voice coax pleasantly like Kalyani ragam
Viral vannam kollattum ponn maeniLet the magic of fingers embrace the golden form
Malai vannam allattum kuttraalamLet the beauty of the hills gather like Courtallam
Mani vannam saerattum singaaramLet precious gem-like radiance add to the romance
Male
Inneram un paarvaiAt this hour, will your glance
En mael baanam vidumaa….aa…Shoot an arrow at me?
Vittaalum suttaalumEven if shot or burned by love
Pennin naanam vidumaa…..aa…Will a woman's bashfulness ever leave?
Female
Unnodu maadhu ondraana pothuWhen a woman unites as one with you
Kandaal kadhal sugamthaanUpon experiencing it, love is true bliss
Male :Ondrana pothu rendaavathedhuMale: When united as one, where is the second?
Inbam nooru yugamthaanHappiness will last for a hundred epochs
Female
Ilavattam kai thattum dum dumYouthful hands clap to the rhythm, dum dum
Male :Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dumMale: Let it be heard across all eight directions, dum dum
Female :Oru sontham pudhu pantham malarattum dumFemale: Let a relationship, a new bond, blossom, dum
Male :Oru sorkkam adhil inbam thodarattum dumMale: Let a heavenly bliss continue from it, dum
Female
Ilavattam kai thattum dum dumYouthful hands clap to the rhythm, dum dum
Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dumLet it be heard across all eight directions, dum dum

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a joyful, celebratory romantic duet expressing the youthful exuberance of falling in love and anticipation of marital union. The lovers express their deep affection through vivid poetic imagery, comparing love to blooming flowers, celestial bliss, and classical music ragas.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Ilavattam kai thattum dum dum / Dhisai ettum ketkattum dum dum

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Ilavattam' and 'Dhisai ettum', or 'Kanavukkul' and 'Manathukkul'.

Monaai (Alliteration / First letter matching)

Pooppol pooppol pooppaa

Matching initial consonant sounds within a line, such as 'Pooppol pooppol pooppaa'.

Simile (Upamai)

Pooppol pooppol pooppaa

Comparing the beloved's gentleness and beauty directly to a flower using 'pol'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En mael baanam vidumaa

Describing the romantic gaze as an arrow ('baanam') shot towards the lover.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in the query, 'My Dear Marthandan' (1990) features a celebrated soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, directed by Prathap Pothen and starring Prabhu and Khushbu.

Keep listening

More from My Dear Marthandan