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Thunai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatru Nadanthathu Mella

From Thunai · 1982

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thunai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
24 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Kadhal kavithaigal solla solla
Kangal sivanthathu enna enna
Kannam rendum minna minna
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Kadhal kavithaigal solla solla
Kangal sivanthathu enna enna
Kannam rendum minna minna
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Minnal nee pennalla
Ennai paar kannalla megam poo sumakka
Female :Innumthaan ennenna
Indraikkae sollungal kettu naan rasikka
Minnal nee pennalla
Ennai paar kannalla megam poo sumakka
Female :Innumthaan ennenna
Indrakkae sollungal kettu naan rasikka
Udal thangamallavo
Female :Adhil thanga ennamo
Male :Udal thangamallavo
Female :Adhil thanga ennamo
Male :Maragatha maanikka medai engae
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Kadhal kavithaigal solla solla
Male :Kangal sivanthathu enna enna
Kannam rendum minna minna
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Veyyil kaalam varum neram
Kulir oottum vaaganamaa
Male :Thalir thegam kulir kaalam
Oru poravai aagattumaa
Ilavenil varum malar thoovi vidum
Ilavenil varum malar thoovi vidum
Male :Ilamaigal arangam yaeralaam…
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Kadhal kavithaigal solla solla
Male :Kangal sivanthathu enna enna
Kannam rendum minna minna
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Sonthaththil unnaiththaa
Santhangal solliththaa naanum paadugiraen
Male :Muththamthaan santhangal niththam nee kattrukkol
Ketkum adhisaya raagam
Sonthaththil unnaiththaa
Santhangal solliththaa naanum paadugiraen
Male :Muththamthaan santhangal niththam nee kattrukkol
Ketkum adhisaya raagam
Indru paattin pallavi
Male :Adhu pothum kanmani
Female :Indru paattin pallavi
Male :Adhu pothum kanmani
Female :Saranagal naalaikku paarpom kannaa
Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella
Female :Kadhal kavithaigal solla solla
Male :Kangal sivanthathu enna enna
Female :Kannam rendum minna minna
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow,
reciting poems of love as it went.
Why have your eyes turned so red?
While both your cheeks glow and shine!
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow,
reciting poems of love as it went.
Why have your eyes turned so red?
While both your cheeks glow and shine!
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow.
You are lightning, not just a woman;
look at me, my darling, like a cloud carrying flowers!
Female: What more is there?
Tell me today itself, so I can listen and delight!
You are lightning, not just a woman;
look at me, my darling, like a cloud carrying flowers!
Female: What more is there?
Tell me today itself, so I can listen and delight!
Isn't your body made of pure gold?
Female: What desire brings you to stay upon it?
Male: Isn't your body made of pure gold?
Female: What desire brings you to stay upon it?
Male: Where else is there a stage of emeralds and rubies?
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow,
reciting poems of love as it went.
Male: Why have your eyes turned so red?
While both your cheeks glow and shine!
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow.
When the hot summer arrives,
are you a chariot bringing a cooling breeze?
Male: When winter chills your tender body,
shall I become a warm blanket for you?
Spring will arrive and shower blossoms,
spring will arrive and shower blossoms,
Male: and our youthful desires can take the stage...
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow,
reciting poems of love as it went.
Male: Why have your eyes turned so red?
While both your cheeks glow and shine!
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow.
Give yourself to me as my very own,
and I will sing to the rhythm of our bond.
Male: Kisses are the rhythm—learn them every day,
and you will hear a wondrous melody!
Give yourself to me as my very own,
and I will sing to the rhythm of our bond.
Male: Kisses are the rhythm—learn them every day,
and you will hear a wondrous melody!
Today is only the opening verse of our song,
Male: That is enough for now, my darling.
Female: Today is only the opening verse of our song,
Male: That is enough for now, my darling.
Female: We can sing the remaining verses tomorrow, my love!
The breeze walked along, gentle and slow,
Female: reciting poems of love as it went.
Male: Why have your eyes turned so red?
While both your cheeks glow and shine!
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Tamil romantic duet from the film 'Thunai' (1982) captures an intimate, playful exchange between two lovers. The lyrics utilize rich imagery of nature—comparing the gentle wind to a walking companion, the beloved woman to lightning, and intimate warmth to a blanket during winter. The lovers converse using musical terms, playfully comparing their unfolding romance to a song where today marks only the 'pallavi' (prelude) and tomorrow will bring the 'charanams' (stanzas). Written by Pulamaipithan and set to tune by Shankar-Ganesh, the song uses rhythm, internal rhymes, and gentle imagery to portray deep romantic affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam)

“Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella”

Attributes human movement to nature by describing the breeze as 'walking' gently.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for poetic emphasis)

“mella mella / solla solla / enna enna / minna minna”

Rhythmic repetition of words like 'mella mella', 'solla solla', 'enna enna', and 'minna minna' creates an agreeable auditory cadence.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Minnal nee pennalla”

Comparing the heroine's dazzling beauty directly to lightning ('Minnal nee pennalla').

Extended Musical Metaphor

“Indru paattin pallavi... Saranagal naalaikku paarpom kannaa”

Framing the stages of intimacy and love as parts of a Carnatic composition (Pallavi and Charanam), and kisses as rhythmic structures ('Santhangal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary composer duo Shankar-Ganesh, 'Kaattru nadanthathu mella mella' is a popular vintage Tamil romantic song sung by P. Jayachandran and Vani Jairam. Lyricist Pulamaipithan, known for his deep Tamil literary phrasing, cleverly infused musical terminology (pallavi, charanam, santhangal, raagam) into a sensual romantic context.

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