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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kinnaththil Then

From Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa aa aa aaAh ah ah ah
Aa aa aa aaAh ah ah ah
Aaaa..aaaa…haaaAhhh...ahhh...haaa
Aaaa..aaaa…haaaAhhh...ahhh...haaa
Male
Kinnathil thaen vadithuPouring honey into a cup,
Kaigalil yendhugirenI hold it in my hands.
Kinnathil thaen vadithuPouring honey into a cup,
Kaigalil yendhugirenI hold it in my hands.
Male
Ennathil bodhaivaraAs intoxication fills my thoughts,
Enkengo neendhugirenI swim off somewhere far away.
Kinnathil thaen vadithuPouring honey into a cup,
Kaigalil yendhugirenI hold it in my hands.
Female
Aa aaaa…aaaa…aaaa…Ah ahhh...ahhh...ahhh...
Naanum orr thiraatchai rasamI am grape juice,
Naayagan undhan vasamUnder your sway, my love.
Naanum orr thiraatchai rasamI am grape juice,
Naayagan undhan vasamUnder your sway, my love.
Female
Thendral polLike a gentle breeze,
Mandram varumEntering the courtly hall,
Dhevi naan poovin inamI am a goddess, born of the flower line.
Konjamo konjum sugamPleasure that fondles,
Kondu po andhappuramTake it to the inner bedchamber.
Female
Kannathil thaen kudithaalIf you sip honey from my cheek,
Karpanai kodi varumA million imaginations will blossom.
Ullathil poonkavithaiA sweet poem in the heart,
Vellam pol odi varumWill flow like a flood.
Female
Kannathil thaen kudithaalIf you sip honey from my cheek,
Karpanai kodi varumA million imaginations will blossom.
Male
Aa..aaaa…aaaa…aaaaa….Ah..ahhh...ahhh...ahhh...
Aanippon kattil unduThere is a bed of pure gold,
Kattil mel meththai unduUpon the bed, there is a mattress.
Aanippon kattil unduThere is a bed of pure gold,
Kattil mel meththai unduUpon the bed, there is a mattress.
Male
Meththai mel viththai unduUpon the mattress, there is artful skill,
Viththaikkor thaththai unduFor that artful skill, there is a sweet parrot,
Thaththaikkor muththam unduFor the parrot, there is a kiss,
Muththangal niththam unduAnd kisses are present every single day.
Male
Kinnathil thaen vadithuPouring honey into a cup,
Kaigalil yendhugirenI hold it in my hands.
Female
Aa….aaaa… aa …aaaaa…Ah...ahhh... ah ...ahhh...
Male :Aa….aaaa… aa …Male: Ah...ahhh... ah ...
Female
Yaazhisai thannil varumEmerging from the music of the lute,
Yezhisai yendhan mozhiThe seven notes are my language.
Yaazhisai thannil varumEmerging from the music of the lute,
Yezhisai yendhan mozhiThe seven notes are my language.
Male
Vinnilae vattamidumCircling in the sky,
Vennilaa undhan vizhiThe full white moon is your eyes.
Female :Palliyil kaalai varaiFemale: In the bedchamber until morning,
Pesidum kaadhal kadhaiA love story unfolds in conversation.
Male
Kinnathil thaen vadithuPouring honey into a cup,
Kaigalil yendhugirenI hold it in my hands.
Kannathil thaen kudithaalIf you sip honey from my cheek,
Karpanai kodi varumA million imaginations will blossom.
Male
Kinnathil thaen vadithuPouring honey into a cup,
Kaigalil yendhugirenI hold it in my hands.
Female :Aa aaFemale: Ah ah
Male :Kaigalil yendhugirenMale: I hold it in my hands.
Female :Aa aaFemale: Ah ah
Male :Kaigalil yendhugirenMale: I hold it in my hands.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kinnathil Thaen Vadithu' is a classic, sensuous duet from the 1978 Tamil movie 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu'. The song paints a vivid picture of intimate love and passionate romance between two lovers, using poetic metaphors of honey, wine, lute music, and moonlight to convey deep bliss and intoxication. In the lyrics, the lovers express their surrender to one another in their private bedchamber. The language flows seamlessly through intricate rhythmic patterns and delicate imagery, capturing a dreamy atmosphere of togetherness that lasts through the night until dawn.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naanum orr thiraatchai rasam

Comparing oneself directly to grape juice (wine) to signify sweet intoxication and passion.

Chain Rhyme / Anadi Prasam (Iyaibu)

Aanippon kattil undu / Kattil mel meththai undu / Meththai mel viththai undu...

A classic Tamil poetic technique where the end word of one line becomes the beginning concept of the next line (kattil -> meththai -> viththai -> thaththai -> muththam).

Simile (Uvamai)

Vellam pol odi varum

Comparing the sudden flow of poetic thoughts in the heart to a rushing flood using the word 'pol' (like).

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Vinnilae vattamidum Vennilaa undhan vizhi

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in a line (Yaazhisai / Yezhisai, Vinnilae / Vennilaa).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by poet Vaali, this song features the iconic vocals of K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki. The film 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu', directed by C. V. Sridhar, was a major blockbuster starring Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sripriya, and Jayachitra. Vaali's clever use of cascading link-words in the stanza beginning with 'Aanippon kattil undu' remains one of the most celebrated examples of rhythmic songwriting in Tamil cinema.

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