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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kinnaththil Then

From Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu · 1978

Lyricist: Vaali
Singers: K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu
Movie release year: 1978
Lyrics added on: 25 Jul 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Aa aa aa aa

Aa aa aa aa

Aaaa..aaaa…haaa

Aaaa..aaaa…haaa

Kinnathil thaen vadithu

Kaigalil yendhugiren

Kinnathil thaen vadithu

Kaigalil yendhugiren

Ennathil bodhaivara

Enkengo neendhugiren

Kinnathil thaen vadithu

Kaigalil yendhugiren

Aa aaaa…aaaa…aaaa…

Naanum orr thiraatchai rasam

Naayagan undhan vasam

Naanum orr thiraatchai rasam

Naayagan undhan vasam

Thendral pol

Mandram varum

Dhevi naan poovin inam

Konjamo konjum sugam

Kondu po andhappuram

Kannathil thaen kudithaal

Karpanai kodi varum

Ullathil poonkavithai

Vellam pol odi varum

Kannathil thaen kudithaal

Karpanai kodi varum

Aa..aaaa…aaaa…aaaaa….

Aanippon kattil undu

Kattil mel meththai undu

Aanippon kattil undu

Kattil mel meththai undu

Meththai mel viththai undu

Viththaikkor thaththai undu

Thaththaikkor muththam undu

Muththangal niththam undu

Kinnathil thaen vadithu

Kaigalil yendhugiren

Aa….aaaa… aa …aaaaa…

Male :Aa….aaaa… aa …

Yaazhisai thannil varum

Yezhisai yendhan mozhi

Yaazhisai thannil varum

Yezhisai yendhan mozhi

Vinnilae vattamidum

Vennilaa undhan vizhi

Female :Palliyil kaalai varai

Pesidum kaadhal kadhai

Kinnathil thaen vadithu

Kaigalil yendhugiren

Kannathil thaen kudithaal

Karpanai kodi varum

Kinnathil thaen vadithu

Kaigalil yendhugiren

Female :Aa aa

Male :Kaigalil yendhugiren

Female :Aa aa

Male :Kaigalil yendhugiren

Ah ah ah ah

Ah ah ah ah

Aah... aah... haa...

Aah... aah... haa...

Pouring honey into a cup,

I hold it gently in my hands.

Pouring honey into a cup,

I hold it gently in my hands.

As intoxication fills my thoughts,

I drift and float everywhere.

Pouring honey into a cup,

I hold it gently in my hands.

Aa aa... aa... aa...

I am like fine grape wine,

belonging wholly to you, my love.

I am like fine grape wine,

belonging wholly to you, my love.

Drifting like a gentle breeze

into this hall,

I am a goddess born of flowers.

Is this tender joy a small thing?

Carry me away to your private room!

If I taste the honey on your cheek,

millions of sweet dreams will blossom.

Sweet poems in my heart

will rush forth like a flood.

If I taste the honey on your cheek,

millions of sweet dreams will blossom.

Aa.. aah... aah... aah...

There is a bed of pure gold,

and on that bed is a soft mattress.

There is a bed of pure gold,

and on that bed is a soft mattress.

On that mattress is the art of love,

for that art, there is a lovely parrot,

for that parrot, there is a kiss,

and those kisses will come every single day.

Pouring honey into a cup,

I hold it gently in my hands.

Aah... aah... aah... aah...

Male: Aah... aah... aah...

Born from the music of the ancient harp,

the seven notes are my language.

Born from the music of the ancient harp,

the seven notes are my language.

Circling high in the sky,

the shining moon is like your eyes.

Female: Resting in bed until morning,

we shall share stories of love.

Pouring honey into a cup,

I hold it gently in my hands.

If I taste the honey on your cheek,

millions of sweet dreams will blossom.

Pouring honey into a cup,

I hold it gently in my hands.

Female: Ah ah

Male: I hold it gently in my hands.

Female: Ah ah

Male: I hold it gently in my hands.

Male

Male

Male

Female

Female

Female

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Female

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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