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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naalai Naalai Happy

From Uthaman · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Uthaman1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa haa… aa…Aha ah...
Male
Aa haa… aa… aa…Aha ah ah...
Female
Aa… aa… aa… haa…Ah ah ah ha...
Male
{Laalaala laalaala laalaa…}{Laalaala laalaala laalaa…}
Female
{Aahaa laalaala laalaa…} (Overlap){Aahaa laalaala laalaa…} (Overlap)
Male
Naalai naalai endrirundhenI kept waiting for tomorrow and tomorrow,
Nalla neram paarthu vandhenI arrived choosing an auspicious time.
Thathi thathi odi vandhuToddling and running fast,
Muthu muthu punnagaiyai thedinenI searched for a pearl-like smile,
Adhai ingae kandenAnd I found it right here.
Female
Naalai naalai endrirundhenI kept waiting for tomorrow and tomorrow,
Nalla neram paarthu vandhenI arrived choosing an auspicious time.
Thathi thathi odi vandhuToddling and running fast,
Muthu muthu punnagaiyai thedinenI searched for a pearl-like smile,
Adhai ingae kandenAnd I found it right here.
Male
Boomi engum pachai saelaiThe green saree drapes across the whole earth,
Manamagal kolamDressed like a bride.
Female
Thotta pookkal paarkkum paarvaiThe flowers touched by sight,
Vizhighalin jaalamThe magic of the eyes.
Male
Boomi engum pachai saelaiThe green saree drapes across the whole earth,
Manamagal kolamDressed like a bride.
Female
Thotta pookkal paarkkum paarvaiThe flowers touched by sight,
Vizhighalin jaalamThe magic of the eyes.
Male
Pullin meedhu paniyum paadumEven dew drops on the grass sing
Melliya raagamA soft melody.
Female
Aa…Ah...
Male
Pullin meedhu paniyum paadumEven dew drops on the grass sing
Melliya raagamA soft melody.
Female
Poovai endhan idhazhghalin meedhuOn the lips of this flower-like girl,
Thattuga thaalam kottuga melamBeat the rhythm, play the drums!
Male
Naalai naalai endrirundhenI kept waiting for tomorrow and tomorrow,
Nalla neram paarthu vandhenI arrived choosing an auspicious time.
Female
Thathi thathi odi vandhuToddling and running fast,
Muthu muthu punnagaiyai thedinenI searched for a pearl-like smile,
Male
Adhai ingae kandenAnd I found it right here.
Female
Aatrin meedhu odam irundhaalIf a boat floats upon a river,
Adharkku sondhamaaDoes it own the river?
Aadi aadi asaindhidum podhuWhen it sways and moves gently,
Adhu thaan inbamaaIs that not true joy?
Aatrin meedhu odam irundhaalIf a boat floats upon a river,
Adharkku sondhamaaDoes it own the river?
Aadi aadi asaindhidum podhuWhen it sways and moves gently,
Adhu thaan inbamaaIs that not true joy?
Male
Kaatru vandhu aadaiyai thottaalIf the wind touches her garment,
Kaigal thallumaaWill hands push it away?
Kaatru vandhu aadaiyai thottaalIf the wind touches her garment,
Kaigal thallumaaWill hands push it away?
Kaalil irundhu thalai varai aadiSwaying from head to toe,
Kaadhal sollumaaDoes it not express love?
Female
Naalai naalai endrirundhenI kept waiting for tomorrow and tomorrow,
Nalla neram paarthu vandhenI arrived choosing an auspicious time.
Male
Thathi thathi odi vandhuToddling and running fast,
Muthu muthu punnagaiyai thedinenI searched for a pearl-like smile,
Female
Adhai ingae kandenAnd I found it right here.
Male
Ilamai ennum naattiya saalaiIn the dance hall called youth,
Thirai ezhundhadhuThe curtain has risen.
Female
Idai vidaamal paarkka cholliAsking to watch without pause,
Vizhi malarndhadhuThe eyes blossomed.
Male
Aa… ilamai ennum naattiya saalaiAh... in the dance hall called youth,
Thirai ezhundhadhuThe curtain has risen.
Female
Aa… idai vidaamal paarkka cholliAh... asking to watch without pause,
Vizhi malarndhadhuThe eyes blossomed.
Male
Irandu kangal kaana thaanaeFor these two eyes to behold,
Paruvam vandhadhuYouth has arrived.
Female :Aaa….aa….Female vocalization...
Male
Irandu kangal kaana thaanaeFor these two eyes to behold,
Paruvam vandhadhuYouth has arrived.
Female
Ingum angum ulladhellaamEverything here and everywhere,
Iyarkkai thandhadhu iyarkkai thandhadhuWas given by nature, given by nature.
Male
Naalai naalai endrirundhenI kept waiting for tomorrow and tomorrow,
Female
Nalla neram paarthu vandhenI arrived choosing an auspicious time.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naalai Naalai Endrirundhen from the 1976 Tamil film Uthaman is a joyful song celebrating anticipation, romance, and the awakening of youth. Penned by lyricist Kannadasan, the song expresses a protagonist's long-awaited search for love and happiness, comparing the preciousness of a beloved's smile to rare pearls found after waiting for the right moment. The lyrics weave beautiful imagery connecting romantic desire to the beauty of the natural world, picturing the earth draped like a bride in a green saree and dew drops making soft music on grass. Youth itself is metaphorically described as a dance theater where curtains rise to unveil love and desire as natural, divine gifts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition / Anaphora)

Naalai naalai endrirundhen

Repeated words like 'Naalai naalai', 'Thathi thathi', 'Muthu muthu', and 'Aadi aadi' build musicality and emphasize swift motion, eagerness, and grace.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Boomi engum pachai saelai

Compares lush green nature to a bride dressed in a green saree ('Boomi engum pachai saelai, Manamagal kolam').

Extended Metaphor

Ilamai ennum naattiya saalai

Compares youth to a stage/dance hall where the curtains have risen ('Ilamai ennum naattiya saalai, Thirai ezhundhadhu').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Naalai naalai endrirundhen / Nalla neram paarthu vandhen

Matching initial consonant sound 'N' in 'Naalai' and 'Nalla'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Uthaman (1976) starred Jaishankar and Vidhubala. The lyricist Kavignar Kannadasan was well-known for integrating philosophical observations about nature and life into romantic songs, as seen here where natural beauty and romance are presented as inseparable gifts of nature.

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