Naan Naal Vagai Nadagam
From Mappillai Azhaippu · 1972
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Mappillai Azhaippu1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram | I am a character performing four types of drama |
| Poo modai nee podavaa | Will you lay out a stage made of flowers? |
| Paar naan tharum thaen suvai | Look at the honeyed taste I offer |
| Bodhaiyil orr vagai | It is a distinct kind of intoxication |
| Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa | Will you swing on this golden swing? |
| Female | |
| Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram | I am a character performing four types of drama |
| Poo modai nee podavaa | Will you lay out a stage made of flowers? |
| Paar naan tharum thaen suvai | Look at the honeyed taste I offer |
| Bodhaiyil orr vagai | It is a distinct kind of intoxication |
| Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa | Will you swing on this golden swing? |
| Female | |
| …………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Mella thodu mella thodu | Touch gently, touch gently |
| Solli kodu solli kodu | Teach me, teach me |
| Enna illai ennidaththilae | What is missing in me? |
| Palliyarai kolla varum | Coming to grace the bedchamber |
| Pulli mayil velli ratham | A spotted peacock, a silver chariot |
| Thotta sugam unnidaththilae | The pleasure of touch is with you |
| Female | |
| Mella thodu mella thodu | Touch gently, touch gently |
| Solli kodu solli kodu | Teach me, teach me |
| Enna illai ennidaththilae | What is missing in me? |
| Palliyarai kolla varum | Coming to grace the bedchamber |
| Pulli mayil velli ratham | A spotted peacock, a silver chariot |
| Thotta sugam unnidaththilae | The pleasure of touch is with you |
| Female | |
| Kodiyil vilaiyum | Growing on a vine |
| Kani pol idhuum madiyil thavazhum | Like a fruit, this too crawls in the lap |
| You dont touch me you dont touch me | You don't touch me, you don't touch me |
| Female | |
| Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram | I am a character performing four types of drama |
| Poo modai nee podavaa | Will you lay out a stage made of flowers? |
| Paar naan tharum thaen suvai | Look at the honeyed taste I offer |
| Bodhaiyil orr vagai | It is a distinct kind of intoxication |
| Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa | Will you swing on this golden swing? |
| Female | |
| Mmmm ennudaiya nenjaththilae | Mmmm, inside my heart |
| Eththanaiyo ennamundu | There are so many thoughts |
| Poga poga therinthu kollalaam | As time goes by, you can learn them all |
| Aadaiyitta chiththiraththai aada vitta karanaththai | The reason why a clothed portrait was made to dance |
| Jaadai kondu purinthu kollalaam | You can understand through subtle gestures |
| Female | |
| Ho ennudaiya nenjaththilae | Ho, inside my heart |
| Eththanaiyo ennamundu | There are so many thoughts |
| Poga poga therinthu kollalaam | As time goes by, you can learn them all |
| Aadaiyitta chiththiraththai aada vitta karanaththai | The reason why a clothed portrait was made to dance |
| Jaadai kondu purinthu kollalaam | You can understand through subtle gestures |
| Female | |
| Vizhigal sudalaam viralgal padalaam | Eyes may burn, fingers may touch |
| Evarum varalaam | Anyone may come |
| I wont miss you i wont miss you | I won't miss you, I won't miss you |
| Female | |
| Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram | I am a character performing four types of drama |
| Poo modai nee podavaa | Will you lay out a stage made of flowers? |
| Paar naan tharum thaen suvai | Look at the honeyed taste I offer |
| Bodhaiyil orr vagai | It is a distinct kind of intoxication |
| Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa | Will you swing on this golden swing? |
நான் நால்வகை நாடகம் ஆடிடும் பாத்திரம்
பூ மேடை நீ போடவா
பார் நான் தரும் தேன் சுவை
போதையில் ஓர் வகை
பொன்னூஞ்சல் நீயாடவா........
I am a character performing four types of drama
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Will you swing on this golden swing?
நான் நால்வகை நாடகம் ஆடிடும் பாத்திரம்
பூ மேடை நீ போடவா
பார் நான் தரும் தேன் சுவை
போதையில் ஓர் வகை
பொன்னூஞ்சல் நீயாடவா........
I am a character performing four types of drama
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Will you swing on this golden swing?
....................
...
மெல்லத் தொடு மெல்ல தொடு
சொல்லிக் கொடு சொல்லிக் கொடு
என்ன இல்லை என்னிடத்திலே
பள்ளியறை கொள்ள வரும்
புள்ளி மயில் வெள்ளி ரதம்
தொட்ட சுகம் உன்னிடத்திலே
Touch gently, touch gently
Teach me, teach me
What is missing in me?
Coming to grace the bedchamber
A spotted peacock, a silver chariot
The pleasure of touch is with you
மெல்லத் தொடு மெல்ல தொடு
சொல்லிக் கொடு சொல்லிக் கொடு
என்ன இல்லை என்னிடத்திலே
பள்ளியறை கொள்ள வரும்
புள்ளி மயில் வெள்ளி ரதம்
தொட்ட சுகம் உன்னிடத்திலே
Touch gently, touch gently
Teach me, teach me
What is missing in me?
Coming to grace the bedchamber
A spotted peacock, a silver chariot
The pleasure of touch is with you
கொடியில் விளையும்
கனிப் போல் இதுவும் மடியில் தவழும்...
யூ டோன்ட் டச் மீ யூ டோண்ட் டச் மீ
Growing on a vine
Like a fruit, this too crawls in the lap
You don't touch me, you don't touch me
நான் நால்வகை நாடகம் ஆடிடும் பாத்திரம்
பூ மேடை நீ போடவா
பார் நான் தரும் தேன் சுவை
போதையில் ஓர் வகை
பொன்னூஞ்சல் நீயாடவா........
I am a character performing four types of drama
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Will you swing on this golden swing?
ம்ம்ம் என்னுடைய நெஞ்சத்திலே
எத்தனையோ எண்ணமுண்டு
போகப் போக தெரிந்துக் கொள்ளலாம்
ஆடையிட்ட சித்திரத்தை ஆட விட்ட காரணத்தை
ஜாடை கொண்டு புரிந்துக் கொள்ளலாம்
Mmmm, inside my heart
There are so many thoughts
As time goes by, you can learn them all
The reason why a clothed portrait was made to dance
You can understand through subtle gestures
ஹோ என்னுடைய நெஞ்சத்திலே
எத்தனையோ எண்ணமுண்டு
போகப் போக தெரிந்துக் கொள்ளலாம்
ஆடையிட்ட சித்திரத்தை ஆட விட்ட காரணத்தை
ஜாடை கொண்டு புரிந்துக் கொள்ளலாம்
Ho, inside my heart
There are so many thoughts
As time goes by, you can learn them all
The reason why a clothed portrait was made to dance
You can understand through subtle gestures
விழிகள் சுடலாம் விரல்கள் படலாம்
எவரும் வரலாம்......
ஐ வோண்ட் மிஸ் யூ ஐ வோண்ட் மிஸ் யூ
Eyes may burn, fingers may touch
Anyone may come
I won't miss you, I won't miss you
நான் நால்வகை நாடகம் ஆடிடும் பாத்திரம்
பூ மேடை நீ போடவா
பார் நான் தரும் தேன் சுவை
போதையில் ஓர் வகை
பொன்னூஞ்சல் நீயாடவா........
I am a character performing four types of drama
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Will you swing on this golden swing?
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
I am a character performing four types of drama
Poo modai nee podavaa
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
Will you swing on this golden swing?
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
I am a character performing four types of drama
Poo modai nee podavaa
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
Will you swing on this golden swing?
……………..
...
Mella thodu mella thodu
Touch gently, touch gently
Solli kodu solli kodu
Teach me, teach me
Enna illai ennidaththilae
What is missing in me?
Palliyarai kolla varum
Coming to grace the bedchamber
Pulli mayil velli ratham
A spotted peacock, a silver chariot
Thotta sugam unnidaththilae
The pleasure of touch is with you
Mella thodu mella thodu
Touch gently, touch gently
Solli kodu solli kodu
Teach me, teach me
Enna illai ennidaththilae
What is missing in me?
Palliyarai kolla varum
Coming to grace the bedchamber
Pulli mayil velli ratham
A spotted peacock, a silver chariot
Thotta sugam unnidaththilae
The pleasure of touch is with you
Kodiyil vilaiyum
Growing on a vine
Kani pol idhuum madiyil thavazhum
Like a fruit, this too crawls in the lap
You dont touch me you dont touch me
You don't touch me, you don't touch me
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
I am a character performing four types of drama
Poo modai nee podavaa
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
Will you swing on this golden swing?
Mmmm ennudaiya nenjaththilae
Mmmm, inside my heart
Eththanaiyo ennamundu
There are so many thoughts
Poga poga therinthu kollalaam
As time goes by, you can learn them all
Aadaiyitta chiththiraththai aada vitta karanaththai
The reason why a clothed portrait was made to dance
Jaadai kondu purinthu kollalaam
You can understand through subtle gestures
Ho ennudaiya nenjaththilae
Ho, inside my heart
Eththanaiyo ennamundu
There are so many thoughts
Poga poga therinthu kollalaam
As time goes by, you can learn them all
Aadaiyitta chiththiraththai aada vitta karanaththai
The reason why a clothed portrait was made to dance
Jaadai kondu purinthu kollalaam
You can understand through subtle gestures
Vizhigal sudalaam viralgal padalaam
Eyes may burn, fingers may touch
Evarum varalaam
Anyone may come
I wont miss you i wont miss you
I won't miss you, I won't miss you
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
I am a character performing four types of drama
Poo modai nee podavaa
Will you lay out a stage made of flowers?
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Look at the honeyed taste I offer
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
It is a distinct kind of intoxication
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
Will you swing on this golden swing?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Naan Naalvagai Naadagam' from the 1972 Tamil movie Mappillai Azhaippu is a tantalizing dance number composed by V. Kumar, written by Vaali, and sung by P. Susheela. The song features a protagonist portraying herself as a multi-faceted performer, comparing romantic allure to a theatrical act involving sweet honey, flower-adorned stages, and golden swings. She playfully invites her beloved while setting flirtatious boundaries using sudden English lines. Throughout the track, rich Tamil poetic imagery—such as spotted peacocks and silver chariots—is juxtaposed with modern 1970s pop sensibilities. The lyrics balance sensual invitation with a teasing, elusive demeanor, capturing the spirit of contemporary Tamil cinema dance numbers of that decade.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram”
The singer compares herself to a theatrical vessel/character ('aadidum paaththiram') capable of four kinds of dramatic expressions.
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Mella thodu mella thodu / Solli kodu solli kodu”
Rhyming of second consonant sounds ('lla') across adjacent lines ('Mella' and 'Solli').
Imagery & Metaphor
“Pulli mayil velli ratham”
Describing the heroine as a 'spotted peacock' ('pulli mayil') and 'silver chariot' ('velli ratham') entering the bedroom.
Code-Switching (Tanglish)
“You dont touch me you dont touch me”
Insertion of English conversational phrases ('You dont touch me', 'I wont miss you') within classical Tamil rhythmic structure, a signature style of Vaali in 1970s club songs.
Did you know?
Trivia
During the 1970s, lyricist Vaali and composer V. Kumar frequently collaborated on modern cabaret and dance numbers that incorporated Western beats and English catchphrases to suit the changing urban film aesthetics of Tamil cinema.
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