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Mappillai Azhaippu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Naal Vagai Nadagam

From Mappillai Azhaippu · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Mappillai Azhaippu
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
30 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
Poo modai nee podavaa
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
Poo modai nee podavaa
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
……………..
Mella thodu mella thodu
Solli kodu solli kodu
Enna illai ennidaththilae
Palliyarai kolla varum
Pulli mayil velli ratham
Thotta sugam unnidaththilae
Mella thodu mella thodu
Solli kodu solli kodu
Enna illai ennidaththilae
Palliyarai kolla varum
Pulli mayil velli ratham
Thotta sugam unnidaththilae
Kodiyil vilaiyum
Kani pol idhuum madiyil thavazhum
You dont touch me you dont touch me
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
Poo modai nee podavaa
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
Mmmm ennudaiya nenjaththilae
Eththanaiyo ennamundu
Poga poga therinthu kollalaam
Aadaiyitta chiththiraththai aada vitta karanaththai
Jaadai kondu purinthu kollalaam
Ho ennudaiya nenjaththilae
Eththanaiyo ennamundu
Poga poga therinthu kollalaam
Aadaiyitta chiththiraththai aada vitta karanaththai
Jaadai kondu purinthu kollalaam
Vizhigal sudalaam viralgal padalaam
Evarum varalaam
I wont miss you i wont miss you
Naan naalvagai naadagam aadidum paaththiram
Poo modai nee podavaa
Paar naan tharum thaen suvai
Bodhaiyil orr vagai
Ponnoonjal neeyaadavaa
I am a character playing a four-part drama,
Will you set up a stage of flowers?
Look at the sweet honey I offer,
It is a special kind of intoxication,
Will you swing upon this golden swing?
I am a character playing a four-part drama,
Will you set up a stage of flowers?
Look at the sweet honey I offer,
It is a special kind of intoxication,
Will you swing upon this golden swing?
...
Touch me gently, touch me gently,
Teach me, oh teach me,
What is missing in me?
Arriving to take over the bedroom,
A spotted peacock, a silver chariot,
The pleasure of touch belongs to you.
Touch me gently, touch me gently,
Teach me, oh teach me,
What is missing in me?
Arriving to take over the bedroom,
A spotted peacock, a silver chariot,
The pleasure of touch belongs to you.
Just like fruit that grows on a vine,
This too will rest upon your lap...
You don't touch me, you don't touch me!
I am a character playing a four-part drama,
Will you set up a stage of flowers?
Look at the sweet honey I offer,
It is a special kind of intoxication,
Will you swing upon this golden swing?
Mmm, deep inside my heart,
There are so many thoughts,
You can know them as time goes by.
The reason this dressed-up portrait is made to dance,
You can understand from subtle gestures.
Oh, deep inside my heart,
There are so many thoughts,
You can know them as time goes by.
The reason this dressed-up portrait is made to dance,
You can understand from subtle gestures.
Eyes may burn with desire, fingers may touch,
Anyone may come along...
I won't miss you, I won't miss you!
I am a character playing a four-part drama,
Will you set up a stage of flowers?
Look at the sweet honey I offer,
It is a special kind of intoxication,
Will you swing upon this golden swing?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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