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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Thandhanathaan

From Enga Chinna Rasa · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Enga Chinna Rasa1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan thandhanaththaan paattuI am a folk song sung without rhythm,
Thaalam illaWithout a proper beat.
En dhukkam edhum ketkka aalum illaThere is no one around to listen to my grief.
Male
Naan thandhanaththaan paattuI am a folk song sung without rhythm,
Thaalam illaWithout a proper beat.
En dhukkam edhum ketkka aalum illaThere is no one around to listen to my grief.
Male
Nalla vairakkalllu pakkathilaNext to a fine diamond,
UppathaanOnly salt...
Seththu vechadhu andha saami senjaGod made a blunder
ThapputhaanBy placing them together.
Naan upputhaanI am that salt.
Male
Naan thandhanaththaan paattuI am a folk song sung without rhythm,
Thaalam illaWithout a proper beat.
En dhukkam edhum ketkka aalum illaThere is no one around to listen to my grief.
Male
Hae ae ae ae …………………Hae ae ae ae ...
Thandhanaththaanaa thaanaanaa aa aaThandhanaththaanaa thaanaanaa aa aa
ThandhanaththaanaaThandhanaththaanaa
Thaanaanaa aa nanaaae ae ae hoo..Thaanaanaa aa nanaaae ae ae hoo..
Male
Yedum eluthum padikkavillaI never studied books or letters,
Ennai enakkae pudikkavillaI do not even like myself.
Azhaga padichava samsaaramMy wife is educated and beautiful,
Adhuthaan ippa vivagaaramAnd that is the trouble now.
Akkam pakkam ellaarukkumFor everyone in the neighborhood,
Raappoludhu nallarukkumThe night time is pleasant.
Ippa indha raavum enakkuNow even this night, for me,
Pagala sududhae yenBurns like daytime, why?
Male
Naan thandhanaththaan paattuI am a folk song sung without rhythm,
Thaalam illaWithout a proper beat.
En dhukkam edhum ketkka aalum illaThere is no one around to listen to my grief.
Nalla vairakkalllu pakkathila uppathaanPlacing salt right beside a precious diamond,
Seththu vechadhu andha saami senjaGod made a mistake
Thapputhaan…naan upputhaanBy putting them together... I am that salt.
Male
Naan thandhanaththaan paattuI am a folk song sung without rhythm,
Thaalam illaWithout a proper beat.
En dhukkam edhum ketkka aalum illaThere is no one around to listen to my grief.
Male
Naana kettaen kannaalamDid I ask for a marriage?
Thaana amainjadhu thaambulamThe ceremonial betel leaves were set on their own.
Ooraar paarvaikku oorgolamTo the townspeople, it looks like a grand procession,
Ullae nuzhainjaa kadivaalamBut step inside, and it is a tight rein.
Male
Kattil meththa sandhosamthaanBed and mattress are meant for happiness,
Kaanaathathu en dhosam thaanThat I haven't seen it is my ill fate.
Thinna melae thaniya padukkaIf I am to sleep alone on the porch,
Thaaram enakku yenWhy do I even need a wife?
Male
Naan thandhanaththaan paattuI am a folk song sung without rhythm,
Thaalam illaWithout a proper beat.
En dhukkam edhum ketkka aalum illaThere is no one around to listen to my grief.
Nalla vairakkalllu pakkathila uppathaanPlacing salt right beside a precious diamond,
Seththu vechadhu andha saami senjaGod made a mistake
Thapputhaan…naan upputhaanBy putting them together... I am that salt.
Naan upputhaan naan upputhaanI am that salt, I am that salt,
Naan upputhaanI am that salt.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of an uneducated husband who feels completely mismatched with his educated, refined wife. Using the metaphor of common salt placed beside a sparkling diamond, he laments how fate and societal pressure forced them into a marriage where he feels inadequate and rejected.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Nalla vairakkalllu pakkathila uppathaan

Compares the wife to a high-value diamond ('vairakkallu') and the protagonist to common salt ('uppu'), highlighting their sharp contrast in social standing and education.

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Azhaga padichava samsaaram / Adhuthaan ippa vivagaaram

Second-letter rhyming between 'samsaaram' (wife/family life) and 'vivagaaram' (issue/dispute), emphasizing how marriage turned into conflict.

Contrast (Antithesis)

Ippa indha raavum enakku / Pagala sududhae yen

Contrasts cool night ('raavum') with burning daytime heat ('pagala sududhae') to reflect internal turmoil.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Enga Chinna Rasa' (1987) was directed by and starred K. Bhagyaraj alongside Radha. The film's soundtrack was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics crafted by Vaali. The movie was a massive commercial success and was later remade in several Indian languages.

Keep listening

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