Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naanthane Thotta Sinungi

From Sigappu Thali · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sigappu Thali
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
14 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungi
Aalaanaen chinna sirukki
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathunga
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathunga
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungi
Aalaanaen chinna sirukki
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathunga
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathunga
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan
Paavaada thaavani pottu paththu maasam aachchu
Ennaalae vaaluparkkellaam puthi kettu pochchu
Kaiyum kaiyum saerppom neeyaa naanaa paarpom
Muththathukku paththiyamaa yaedhu mama
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungi
Aalaanaen chinna sirukki
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathunga
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathunga
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan
Pottapulla poranthathu edhukku
Thottu kollaththaanae
Bhoomikkellaam raththiri edhukku
Poththu vaikkaththaanae
Vaazhum kaalam konjam vaai vittu kekkuthu manjam
Sogappattaa sorkkam illa pooththu yaeththu
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungi
Aalaanaen chinna sirukki
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathunga
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathunga
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan….
I am the touch-me-not girl,
I have grown into a woman, this little girl!
Boiled paddy will never sprout,
And a girl in her prime won't be easy to find!
Jiku-jiku-jikichaan, jiku-jiku-jikichaan!
I am the touch-me-not girl,
I have grown into a woman, this little girl!
Boiled paddy will never sprout,
And a girl in her prime won't be easy to find!
Jiku-jiku-jikichaan, jiku-jiku-jikichaan!
It has been ten months since I wore a half-sari,
And all the young men have lost their minds over me!
Let's join hands and see who wins, you or me!
Is there any rule against kissing, my dear?
I am the touch-me-not girl,
I have grown into a woman, this little girl!
Boiled paddy will never sprout,
And a girl in her prime won't be easy to find!
Jiku-jiku-jikichaan, jiku-jiku-jikichaan...
Why was a girl born?
Only to be touched and held, isn't it?
Why does night fall upon the whole earth?
Only to hide us gently in the dark, isn't it?
Life is too short, and the bed calls out aloud,
There is no heaven in holding back—blossom and accept joy!
I am the touch-me-not girl,
I have grown into a woman, this little girl!
Boiled paddy will never sprout,
And a girl in her prime won't be easy to find!
Jiku-jiku-jikichaan, jiku-jiku-jikichaan!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat Tamil folk-pop song captures the youthful exuberance and playful romantic invitation of a young woman who has recently come of age. Using traditional rural idioms and nature metaphors, she compares herself to a sensitive touch-me-not plant and reminds her suitor that youth is fleeting, much like cooked rice that cannot sprout again once cooked. The lyrics playfully tease her lover to let go of hesitation, embrace romance, and enjoy the passionate season of youth while it lasts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Naanthaanae thottaa sinungi

The speaker compares her bashfulness and sensitivity to a 'Thottaa sinungi' (Touch-me-not plant).

Proverbial Metaphor (Pazhamozhi Uvamai)

Avichcha nellu molaikkaathunga

Uses the agricultural truth that boiled rice/paddy cannot sprout to symbolize that lost time and prime youth cannot be regained.

Rhyme (Edhukai / Monorhyme)

Thottu kollaththaanae / Poththu vaikkaththaanae

Parallel rhyming endings ('kollaththaanae' / 'vaikkaththaanae') enhance the folk rhythm of the song.

Onomatopoeia (Esaipathi)

Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan

Rhythmic, non-lexical vocalic sounds used to establish the playful folk beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Vairamuthu for the 1988 film 'Sigappu Thali', the song creatively blends traditional Tamil rural proverbs ('Avichcha nellu molaikkaadhu') with modern cinematic rhythm to portray coming-of-age themes.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Sigappu Thali

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.