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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naanthane Thotta Sinungi

From Sigappu Thali · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sigappu Thali1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungiI am indeed the touch-me-not plant!
Aalaanaen chinna sirukkiI, a young girl, have come of age.
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathungaBoiled paddy will never sprout!
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathungaA youthful girl like this won't be easily found again!
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaanJigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan
Female
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungiI am indeed the touch-me-not plant!
Aalaanaen chinna sirukkiI, a young girl, have come of age.
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathungaBoiled paddy will never sprout!
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathungaA youthful girl like this won't be easily found again!
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaanJigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan
Female
Paavaada thaavani pottu paththu maasam aachchuIt has been ten months since I started wearing a half-saree.
Ennaalae vaaluparkkellaam puthi kettu pochchuBecause of me, all the mischievous young lads have lost their minds.
Kaiyum kaiyum saerppom neeyaa naanaa paarpomLet's join our hands and see who wins between you and me.
Muththathukku paththiyamaa yaedhu mamaIs there any diet restriction for giving a kiss, my dear uncle?
Female
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungiI am indeed the touch-me-not plant!
Aalaanaen chinna sirukkiI, a young girl, have come of age.
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathungaBoiled paddy will never sprout!
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathungaA youthful girl like this won't be easily found again!
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaanJigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan
Female
Pottapulla poranthathu edhukkuWhy was a young girl born into this world?
Thottu kollaththaanaeOnly to be held and embraced!
Bhoomikkellaam raththiri edhukkuWhy does the whole Earth have nighttime?
Poththu vaikkaththaanaeOnly to keep lovers wrapped in privacy!
Vaazhum kaalam konjam vaai vittu kekkuthu manjamThe time to live is short, and the bed calls out openly.
Sogappattaa sorkkam illa pooththu yaeththuIf you sit around feeling sad, there is no bliss; light the lamp and blossom!
Female
Naanthaanae thottaa sinungiI am indeed the touch-me-not plant!
Aalaanaen chinna sirukkiI, a young girl, have come of age.
Avichcha nellu molaikkaathungaBoiled paddy will never sprout!
Vayasu pillai kidaikkaathungaA youthful girl like this won't be easily found again!
Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan….Jigujikujikichchaan jigujikujikichchaan....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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