Nadaiya Idhu Nadaiya
From Annai Illam · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Annai Illam1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa | Is this a walk? Is this really a walk? |
| Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu | Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here? |
| Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa | Is this a waist? Is this really a waist? |
| Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu | It seems as if it does not even exist! |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa | Is this a walk? Is this really a walk? |
| Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu | Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here? |
| Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa | Is this a waist? Is this really a waist? |
| Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu | It seems as if it does not even exist! |
| Male | |
| Kadarkarai kaathu adikkudhu | The sea breeze is blowing cool, |
| Kaathula saelai nadikkudhu | The saree is fluttering and dancing in the wind. |
| Kadarkarai kaathu adikkudhu | The sea breeze is blowing cool, |
| Kaathula saelai nadikkudhu | The saree is fluttering and dancing in the wind. |
| Munnaalae vara cholli azhaikkudhu | It beckons me to step forward, |
| Mugathilae kadugu vedikkudhu | Yet anger crackles on her face like popping mustard seeds! |
| Male | |
| Velli kannu meena | When silver-eyed Meena |
| Veedhi vazhi ponaa | Walked down the street, |
| Thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa | Rhythmically dancing thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa! |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa | Is this a walk? Is this really a walk? |
| Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu | Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here? |
| Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa | Is this a waist? Is this really a waist? |
| Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu | It seems as if it does not even exist! |
| Male | |
| Kannunu irundhaa imai venum | If there is an eye, it needs an eyelid, |
| Kazhuthunu irundhaa nagai venum | If there is a neck, it needs a piece of jewelry, |
| Kannunu irundhaa imai venum | If there is an eye, it needs an eyelid, |
| Kazhuthunu irundhaa nagai venum | If there is a neck, it needs a piece of jewelry, |
| Ponnunu irundhaa thunai venum | If there is a young woman, she needs a companion! |
| Onnum puriyalaiyaa innum theriyalaiyaa | Don't you understand anything yet? Don't you know by now? |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa | Is this a walk? Is this really a walk? |
| Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu | Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here? |
| Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa | Is this a waist? Is this really a waist? |
| Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu | It seems as if it does not even exist! |
| Male | |
| Thaerottum kannanuku raadha | For Krishna who drives the chariot, there is Radha, |
| Singaara raamanukku seethaa | For handsome Rama, there is Sita, |
| Thaerottum kannanuku raadha | For Krishna who drives the chariot, there is Radha, |
| Singaara raamanukku seethaa | For handsome Rama, there is Sita, |
| Caarottum enakkoru geethaa | For me who drives a car, there is a Geetha, |
| Kalyaanam panni kolla thodha | Perfectly suited to get married to! |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa | Is this a walk? Is this really a walk? |
| Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu | Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here? |
| Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa | Is this a waist? Is this really a waist? |
| Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu | It seems as if it does not even exist! |
| Male | |
| Velli kannu meena | When silver-eyed Meena |
| Veedhi vazhi ponaa | Walked down the street, |
| Thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa | Rhythmically dancing thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa! |
நடையா இது நடையா ஒரு
நாடகம் அன்றோ நடக்குது
இடையா இது இடையா
அது இல்லாததுபோல் இருக்குது
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
It seems as if it does not even exist!
நடையா இது நடையா ஒரு
நாடகம் அன்றோ நடக்குது
இடையா இது இடையா
அது இல்லாததுபோல் இருக்குது
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
It seems as if it does not even exist!
கடற்கரை காற்று அடிக்குது
காத்துல சேலை நடிக்கிது
கடற்கரை காற்று அடிக்குது
காத்துல சேலை நடிக்கிது
முன்னால வரச் சொல்லி அழைக்கிது
முகத்தில கடுகு வெடிக்கிது
The sea breeze is blowing cool,
The saree is fluttering and dancing in the wind.
The sea breeze is blowing cool,
The saree is fluttering and dancing in the wind.
It beckons me to step forward,
Yet anger crackles on her face like popping mustard seeds!
வெள்ளிக் கண்ணு மீனா
வீதி வழிப் போறா
தையாதக்கா தையாதக்கா உய்யா
When silver-eyed Meena
Walked down the street,
Rhythmically dancing thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa!
நடையா இது நடையா ஒரு
நாடகம் அன்றோ நடக்குது
இடையா இது இடையா
அது இல்லாததுபோல் இருக்குது
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
It seems as if it does not even exist!
கண்ணுன்னு இருந்தா இமை வேணும்
கழுத்துன்னு இருந்தா நகை வேணும்
கண்ணுன்னு இருந்தா இமை வேணும்
கழுத்துன்னு இருந்தா நகை வேணும்
பொண்ணுன்னு இருந்தா துணை வேணும்
ஒன்னும் புரியல்லையா இன்னும் தெரியல்லையா
If there is an eye, it needs an eyelid,
If there is a neck, it needs a piece of jewelry,
If there is an eye, it needs an eyelid,
If there is a neck, it needs a piece of jewelry,
If there is a young woman, she needs a companion!
Don't you understand anything yet? Don't you know by now?
நடையா இது நடையா ஒரு
நாடகம் அன்றோ நடக்குது
இடையா இது இடையா
அது இல்லாததுபோல் இருக்குது
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
It seems as if it does not even exist!
தேரோட்டும் கண்ணனுக்கு ராதா
சிங்கார ராமனுக்கு சீதா
தேரோட்டும் கண்ணனுக்கு ராதா
சிங்கார ராமனுக்கு சீதா
காரோட்டும் எனக்கொரு கீதா
கல்யாணம் பண்ணிக்கொள்ள தோதா
For Krishna who drives the chariot, there is Radha,
For handsome Rama, there is Sita,
For Krishna who drives the chariot, there is Radha,
For handsome Rama, there is Sita,
For me who drives a car, there is a Geetha,
Perfectly suited to get married to!
நடையா இது நடையா ஒரு
நாடகம் அன்றோ நடக்குது
இடையா இது இடையா
அது இல்லாததுபோல் இருக்குது
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
It seems as if it does not even exist!
வெள்ளிக் கண்ணு மீனா
வீதி வழிப் போறா
தையாதக்கா தையாதக்கா உய்யா
When silver-eyed Meena
Walked down the street,
Rhythmically dancing thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa!
Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu
It seems as if it does not even exist!
Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu
It seems as if it does not even exist!
Kadarkarai kaathu adikkudhu
The sea breeze is blowing cool,
Kaathula saelai nadikkudhu
The saree is fluttering and dancing in the wind.
Kadarkarai kaathu adikkudhu
The sea breeze is blowing cool,
Kaathula saelai nadikkudhu
The saree is fluttering and dancing in the wind.
Munnaalae vara cholli azhaikkudhu
It beckons me to step forward,
Mugathilae kadugu vedikkudhu
Yet anger crackles on her face like popping mustard seeds!
Velli kannu meena
When silver-eyed Meena
Veedhi vazhi ponaa
Walked down the street,
Thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa
Rhythmically dancing thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa!
Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu
It seems as if it does not even exist!
Kannunu irundhaa imai venum
If there is an eye, it needs an eyelid,
Kazhuthunu irundhaa nagai venum
If there is a neck, it needs a piece of jewelry,
Kannunu irundhaa imai venum
If there is an eye, it needs an eyelid,
Kazhuthunu irundhaa nagai venum
If there is a neck, it needs a piece of jewelry,
Ponnunu irundhaa thunai venum
If there is a young woman, she needs a companion!
Onnum puriyalaiyaa innum theriyalaiyaa
Don't you understand anything yet? Don't you know by now?
Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu
It seems as if it does not even exist!
Thaerottum kannanuku raadha
For Krishna who drives the chariot, there is Radha,
Singaara raamanukku seethaa
For handsome Rama, there is Sita,
Thaerottum kannanuku raadha
For Krishna who drives the chariot, there is Radha,
Singaara raamanukku seethaa
For handsome Rama, there is Sita,
Caarottum enakkoru geethaa
For me who drives a car, there is a Geetha,
Kalyaanam panni kolla thodha
Perfectly suited to get married to!
Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa
Is this a walk? Is this really a walk?
Oru nadagamandro nadakkudhu
Isn't a dramatic play unfolding right here?
Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa
Is this a waist? Is this really a waist?
Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu
It seems as if it does not even exist!
Velli kannu meena
When silver-eyed Meena
Veedhi vazhi ponaa
Walked down the street,
Thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa
Rhythmically dancing thaiya thakka thaiya thakka uiyaa!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful track from Annai Illam (1963) portrays a playful teasing session between the lead lovers. The male protagonist playfully admires the heroine's graceful walk and slender waist, comparing her striking presence to a theatrical performance. He uses witty analogies, pointing out how natural pairings exist across legend and life—like eyelids to eyes, jewelry to a neck, Radha to chariot-driving Krishna, and Sita to Rama—concluding that a car driver like him naturally belongs with a girl like Geetha.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme) / Rhyme
“Nadaiyaa idhu nadiayaa / Idaiyaa idhu idaiyaa”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythmic flow.
Hyperbole (Atisayokti)
“Adhu illaadhadhu pol irukkudhu”
Exaggerated description of a woman's waist as so slim that it appears non-existent, a classic motif in classical Tamil poetry (Kodi idai / Illadha idai).
Idiom / Vivid Imagery
“Mugathilae kadugu vedikkudhu”
Using 'kadugu vedikkudhu' (mustard seeds popping) as a visual and tactile metaphor for extreme anger or fiery annoyance visible on the face.
Analogy / Parallels
“Thaerottum kannanuku raadha ... Caarottum enakkoru geethaa”
Drawing romantic parallels from classical mythology (Krishna-Radha, Rama-Sita) to everyday modern life (Car driver - Geetha).
Did you know?
Trivia
Annai Illam (1963) features music by K. V. Mahadevan and lyrics by Kannadasan. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, this song highlights Kannadasan's signature ability to blend ancient Tamil poetic conventions (like hyperbole around a woman's waist) with modern colloquial humour.
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