- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Lalitha Sagari, T. Sunderrajan, Saibaba
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Sathya
- Movie release year
- 1988
- Lyrics added on
- 18 Apr 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nagaru nagaru nagaru nagaru
Varudhu varudhu thanjaavur thaeru
Ivaru ivaru suvaru suvaru
Orasa orasa vandhaaru paaru
Idhu raavaanaa
Oru poovaagum
Siru poovaanaa pala vandaadum
Nagaru nagaru nagaru nagaru
Varudhu varudhu thanjaavur thaeru
Ivaru ivaru suvaru suvaru
Orasa orasa vandhaaru paaru
Paatu paadurappo pin paattu
Chorus :Naanga paadattumaa
Female :Aattam aadarapo oru jaalraa
Chorus :Naanga podattumaa
Thattungal thatta thatta thaalam
Kottungal kotta kotta melam
Thattungal thatta thatta thaalam
Kottungal kotta kotta melam
Neenga
Chorus :Pudhu machchaanunga
Female :Yedho
Chorus :Kondu vandhaanungha
Female :Naandhaan
Chorus :Oru kuthaalandhaan
Female : Neenga
Chorus :Oru pattaalandhaa
Female :Poyaa pala maamaa thodalaamaa sol
Coveru coveru coveru coveru
Varavu varavu ullaasam paaru
Female :Koravu koravu koravu koravu
Coveru coveru yedhyedhu veru
Adha ennaannu
Konjam nee sonnaa
Adi ippodhae thara maattenaa
Adha ennaannu
Konjam nee sonnaa
Adi ippodhae thara maattenaa
Nagaru nagaru nagaru nagaru
Varudhu varudhu thanjaavur thaeru
Ivaru ivaru suvaru suvaru
Orasa orasa vandhaaru paaru
Tha…tha…thathth…
Thathth…thaththa…
Thaththathathaththa thath tha thaththa
Thaththathathaththa
Thaththath thaa dhaa thathath thadhaa
Thathth…thaththadhatha…thathth
Aazham paakuriyaa kannaalae
Chorus :Paakka mudiyaliyae
Female :Naalum yenguriyaa ennaalae
Chorus :Vera vazhi illiyae
Pettaikku eththanaiyo saeval
Pennukku endha paya kaaval
Pettaikku eththanaiyo saeval
Pennukku endha paya kaaval
Neeno
Chorus :Oru theppa kulam
Female :Naandhaan
Chorus :Adhil sengamalam
Female :Vaaya
Chorus :Vandhu killattumaa
Female :Thaenai
Chorus :Konjam allattumaa
Female :Naanaa pudhu thaenaa
Tharamaattaenaa
Nagaru nagaru nagaru nagaru
Varudhu varudhu thanjaavur thaeru
Ivaru ivaru suvaru suvaru
Orasa orasa vandhaaru paaru
Dagada…dagadaa dagadaa dagadaa
Daa…daa…daa daaa
Dagada…dagadaa dagadaa dagadaa
Daa…daa…daa daaa
Move aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!
Here comes the grand Thanjavur chariot!
This man stands stiff like a wall,
look, he has come brushing right against me!
When night falls,
it turns into a flower.
And when a little flower blooms, many bees gather around!
Move aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!
Here comes the grand Thanjavur chariot!
This man stands stiff like a wall,
look, he has come brushing right against me!
When I sing a song, the backing chorus—
Chorus: Shall we sing along?
Female: When I dance, the rhythm cymbals—
Chorus: Shall we strike them for you?
Clap your hands and keep the beat!
Beat and pound the drums!
Clap your hands and keep the beat!
Beat and pound the drums!
You all...
Chorus: ...are brand-new suitors!
Female: Something...
Chorus: ...they have brought along!
Female: I am like...
Chorus: ...the Courtallam waterfalls!
Female: You all...
Chorus: ...are an entire army!
Female: Back off, mister! Tell me, is it right to touch me?
Charm them, allure them, win them over!
Look at the arrival of pure joy and delight!
Female: Something is lacking, lacking, lacking, lacking!
You charm and entice, but what else is missing?
If you tell me what it is,
if you just let me know,
girl, wouldn't I give it to you right away?
If you tell me what it is,
if you just let me know,
girl, wouldn't I give it to you right away?
Move aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!
Here comes the grand Thanjavur chariot!
This man stands stiff like a wall,
look, he has come brushing right against me!
Dha... dha... thath...
Thath... thath-tha...
Thathadhathath-tha thath tha thath-tha
Thathadhathath-tha
Thath-thath tha tha thadhath tha-dha
Thath... thathadhadha... thath
Are you testing my depth with your eyes?
Chorus: We just can't measure it!
Female: Do you yearn for me day after day?
Chorus: We have no other choice!
There are so many roosters in this neighborhood,
but which fellow can ever stand guard over a woman?
There are so many roosters in this neighborhood,
but which fellow can ever stand guard over a woman?
You are...
Chorus: ...a temple pond!
Female: And I am...
Chorus: ...the red lotus in it!
Female: Come on over...
Chorus: ...shall I come and pluck it?
Female: The sweet honey...
Chorus: ...shall I scoop a little?
Female: Am I fresh honey?
Won't I give it to you?
Move aside, move aside, move aside, move aside!
Here comes the grand Thanjavur chariot!
This man stands stiff like a wall,
look, he has come brushing right against me!
Dhakada... dhaakadaa dhakada dhakada
Dhaa... dhaa... dhaa dhaa
Dhakada... dhaakadaa dhakada dhakada
Dhaa... dhaa... dhaa dhaa
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Nagaru Nagaru is a playful, high-energy folk-pop call-and-response song from the 1988 Tamil film Sathya. The female lead playfully challenges a group of men while asserting her independence and charm. She metaphorically compares herself to a majestic Tanjore temple chariot, Courtallam waterfalls, and fresh lotus honey, teasing the men who follow her like bees to a flower.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis / Anaphora)
“Nagaru nagaru nagaru nagaru”
Repeating words consecutively to emphasize swift movement and rhythmic pace.
Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)
“Varudhu varudhu thanjaavur thaeru”
Comparing a grand persona to the iconic, majestic Tanjore temple chariot (Thanjaavur Thaeru).
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thattungal thatta thatta thaalam / Kottungal kotta kotta melam”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'tt' between 'Thattungal' and 'Kottungal'.
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Pettaikku eththanaiyo saeval / Pennukku endha paya kaaval”
Repetition of the initial sound 'P' across words ('Pettaikku', 'Pennukku', 'Paya').
Did you know?
Trivia
Sathya (1988) starred Kamal Haasan and Amala, directed by Suresh Krissna with a legendary musical score composed by Ilaiyaraaja. Lyrics for this vibrant track were penned by Vaali and sung dynamically by S. Janaki alongside chorus performers.
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