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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nane Un Kaathali

From Dhayam Onnu · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. S. Chithra, P. Susheela, Mano, Swarnalatha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Dhayam Onnu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naanae un kaadhaliI am your lover
Kaadhal naayagiThe heroine of love
Naalellaam kaadhaliYour lover for all days
Ennai aadhariSupport and embrace me
Female
Naan thaanaeIs it not me
Un brindhaavanamWho is your Brindhavanam?
Vaa vaa kannanaeCome, come, Lord Krishna
Naan thaanaeIs it not me
Un pullaanguzhalWho is your flute?
Vaa vaa mannanaeCome, come, my king
Chorus
Dhayam onnu dhayamRoll of one in dice, roll of one
Dhayam onnu thaanIt is indeed a roll of one
Hoi dhayam onnu dhayamHey roll of one in dice, roll of one
Dhayam onnu thaanIt is indeed a roll of one
Male
Vaanavillai polavaeJust like a rainbow
Penn vannamaeThe color of a woman
Thaenai alli oottudhaeGathering and feeding honey
Un kannamaeYour sweet cheek
Female
Haa neela vanna kannanaeAh, blue-complexioned Lord Krishna
En mannanaeMy king
Neengidaamal kooda vaaCome along without parting
En dhevanaeMy God
Male
Jaaadhipoo penn polLike a jasmine flower girl
Munnaalae vandhuComing before you
Aadi paadudhaeShe dances and sings
Female :Uloorum thaenaiFemale: The honey welling up inside
Mogam kondu thaanOut of passion
Thannaalae vandhu ootugindrathaeFeeds itself automatically
Male
Ada vava vavaAh come, come
Female :En kaadhal raajaFemale: My king of love
Vava vava kaadhal raajaCome, come, king of love
Vandu pola poovai thedu…Search for the flower like a bee...
Female
Naanae un kaadhaliI am your lover
Kaadhal naayagiThe heroine of love
Naalellaam kaadhaliYour lover for all days
Ennai aadhariSupport and embrace me
Female
Aasa nacharikkudhuDesire is nagging me
Adhu thaana thathalikkudhuIt flutters on its own
Male :Hey mogam kokkarikkudhuMale: Hey, passion cackles with joy
Adhu lesa echarikkudhu haa haaIt warns lightly, ha ha
Female
Mungi mungi mutheduthuDiving deep to collect pearls
Ennai konjam thotteduthuTouching me gently
Alli kollu raaja raajanaeEmbrace me fully, king of kings
Male
Ahaa ahaaAha aha
Unnai konjam thottu kollaTo touch you a little
Ponna pola otti kollaTo stick to you like gold
Kanna kaattu kaadhal dheviyaeShow your eyes, goddess of love
Female
Vandhathippo laabaminnuThinking whatever came now is a profit
Vaangi kollurenI shall receive it
Male :Vaadi pulla unna konjamMale: Come, girl, you a little bit
Thaangi kollurenI shall support and hold you
Female
Maama maamaaUncle, uncle
Male :Ada yemmaa yemmaaMale: Oh girl, oh girl
Female :Maama maamaaFemale: Uncle, uncle
Male :Yemmaa yemmaaMale: Oh girl, oh girl
Female :Vaasam pattu vaadi nikkurenFemale: Wrapped in fragrance, I stand waiting
Female
Kaalai maalai yaavilumIn all mornings and evenings
Un nyabagamThoughts of you
Kaadhal raagam paadidumSinging the melody of love
Naan unnidamI am with you
Male
Unnaiyindri yaaraiyumWill my eyes look at anyone
Kann paarkkumoOther than you?
Un pola yaarumaeCan anyone else
Penn aagumoBecome a woman like you?
Female
Unnilae ennaiJoining myself into you
Ondraaga serththuAs one entity
Oonjal aadinenI swung on a swing
Kann moodi indha nenjilaeClosing eyes in this heart
Dhinam unnoduDaily with you
Naanum naalum koodinenI united every day
Male
Nee vaa vaa raaniYou come, come, my queen
Naan kaadhal thaeniI am the honeybee of love
Vaa vaa raani kaadhal thaeniCome, come queen, honeybee of love
Vandhu vandhu alli kolluCome again and again and gather me in embrace
Female
Naanae un kaadhaliI am your lover
Kaadhal naayagiThe heroine of love
Naalellaam kaadhaliYour lover for all days
Ennai aadhariSupport and embrace me
Female
Naan thaanaeIs it not me
Un brindhaavanamWho is your Brindhavanam?
Vaa vaa kannanaeCome, come, Lord Krishna
Naan thaanaeIs it not me
Un pullaanguzhalWho is your flute?
Vaa vaa mannanaeCome, come, my king
Female
Naanae un kaadhaliI am your lover
Kaadhal naayagiThe heroine of love
Naalellaam kaadhaliYour lover for all days
Ennai aadhariSupport and embrace me
Chorus
Dhayam onnu dhayamRoll of one in dice, roll of one
Dhayam onnu thaanIt is indeed a roll of one
Hoi dhayam onnu dhayamHey roll of one in dice, roll of one
Dhayam onnu thaanIt is indeed a roll of one

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naanae un kaadhali from the 1988 film Dhayam Onnu, penned by Gangai Amaran, is a romantic duet centered around motifs of divine love, imagery of Lord Krishna, and the playful rhythmic chant of the traditional dice game 'Dhayam'. The heroine compares herself to Krishna's Brindhavanam garden and his melodic flute, inviting her beloved to embrace her fully as her lord and king. The song expresses passionate longing, playfulness, and mutual devotion through sweet metaphors of flowers, honeybees, rainbows, and pearls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naan thaanae Un brindhaavanam

The heroine directly equates herself to Brindhavanam (Krishna's sacred abode) and his flute (pullaanguzhal).

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaanavillai polavae Penn vannamae

The heroine's beauty and colors are explicitly compared to a rainbow using the comparison marker 'polavae'.

Alliteration (Monai / Repetition)

Mungi mungi mutheduthu

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across words creates rhythm and emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie title and refrain 'Dhayam Onnu' refers to the crucial roll of 'one' in the traditional Indian board game Dayakattam (dice game). Lyricist Gangai Amaran cleverly integrated this game chant rhythmically into the song's opening and closing refrains.

Keep listening

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