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Isaimozhi
Jayasimma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nattaatrin Mel

From Jayasimma · 1955

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
S. C. Krishnan
Music director
T. V. Raju
Movie name
Jayasimma
Movie release year
1955
Lyrics added on
28 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nattraattrin mel sellum
Padagaaga en manadhil
Un pola pennaalae
Kaadhal undaachu
Ketkalaam endraalaam
Kaliyaaghudhennamoo
Kedupidi seivaaloo
Adidhadi koduppaaloo
Nattraattrin mel sellum
Padagaaga en manadhil
Un pola pennaalae
Kaadhal undaachu
Kannaana kannidhu
Kanakkaana kannu
Kaalunnaa kaalidhu
Kolusaendhum kaalu
Kaar mugil koondhalil
Kadhambamae vaadudhu
Kattaana en manam
Sittaa parakkudhu
Nattraattrin mel sellum
Padagaaga en manadhil
Un pola pennaalae
Kaadhal undaachu
Drifting in the middle of the river,
like a boat, in my heart,
because of a girl like you,
love has blossomed.
Even if I want to ask you,
somehow I feel so frightened!
Will she make things hard for me,
or will she pick a fight and hit me?
Drifting in the middle of the river,
like a boat, in my heart,
because of a girl like you,
love has blossomed.
What lovely, precious eyes,
so perfectly shaped!
What exquisite feet these are,
feet adorned with anklets!
In your dark, cloud-like hair,
even the flower garland wilts!
My once-steady heart
now flutters like a little bird!
Drifting in the middle of the river,
like a boat, in my heart,
because of a girl like you,
love has blossomed.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful track from Jayasimma (1955) expresses the protagonist's sudden infatuation with a captivating woman. He compares his heart to a boat gently floating down a river, set in motion by her presence. However, he hilariously frets over whether approaching her will result in strict rejection or a comical thrashing. As he admires her striking features—her sculpted eyes, anklet-adorned feet, and dark cloud-like hair—his strong, grounded heart loses control and flutters away like a sparrow. The song blends romantic admiration with playful anxiety in classic 1950s Tamil cinema style.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Nattraattrin mel sellum Padagaaga en manadhil

Compares the movement of thoughts/heart in love to a boat floating smoothly on a river.

Uvamai / Metaphor

Kaar mugil koondhalil

Compares dense, dark hair to rain clouds ('Kaar mugil').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyme) & Monai

Kannaana kannidhu Kanakkaana kannu

Repetition of 'Ka' sounds and rhythmic phrasing across consecutive lines (Kannidhu / Kanakkaana / Kaalidhu).

Uvamai (Simile/Metaphor)

Kattaana en manam Sittaa parakkudhu

Compares the mind flying away swiftly to a sparrow ('sittu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Jayasimma (1955) was a popular action-drama film produced in both Telugu and Tamil. The film featured music by T. V. Raju, with S. C. Krishnan lending his signature folk-inflected comic vocals for lighthearted tracks.

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