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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nattaatrin Mel

From Jayasimma · 1955

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
S. C. Krishnan
Music director
T. V. Raju
Details
Jayasimma1955

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nattraattrin mel sellumLike a boat sailing upon a pleasant river,
Padagaaga en manadhilInside my heart,
Un pola pennaalaeBecause of a woman like you,
Kaadhal undaachuLove has been born.
Male
Ketkalaam endraalaamIf I think of approaching her,
KaliyaaghudhennamooMy mind gets strangely flustered.
Kedupidi seivaalooWill she strictly reprimand me?
Adidhadi koduppaalooOr will she physically beat me up?
Male
Nattraattrin mel sellumLike a boat sailing upon a pleasant river,
Padagaaga en manadhilInside my heart,
Un pola pennaalaeBecause of a woman like you,
Kaadhal undaachuLove has been born.
Male
Kannaana kannidhuThese eyes are as precious as sight itself,
Kanakkaana kannuEyes that are perfectly sculpted.
Kaalunnaa kaalidhuIf there are true feet, these are the ones,
Kolusaendhum kaaluFeet that wear jingling anklets.
Male
Kaar mugil koondhalilIn her dark, cloud-like hair,
Kadhambamae vaadudhuEven the mixed floral garland wilts in modesty.
Kattaana en manamMy once resolute and steady heart,
Sittaa parakkudhuNow flies swiftly like a little sparrow.
Male
Nattraattrin mel sellumLike a boat sailing upon a pleasant river,
Padagaaga en manadhilInside my heart,
Un pola pennaalaeBecause of a woman like you,
Kaadhal undaachuLove has been born.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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