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Ninaivugal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Odai Thanneeril Meenada

From Ninaivugal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, K. J. Yesudass
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Ninaivugal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
10 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada
Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada
Kannil kasthoori maanaada vanathaen unnodu naanaada
Female :Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada
Kannil kasthoori maanaada vanathaen unnodu naanaada
Thennai mara cholaiyil pon maalai velaiyil
Chinnanjiru aan kuyil poonguyil kooda
Thennai mara solaiyil pon maalai velaiyil
Chinnanjiru aan kuyil poonguyil kooda
Adangaatha aasaigal adharkettra paashaigal
Idhazh sinthum osaigal inippaaanatho
Male :Naan ketka nee ketka tholodu thol serkka
Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada
Kannil kasthoori maanaada vanathaen unnodu naanaada
Anthi varum sooriyan aagaayaththil
Vanna vanna oviyam aayiram theetta
Anthi varum sooriyan aagaayaththil
Vanna vanna oviyam aayiram theetta
Nadai podum megangal isai paadum raagangal
Adhil kaanum mogangal sugamaanatho
Female :Aagaayam neeyaaga neermegam naanaaga
Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada
Female :Kannil kasthoori maanaada vanathaen unnodu naanaada
As fish dance in the stream water, and honey dances with the purple flower,
As fish dance in the stream water, and honey dances with the purple flower,
As a musk deer dances in your eyes, I dance with you, my wild honey.
Female: As fish dance in the stream water, and honey dances with the purple flower,
As a musk deer dances in your eyes, I dance with you, my wild honey.
In the coconut grove, during the golden evening hour,
As a tiny male cuckoo joins with a sweet female cuckoo,
In the coconut grove, during the golden evening hour,
As a tiny male cuckoo joins with a sweet female cuckoo,
Uncontrollable desires and the words that match them,
Aren't the gentle sounds spilling from the lips so sweet?
Male: For me to hear, for you to hear, holding each other shoulder to shoulder...
As fish dance in the stream water, and honey dances with the purple flower,
As a musk deer dances in your eyes, I dance with you, my wild honey.
As the setting sun in the twilight sky
Paints a thousand colorful pictures,
As the setting sun in the twilight sky
Paints a thousand colorful pictures,
The drifting clouds and the singing melodies,
Isn't the longing felt in them so wonderful?
Female: With you as the sky and me as the rain cloud...
As fish dance in the stream water, and honey dances with the purple flower,
Female: As a musk deer dances in your eyes, I dance with you, my wild honey.
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Odai Thanneeril Meenaada' from the movie Ninaivugal (1984) is a romantic duet that seamlessly weaves natural beauty with emotional intimacy. Set against a scenic backdrop of stream waters, coconut groves, and colorful sunset skies, the lovers express their passion and deep connection through metaphors drawn from nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada”

The line ends with repeating 'aada' sounds ('meenaada' and 'thaenaada'), creating a lyrical end rhyme.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Odai thanneeril meenaada oodhaappoovodu thaenaada”

The initial vowel sound 'O' repeats in 'Odai' and 'Oodhaappoovodu'.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Thennai mara cholaiyil / Chinnanjiru aan kuyil”

The second consonant sound 'nn' ('Th-e-nn-ai' and 'Ch-i-nn-an') rhymes across the consecutive lines.

Metaphor

“Aagaayam neeyaaga neermegam naanaaga”

The lovers metaphorically represent themselves as the expansive sky and the raincloud that completes it.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Odai Thanneeril Meenaada' was composed by the popular music duo Shankar–Ganesh for the 1984 film Ninaivugal. It features the legendary voices of K. J. Yesudas and Vani Jairam, with lyrics penned by the prolific Tamil lyricist Vaali, known for his ability to translate nature's beauty into romantic verse.

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