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Lyrics & meaning

Odathila Pogumpodhu

From Nalla Pambu · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. K. S. Natarajan, S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Nalla Pambu1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thanthaanae….thaanae nannaanaaThanthaanae... thaanae nannaanaa (Rhythmic vocal refrain)
Thanthaanae…..naannnaa annaanaaThanthaanae... naannnaa annaanaa (Rhythmic vocal refrain)
Naannnaa annaanaaNaannnaa annaanaa (Rhythmic vocal refrain)
Male
Odaththila pogumpothuWhile riding in the boat...
Unnazhaga paakkumpothu...and looking at your beauty...
Maanam karukkuthadi mazhaiyadikka paakkuthadiThe sky turns dark and it looks like it will rain.
Kulirum adikkuthadi kooda onnu ketkuthadiThe cold chills me, and my heart asks for a companion's warmth.
Male
Thanthaanae….thaanae nannaanaaThanthaanae... thaanae nannaanaa (Rhythmic vocal refrain)
Thanthaanae…..naannnaa annaanaaThanthaanae... naannnaa annaanaa (Rhythmic vocal refrain)
Naannnaa annaanaaNaannnaa annaanaa (Rhythmic vocal refrain)
Male
Odaththila pogumpothuWhile riding in the boat...
Unnazhaga paakkumpothu...and looking at your beauty...
Maanam karukkuthadi mazhaiyadikka paakkuthadiThe sky turns dark and it looks like it will rain.
Kulirum adikkuthadi kooda onnu ketkuthadiThe cold chills me, and my heart asks for a companion's warmth.
Male
Ora kannaal paakkaathadiDon't look at me out of the corner of your eye...
Unarchchiyai thoonduthadi...it sparks up my feelings!
Ora kannaal paakkaathadiDon't look at me out of the corner of your eye...
Unarchchiyai thoonduthadi...it sparks up my feelings!
Male
Un veppam tharum paarvaiYour gaze that offers warmth...
Nee kulirukkeththa porvai...is the perfect blanket for this cold.
Un veppam tharum paarvaiYour gaze that offers warmth...
Nee kulirukkeththa porvai...is the perfect blanket for this cold.
Poththikka poraen unnai neeyumI am going to wrap myself around you...
Pothuminnu sollura varai...until you tell me that it's enough.
Male
Odaththila pogumpothuWhile riding in the boat...
Unnazhaga paakkumpothu...and looking at your beauty...
Maanam karukkuthadi mazhaiyadikka paakkuthadiThe sky turns dark and it looks like it will rain.
Kulirum adikkuthadi kooda onnu ketkuthadiThe cold chills me, and my heart asks for a companion's warmth.
Male
Odaththila pogumpothuWhile riding in the boat...
Unnazhaga paakkumpothu...and looking at your beauty...
Female
Odaththa niruththaatheengiga oram katta paakkaatheengaDon't stop the boat, don't try to pull it to the shore!
Odaththa niruththaatheengiga oram katta paakkaatheengaDon't stop the boat, don't try to pull it to the shore!
Kannaalanthaan munnae maththa kaariyamellaam pinnaeMy beloved comes first, everything else comes second.
Namma kannaalanthaan munnae maththa kaariyamellaam pinnnaeOur beloved groom comes first, everything else comes second.
Aasaikkum alavirukkuEven desire has its limits...
Male :Aa…aa…aah…aa….(Male vocalizing)
Female :Aasaikkum alavirukku adhukkum oru varampirukkuDesire has its limits, and love has its boundaries.
Female
Azhagu mammutha rasa aasa vacchhaen unga melaeMy handsome Prince Mammutha, I fell in love with you.
Oosi melae thavam senjaalumEven if one does penance standing on the tip of a needle...
Ungala pola kedaikkaathu...one cannot find a man like you!
Ungala vittaa enakku intha olagamum pidikkaathuWithout you, I wouldn't care for this world at all.
Female
Azhagu mammutha rasa aasa vacchhaen unga melaeMy handsome Prince Mammutha, I fell in love with you.
Male
Oramaa kotti poraenI am leading you along the side...
Unna onnu kekkaporaenI am going to ask you for something.
Tharaiyoramaa koottiporaenI am bringing you along the shore...
Unna onnu kekkaporaenI am going to ask you for something.
Male
Machchaan naanum kettaa neeyumIf I ask you for something, my beloved...
Maattennu solla maattae...you won't say no to me.
Machchaan naanum kettaa neeyumIf I ask you for something, my beloved...
Maattennu solla maattae...you won't say no to me.
Madiyila nee padukkanumYou must lie down on my lap...
Female :…………….(Female silent response)
Male :Madiyila nee padukkanumYou must lie down on my lap...
Maari maari naan kodukkanum...and I must shower you with affectionate kisses again and again.
Female
Azhagu mammutha rasa aasa vachchaen unga melaeMy handsome Prince Mammutha, I fell in love with you.
Oosi melae thavam senjaalumEven if one does penance standing on the tip of a needle...
Ungala pola kedaikkaathu...one cannot find a man like you!
Ungala vittaa enakku intha olagamum pidikkaathuWithout you, I wouldn't care for this world at all.
Male :Odaththila pogumpothuWhile riding in the boat...
Unnazhaga paakkumpothu...and looking at your beauty...
Male
Thanthaanae…..thaanae nannaanaaThanthaanae... thaanae nannaanaa
Female :Thanthaanae…..thaanae nannaanaaThanthaanae... thaanae nannaanaa
Both :Thaanananna thannaanaa thaanananna thannaanaaThaanananna thannaanaa thaanananna thannaanaa
Thaanananna thannaanaa thaanananna thannaanaaThaanananna thannaanaa thaanananna thannaanaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Odaththila Pogumpothu is a playful, romantic folk duet set against the backdrop of a boat ride on a river. As the sky darkens with approaching rain and cold wind sweeps across the water, the lovers exchange passionate banter and romantic gestures, finding warmth in each other's embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Nee kulirukkeththa porvai

The speaker compares the partner's loving look and presence to a cozy blanket that protects against the cold weather.

Hyperbole

Oosi melae thavam senjaalum

An extreme exaggeration stating that even meditating on the point of a needle would not yield a partner as magnificent as him.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Aasaikkum alavirukku / Azhagu mammutha rasa

The second consonant 's/zh' creates an agreeable rhythmic resonance between consecutive lines in Tamil folk verse.

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Trivia

The track from Nalla Pambu (1987) features music composed by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by poet Vaali. It brings together popular actor-singer T. K. S. Natarajan and playback legend S. Janaki in a lively folk rhythm.

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