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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Odukira Thanniyila

From Achamillai Achamillai · 1984

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singers: Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela
Music director: V. S. Narasimhan
Movie name: Achamillai Achamillai
Movie release year: 1984
Lyrics added on: 9 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Megaththa thoodhuvittaa thesa maari pogumonnu

Thaagamulla machchaane thanniya naan thoodhu vitten

Thannikku indha kanni thanthanuppum muththamellaam

Ennikka kuraiyaama eppa vanthu tharappora?

Eppa vanthu tharappora?

Odugira thanniyila orasi vitten sandhanaththa

Sendhuchcho serallaiyo

Odugira thanniyila orasi vitten sandhanaththa

Sendhuchcho serallaiyo sevaththa machchaan neththiyila

Ola onnu naan ezhuthi oda vitten thanniyile

Ola onnu naan ezhuthi oda vitten thanniyile

Senthuchcho serallaiyo sevaththa machchaan kaigalile

Adi graamaththu kiliye en kizhiyaatha thaavaniye

Adi graamaththu kiliye en kizhiyaatha thaavaniye

Kuliredukkum saaralukku koda pidikka vaa mayile

Kuliredukkum saaralukku koda pidikka vaa mayile

Kodaiyum illa padaiyum illa thooralukku aatharavaa

Thaavaniya nee pizhiya thalai thuvatta naan varavaa

Nee nanaichcha aadaiyellaam nee pizhinjaa neervadiyum

Nee nanaichcha aadaiyellaam nee pizhinjaa neervadiyum

Aiththa magan naan pizhinjaa Aththanaiyum thaen vadiyum

Aiththa magan naan pizhinjaa Aththanaiyum thaen vadiyum

Odugira thanniyila orasi vitten sandhanaththa

Sendhuchcho serallaiyo sevaththa machchaan neththiyila

Mala thottaththu kuyilu ithu umakkaaga paadudhunga

Mala thottaththu kuyilu ithu umakkaaga paadudhunga

Aasaiya naan thoothu vida aruvi oru paalamunga

Aruvi pola azhugiratha Arinthukondaal aagaatho?

Munthaanaiyin oramennai Mudinthukondaal aagaatho?

Vakkanaiyaa thaali vaangi vaasalukku vaaratheppo?

Vakkanaiyaa thaali vaangi vaasalukku vaaratheppo?

Umma paadham patta manneduththu naa pallu velakka poratheppo?

Odugira thanniyila orasi vitten sandhanaththa

Sendhuchcho serallaiyo sevaththa machchaan neththiyila

Ola onnu naan ezhuthi oda vitten thanniyile

Senthuchcho serallaiyo sevaththa machchaan kaigalile

Odugira thanniyila orasi vitten sandhanaththa

Sendhuchcho serallaiyo sevaththa machchaan neththiyila

Thinking the clouds might lose their way if sent as a messenger,

My longing sweetheart, I sent the flowing water with my message.

All the kisses this young girl sends through the water,

When will you come and return them without missing a single one?

When will you come and return them?

I dissolved sandalwood paste into the running water,

Did it reach you or not?

I dissolved sandalwood paste into the running water,

Did it reach my fair sweetheart's forehead or not?

I wrote a letter on a palm leaf and set it afloat on the water,

I wrote a letter on a palm leaf and set it afloat on the water,

Did it reach my fair sweetheart's hands or not?

Hey village parrot, my pure girl in a half-sari,

Hey village parrot, my pure girl in a half-sari,

Come hold an umbrella against this chilly drizzle, my peacock!

Come hold an umbrella against this chilly drizzle, my peacock!

With neither an umbrella nor shelter from the drizzle,

Shall I come dry your hair while you wring your half-sari?

If you wring out your soaked clothes, water will drip,

If you wring out your soaked clothes, water will drip,

If I, your cousin, wring them out, pure honey will drip!

If I, your cousin, wring them out, pure honey will drip!

I dissolved sandalwood paste into the running water,

Did it reach my fair sweetheart's forehead or not?

This cuckoo from the flower garden sings just for you,

This cuckoo from the flower garden sings just for you,

The waterfall is a bridge to carry my longing to you!

Can't you understand that I am weeping like a waterfall?

Can't you tie me into the corner of your sari?

When will you buy the thali (sacred wedding thread) and come to my doorstep in style?

When will you buy the thali (sacred wedding thread) and come to my doorstep in style?

When will I go brush my teeth with the earth your feet have walked on?

I dissolved sandalwood paste into the running water,

Did it reach my fair sweetheart's forehead or not?

I wrote a letter on a palm leaf and set it afloat on the water,

Did it reach my fair sweetheart's hands or not?

I dissolved sandalwood paste into the running water,

Did it reach my fair sweetheart's forehead or not?

Female

Female

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Female

Male

Female

Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Odugira Thanniyila is a evocative folk duet from the 1984 Tamil movie Achamillai Achamillai. Set against a lush rural landscape, the song features two lovers engaging in romantic playfulness using natural elements as metaphors. The female protagonist floats sandalwood paste and written palm leaves downstream, hoping the river carries her heartfelt emotions and kisses directly to her lover's hands and forehead. The male lover playfully responds by offering protection from the rain and flirting with her through sweet hyperbole, such as claiming that wringing her rain-soaked clothes would yield pure honey. As the song progresses, the heroine expresses her deep devotion and longing for marriage, asking when he will bring the sacred marital thread (thaali) to her doorstep. Vairamuthu's lyricism captures the essence of rural innocence, romantic devotion, and deep-rooted Tamil cultural traditions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Odugira thanniyila orasi vitten sandhanaththa”

Repetition of the initial 'O' sound in 'Odugira' and 'orasi' creates a harmonious rhythmic beat characteristic of Tamil folk music.

Simile (Uvamaani)

“Aruvi pola azhugiratha Arinthukondaal aagaatho?”

The heroine compares her relentless tears of longing to a cascading waterfall ('Aruvi pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Mala thottaththu kuyilu ithu umakkaaga paadudhunga”

The singer metaphorically refers to herself as a mountain garden cuckoo ('kuyilu') singing specifically for her beloved.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)

“Aiththa magan naan pizhinjaa Aththanaiyum thaen vadiyum”

An exaggerated romantic statement claiming that if her cousin/lover wrings her rain-drenched clothes, sweet honey will drip instead of water.

Did you know?

Trivia

Achamillai Achamillai (1984) was directed by the acclaimed filmmaker K. Balachander. The film's musical score was composed by classical violinist V. S. Narasimhan, who blended traditional South Indian folk rhythms with Western string arrangements. Lyricist Vairamuthu won praise for embedding authentic Tamil rural slang, traditional courtship rituals, and nature-based metaphors into this timeless duet sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and P. Susheela.

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