Oththaiyela Penkuthirai
From Nalla Naal · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nalla Naal1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thannannannae naanannannae | Folk rhythmic refrain (Thannannannae naanannannae) |
| Naanannannae naanaanaanaa | Refrain continuing (Naanannannae naanaanaanaa) |
| Female | |
| : Othaiyilae pen kudhira | A female horse stands all alone |
| Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa | Standing alone, so isolated |
| Pottaiyinnu odhukkaadhae | Do not set her aside just because she is female |
| Pirinjaa vaadum | She will wither if separated |
| Rettaiyila irundhaa thaan | Only if paired up together |
| Sogamaa chaerum | Joy and comfort will combine |
| Inaiyaa thonaiyaa serndhukka | To unite as a pair and companion |
| Viduya viduya | Let it happen, let it happen |
| Inaiyaa thonaiyaa serndhukka | To unite as a pair and companion |
| Viduya viduya | Let it happen, let it happen |
| Female | |
| Othaiyilae pen kudhira | A female horse stands all alone |
| Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa | Standing alone, so isolated |
| Female | |
| : Kollu vecha maamaa | Uncle who fed horsegram feed |
| Thalli vekkalaamaa… konja vidu | Should you push her away? Let us fondle a bit |
| Kollu vecha maamaa | Uncle who fed horsegram feed |
| Thalli vekkalaamaa… konja vidu | Should you push her away? Let us fondle a bit |
| Saatta komba neetti | Extending the whip handle |
| Summaa summaa kaatti | Showing it off just like that |
| Vandiyila pootti enna sogam | What joy is there in yoking her to a cart? |
| Male | |
| Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira | She is troublesome, this female horse |
| Pithu pidicha matta kudhira | A crazy, stubborn pony horse |
| Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira | She is troublesome, this female horse |
| Pithu pidicha matta kudhira | A crazy, stubborn pony horse |
| Sonnaalum kekkaadhu | She will not listen even if advised |
| Pommaa pommaa unakkidhu | Go away girl, go away |
| Yenmaa yenmaa | Why is this necessary for you? Why, girl, why? |
| Female | |
| Othaiyilae pen kudhira | A female horse stands all alone |
| Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa | Standing alone, so isolated |
| Female | |
| Kuttigala poda potta ingu vaada | Hey female, come here to bear foals |
| Vandhaa enna | What if you come over? |
| Kuttigala poda potta ingu vaada | Hey female, come here to bear foals |
| Vandhaa enna | What if you come over? |
| Pullu meththa pottu | Laying down a bed of soft grass |
| Mella mella serndhu | Coming together slowly |
| Paada venum paattu pullarikka | A song should be sung to give goosebumps |
| Male | |
| Podaadhae nee thappu kanakku | Do not make a wrong calculation |
| Innum adhukku kaalam irukku | There is still time for that |
| Podaadhae nee thappu kanakku | Do not make a wrong calculation |
| Innum adhukku kaalam irukku | There is still time for that |
| En paadu ennodu | My troubles remain with me |
| Vidumaa vidumaa aasa ippa | Will this desire leave now? |
| Varumaa varumaa | Will it come now? |
| Male | |
| Othaiyilae pen kudhira | A female horse stands all alone |
| Nikkattumae thaniyaa thaniyaa | Let her stand alone, all alone |
| Kattaama irundhaalae kaaval meerum | If left untied, she will cross boundaries |
| Ammaadi en mela kudhira yaerum | Oh dear, she will ride right over me |
| Theriyum theriyum | I know, I know |
| Enakkadhu puriyum puriyum | I understand, I understand it well |
| Female | |
| Mhum mhum | Mhum mhum |
| M… mhum mhum | M... mhum mhum |
| Male | |
| Othaiyila pen kudhira | A female horse stands all alone |
| Nikkattumae thaniyaa thaniyaa | Let her stand alone, all alone |
தன்னன்னன்னே னானன்னன்னே
னானன்னன்னே னானானானா
Folk rhythmic refrain (Thannannannae naanannannae)
Refrain continuing (Naanannannae naanaanaanaa)
ஒத்தையில பெண் குதிர
நிக்குதையா தனியா தனியா
பொட்டையின்னு ஒதுக்காதே
பிரிஞ்சா வாடும்
ரெட்டையில இருந்தாதான்
சொகமாச் சேரும்
இணையா தொணையா சேர்ந்துக்க
விடுயா விடுயா
இணையா தொணையா சேர்ந்துக்க
விடுயா விடுயா
A female horse stands all alone
Standing alone, so isolated
Do not set her aside just because she is female
She will wither if separated
Only if paired up together
Joy and comfort will combine
To unite as a pair and companion
Let it happen, let it happen
To unite as a pair and companion
Let it happen, let it happen
ஒத்தையில பெண் குதிர
நிக்குதையா தனியா தனியா
A female horse stands all alone
Standing alone, so isolated
கொள்ளு வெச்ச மாமா
தள்ளி வைக்கலாமா.....கொஞ்சம் விடு
கொள்ளு வெச்ச மாமா
தள்ளி வைக்கலாமா.....கொஞ்சம் விடு
சாட்ட கொம்ப நீட்டி
சும்மா சும்மா காட்டி
வண்டியில பூட்டி என்ன சொகம்
Uncle who fed horsegram feed
Should you push her away? Let us fondle a bit
Uncle who fed horsegram feed
Should you push her away? Let us fondle a bit
Extending the whip handle
Showing it off just like that
What joy is there in yoking her to a cart?
பொல்லாதம்மா பொட்டக் குதிர
பித்துப் பிடிச்ச மட்டக் குதிர
பொல்லாதம்மா பொட்டக் குதிர
பித்துப் பிடிச்ச மட்டக் குதிர
சொன்னாலும் கேக்காது
போம்மா போம்மா உனக்கிது
ஏம்மா ஏம்மா
She is troublesome, this female horse
A crazy, stubborn pony horse
She is troublesome, this female horse
A crazy, stubborn pony horse
She will not listen even if advised
Go away girl, go away
Why is this necessary for you? Why, girl, why?
ஒத்தையில பெண் குதிர
நிக்குதையா தனியா தனியா
A female horse stands all alone
Standing alone, so isolated
குட்டிகள போட பொட்ட இங்கு வாட
வந்தா என்ன
குட்டிகள போட பொட்ட இங்கு வாட
வந்தா என்ன
புல்லு மெத்த போட்டு
மெல்ல மெல்லச் சேர்ந்து
பாட வேணும் பாட்டு புல்லரிக்க
Hey female, come here to bear foals
What if you come over?
Hey female, come here to bear foals
What if you come over?
Laying down a bed of soft grass
Coming together slowly
A song should be sung to give goosebumps
போடாதே நீ தப்புக் கணக்கு
இன்னும் அதுக்கு காலம் இருக்கு
போடாதே நீ தப்புக் கணக்கு
இன்னும் அதுக்கு காலம் இருக்கு
என் பாடு என்னோடு
விடுமா விடுமா ஆசை இப்ப
வருமா வருமா
Do not make a wrong calculation
There is still time for that
Do not make a wrong calculation
There is still time for that
My troubles remain with me
Will this desire leave now?
Will it come now?
ஒத்தையில பெண் குதிர
நிக்கட்டுமே தனியா தனியா
கட்டாம இருந்தாலே காவல் மீறும்
அம்மாடி என் மேல குதிர ஏறும்
தெரியும் தெரியும்
எனக்கது புரியும் புரியும்
A female horse stands all alone
Let her stand alone, all alone
If left untied, she will cross boundaries
Oh dear, she will ride right over me
I know, I know
I understand, I understand it well
ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும்
ம்....ம்ஹும் ம்ஹும்
Mhum mhum
M... mhum mhum
ஒத்தையில பெண் குதிர
நிக்கட்டுமே தனியா தனியா
A female horse stands all alone
Let her stand alone, all alone
Thannannannae naanannannae
Folk rhythmic refrain (Thannannannae naanannannae)
Naanannannae naanaanaanaa
Refrain continuing (Naanannannae naanaanaanaa)
: Othaiyilae pen kudhira
A female horse stands all alone
Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa
Standing alone, so isolated
Pottaiyinnu odhukkaadhae
Do not set her aside just because she is female
Pirinjaa vaadum
She will wither if separated
Rettaiyila irundhaa thaan
Only if paired up together
Sogamaa chaerum
Joy and comfort will combine
Inaiyaa thonaiyaa serndhukka
To unite as a pair and companion
Viduya viduya
Let it happen, let it happen
Inaiyaa thonaiyaa serndhukka
To unite as a pair and companion
Viduya viduya
Let it happen, let it happen
Othaiyilae pen kudhira
A female horse stands all alone
Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa
Standing alone, so isolated
: Kollu vecha maamaa
Uncle who fed horsegram feed
Thalli vekkalaamaa… konja vidu
Should you push her away? Let us fondle a bit
Kollu vecha maamaa
Uncle who fed horsegram feed
Thalli vekkalaamaa… konja vidu
Should you push her away? Let us fondle a bit
Saatta komba neetti
Extending the whip handle
Summaa summaa kaatti
Showing it off just like that
Vandiyila pootti enna sogam
What joy is there in yoking her to a cart?
Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira
She is troublesome, this female horse
Pithu pidicha matta kudhira
A crazy, stubborn pony horse
Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira
She is troublesome, this female horse
Pithu pidicha matta kudhira
A crazy, stubborn pony horse
Sonnaalum kekkaadhu
She will not listen even if advised
Pommaa pommaa unakkidhu
Go away girl, go away
Yenmaa yenmaa
Why is this necessary for you? Why, girl, why?
Othaiyilae pen kudhira
A female horse stands all alone
Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa
Standing alone, so isolated
Kuttigala poda potta ingu vaada
Hey female, come here to bear foals
Vandhaa enna
What if you come over?
Kuttigala poda potta ingu vaada
Hey female, come here to bear foals
Vandhaa enna
What if you come over?
Pullu meththa pottu
Laying down a bed of soft grass
Mella mella serndhu
Coming together slowly
Paada venum paattu pullarikka
A song should be sung to give goosebumps
Podaadhae nee thappu kanakku
Do not make a wrong calculation
Innum adhukku kaalam irukku
There is still time for that
Podaadhae nee thappu kanakku
Do not make a wrong calculation
Innum adhukku kaalam irukku
There is still time for that
En paadu ennodu
My troubles remain with me
Vidumaa vidumaa aasa ippa
Will this desire leave now?
Varumaa varumaa
Will it come now?
Othaiyilae pen kudhira
A female horse stands all alone
Nikkattumae thaniyaa thaniyaa
Let her stand alone, all alone
Kattaama irundhaalae kaaval meerum
If left untied, she will cross boundaries
Ammaadi en mela kudhira yaerum
Oh dear, she will ride right over me
Theriyum theriyum
I know, I know
Enakkadhu puriyum puriyum
I understand, I understand it well
Mhum mhum
Mhum mhum
M… mhum mhum
M... mhum mhum
Othaiyila pen kudhira
A female horse stands all alone
Nikkattumae thaniyaa thaniyaa
Let her stand alone, all alone
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song uses an extended metaphor comparing a spirited young woman to a 'pen kudhira' (female horse/mare). Through playfulness and folk rhythms, the characters exchange witty banter about companionship, love, freedom, and boundaries. The male character treats her as wild and stubborn, expressing hesitation about giving in to her desires too quickly, while the female character argues against loneliness and urges him to pair up with her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor
“Othaiyilae pen kudhira nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa”
Compares a single young woman standing alone to a lone mare needing a companion.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira / Pithu pidicha matta kudhira”
The second consonant 'l/t' sound aligns across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic folk cadence.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Vidumaa vidumaa aasa ippa / Varumaa varumaa”
The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('vidumaa' and 'varumaa').
Did you know?
Trivia
Nalla Naal is a 1984 Tamil film starring Vijayakanth and Nalini. Lyricist Vaali employed traditional rural folk motifs and equine metaphors to create a lively, teasing romantic duet typical of 1980s Tamil commercial cinema.
Keep listening
More from Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal