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Nalla Naal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oththaiyela Penkuthirai

From Nalla Naal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nalla Naal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
13 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thannannannae naanannannae
Naanannannae naanaanaanaa
: Othaiyilae pen kudhira
Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa
Pottaiyinnu odhukkaadhae
Pirinjaa vaadum
Rettaiyila irundhaa thaan
Sogamaa chaerum
Inaiyaa thonaiyaa serndhukka
Viduya viduya
Inaiyaa thonaiyaa serndhukka
Viduya viduya
Othaiyilae pen kudhira
Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa
: Kollu vecha maamaa
Thalli vekkalaamaa… konja vidu
Kollu vecha maamaa
Thalli vekkalaamaa… konja vidu
Saatta komba neetti
Summaa summaa kaatti
Vandiyila pootti enna sogam
Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira
Pithu pidicha matta kudhira
Pollaadhammaa potta kudhira
Pithu pidicha matta kudhira
Sonnaalum kekkaadhu
Pommaa pommaa unakkidhu
Yenmaa yenmaa
Othaiyilae pen kudhira
Nikkudhaiyaa thaniyaa thaniyaa
Kuttigala poda potta ingu vaada
Vandhaa enna
Kuttigala poda potta ingu vaada
Vandhaa enna
Pullu meththa pottu
Mella mella serndhu
Paada venum paattu pullarikka
Podaadhae nee thappu kanakku
Innum adhukku kaalam irukku
Podaadhae nee thappu kanakku
Innum adhukku kaalam irukku
En paadu ennodu
Vidumaa vidumaa aasa ippa
Varumaa varumaa
Othaiyilae pen kudhira
Nikkattumae thaniyaa thaniyaa
Kattaama irundhaalae kaaval meerum
Ammaadi en mela kudhira yaerum
Theriyum theriyum
Enakkadhu puriyum puriyum
Mhum mhum
M… mhum mhum
Othaiyila pen kudhira
Nikkattumae thaniyaa thaniyaa
Thannannanne naanannanne
Naanannanne naanaanaanaa
All by herself, a mare
stands waiting, all alone, all alone.
Don't push her aside just because she's a female.
If she stays separated, she will pine away.
Only when they become a pair
will true pleasure unite.
To join as a companion and partner,
let it happen, oh mister, let it happen!
To join as a companion and partner,
let it happen, oh mister, let it happen!
All by herself, a mare
stands waiting, all alone, all alone.
Mister, you who fed her horse-gram,
can you push her away? Yield a little!
Mister, you who fed her horse-gram,
can you push her away? Yield a little!
Holding out the whip,
and just teasingly showing it,
what pleasure is there in just hitching her to a cart?
She is troublesome, this mare,
a crazy, stubborn little horse.
She is troublesome, this mare,
a crazy, stubborn little horse.
She won't listen even if told.
Go away, girl, go away! Why do you need this,
why, girl, why?
All by herself, a mare
stands waiting, all alone, all alone.
To give birth to little ones, while the female pines here,
what is wrong if you come close?
To give birth to little ones, while the female pines here,
what is wrong if you come close?
Making a bed of grass,
and slowly coming together,
we should sing a song that gives thrills.
Don't make wrong calculations,
there is still time for all that.
Don't make wrong calculations,
there is still time for all that.
My troubles are my own,
leave it, leave it! Will desire
just come right now?
All by herself, let that mare
stand alone, all alone!
If left untied, she will cross all limits,
oh dear, she'll jump right on top of me!
I know, I know,
I understand it, I understand!
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm,
Mm... mm-hmm, mm-hmm!
All by herself, let that mare
stand alone, all alone!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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