Podu Thanthanatham
From Nalla Naal · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nalla Naal1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Podu thandhaanatham | Play the folk rhythm beat |
| Adi dhammaarudham | Play the loud drum beat |
| Adha pottaalae brammaanandham | If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss |
| Ada maamaa yedho yedho mayakkam | Oh uncle, there is some strange trance |
| Male | |
| Podu thandhaanatham | Play the folk rhythm beat |
| Adi dhammaarudham | Play the loud drum beat |
| Adha pottaalae brammaanandham | If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss |
| Ada maanae yedho yedho mayakkam | Oh my love, there is some strange trance |
| Female | |
| {Melae paaru paadhaalam | {Look above, it looks like the underworld |
| Keezhae paaru aagaayam | Look below, it looks like the sky |
| Naanum neeyum paakkum podhu | When you and I look at each other |
| Maari pochu boologam} (2) | The whole world has changed} |
| Male | |
| Adi uchanthala | Oh, the crown of the head |
| Vedikkudhu ushnathula | Is bursting from the intense heat |
| Adadada uchanthala | Oh my, the crown of the head |
| Vedikkudhu ushnathula | Is bursting from the heat |
| Ippo ennaachu yedhaachu | Now what happened, whatever happened |
| Onnaaga manam thudikkumm ..mm | The heart throbs together passionately ..mm |
| Female | |
| Podu thandhaanatham | Play the folk rhythm beat |
| Adi dhammaarudham | Play the loud drum beat |
| Adha pottaalae brammaanandham | If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss |
| Ada maamaa yedho yedho mayakkam | Oh uncle, there is some strange trance |
| Male | |
| Podu thandhaanatham | Play the folk rhythm beat |
| Adi dhammaarudham | Play the loud drum beat |
| Mmhum… mmhum… | Mmhum… mmhum… |
| Male | |
| {Paadhi thaanae melaakku | {Only half is covered by the upper garment |
| Pottu aadum pallaakku | Swaying like a ornate palanquin |
| Aadhi andham paakka paakka | As I look from beginning to end |
| Aasa theeya undaakku} (2) | Ignite the fire of desire} |
| Female | |
| Chinna muthu charam | A small string of pearls |
| Anachikka pathu tharam | Embrace ten times over |
| Chinna chinna muthu charam | A small, delicate string of pearls |
| Anachikka pathu tharam | Embrace ten times over |
| Veral pattaalum thottaalum | Even if a finger touches or brushes lightly |
| Kattaayam kilukilukkum | It will surely tinkle with excitement |
| Male | |
| Podu thandhaanatham | Play the folk rhythm beat |
| Female :Aa… | Female : Aa… |
| Male :Adi dhammaarudham | Male : Play the loud drum beat |
| Female :Haa… | Female : Haa… |
| Male :Adha pottaalae brammaanandham | Male : If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss |
| Adi maanae yedho yedho | Oh my love, something... something... |
| Hahahaha hahahaha | Hahahaha hahahaha |
| Female | |
| Podu thandhaanatham | Play the folk rhythm beat |
| Male :Haan aa… | Male : Haan aa… |
| Female :Adi dhammaarudham | Female : Play the loud drum beat |
| Adha pottaalae brammaanandham | If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss |
| Ada maamaa yedho yedho maya | Oh uncle, some kind of tra... |
| Male :Kkam…. hahahahaa… | Male : ...nce! Hahahahaa… |
போடு தந்தானதம்
அடி தம்மாருதம்
அத போட்டாலே பிரம்மானந்தம்
அட மாமா....
ஏதோ ஏதோ மயக்கம்
Play the folk rhythm beat
Play the loud drum beat
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Oh uncle, there is some strange trance
போடு தந்தானதம்
அடி தம்மாருதம்
அத போட்டாலே பிரம்மானந்தம்
அடி மானே....
ஏதோ ஏதோ மயக்கம்
Play the folk rhythm beat
Play the loud drum beat
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Oh my love, there is some strange trance
மேலப்பாரு பாதாளம்
கீழப் பாரு ஆகாயம்
நானும் நீயும் பார்க்கும் நேரம்
மாறிப் போச்சு பூலோகம்
{Look above, it looks like the underworld
Look below, it looks like the sky
When you and I look at each other
The whole world has changed}
மேலப்பாரு பாதாளம்
கீழப் பாரு ஆகாயம்
நானும் நீயும் பார்க்கும் நேரம்
மாறிப் போச்சு பூலோகம்
Oh, the crown of the head
Is bursting from the intense heat
Oh my, the crown of the head
Is bursting from the heat
Now what happened, whatever happened
The heart throbs together passionately ..mm
அடி உச்சந்தலை
கொதிக்குது உஷ்ணத்திலே
அடடா உச்சந்தலை
கொதிக்குது உஷ்ணத்திலே
Play the folk rhythm beat
Play the loud drum beat
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Oh uncle, there is some strange trance
இப்போ என்னாச்சு ஏதாச்சு
ஒண்ணாக மனம் துடிக்கும்....ம்ம்ம்
Play the folk rhythm beat
Play the loud drum beat
Mmhum… mmhum…
போடு தந்தானதம்
அடி தம்மாருதம்
அத போட்டாலே பிரம்மானந்தம்
அட மாமா ஏதோ ஏதோ மயக்கம்
{Only half is covered by the upper garment
Swaying like a ornate palanquin
As I look from beginning to end
Ignite the fire of desire}
போடு தந்தானதம்
அடி தம்மாருதம்
ம்ம்ஹும்...ம்ம்ஹும்
A small string of pearls
Embrace ten times over
A small, delicate string of pearls
Embrace ten times over
Even if a finger touches or brushes lightly
It will surely tinkle with excitement
{பாதிதானே மேலாக்கு
போட்டு ஆடும் பல்லாக்கு
ஆதி அந்தம் பாக்க பாக்க
ஆச தீய உண்டாக்கு} (2)
Play the folk rhythm beat
Female : Aa…
Male : Play the loud drum beat
Female : Haa…
Male : If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Oh my love, something... something...
Hahahaha hahahaha
சின்ன முத்துச்சரம்
அணைச்சிக்க பத்து தரம்
சின்ன சின்ன முத்துச்சரம்
அணைச்சிக்க பத்து தரம்
விரல் பட்டாலும் தொட்டாலும்
கட்டாயம் கிளுகிளுக்கும்
Play the folk rhythm beat
Male : Haan aa…
Female : Play the loud drum beat
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Oh uncle, some kind of tra...
Male : ...nce! Hahahahaa…
போடு தந்தானதம்
ஆஅஹ்ஹ...
அடி தம்மாருதம்
அஹான்...
அத போட்டாலே பிரம்மானந்தம்
அடி மானே.... ஏதோ ஏதோ
ஹ்ஹாஹ்ஹ்ம் ஹா ஹா
போடு தந்தானதம்
அஆ ஹேய்
அட தம்மாருதம்
...........
அத போட்டாலே பிரம்மானந்தம்
அட மாமா.... ஏதோ ஏதோ மயக்கம்
ஹீம்ம்ம்ம்....ஹஹஹா....
ஹ்ஹம்ம்
Podu thandhaanatham
Play the folk rhythm beat
Adi dhammaarudham
Play the loud drum beat
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Ada maamaa yedho yedho mayakkam
Oh uncle, there is some strange trance
Podu thandhaanatham
Play the folk rhythm beat
Adi dhammaarudham
Play the loud drum beat
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Ada maanae yedho yedho mayakkam
Oh my love, there is some strange trance
{Melae paaru paadhaalam
{Look above, it looks like the underworld
Keezhae paaru aagaayam
Look below, it looks like the sky
Naanum neeyum paakkum podhu
When you and I look at each other
Maari pochu boologam} (2)
The whole world has changed}
Adi uchanthala
Oh, the crown of the head
Vedikkudhu ushnathula
Is bursting from the intense heat
Adadada uchanthala
Oh my, the crown of the head
Vedikkudhu ushnathula
Is bursting from the heat
Ippo ennaachu yedhaachu
Now what happened, whatever happened
Onnaaga manam thudikkumm ..mm
The heart throbs together passionately ..mm
Podu thandhaanatham
Play the folk rhythm beat
Adi dhammaarudham
Play the loud drum beat
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Ada maamaa yedho yedho mayakkam
Oh uncle, there is some strange trance
Podu thandhaanatham
Play the folk rhythm beat
Adi dhammaarudham
Play the loud drum beat
Mmhum… mmhum…
Mmhum… mmhum…
{Paadhi thaanae melaakku
{Only half is covered by the upper garment
Pottu aadum pallaakku
Swaying like a ornate palanquin
Aadhi andham paakka paakka
As I look from beginning to end
Aasa theeya undaakku} (2)
Ignite the fire of desire}
Chinna muthu charam
A small string of pearls
Anachikka pathu tharam
Embrace ten times over
Chinna chinna muthu charam
A small, delicate string of pearls
Anachikka pathu tharam
Embrace ten times over
Veral pattaalum thottaalum
Even if a finger touches or brushes lightly
Kattaayam kilukilukkum
It will surely tinkle with excitement
Podu thandhaanatham
Play the folk rhythm beat
Female :Aa…
Female : Aa…
Male :Adi dhammaarudham
Male : Play the loud drum beat
Female :Haa…
Female : Haa…
Male :Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
Male : If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Adi maanae yedho yedho
Oh my love, something... something...
Hahahaha hahahaha
Hahahaha hahahaha
Podu thandhaanatham
Play the folk rhythm beat
Male :Haan aa…
Male : Haan aa…
Female :Adi dhammaarudham
Female : Play the loud drum beat
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
If you play that, it brings supreme divine bliss
Ada maamaa yedho yedho maya
Oh uncle, some kind of tra...
Male :Kkam…. hahahahaa…
Male : ...nce! Hahahahaa…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This lively duet from the 1984 film 'Nalla Naal' portrays a joyful, passionate exchange between lovers overwhelmed by the intoxicating magic of love and music. Using energetic folk refrains like 'thandhaanatham' and 'dhammaarudham', the song vividly expresses how intense attraction flips their perception of reality, making the sky feel below and the earth above.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Podu thandhaanatham / Adi dhammaarudham”
The second letters 'da' in 'Podu' and 'Adi' along with rhyming rhythm words like 'thandhaanatham' and 'dhammaarudham' establish strong rhythmic flow.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Melae paaru paadhaalam / Keezhae paaru aagaayam”
Describing the world turning upside down—seeing the netherworld above and the sky below—exaggerates the euphoric dizziness of romance.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Aasa theeya undaakku”
The passion between the lovers is metaphorically equated to an igniting fire ('Aasa theeyu').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nalla Naal' (1984) starred Vijayakanth and Nalini in lead roles, directed by R. Sundarrajan. The song features traditional Tamil folk rhythmic phrases seamlessly woven into Vaali's playful and rhythmic lyrics.
Keep listening
More from Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal
Nalla Naal