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Nalla Naal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Podu Thanthanatham

From Nalla Naal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nalla Naal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
30 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Podu thandhaanatham
Adi dhammaarudham
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
Ada maamaa yedho yedho mayakkam
Podu thandhaanatham
Adi dhammaarudham
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
Ada maanae yedho yedho mayakkam
{Melae paaru paadhaalam
Keezhae paaru aagaayam
Naanum neeyum paakkum podhu
Maari pochu boologam} (2)
Adi uchanthala
Vedikkudhu ushnathula
Adadada uchanthala
Vedikkudhu ushnathula
Ippo ennaachu yedhaachu
Onnaaga manam thudikkumm ..mm
Podu thandhaanatham
Adi dhammaarudham
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
Ada maamaa yedho yedho mayakkam
Podu thandhaanatham
Adi dhammaarudham
Mmhum… mmhum…
{Paadhi thaanae melaakku
Pottu aadum pallaakku
Aadhi andham paakka paakka
Aasa theeya undaakku} (2)
Chinna muthu charam
Anachikka pathu tharam
Chinna chinna muthu charam
Anachikka pathu tharam
Veral pattaalum thottaalum
Kattaayam kilukilukkum
Podu thandhaanatham
Female :Aa…
Male :Adi dhammaarudham
Female :Haa…
Male :Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
Adi maanae yedho yedho
Hahahaha hahahaha
Podu thandhaanatham
Male :Haan aa…
Female :Adi dhammaarudham
Adha pottaalae brammaanandham
Ada maamaa yedho yedho maya
Male :Kkam…. hahahahaa…
Strike up the rhythm!
Take a deep puff!
Once you take it, it's pure bliss!
Oh mama, what a dizzy spell this is!
Strike up the rhythm!
Take a deep puff!
Once you take it, it's pure bliss!
Oh my sweet deer, what a dizzy spell this is!
Look above, there is the netherworld!
Look below, there is the sky!
When you and I look around,
The whole world has turned upside down!
Oh girl, the crown of my head,
Is bursting from the rising heat!
Oh my, the crown of my head,
Is bursting from the rising heat!
What on earth has happened now?
Our hearts beat wildly together... mmm
Strike up the rhythm!
Take a deep puff!
Once you take it, it's pure bliss!
Oh mama, what a dizzy spell this is!
Strike up the rhythm!
Take a deep puff!
Mmh... mmh...
Your upper cloth covers only half,
Swaying like a palanquin as you dance!
Looking at you from head to toe,
It sparks a fire of desire!
Like a delicate string of pearls,
Embrace me tight ten times!
A sweet little string of pearls,
Embrace me tight ten times!
Even if a finger just brushes or touches,
It will surely send tingling thrills!
Strike up the rhythm!
Female: Ah...
Male: Take a deep puff!
Female: Ha...
Male: Once you take it, it's pure bliss!
Oh my sweet deer, some kind of...
Hahaha hahaha
Strike up the rhythm!
Male: Haan ah...
Female: Take a deep puff!
Once you take it, it's pure bliss!
Oh mama, such a dizzying...
Male: ...spell! Hahahaha...
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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

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