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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Raathiriyil Thokkamillai

From Unnai Solli Kutramillai · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Usha Uthup
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Unnai Solli Kutramillai1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Panneerum thanneerumRosewater and cold water,
Venneerai pola maaraTurn hot like boiling water,
Unnaalae thannaalaeBecause of you, automatically,
Men melum bodhai yeraIntoxication keeps increasing further.
Female
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Female
Iruttu iruttu ingaeDarkness, darkness here,
Irukku kirukkuThere is madness,
Purattu purattuTwisting and turning,
Adhu puriyum unakkuYou will understand that.
Ho ho hoHo ho ho
Female
Iruttu iruttu haaDarkness, darkness haa,
Ingae irukku kirukkuHere there is madness,
Purattu purattuTwisting and turning,
Adhu puriyum unakkuYou will understand that.
Female
Muppaalilum eppalilumIn all three sections of Thirukkural or anywhere,
Sollaadha paattaagumIt is an unwritten song,
Mothathilae muthathilaeIn total, in a kiss,
Sathathil undaagalaamIt can be created through sound.
Naan paada adhu nee paadaFor me to sing and for you to sing,
Thodhaana idam thaanThis is a suitable place.
Ammaadi appaadi anjaaru boopaalamOh my, oh lord, five or six morning ragas,
Poda thaan haa……………To sing right now haa...
Female
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Female
Hee hee ha haaaHee hee ha haaa
Hae hae hae haeHae hae hae hae
Female
Haa viratti virattiHaa chasing and chasing,
Unnai valaithu valaithuEncircle you and encircle you,
Anaikka anaikkaTo hug and to hug,
Vandha azhagi oruthiA beautiful woman has come.
Ho ho hoHo ho ho
Female
Haa viratti virattiHaa chasing and chasing,
Unnai valaithu valaithuEncircle you and encircle you,
Anaikka anaikkaTo hug and to hug,
Vandha azhagi oruthiA beautiful woman has come.
Female
Muthaada thaan nilaamalaeWithout stopping to kiss,
Munnaadum pallaakkuA palanquin that sways forward,
Ukkaara thaan kooppittadhuIt invited to sit,
Unnaattam raajaavai thaanA king like you.
Tholodu oru aal aadaFor a person to dance shoulder to shoulder,
Thodhaana idam thaanThis is the suitable place.
Veppathil nirkkaamal theppatthilWithout standing in the heat, in a float,
Vandhaadu ippa thaan haa……….Come and play right now haa...
Female
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.
Panneerum thanneerumRosewater and cold water,
Venneerai pola maaraTurn hot like boiling water,
Unnaalae thannaalaeBecause of you, automatically,
Men melum bodhai yeraIntoxication keeps increasing further.
Female
Raathiriyil thookkam illaThere is no sleep at night,
Raagathukku thaalam illaThere is no rhythm for the melody.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and seductive Tamil song expresses sleeplessness, passion, and overwhelming romantic desire during the night. The lyrics convey how ordinary things like cool rosewater feel scorching hot due to intense yearning, creating a sense of intoxicating excitement between lovers. Rich in playful rhythm and metaphors of music and dance, the protagonist invites her partner to embrace the moment, setting a romantic and energetic mood.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhyme / Monai

Panneerum thanneerum

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds across lines for melodic effect.

Alliteration / Etukai

Iruttu iruttu ingae / Irukku kirukku

Matching second-letter rhyming patterns to establish rhythmic flow.

Repetition / Anaphora

Haa viratti viratti / Unnai valaithu valaithu

Repeated words used emphatically to portray playful persistence and excitement.

Hyperbole

Panneerum thanneerum / Venneerai pola maara

Exaggerating cool rosewater turning into boiling water to emphasize intense passionate heat.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Unnai Solli Kutramillai' (1990) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Karthik and Sithara. The song's lyrics were written by the renowned poet Vaali, capturing lively nighttime romance with fast-paced rhythmic phrasing.

Keep listening

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