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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Rathiri Naan Thoongamathan

From Oru Marathu Paravaigal · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Oru Marathu Paravaigal1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa…aa….aaah….aa…aa….aahh….Aa… aa… aaah… aa… aa… aahh…
Female
Raththiri naan thoongaamaththaan muzhichchirunthaenaeI stayed awake at night without sleeping,
Adhu yaaraalae oru aalaalaeBecause of whom? Because of a certain man!
Raththiri naan thoongaamaththaan muzhichchirunthaenaeI stayed awake at night without sleeping,
Adhu yaaraalae oru aalaalaeBecause of whom? Because of a certain man!
Female
Aalazhaga enna sollaHow can I describe his handsome appearance?
Tholirendum thulla thullaAs his two shoulders bounce with energy,
Aalazhaga enna sollaHow can I describe his handsome appearance?
Tholirendum thulla thullaAs his two shoulders bounce with energy,
Paakkaiyilae yaedho mayakkamJust looking at him brings a strange intoxication.
Female
Raththiri naan thoongaamaththaan muzhichchirunthaenaeI stayed awake at night without sleeping,
Adhu yaaraalae oru aalaalaeBecause of whom? Because of a certain man!
Female
Maanthoppil pazham pazhuththaaWhen fruit ripens in the mango grove,
Anil kadikkaathoWon't a squirrel bite into it?
Malligaiyil thaen irunthaaWhen there is honey in the jasmine flower,
Vandu varaathoWon't a beetle come visiting?
Female
Maanthoppil pazham pazhuththaaWhen fruit ripens in the mango grove,
Anil kadikkaathoWon't a squirrel bite into it?
Malligaiyil thaen irunthaaWhen there is honey in the jasmine flower,
Vandu varaathoWon't a beetle come visiting?
Female
Idhu ilasu chinnajirusuThis is youth, young and tender,
Puththam pudhusu pinju manasuBrand new, an innocent young heart.
Anthi pagal yaekkaththilae thudichchirukkaathaaWouldn't it throb with longing day and night?
Aasaiyennum paattezhuthi padichchirukkaathaaWouldn't it compose and recite a song of desire?
Female
Raththiri naan thoongaamaththaan muzhichchirunthaenaeI stayed awake at night without sleeping,
Adhu yaaraalae oru aalaalaeBecause of whom? Because of a certain man!
Female
Aalazhaga enna sollaHow can I describe his handsome appearance?
Tholirendum thulla thullaAs his two shoulders bounce with energy,
Aalazhaga enna sollaHow can I describe his handsome appearance?
Tholirendum thulla thullaAs his two shoulders bounce with energy,
Paakkaiyilae yaedho mayakkamJust looking at him brings a strange intoxication.
Female
Raththiri naan thoongaamaththaan muzhichchirunthaenaeI stayed awake at night without sleeping,
Adhu yaaraalae oru aalaalaeBecause of whom? Because of a certain man!
Female
Kaaththaada nada nadanthaa madhamathappaagaWalking gently in the breeze with an intoxicating grace,
Kann paarvai kodhichchirunthaa kadhakadhappagaIf his gaze boils with warmth,
Haei kaaththaada nada nadanthaa madhamathappaagaHey, walking gently in the breeze with an intoxicating grace,
Kann paarvai kodhichchirunthaa kadhakadhappagaIf his gaze boils with warmth,
Female
Ival vanappum udal sivappumHer beauty and fair complexion,
Ilanjirippum adhan inippumHer tender smile and its sweetness,
Paadham mudhal koonthal varai paaththu ninnaandiHe stood staring from her feet all the way to her hair;
Paaththa vizhi pooththapadi veththu ninnaandiHis staring eyes remained wide open and transfixed!
Female
Raththiri naan thoongaamaththaan muzhichchirunthaenaeI stayed awake at night without sleeping,
Adhu yaaraalae oru aalaalaeBecause of whom? Because of a certain man!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sensual track from 'Oru Marathu Paravaigal' (1980) expresses the restless longing and romantic agitation of a young woman captivated by her lover. She describes sleepless nights filled with thoughts of his charm and masculine grace, detailing how just a glimpse of him induces an intoxicating spell. Through vivid folk-inspired imagery, she normalizes youthful passion and attraction as natural occurrences of nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Analogy / Metaphor)

Maanthoppil pazham pazhuththaa / Anil kadikkaatho

Compares human romantic desire to natural instincts—a squirrel drawn to ripe mangoes and a beetle drawn to jasmine honey.

Monaikkal (Initial Alliteration)

Tholirendum thulla thulla

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels for melodic rhythm, such as 'Tholirendum' and 'Thulla'.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ival vanappum udal sivappum / Ilanjirippum adhan inippum

Rhyming of the second letter across lines ('vanappum' and 'ilanjirippum').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Raththiri Naan Thoongaamaththaan' is a classic 1980s romantic folk track composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and rendered with iconic playfulness by S. Janaki. Lyricist Vaali crafted the verse combining rustic folk idioms with sensual intimacy, which became quite popular on Tamil radio broadcasts during the era.

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