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Iru Thuruvam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Rathiri Nadanthatha

From Iru Thuruvam · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Iru Thuruvam
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
2 Sept 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Raththiri nadanthathai nenaichchaakka
Antha ragasiyam eppadi inikkuthammaa
Amma……amma….amma….
Raththiri nadanthathai nenaichchaakka
Antha ragasiyam eppadi inikkuthammaa
Maaththirai pottaarpol irukkuthammaa
Oru manthiram sonnaarpol mayanguthammaa
Raththiri nadanthathai nenaichchaakka
Antha ragasiyam eppadi inikkuthammaa
Poosai pannum saami vaichcha neram mm….
Poovirinthu vaadum ponnu konda kolam
Pullukkattu ninaippilae allikkatti anaikkavae
Enni enni yaenguthae yaekkaththilae
Pullukkattu ninaippilae allikkatti anaikkavae
Enni enni yaenguthae yaekkaththilae
Raththiri nadanthathai nenaichchaakka
Antha ragasiyam eppadi inikkuthammaa
Poo mudichcha pothae naan ninaichchu paarththaenae
Naan nenaichchathellaam naalu pangu maelae
Kaayam patta kili onnu
Saayam patta mugam onnu
Venum intha sugaminnu kulikkuthu
Amma…….amma……amma……
Raththiri nadanthathai nenaichchaakka
Antha ragasiyam eppadi inikkuthammaa
Kaadu vetti pottu thottamittaen naanae
Kanni konda raja pooparikka thaanae
Jodi onnu kalanthathu kodu onnu vizhunthathu
Seval solli vidinthathu sugamaaga
Amma…….amma……amma……
Raththiri nadanthathai nenaichchaakka
Antha ragasiyam eppadi inikkuthammaa
Amma…….amma……amma……
When I think of what happened last night,
oh mother, how sweet that secret feels!
Oh mother... oh mother... oh mother...
When I think of what happened last night,
oh mother, how sweet that secret feels!
It acts on me like a soothing pill,
it enchants me just like a magic spell!
When I think of what happened last night,
oh mother, how sweet that secret feels!
When the god I worship longed for me, mm...
like a flower blooming and wilting was this girl's state!
Thinking of me like a bundle of grass, he gathered me in his arms,
and thinking about it again and again, my heart longs with desire!
Thinking of me like a bundle of grass, he gathered me in his arms,
and thinking about it again and again, my heart longs with desire!
When I think of what happened last night,
oh mother, how sweet that secret feels!
When I wore flowers in my hair, I imagined how it would be,
but it turned out four times more than all I dreamed!
A wounded little parrot,
a face glowing with bright colors,
bathes in bliss, wanting more of this pleasure...
Oh mother... oh mother... oh mother...
When I think of what happened last night,
oh mother, how sweet that secret feels!
I cleared the wild woods and laid out a garden,
just for the king who won this girl to pluck its flowers!
A pair united, a new mark was made,
and dawn broke pleasantly as the rooster crowed!
Oh mother... oh mother... oh mother...
When I think of what happened last night,
oh mother, how sweet that secret feels!
Oh mother... oh mother... oh mother...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Raththiri Nadanthathai Nenaichchaakka is a classic sensual track from the 1971 Tamil film 'Iru Thuruvam'. The song captures the coy bashfulness and secret joy of a bride reminiscing about her intimate wedding night. She describes her husband's touch and loving words as an enchanting spell that leaves her entranced and swooning with happiness. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance shines through rural metaphors—such as preparing a garden for a king or waiting for dawn with the rooster's crow—to convey passion tastefully. Enhanced by P. Susheela's expressive rendition and M. S. Viswanathan's melody, the song remains a celebrated romantic portrait in Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Maaththirai pottaarpol irukkuthammaa / Oru manthiram sonnaarpol mayanguthammaa

Comparing the overwhelming feeling of romantic intoxication to taking a potent pill ('Maaththirai pottaarpol') or being under an incantation ('manthiram sonnaarpol').

Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)

Kaayam patta kili onnu / Saayam patta mugam onnu

The second letters of 'Kaayam' and 'Saayam' match ('ya'), creating a pleasant rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Kaadu vetti pottu thottamittaen naanae / Kanni konda raja pooparikka thaanae

Using the creation of a garden ('thottam') as a metaphor for preparing her heart and body for her king ('raja') to pick flowers.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Iru Thuruvam' stars Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini. P. Susheela's playful 'Amma... Amma...' vocal improvs in this song became instantly iconic, showcasing her remarkable ability to express youthful bashfulness through song.

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