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Isaimozhi
Ayothi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sethupathi Naattukulle

From Ayothi · 2015

Lyricist
Kavimuni
Singer
Mathichiyam Bala
Music director
N. R. Raghunanthan
Movie name
Ayothi
Movie release year
2015
Lyrics added on
8 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karuva mara kaadu
Idhu rameswram ooru
Uppu kaathu veesum
Idhu unmai kadha paaru
Sethupadhi nattukkulla
Porandha chella pulla
Sethupadhi nattukkulla
Porandha chella pulla
Vaanam paatha boomiyilae
Thanga rathinamae
Vaanam paatha boomiyilae
Thanga rathinamae
Vilanja nellumani
Ponnu rathinamae
Raasa kadhaiya paadi varen
Thanga rathinamae..podraa
Sondhamunnu yaarum illa
Sollikolla perum illa
Sondhamunnu yaarum illa
Sollikolla perum illa
Othiyilae nikkuraanae
Thanga rathinamae
Othiyilae nikkuraanae
Thanga rathinamae
Vayasu anjukooda thandavillai
Ponnu rathinamae
Adhukkulla appan aatha poyitanga
Thanga rathinamae
Gunathula thangakatti
Kaasu illa kallappetti
Damukku ohooi
Gunathula thangakatti
Kaasu illa kallappetti
Collector velai kooda
Thanga rathiname
Collector velai kooda
Thanga rathinamae
Koduthaalum pudikalamban
Ponnu rathinamae
Rasa koduthaalum pudikalamban
Ponnu rathinamae
Karkkandu kann azhagu
Manja panangkizhangu
Yappa yarappa ava
Thaenoorum nenjukkulla
Devadhaiya vandha pulla
O appadiya..appuram
Rasa varuvaarunnu ..aa..aa..
Rasa varuvaarunnu
Thanga rathinamae
Rasathi kaathu kidakka
Ponnu rathinamae
Avathaan raapagala kathu irukka
Thanga rathinamae
Podraa
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Thananae thannaanaa
Thananae thannaanaa…
In a forest of wild thorny trees,
this is the town of Rameswaram.
Where the salty sea breeze blows,
come listen to a true story!
In the land of the Sethupathi kings,
a beloved child was born.
In the land of the Sethupathi kings,
a beloved child was born.
In this parched land waiting for rain,
oh precious gem,
in this parched land waiting for rain,
oh precious gem,
he grew like a precious grain of paddy,
oh golden gem!
I have come singing the prince's tale,
oh precious gem.
He has no family to call his own,
nor any grand name to boast of.
He has no family to call his own,
nor any grand name to boast of.
He stands all alone in this world,
oh precious gem.
He stands all alone in this world,
oh precious gem.
Before he had even turned five,
oh golden gem,
his father and mother passed away,
oh precious gem.
His heart is made of pure gold,
though his money box is empty.
Damukku ohoi…
His heart is made of pure gold,
though his money box is empty.
Even if offered a Collector's job,
oh precious gem,
even if offered a Collector's job,
oh precious gem,
he would turn it down and say he doesn't want it,
oh golden gem.
The prince would say he doesn't want it,
oh golden gem.
With eyes sweet as rock candy,
fair and fresh like a golden palm sprout—
Man, who is she?
Into his sweet, tender heart,
she arrived like an angel.
Oh, is that so? What happened next?
Believing her prince will come, ah…
Believing her prince will come,
oh precious gem,
the princess keeps waiting,
oh golden gem.
Day and night, she waits for him,
oh precious gem.
Play the beat!
Hey! Thanthina thanthina thaane thannaanaa
Hey! Thanthina thanthina thaane thannaanaa
Hey! Thanthina thanthina thaane thannaanaa
Hey! Thanthina thanthina thaane thannaanaa
Thaananae thanaanaa
Thaananae thanaanaa.....
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This folk track captures the rustic atmosphere of Rameswaram and the Ramanathapuram region (Sethupathi land). It tells the story of an orphaned protagonist who lost his parents at a very young age and grew up all alone without wealth or status. Despite his poverty, he has a heart of gold and high self-respect, uncaring about position or material riches. The song weaves this narrative together with a romantic subplot about a maiden patiently waiting for her beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Gunathula thangakatti

Describing high moral character directly as a solid block of gold.

Refrain (Adukku / Thirumbavardhal)

Thanga rathinamae

Frequent repetition of endearing terms 'Thanga rathinamae' and 'Ponnu rathinamae' to maintain folk musical rhythm.

Simile / Visual Imagery (Uvamaani)

Karkkandu kann azhagu / Manja panangkizhangu

Comparing eye beauty to sugar candy and sweetness to palmyra sprout.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyric style draws heavily from authentic Tamil Naattupura Paattu (folk narrative songs) from the southern coastal region of Tamil Nadu, featuring traditional rhythmic refrains like 'Thandhina Thandhina'.

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