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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sethupathi Naattukulle

From Ayothi · 2015

Lyricist
Kavimuni
Singer
Mathichiyam Bala
Music director
N. R. Raghunanthan
Details
Ayothi2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Karuva mara kaaduA forest of gum arabic trees,
Idhu rameswram ooruThis is the town of Rameswaram,
Uppu kaathu veesumSalty winds blow here,
Idhu unmai kadha paaruLook, this is a true story.
Male
Sethupadhi nattukkullaInside the land of Sethupathi,
Porandha chella pullaA beloved child was born.
Sethupadhi nattukkullaInside the land of Sethupathi,
Porandha chella pullaA beloved child was born.
Male
Vaanam paatha boomiyilaeIn the dry land dependent on rain,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Vaanam paatha boomiyilaeIn the dry land dependent on rain,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Male
Vilanja nellumaniLike a harvested grain of paddy,
Ponnu rathinamaeOh precious gem of a girl!
Raasa kadhaiya paadi varenI come singing the story of the king,
Thanga rathinamae..podraaOh golden gem.. play the beat!
Male
Sondhamunnu yaarum illaThere is no one to call kin,
Sollikolla perum illaNo name to boast of,
Sondhamunnu yaarum illaThere is no one to call kin,
Sollikolla perum illaNo name to boast of,
Male
Othiyilae nikkuraanaeHe stands all alone,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Othiyilae nikkuraanaeHe stands all alone,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Male
Vayasu anjukooda thandavillaiHe hasn't even crossed five years of age,
Ponnu rathinamaeOh precious gem of a girl!
Adhukkulla appan aatha poyitangaBefore that, his father and mother passed away,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Male
Gunathula thangakattiA block of gold by character,
Kaasu illa kallappettiAn empty box with no money,
Damukku ohooiDamukku ohooi
Gunathula thangakattiA block of gold by character,
Kaasu illa kallappettiAn empty box with no money,
Male
Collector velai koodaEven if offered a Collector job,
Thanga rathinameOh golden gem!
Collector velai koodaEven if offered a Collector job,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Male
Koduthaalum pudikalambanHe would say he doesn't want it,
Ponnu rathinamaeOh precious gem of a girl!
Rasa koduthaalum pudikalambanEven if a kingly status is given, he says he doesn't want it,
Ponnu rathinamaeOh precious gem of a girl!
Male
Karkkandu kann azhaguEyes pretty like sugar candy,
Manja panangkizhanguSweet like yellow palmyra sprout,
Male
Yappa yarappa avaAha, who is she?
Male
Thaenoorum nenjukkullaInside a heart dripping with honey,
Devadhaiya vandha pullaShe came as an angel,
Male
O appadiya..appuramOh is it so.. then what?
Male
Rasa varuvaarunnu ..aa..aa..Hoping her king will arrive.. ah.. ah..
Rasa varuvaarunnuHoping her king will arrive,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
Rasathi kaathu kidakkaThe princess lies waiting,
Ponnu rathinamaeOh precious gem of a girl!
Avathaan raapagala kathu irukkaShe is the one waiting day and night,
Thanga rathinamaeOh golden gem!
PodraaPlay the beat!
Male
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannanaYe thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannanaYe thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannanaYe thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Ye thandhina thandhina thaanae thannanaYe thandhina thandhina thaanae thannana
Thananae thannaanaaThananae thannaanaa
Thananae thannaanaa…Thananae thannaanaa…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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