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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaalattuthey Vaanam

From Kadal Meengal · 1981

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
P. Jayachandran, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kadal Meengal1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaalaattudhae vaanamThe sky is singing a lullaby
Thallaadudhae megamThe clouds are swaying
Thaalaamal madimeedhuUnable to bear, upon the lap
Thaarmeega kalyaanamA righteous wedding
Idhu kaarkaala sangeedhamThis is the music of the rainy season
ThaalaattudhaeIt sings a lullaby
Male
Hey hey guiyaa guiyaaHey hey guiyaa guiyaa
Guiyaa yaelaa vaaliGuiyaa yaelaa vaali
Hey guiyaa guiyaa guiyaaHey guiyaa guiyaa guiyaa
Than dhaevaa vaalamThan dhaevaa vaalam
Guiyaa yaelaa vaalae thaan dhaeyaa vaaliGuiyaa yaelaa vaalae thaan dhaeyaa vaali
Valiyil dhinamum vandhu yaeloComing daily on the path, yaelo
Enghal monodhammaa yaeloOur mindset/soul, yaelo
Gudilaa gudilaa gudilaa gudilaa gudilaaGudilaa gudilaa gudilaa gudilaa gudilaa
Gudilaa gudilaa gudilaa gudilaaGudilaa gudilaa gudilaa gudilaa
Female
Alai meedhu aadum ullamThe heart dancing upon the waves
Engum orae raagamEverywhere there is a single melody
Male
Nilai meeri aadumDancing beyond all limits
Meengal rendum orae kolamTwo fish forming the same pattern
Female
Melvaanathil oru natchathiramA star in the upper sky
Male
Keezhvaanathil oru pen chithiramA portrait of a woman in the lower horizon
Female
Ennam oru vegamThought moves with speed
Adhil ullam tharum naadhamIn which the heart produces melody
Female
ThaalaattudhaeIt sings a lullaby
Thaalaattudhae vaanamThe sky is singing a lullaby
Thallaadudhae megamThe clouds are swaying
Thaalaamal madimeedhuUnable to bear, upon the lap
Thaarmeega kalyaanam hoiA righteous wedding, hoi!
Idhu kaarkaala sangeedhamThis is the music of the rainy season
Female
Iru kangal moodiClosing both eyes
Sellumbodhum orae ennamEven while walking, there is a single thought
Male
Oru sangildhaanaeOnly within a conch shell
Paalai unnum orae jeevanA single soul that drinks milk
Female
Sorgaththilae idhu mudivaanadhuThis was decided in heaven
Male
Sorgam endrae idhu mudivaanadhuIt is finalized as heaven itself
Female
Kaadhal oru vaedhamLove is a sacred Veda
Adhu dheivam tharum geedhamIt is a song gifted by God
Male
ThaalaattudhaeIt sings a lullaby
Female
Thaalaattudhae vaanamThe sky is singing a lullaby
Thallaadudhae megamThe clouds are swaying
Male
Thaalaamal madimeedhuUnable to bear, upon the lap
Thaarmeega kalyaanamA righteous wedding
Female
Idhu kaarkaala sangeedhamThis is the music of the rainy season

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thaalaattudhae Vaanam from the 1981 film Kadal Meengal is a romantic song that celebrates love through nature's motifs and coastal life. The lyrics draw poetic parallels between natural phenomena—such as the sky singing lullabies, swaying clouds, and dancing waves—and the deep romantic bond shared by the couple. Interspersed with traditional coastal fishing chants, the song grounds its romance in the sea backdrop. The song portrays true love as a divine union ordained in heaven, comparing it to sacred scripture and divine music that brings harmony and eternal joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Thaalaattudhae vaanam / Thallaadudhae megam

The sky is personified as a mother singing a lullaby ('Thaalaattudhae vaanam') and clouds as staggering or swaying ('Thallaadudhae megam').

Metaphor

Kaadhal oru vaedham / Adhu dheivam tharum geedham

Love is directly compared to a sacred scripture ('Vaedham') and a song bestowed by God.

Anaaphora / Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Thaalaattudhae vaanam / Thallaadudhae megam

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Thaa' / 'Thal') creates rhythmic flow and poetic symmetry in Tamil poetry.

Imagery

Nilai meeri aadum / Meengal rendum orae kolam

Vivid visual imagery comparing the movement of two fish on the waves to the shared emotions of two lovers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kadal Meengal (1981) stars Kamal Haasan, Sujatha, and Sripriya. Although the prompt metadata indicates unknown credits, the film's soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Panchu Arunachalam. This song features traditional coastal fisherman vocal calls (yaelo/guiyaa) blended seamlessly into a romantic duet performed by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

Keep listening

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