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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thaenodum Thanneerin Meedhu

From En Kadamai · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
En Kadamai1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaenodum thanneerin meedhuUpon the sweet, honey-flowing water
Meenodu meenaaga aaduDance like a fish among the fish
Sevvaazhai kaalgal ponvandu kangalWith legs like red banana trunks and eyes like golden beetles
Jillendru neeraada aaduDance and bathe in the cool water
Chorus
Thaenodum thanneerin meedhuUpon the sweet, honey-flowing water
Meenodu meenaaga aaduDance like a fish among the fish
Sevvaazhai kaalgal ponvandu kangalWith legs like red banana trunks and eyes like golden beetles
Jillendru neeraada aaduDance and bathe in the cool water
Female
Thathitthathi chellumHopping and leaping along
Thavalaigal unnaiLet the frogs consider you
Thangai pol ninaikkattumaeTo be like their younger sister
Chorus
Aahaa Aahaa Aahaa…Aahaa Aahaa Aahaa...
Female
Thathitthathi chellumHopping and leaping along
Thavalaigal unnaiLet the frogs consider you
Thangai pol ninaikkattumaeTo be like their younger sister
Chorus
Haa haa haa haa….Haa haa haa haa....
Female
Thaamaraiyillaa kulathinilIn a pond devoid of lotuses
Un mugamMay your face
Thaamarai aagattumaeBecome the lotus flower
Chorus
Aa haa haa haa haa…Aa haa haa haa haa...
Thaenodum thanneerin meedhuUpon the sweet, honey-flowing water
Meenodu meenaaga aaduDance like a fish among the fish
Sevvaazhai kaalgal ponvandu kangalWith legs like red banana trunks and eyes like golden beetles
Jillendru neeraada aaduDance and bathe in the cool water
Aa haa haa haa aa haaha haa…Aa haa haa haa aa haaha haa...
Aa haa ha haa… aa haaaha haa…Aa haa ha haa... aa haaaha haa...
Female
Chinna chinna thoniLike a tiny little boat
Thavazhvadhu polaeGently gliding along
Kanniyudal midhakkattumaeLet the maiden's body float
Chorus
Aa haa haa haa haa…Aa haa haa haa haa...
Female
Thirumagal kondaLike the daughter-in-law
Marumagal polaeWelcomed by Goddess Lakshmi
Raajaangam nadakkattumaeLet a royal reign unfold
Chorus
Aa haa a ha ha haa…Aa haa a ha ha haa...
Thaenodum thanneerin meedhuUpon the sweet, honey-flowing water
Meenodu meenaaga aaduDance like a fish among the fish
Sevvaazhai kaalgal ponvandu kangalWith legs like red banana trunks and eyes like golden beetles
Jillendru neeraada aaduDance and bathe in the cool water
Female
Kattavizhndha koondhalThe untied, flowing tresses
Vettivaer polaeLike vetiver roots
Thanneeril nanaiyattumaeLet them soak in the water
Chorus
Aa ha ha h ha haa haAa ha ha h ha haa ha
Female
Kattavizhndha koondhalThe untied, flowing tresses
Vettivaer polaeLike vetiver roots
Thanneeril nanaiyattumaeLet them soak in the water
Chorus
Aa haa haa haaAa haa haa haa
Female
Koondhalin vaasamThe fragrance of those tresses
Kaattrinil yaeriRising into the gentle breeze
Naadengum manakkattumaeLet it spread fragrance across the entire land
Chorus
Aa haa hahaa haaAa haa hahaa haa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic playful Tamil song from 'En Kadamai' (1964) paints a vivid picture of a young woman enjoying a cool, refreshing bath in a stream. Kannadasan uses rich natural metaphors, depicting her playing effortlessly among nature. Her beauty transforms the natural surroundings: her face acts as a lotus in a lotus-less pond, her floating body resembles a gentle boat, and the fragrance of her long hair permeates the surrounding breeze.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Chinna chinna thoni Thavazhvadhu polae

Compares the maiden's floating body to a tiny boat drifting gently on water.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sevvaazhai kaalgal ponvandu kangal

Metaphorically describes her legs as smooth red banana plant trunks and her eyes as dark golden beetles.

Upamai (Simile)

Vettivaer polae

Compares her long untied locks of hair to fragrant vetiver roots soaking in water.

Anaaprasa / Alliteration (Emonaai)

Thathitthathi chellum Thavalaigal unnai Thangai pol ninaikkattumae

Repetition of initial consonants 'Tha' creates a rhythmic cadence in the line.

Did you know?

Trivia

'En Kadamai' (1964) is an M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi starrer directed by M. Natesan. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and this song was sung by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kannadasan.

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