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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thagamey Undanathe

From Ketti Melam · 1985

Lyricist
Idhaya Chandran
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ketti Melam1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Unai thodaTo touch you
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Female
En dhegamae poo medaiyaeMy body is a bed of flowers
Thaer yeri nee vaa vaaCome riding on a chariot, come
Unai thodaTo touch you
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Male
Nenju thudikkudhadiThe heart beats rapidly, my dear
Udal vendhu kodhikkudhadiThe body burns and boils, my dear
Undhan chinna mani idhazhYour small ruby-like lips
Niththam kulithidaTo bathe daily
Pangidu pacha kodiWave the green flag
Female
Endhan madi meedhuUpon my lap
Thulli vandhu kudiyeruLeap and come settle down
Andha manmadha mandhiraThose scriptures of Kamadeva
Vedham muzhuvadhumThe entire Veda of love
Solli vilaiyaaduRecite and play
Male
Malligai koondhalaiYour jasmine-adorned hair
Mella tharaiyinilGently on the floor
Panjanai podadiyoSpread out as a bed
Laalalal lallalla laalalal lallallaLaalalal lallalla laalalal lallalla
Laalalal lallalla laaLaalalal lallalla laa
Female
Vegamo mogamoIs it urgency or passion?
Male
Mangala nerathilIn the auspicious moment
Sangama kaalathilIn the time of union
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Female
En dhegamaeMale :HmmMy body is [Male: Hmm]
Female :Poo medaiyaeMale :Hmm[Female:] A bed of flowers [Male: Hmm]
Female :Thaer yeri nee vaa vaa[Female:] Come riding on a chariot, come
Unai thodaTo touch you
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Female
Andhi varum pozhudhuWhen dusk falls
Vizhi kaanum vanna kanavuColorful dreams that eyes behold
Indha sandhana menikkulWithin this sandalwood body
Senthanal ootrukkulInside the spring of red embers
Oorum pala iravuMany nights crawl by
Male
Konjum ila mayilaeO coaxing young peacock
Varum kolam ila mayilaeO beautiful young peacock arriving
Vandu muthirai vaithidaFor the beetle to leave its seal
Athanai pookkalumAll those flowers
Yengum thanimaiyilaeLong in solitude
Female
Muthu kulikkaiyilWhile pearl-diving
Thanga mani karamWill your golden jeweled hands
Ennai chiraiyidumoImprison me?
Laalalal lallalla laalalal lallallaLaalalal lallalla laalalal lallalla
Laalalal lallalla laaLaalalal lallalla laa
Male
Naanamo thonnumoWill shyness arise?
Female
Indha ilam kuyilThis young cuckoo
Unnai thazhuvidaTo embrace you
Male
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Unai thodaTo touch you
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling
Female
En dhegamaeMale :HmmMy body is [Male: Hmm]
Female :Poo medaiyaeMale :Hmm[Female:] A bed of flowers [Male: Hmm]
Female :Thaer yeri nee vaa vaa[Female:] Come riding on a chariot, come
Unai thodaTo touch you
Dhaagamae undaanadhaeA thirst has arisen
Thindaadudhae manamaeMy heart is struggling

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Dhaagamae undaanadhae from the film Ketti Melam (1985) is an evocative duet expressing deep romantic longing, physical warmth, and passionate desire between two lovers. The lyrics utilize rich, romantic imagery where physical desire is likened to an unquenchable thirst, and the human body is described as a bed of flowers or a spring of warm embers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor

En dhegamae poo medaiyae

Comparing the body directly to a stage of flowers (poo medai) and a fountain of embers (senthanal ootru) to express beauty and heat of passion.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Nenju thudikkudhadi / Udal vendhu kodhikkudhadi

Matching second consonants in 'Nenju' and 'Udal' (with matching rhythm) across adjacent lines to create musicality.

Alliteration / Monai

Mangala nerathil / Sangama kaalathil

Repetition of initial consonants 'Ma' and 'Sa' in lines describing time and union.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ketti Melam (1985) features lyrics written by Idhaya Chandran. The song uses classical Tamil metaphors of flowers, peacocks, and Kamadeva (Manmadhan) scriptures to portray intimate, romantic themes in cinematic music.

Keep listening

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