Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Porutham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thalaivane Un Mugam

From Porutham · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Porutham
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
9 Nov 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Manam kavarntha mannavanae
Malarezhuthum kaditham idhu
Unnai paarththu oru bedhai magal
Parithavikkum saedhi idhu
Idhayaththil unnai mattum
Oliththu vaiththaen
Indru idhayaththai kaagithaththil
Irakki vaiththaen
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaen
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaen
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaen
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaen
Paarvaiyil kaaman nee
Aanmaiyil raaman nee
Azhaganae…ae….ae…
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaen
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaen
Ponnaana dhegamae
Senthooram aagumae
Un tholgal paarkkavae
Aandondru vaendumae
Arumbuthaan meesaiyo
Atharkkuthaan aasaiyo
Kanni ponnukku maalai varumaa
Enni thaviththaen olai varumaa…
Naan unnai paarkkavae
Naalthorum yaenginaen
Nee pogum paadhaiyil
Poovaaga thoonginaen
Thalaivanai ninaiththathaal
Thalaiyanai nanainthathae
Bathil varumaa kaaththu kidappaen
Vaasalpadiyil pooththu kidappaen
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaen
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaen
Paarvaiyil kaaman nee
Aanmaiyil raaman nee
Azhaganae…ae….ae…
Thalaivanae un mugam paarththaen
Thanimaiyil yaen nilam parththaen
O king who stole my heart,
this is a letter written by a flower.
Having seen you, an innocent girl
pines for you, and this is her message.
Inside my heart, you alone
were kept hidden,
but today, upon this paper,
I have poured my whole heart out.
My beloved, I looked at your face,
and in solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
My beloved, I looked at your face,
and in solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
In your gaze, you are Kamadeva (god of love),
in your noble manhood, you are Rama,
O handsome one...
My beloved, I looked at your face,
and in solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
My golden skin
blushes red like sindoor powder.
Just to take in the sight of your shoulders,
I would need an entire year!
Is that a soft mustache budding on your lip?
Is that why my heart longs for it so?
Will a wedding garland come for this young girl?
I pine with worry, wondering if a letter will arrive...
Just to catch a glimpse of you,
I longed for you every single day.
Along the path where you walk,
I lay resting like a fallen flower.
Because I kept thinking of my beloved,
my pillow was soaked with tears.
Will a reply come? I will keep waiting,
waiting like a blossom on the doorstep...
My beloved, I looked at your face,
and in solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
In your gaze, you are Kamadeva (god of love),
in your noble manhood, you are Rama,
O handsome one...
My beloved, I looked at your face,
and in solitude, why did I look down at the ground?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poetic song is a love letter written by a young maiden expressing her deep romantic longing and devotion to her beloved. She describes her shyness upon gazing at his face, comparing his charm to Kamadeva (the god of love) and his noble masculinity to Lord Rama. Expressing her vulnerability and restlessness, she recounts how thinking of him fills her eyes with tears that drench her pillow, and how eagerly she awaits a written reply and a promise of marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagadhuthal)

Vaasalpadiyil pooththu kidappaen

Comparing the waiting process to a flower remaining in full bloom at the threshold ('pooththu kidappaen').

Alliteration & Assonance (Second letter rhyme - Ethirukai)

Thalaivanai ninaiththathaal / Thalaiyanai nanainthathae

Repetition of the second consonant sound 'lai' in 'Thalaivanai' and 'Thalaiyanai'.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Paarvaiyil kaaman nee / Aanmaiyil raaman nee

Matching end word patterns ('kaaman nee' and 'raaman nee').

Mythological Allusion

Paarvaiyil kaaman nee / Aanmaiyil raaman nee

Invoking the deity of love (Kamadeva) and the heroic archetype (Rama) to characterize the lover's beauty and virtue.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Vairamuthu during the mid-1980s, this song exemplifies classical Tamil love poetry (Aham literature) conventions adapted for modern film music, depicting the maiden's shyness (Naanam) and longing (Viraham).

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Porutham

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.