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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thane Thandhaanane

From Kathavarayan · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Jikki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Kathavarayan1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaanae thanthaanaanaeThaanae thanthaanaanae (Folk refrain)
Onnu thaanae thanthaalennaWhat if I give just one?
Thaanae thanthaanaanaeThaanae thanthaanaanae (Folk refrain)
Onnu thaanae thanthaalennaWhat if I give just one?
Chorus
Thaanae thanthaanaanaeThaanae thanthaanaanae (Folk refrain)
Onnu thaanae thanthaalennaWhat if I give just one?
Female
Ettaak kani melae paayaatheengaDo not leap for the unreachable fruit.
Ettaak kani melae paayaatheengaDo not leap for the unreachable fruit.
Ingae muttaalthanamaaga meyaatheengaDo not graze foolishly around here.
Ettaak kani melae paayaatheengaDo not leap for the unreachable fruit.
Ingae muttaalthanamaaga meyaatheengaDo not graze foolishly around here.
Unga paattaalam vanthaalum saayaathungaIt will not bend even if your entire army comes.
Unga paattaalam vanthaalum saayaathungaIt will not bend even if your entire army comes.
Adhu kittaathunga vaarunga kelunga adhukkuIt cannot be obtained; come and listen to the reason for that.
Chorus
Thaanae thanthaanaanaeThaanae thanthaanaanae (Folk refrain)
Onnu thaanae thanthaalennaWhat if I give just one?
Female
Themmaangu kimmaangu paadaatheengaDo not sing folk songs or clever tunes.
Themmaangu kimmaangu paadaatheengaDo not sing folk songs or clever tunes.
Ingae thillaanaa killaanaa podaatheengaDo not perform musical displays or cunning tricks here.
Themmaangu kimmaangu paadaatheengaDo not sing folk songs or clever tunes.
Ingae thillaanaa killaanaa podaatheengaDo not perform musical displays or cunning tricks here.
Onga kummaalam kimmaalam sellaathungaYour merrymaking and antics will not work here.
Ada koodaathunga vaarunga kelunga adhukkuOh, it won't do; come and listen to the reason for that.
Female
Thaanae thanthaanaanaeThaanae thanthaanaanae (Folk refrain)
Onnu thaanae thanthaalennaWhat if I give just one?
Thaanae thanthaanaanaeThaanae thanthaanaanae (Folk refrain)
Onnu thaanae thanthaalennaWhat if I give just one?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful and rhythmic folk track where the singer teasingly warns her suitor not to waste his efforts pursuing someone out of his reach. Using the metaphor of an 'unreachable fruit' ('Ettaak kani'), she cautions him that no amount of grandstanding, musical serenades, or clever tricks will win her over. Through colloquial phrasing and lively folk refrains, the lyrics deliver a firm yet humorous rejection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Ettaak kani melae paayaatheenga

Compares the desired person or goal to an unreachable fruit ('Ettaak kani') that cannot be plucked.

Echo Words / Alliteration (Edhugai and Sound Play)

Themmaangu kimmaangu paadaatheenga

Uses rhyming colloquial doublets ('Themmaangu kimmaangu', 'Thillaanaa killaanaa', 'Kummaalam kimmaalam') typical of Tamil folk songs to create cadence and rhythm.

Refrain (Madakku / Repetition)

Thaanae thanthaanaanae

Repeats the folk choral chant 'Thaanae thanthaanaanae' to establish the traditional storytelling beat.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kathavarayan (1958) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri in the lead roles. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was legendary for incorporating rustic Tamil dialects and traditional folk meter into film compositions, while maestro G. Ramanathan deftly infused theatrical folk energy into the soundtrack.

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