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Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Kavadi

From Nedunalvaadai · 2017

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Mathichiyam Bala, Kalakkal Kavya, Suganthi
Music director
Jose Franklin
Movie name
Nedunalvaadai
Movie release year
2017
Lyrics added on
3 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Lululululululu……………
Lululululululu……………
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thanga kaavadi edukkirom saami
Enga vaazhvukku varam kodunga
Saathi sanam ellaam pozhaikkanum saami
Chinnan sirusukku vazhi vidunga
Suda suda mazhai adikkudhu
Sudalai maadan kaattukulla
Chinnan siru kuruvi rendum
Rekkai adikkuthu kootukulla
Paruvam kaninjirukkudhu
Padi kadakkanum veetukkulla
Thuninji mudivedukkanum
Thuninja nenjil thukkamilla
Suda suda mazhai adikkudhu
Sudalai maadan kaattukulla
Chinnan siru kuruvi rendum
Rekkai adikkuthu kootukulla
Ye nallathu kettadhu ellaamae
Solli veippom
Varam kodukalaiyaa saami thalaiya
Killi veippom
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Anbu konda ullathukka
Akkaporu
Oru theekuchi thaangathu
Vaikkaporu
Female Chorus :Suthi ulla saadhi sanam
Uththu paaru
Nee sondha kaalil eppodhum
Nikka paaru
Needhi nyaayam thavaraagi ponaa
Vaadhaduvom innum poraaduvom
Female Chorus :Bandham paasam
Sirai aagi pona
Padi thanduvom summa paranthoduvom
Oorellaam payir vaazha
Mazhai kaatum saami
Uravellaam uyir vaazha vazhi kattaiyaa
Female Chorus :Kodumeesai koduvaalu
Pothaathu saami
Koodaadha pagai ellam bali podaiyaa
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Lulululululu...
Lulululululu...
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
We carry the golden Kavadi (sacred offering pole), O Lord,
bless our lives with your grace.
May all our kin and people prosper, O Lord,
clear the path for the young lovers.
A warm rain lashes down
inside the forest shrine of Sudalai Madan.
Two tiny little sparrows
flutter their wings inside the nest.
Youth has fully blossomed,
it is time to step across the doorway into the home.
A brave decision must be made,
for there is no sorrow in a courageous heart.
A warm rain lashes down
inside the forest shrine of Sudalai Madan.
Two tiny little sparrows
flutter their wings inside the nest.
Hey, all the good and the bad,
we shall place it plainly before you.
If you do not grant our wish, O Lord,
we will pinch your head right off!
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Why create needless strife and conflict
for hearts filled with love?
A whole haystack
cannot withstand a single lit match!
Look around at all the kin and relatives,
watch them closely!
Always try to stand
firmly on your own two feet.
If truth and justice are wronged,
we will speak up and fight for it!
If bonds of affection
turn into a prison,
we will step over the doorstep and fly away freely!
To make the crops across the land thrive,
you bring down the rains, O Lord;
now show a way for all our loved ones to live happily, Lord!
A fierce mustache and a curved machete
are not enough, O Lord;
strike down and sacrifice all harmful enmity, Lord!
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thaana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Thana thana thana thana thana thana
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This folk-infused song from 'Nedunalvaadai' serves as a passionate, rebellious plea to local village deities and society. It captures the struggles of young lovers seeking acceptance amidst rigid social structures, family bonds, and caste dynamics. Using vivid rural imagery—like birds in a nest, heavy rain in sacred groves, and haystacks—the song urges society to choose compassion over caste-driven pride and animosity. The lyrics combine devotion with defiance, asserting that true righteousness lies in supporting young love and self-reliance rather than upholding toxic pride. It conveys that when familial love becomes a prison, brave hearts will break free to fight for justice and living on their own terms.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Chinnan siru kuruvi rendum

Compares two young lovers to 'Chinnan siru kuruvi rendum' (two tiny birds) fluttering inside a nest, representing innocence and vulnerability.

Metaphor

Oru theekuchi thaangathu / Vaikkaporu

Compares love and anger/conflict to a matchstick ('theekuchi') and haystack ('vaikkaporu'), showing how fragile social constructs are against passionate emotion.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Suda suda mazhai adikkudhu / Sudalai maadan kaattukulla

Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across lines: 'Suda' and 'Sudalai' share the 'da' (ட) sound.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Thuninji mudivedukkanum / Thuninja nenjil thukkamilla

Repetition of initial consonant sounds: 'Thuninji' and 'Thuninja'.

Hyperbole / Folk Defiance

Varam kodukalaiyaa saami thalaiya / Killi veippom

A humorous and bold folk expression threatening to pinch off the deity's head if prayers are not heard, common in rural Tamil ritual song tradition.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nedunalvaadai' (2019) is a critically acclaimed Tamil drama directed by Selvakannan, featuring music composed by Jose Franklin. The lyrics were penned by legendary poet Vairamuthu, who captured authentic Tirunelveli folk deity worship (Sudalai Maadan) and rural idioms.

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