Thanga Radham
From Kalaikoil · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Dr. Balamuralikrishna
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Kalaikoil1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa….. | Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Female :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa….. | Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Male :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa….. | Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Female :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa…. | Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Both :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa….. | Both: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Male | |
| Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile | A golden chariot arrived on the street, |
| Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae | A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot, |
| Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada | As emerald arches swayed to and fro, |
| Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada | As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses, |
| Female | |
| Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada | As emerald arches swayed to and fro, |
| Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada | As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses, |
| Both :Kavi paada | Both: Sang poetic verses, |
| Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile | A golden chariot arrived on the street, |
| Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae | A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot, |
| Female | |
| Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile..ye | A golden chariot arrived on the street... |
| Male :Haa..aa..aa…aa..aa..aa..aa… | Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Female | |
| Sevvelaneerin kann thirandhu | Opening the eye of a tender red coconut, |
| Semmaadhulaiyin mani vaai pilandhu | Parting her ruby lips like a sweet pomegranate, |
| Mulaividum sennel kolamittu | Adorning patterns with sprouting red rice grains, |
| Moovarulaa vandha kaalangal polae | Just like the ancient times of the Moovar Ula procession, |
| Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile | A golden chariot arrived on the street, |
| Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae | A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot, |
| Male | |
| Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile | A golden chariot arrived on the street, |
| Female :Haa..aa..aa…aa..aa..aa..aa… | Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
| Male | |
| Maangani kannathil thaenoora | As honey trickles on her mango-soft cheeks, |
| Siru maivizhi kinnathil meen aada | As fish dance within the bowl of her kohl-rimmed eyes, |
| Maangani kannathil thaenoora | As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition, |
| Siru maivizhi kinnathil meen aada | As fish dance within the bowl of her kohl-rimmed eyes, |
| Thaen tharum vaazhaigal poraada | As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition, |
| Deviyin pon maeni thallaada | As the goddess's golden frame gently sways, |
| Thaen tharum vaazhaigal poraada | As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition, |
| Deviyin pon maeni thallaada | As the goddess's golden frame gently sways, |
| Both :Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile | Both: A golden chariot arrived on the street, |
| Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae | A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot, |
| Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada | As emerald arches swayed to and fro, |
| Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada | As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses, |
| Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile..ye | A golden chariot arrived on the street... |
| Male :Haa..aa..aa…aa. haa.. | Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap) |
ஹா..ஆஆஆ.....ஆஆஆஆ....
ஹா ஆஆஆஆ......ஆஆஆஆ..
ஹா..ஆஆஆ.....ஆஆஆஆ....
ஹா ஆஆஆஆ......ஆஆஆஆ..
இருவரும் :
ஹா ஆஆஆஆ......ஆஆஆஆ..
Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Both: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
தங்க ரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே
ஒரு தளிர் மேனி வந்தது தேரினிலே
மரகதத் தோரணம் அசைந்தாட
நல்ல மாணிக்க மாலைகள் கவிபாட
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
As emerald arches swayed to and fro,
As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses,
மரகதத் தோரணம் அசைந்தாட
நல்ல மாணிக்க மாலைகள்
இருவரும் :
கவி பாட
தங்க ரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே
ஒரு தளிர் மேனி வந்தது தேரினிலே
As emerald arches swayed to and fro,
As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses,
Both: Sang poetic verses,
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
தங்க ரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே...ஏ
ஹா...ஆஆ.....ஆஆஆஆ.....
A golden chariot arrived on the street...
Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
செவ்விளநீரின் கண் திறந்து
செம்மாதுளையின் மணி வாய் பிளந்து
முளைவிடும் செந்நெல் கோலமிட்டு
மூவருலா வந்த காலங்கள் போலே....
தங்கரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே
ஒரு தளிர் மேனி வந்தது தேரினிலே
தங்க ரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே...
ஹா ஆஆஆஆ......ஆஆஆஆ..
Opening the eye of a tender red coconut,
Parting her ruby lips like a sweet pomegranate,
Adorning patterns with sprouting red rice grains,
Just like the ancient times of the Moovar Ula procession,
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
மாங்கனிக் கன்னத்தில் தேனூற
சிறு மைவிழிக் கிண்ணத்தில் மீன் ஆட
மாங்கனிக் கன்னத்தில் தேனூற
சிறு மைவிழிக் கிண்ணத்தில் மீன் ஆட
தேன் தரும் வாழைகள் போராட
தேவியின் பொன் மேனி தள்ளாட
தேன் தரும் வாழைகள் போராட
தேவியின் பொன் மேனி தள்ளாட ஆட
இருவரும் :
தங்கரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே
ஒரு தளிர் மேனி வந்தது தேரினிலே
மரகதத் தோரணம் அசைந்தாட
நல்ல மாணிக்க மாலைகள் கவி பாட
தங்க ரதம் வந்தது வீதியிலே..ஏ
ஹா ஆஆஆ.....ஹா ...
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
As honey trickles on her mango-soft cheeks,
As fish dance within the bowl of her kohl-rimmed eyes,
As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition,
As fish dance within the bowl of her kohl-rimmed eyes,
As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition,
As the goddess's golden frame gently sways,
As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition,
As the goddess's golden frame gently sways,
Both: A golden chariot arrived on the street,
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
As emerald arches swayed to and fro,
As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses,
A golden chariot arrived on the street...
Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa…..
Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Female :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa…..
Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Male :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa…..
Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Female :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa….
Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Both :Haa..aa..aa..aa…..aa..aa..aa..aa…..
Both: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada
As emerald arches swayed to and fro,
Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada
As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses,
Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada
As emerald arches swayed to and fro,
Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada
As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses,
Both :Kavi paada
Both: Sang poetic verses,
Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile..ye
A golden chariot arrived on the street...
Male :Haa..aa..aa…aa..aa..aa..aa…
Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Sevvelaneerin kann thirandhu
Opening the eye of a tender red coconut,
Semmaadhulaiyin mani vaai pilandhu
Parting her ruby lips like a sweet pomegranate,
Mulaividum sennel kolamittu
Adorning patterns with sprouting red rice grains,
Moovarulaa vandha kaalangal polae
Just like the ancient times of the Moovar Ula procession,
Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile
A golden chariot arrived on the street,
Female :Haa..aa..aa…aa..aa..aa..aa…
Female: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Maangani kannathil thaenoora
As honey trickles on her mango-soft cheeks,
Siru maivizhi kinnathil meen aada
As fish dance within the bowl of her kohl-rimmed eyes,
Maangani kannathil thaenoora
As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition,
Siru maivizhi kinnathil meen aada
As fish dance within the bowl of her kohl-rimmed eyes,
Thaen tharum vaazhaigal poraada
As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition,
Deviyin pon maeni thallaada
As the goddess's golden frame gently sways,
Thaen tharum vaazhaigal poraada
As honey-yielding banana plants rustle in competition,
Deviyin pon maeni thallaada
As the goddess's golden frame gently sways,
Both :Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile
Both: A golden chariot arrived on the street,
Oru thalir maeni vandhadhu therinilae
A tender-bodied maiden arrived within the chariot,
Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada
As emerald arches swayed to and fro,
Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada
As fine ruby garlands sang poetic verses,
Thangha radham vandhadhu veedhiyile..ye
A golden chariot arrived on the street...
Male :Haa..aa..aa…aa. haa..
Male: Vocalizing (Aalaap)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song vividly portrays the majestic arrival of a beautiful woman, comparing her grace to a divine golden chariot moving through the streets during a festive procession. Kannadasan uses traditional Sangam-style imagery—comparing her lips to pomegranate seeds, her cheeks to sweet mangoes, her eyes to fish in a bowl, and her surroundings to emerald arches and ruby garlands. The lyrics invoke a sense of classical Tamil glory, drawing a direct link to the medieval literary tradition of 'Moovar Ula', where royal and divine processions were celebrated in grand poetic verse. Set to intricate Carnatic classical musical phrasing, the song celebrates both human grace and divine art.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Maangani kannathil thaenoora”
'Thangha radham' (golden chariot) and 'Maangani kannathil' (mango cheek) use vivid metaphors to compare physical features directly to precious objects and sweet fruits.
Literary Allusion (Moovar Ula)
“Moovarulaa vandha kaalangal polae”
Direct reference to 'Moovar Ula', a famous Chola-era genre of Tamil literature written by poet Ottakoothar celebrating three Chola kings.
Anaphora and Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)
“Maragadha thoranam asaindhaada / Nalla maanikka maalaigal kavipaada”
Use of initial and secondary consonant rhyming (Maragadha / Maanikka, Sevvelaneerin / Semmaadhulaiyin) to create melodic lyrical harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from 'Kalaikoil' (1964) was set to music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy in the ragam Abhogi. It showcases a rare duet pairing of Carnatic classical legend Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna with playback queen P. Susheela. Poet Kannadasan intentionally used highly literary Sangam and Chola-era vocabulary to match the classical theme of the film.
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