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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Salangai

From Odumnadhi · 1969

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Odumnadhi1969

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thangasalangai kattiWearing golden anklets,
Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu poochenduThe bouquet of flowers embraces and holds close.
Thannai nadakkavittuLetting herself walk gracefully,
Kalangudhu mayangudhu ponn vanduThe golden beetle gets confused and mesmerized.
Male
Thangasalangai kattiWearing golden anklets,
Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu poochenduThe bouquet of flowers embraces and holds close.
Thannai nadakkavittuLetting herself walk gracefully,
Kalangudhu mayangudhu ponn vanduThe golden beetle gets confused and mesmerized.
Male
Vairathilae thattu malargalilae mottuA plate made of diamonds, a tender bud among flowers,
Paravaigalil sittu parakkudhadi pattuA sparrow among birds, silk is flying high.
Tharaiyinil nattiyamA dance upon the floor,
Aadudhu aadudhu penn ondruA young woman is dancing and swaying.
Idaiyinil kolathaiThe decorative pattern on her waist,
Thaedudhu thaedudhu kann ondruAn eye is searching and yearning for.
Humm..mm ..mmm pen ondruHumm..mm ..mmm a woman,
Humm..mm ..mmm kann ondruHumm..mm ..mmm an eye,
Humm..mm ..mmm pen ondruHumm..mm ..mmm a woman,
Humm..mm ..mmm kann ondruHumm..mm ..mmm an eye.
Male
Thangasalangai kattiWearing golden anklets,
Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu poochenduThe bouquet of flowers embraces and holds close.
Thannai nadakkavittuLetting herself walk gracefully,
Kalangudhu mayangudhu ponn vanduThe golden beetle gets confused and mesmerized.
Male
Poovidhazhoo kinnamAre her flower-like lips a cup?
Punnagaiyoo minnumIs it her bright smile that gleams?
Maandhaliro kannamAre her cheeks soft tender mango leaves?
Manam illaiyoo innumDoes your heart still not feel love?
Izhuthu poguthuPulling me toward her,
Aayiram aayiram vannangalThousands upon thousands of colors,
Valaithu podudhuEncircling and trapping me,
Aasaiyil oodiya ennangalThe thoughts that ran with deep desire.
Humm..mm ..mmm vannangalHumm..mm ..mmm colors,
Humm..mm ..mmm ennangalHumm..mm ..mmm thoughts,
Humm..mm ..mmm vannangalHumm..mm ..mmm colors,
Humm..mm ..mmm ennangalHumm..mm ..mmm thoughts.
Male
Thangasalangai kattiWearing golden anklets,
Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu poochenduThe bouquet of flowers embraces and holds close.
Thannai nadakkavittuLetting herself walk gracefully,
Kalangudhu mayangudhu ponn vanduThe golden beetle gets confused and mesmerized.
Male
Maragadha poo manjamAn emerald flower bed,
Manakkudhadi nenjamMy heart is fragrant with love.
Virundhu kolven konjamI shall partake in a small feast,
Vilundhu vitten thanjamI have fallen and taken refuge in you.
Vilundha nenjinaiTo a heart that has surrendered,
Veedikkai parppadhu kannallaWatching it as a spectacle is not what eyes are for.
Arivai kondapinnAfter captivating my intellect,
Aadhikkam seibaval pennallaDominating over me is not what a true woman does.
Humm..mm ..mmm kannallaHumm..mm ..mmm not the eyes,
Humm..mm ..mmm pennallaHumm..mm ..mmm not the woman,
Humm..mm ..mmm kannallaHumm..mm ..mmm not the eyes,
Humm..mm ..mmm pennallaHumm..mm ..mmm not the woman.
Male
Thangasalangai kattiWearing golden anklets,
Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu poochenduThe bouquet of flowers embraces and holds close.
Thannai nadakkavittuLetting herself walk gracefully,
Kalangudhu mayangudhu ponn vanduThe golden beetle gets confused and mesmerized.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thangasalangai Katti from the 1969 movie Odumnadhi is a poetic Tamil romantic track composed by M. S. Vishwanathan, penned by Kannadasan, and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. The protagonist enthusiastically praises his lover's divine beauty, grace, and dance while she wears jingling golden anklets. He metaphorically compares her beauty to diamond-laden flowers, tender mango leaves, and flying silk, while portraying himself as a golden beetle captivated by her allure. As the song unfolds, he expresses deep emotional surrender and infatuation, comparing his heart to a fragrant bed of emerald flowers. He affectionately entreats her not to treat his fallen heart as a mere spectacle or use her irresistible charm to dominate him, capturing the delicate and playful dynamic of romantic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu poochendu

Words like 'Thazhuvudhu thazhuvudhu' (embracing), 'Aadudhu aadudhu' (dancing), and 'Aayiram aayiram' (thousands) are repeated to enhance rhythmic flow and poetic depth.

Uruvagamm (Metaphor)

Kalangudhu mayangudhu ponn vandu

The lover is metaphorically called a 'poochendu' (flower bouquet) and her cheeks 'Maandhalir' (tender mango leaves), while the lover is portrayed as 'ponn vandu' (golden beetle).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Poovidhazhoo kinnam / Punnagaiyoo minnum / Maandhaliro kannam

Kannadasan utilizes end rhymes across couplets such as 'kinnam', 'minnum', and 'kannam' to create a melodious cadence.

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Trivia

The song from the movie 'Odumnadhi' (1969) highlights the quintessential collaboration between composer M. S. Vishwanathan, singer T. M. Soundararajan, and lyricist Kannadasan. Kannadasan's use of classic Tamil nature metaphors combined with TMS's expressive vocal modulation made this track a quintessential hit of late-1960s Tamil cinema.

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