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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Sela

From Kaala · 2018

Lyricist
Arunraja Kamaraj
Singer
Shankar Mahadevan
Music director
Santhosh Narayanan
Details
Kaala2018

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vaadi en thanga selaCome, my golden statue
Nee illaatti naan onnumillaWithout you, I am nothing
Ahaa…Ahaa...
Male
Adi…Hey...
Vaadi en thanga selaCome, my golden statue
Nee illaatti naan onnumillaWithout you, I am nothing
En jodiya nee nikkaiyilaWhen you stand as my partner
Verenna venum vaazhkkaiyilaWhat else do I need in life?
Male
Oththala raavananA lone Ravana
Pachappulla aavurenI turn into an innocent newborn baby
Kakkathula thokkikka variyaaWill you come and hang onto my arms?
Pattaakkathi veesunenI used to brandish a long sword
Pattampoochi aakkinaYou turned me into a gentle butterfly
Muttakkanni mayakkuna sariyaa…You charmed me with your big round eyes, is it fair?
Male
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Chorus
Re sa saa saaRe sa saa saa (Musical notes)
Male :Vaadi en thanga selaMale: Come, my golden statue
Nee illaatti naan onnumillaWithout you, I am nothing
Chorus :Re sa saa saaChorus: Re sa saa saa
Male :En jodiya nee nikkaiyilaMale: When you stand as my partner
Verenna venum vaazhkkaiyilaWhat else do I need in life?
Chorus: Re sa ne saaChorus: Re sa ne saa
Chorus
……………………...
Male
Nethi pottu mathiyilaRight in the middle of your forehead
Enna thottu vachavalae neeYou are the one who marked/touched me like a bindi
Manja poosi munna vandhaWhen you come forward wearing turmeric
Kannu koosumadiMy eyes get dazzled, my dear
Chorus
Pettaikkulla polladhavanThe dangerous guy of the neighborhood
Male
Aei…Hey...
Pettaikkulla polladhavanThe dangerous guy of the neighborhood
Nee potta kotta thandadhavanWho never crossed the line you drew
En veerathellaam mottaiyaa kattiI tied all my bravery into a bundle
Un pinnadi thalladi vandhenadi ohAnd came stumbling behind you, oh girl
Chorus
Thannannannaanae naaThannannannaanae naa (Folk vocal refrain)
Thana nannaanaenaaaThana nannaanaenaaa (Folk vocal refrain)
Than nana nana naa naa nana nana naaThan nana nana naa naa nana nana naa (Folk vocal refrain)
Male
Sogathellaam mootta kattiBundling up all the sorrows
Kondada pondaatti vandhaayadi ohYou came as my wife to celebrate life, oh girl
Vaadi en…Come, my...
Thanga sela…Golden statue...
Male
Vaadi en thanga selaCome, my golden statue
Nee illaatti naan onnumillaWithout you, I am nothing
En jodiya nee nikkaiyilaWhen you stand as my partner
Verenna venum vaazhkkaiyilaWhat else do I need in life?
Male
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Chorus :Thannannannaanae naaChorus: Thannannannaanae naa
Male :Thillattaangu taanguMale: Thillattangu tangu
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguSumma thiruppi pottu vaangu
Chorus :Thannannannaanae naaChorus: Thannannannaanae naa
Male
Thiruppi…Flip it...
Thiruppi…Flip it...
Thiruppi…Flip it...
Male
Anba kotta natpu unduThere is friendship to shower love
Paasam kotta sondham unduThere are relatives to shower affection
Ada ratha bandham yethumillaAh, even without blood relations
Oorae sondhamadaThe whole town is my family
Chorus
Settaiyellam seiyadhavanOne who never did mischief
Male :Settaiyellam seiyadhavanMale: One who never did mischief
Pala vettaikellaam sikkadhavanOne who never got caught in many traps/hunts
Nee veettaiyellaam aalura azhagulaSeeing the beauty with which you rule the entire home
Pennae naan thindaadi ponenadiGirl, I ended up struggling/fumbling in awe
Chorus
Thannannannaanae naaThannannannaanae naa (Folk vocal refrain)
Nannaananae naaNannaananae naa (Folk vocal refrain)
Nannaananae naa thana naanaa naanaaNannaananae naa thana naanaa naanaa (Folk vocal refrain)
Male
Aei…Hey...
Kottaiyellaam aalura vayasulaAt an age capable of ruling fortresses
Kannae un kanjaadai podhumadiMy dear, just a glance from your eyes is enough
Vaadi…Come...
Male
Vaadi en thanga selaCome, my golden statue
Nee illaatti naan onnumillaWithout you, I am nothing
En jodiya nee nikkaiyilaWhen you stand as my partner
Verenna venum vaazhkkaiyilaWhat else do I need in life?
Male
Oththala raavananA lone Ravana
Pachappulla aavurenI turn into an innocent newborn baby
Kakkathula thokkikka variyaaWill you come and hang onto my arms?
Pattaakkathi veesunenI used to brandish a long sword
Pattampoochi aakkinaYou turned me into a gentle butterfly
Muttakkanni mayakkuna sariyaa…You charmed me with your big round eyes, is it fair?
Male
Thotta parakkum dhooluTouch it and dust will fly
Kannu patta kalakkum paaruIf your eyes land on it, look how it sparkles
Chorus
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaangu..heyJust flip it over and take it..hey
Chorus
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Thilla thilla thillaThilla thilla thilla
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Chorus
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaanguJust flip it over and take it
Thillattaangu taanguThillattangu tangu (Rhythmic folk refrain)
Summa thiruppi pottu vaangu…..Just flip it over and take it...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thanga Sela (Thangaghey) is a joyful, romantic folk celebration from Pa. Ranjith's movie Kaala (2018). The protagonist Kaala (played by Rajinikanth) sings affectionately to his wife Selvi (played by Easwari Rao). Despite Kaala being a feared and respected leader of the Dharavi slums, he expresses how completely helpless and tender he becomes in front of his wife's love, comparing his transformation from a fierce Ravana or sword-wielding warrior to a harmless baby and a butterfly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Contrast

Pattaakkathi veesunen / Pattampoochi aakkina

Compares the protagonist's fierce persona (Ravana, Pattakkathi) to fragile/innocent forms (Pachappulla, Pattampoochi) under the influence of love.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Pattaakkathi veesunen / Pattampoochi aakkina

The second letters 't' (ட்) in 'Pattaakkathi' and 'Pattampoochi' rhyme, creating a rhythmic Tamil edhugai harmony.

Anaaphora / Repetition (Irrattai Kilavi / Rhythmic Chorus)

Thillattaangu taangu / Summa thiruppi pottu vaangu

Use of folk rhythmic refrains like 'Thillattaangu taangu' and 'Thannannannaanae' to build joyful musical energy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Santhosh Narayanan with lyrics by Arunraja Kamaraj, 'Thanga Sela' depicts the rare on-screen portrayal of an elderly married couple's playful romance in Tamil cinema. The chemistry between Rajinikanth and Easwari Rao was widely appreciated as one of the highlights of Kaala (2018).

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