Thanga Thoniyile
From Ulagam Sutrum Valiban · 1973
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Ulagam Sutrum Valiban1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thanga thoniyilae | In a golden boat |
| Thavazhum pen azhagae | O beautiful woman floating |
| Nee kanavu kannigaiyo | Are you a dream maiden? |
| Illai kaadhal thevathaiyo | Or a goddess of love? |
| Female | |
| Vanna paavai | A colorful doll |
| Kanni thaenai | Fresh virgin honey |
| Kannam ennum kinnam thanthu | Giving her cheek like a cup |
| Unna sonnaalo | Did she ask to feast? |
| Female | |
| Thanga thoniyilae | In a golden boat |
| Thavazhum penn azhagae | O beautiful woman floating |
| Naan kanavil vanthavalo | Am I the one who came in your dream? |
| Un manathil nindravalo | Am I the one who stood in your heart? |
| Male | |
| Minnal kolam kannil poda | To draw a lightning pattern in the eye |
| Yaar sonnatho | Who said to do so? |
| Female :Kolam podum neela kannil | Female: In those blue eyes that draw patterns |
| Yaar nindratho | Who is standing there? |
| Male | |
| Menmai konjam pennmai enna | Is this softness and womanhood |
| Paadal peraathatho | Not worthy of receiving a song? |
| Innum konjam solla cholla | As I tell you a little more |
| Kaadhal undaanatho | Was love born? |
| Male | |
| Thanga thoniyilae | In a golden boat |
| Thavazhum penn azhagae | O beautiful woman floating |
| Female :Naan kanavil vanthavalo | Female: Am I the one who came in your dream? |
| Un manathil nindravalo | Am I the one who stood in your heart? |
| Male | |
| Alli poovai killi paarkka | To pinch and admire the lily flower |
| Naal ennavo | Which day will it be? |
| Female :Killum pothae kanni pogum | Female: Is it not a flower that gets bruised |
| Poo allavo | The moment it is pinched? |
| Male | |
| Anjum kenjum aasai nenjam | The desiring heart that fears and begs |
| Naanam vidaathatho | Will shyness not leave? |
| Acham vetkkam vittu ponaal | If fear and shame vanish |
| Thaanae varaathatho | Will it not come on its own? |
| Female | |
| Thanga thoniyilae | In a golden boat |
| Thavazhum penn azhagae | O beautiful woman floating |
| Male :Nee kanavu kannigaiyo | Male: Are you a dream maiden? |
| Illai kaadhal thevathaiyo | Or a goddess of love? |
தங்கத் தோணியிலே
தவழும் பெண்ணழகே
நீ கனவுக் கன்னிகையோ
இல்லை காதல் தேவதையோ
In a golden boat
O beautiful woman floating
Are you a dream maiden?
Or a goddess of love?
வண்ணப் பாவை
கன்னித் தேனை
கன்னம் என்னும் கிண்ணம் கொண்டு
உண்ணச் சொன்னாளோ
A colorful doll
Fresh virgin honey
Giving her cheek like a cup
Did she ask to feast?
தங்கத் தோணியிலே
தவழும் பெண்ணழகே
நான் கனவில் வந்தவளோ
உன் மனதில் நின்றவளோ
In a golden boat
O beautiful woman floating
Am I the one who came in your dream?
Am I the one who stood in your heart?
மின்னல் கோலம்
கண்ணில் போட யார் சொன்னதோ
கோலம் போடும்
நீலக் கண்ணில் யார் நின்றதோ
To draw a lightning pattern in the eye
Who said to do so?
Female: In those blue eyes that draw patterns
Who is standing there?
மென்மை கொஞ்சும்
பெண்மை என்ன பாடல் பெறாததோ
இன்னும் கொஞ்சம்
சொல்லச் சொல்ல காதல் உண்டானதோ
Is this softness and womanhood
Not worthy of receiving a song?
As I tell you a little more
Was love born?
தங்கத் தோணியிலே
தவழும் பெண்ணழகே
நான் கனவில் வந்தவளோ
உன் மனதில் நின்றவளோ
In a golden boat
O beautiful woman floating
Female: Am I the one who came in your dream?
Am I the one who stood in your heart?
அல்லி பூவைக்
கிள்ளிப் பார்க்க நாள் என்னவோ
கிள்ளும் போதே
கன்னிப் போகும் பூ அல்லவோ
To pinch and admire the lily flower
Which day will it be?
Female: Is it not a flower that gets bruised
The moment it is pinched?
அஞ்சும் கெஞ்சும்
ஆசை நெஞ்சம் நாணம் விடாததோ
அச்சம் வெட்கம்
விட்டு போனால் தானே வராததோ
The desiring heart that fears and begs
Will shyness not leave?
If fear and shame vanish
Will it not come on its own?
தங்கத் தோணியிலே
தவழும் பெண்ணழகே
நீ கனவுக் கன்னிகையோ
இல்லை காதல் தேவதையோ
In a golden boat
O beautiful woman floating
Male: Are you a dream maiden?
Or a goddess of love?
Thanga thoniyilae
In a golden boat
Thavazhum pen azhagae
O beautiful woman floating
Nee kanavu kannigaiyo
Are you a dream maiden?
Illai kaadhal thevathaiyo
Or a goddess of love?
Vanna paavai
A colorful doll
Kanni thaenai
Fresh virgin honey
Kannam ennum kinnam thanthu
Giving her cheek like a cup
Unna sonnaalo
Did she ask to feast?
Thanga thoniyilae
In a golden boat
Thavazhum penn azhagae
O beautiful woman floating
Naan kanavil vanthavalo
Am I the one who came in your dream?
Un manathil nindravalo
Am I the one who stood in your heart?
Minnal kolam kannil poda
To draw a lightning pattern in the eye
Yaar sonnatho
Who said to do so?
Female :Kolam podum neela kannil
Female: In those blue eyes that draw patterns
Yaar nindratho
Who is standing there?
Menmai konjam pennmai enna
Is this softness and womanhood
Paadal peraathatho
Not worthy of receiving a song?
Innum konjam solla cholla
As I tell you a little more
Kaadhal undaanatho
Was love born?
Thanga thoniyilae
In a golden boat
Thavazhum penn azhagae
O beautiful woman floating
Female :Naan kanavil vanthavalo
Female: Am I the one who came in your dream?
Un manathil nindravalo
Am I the one who stood in your heart?
Alli poovai killi paarkka
To pinch and admire the lily flower
Naal ennavo
Which day will it be?
Female :Killum pothae kanni pogum
Female: Is it not a flower that gets bruised
Poo allavo
The moment it is pinched?
Anjum kenjum aasai nenjam
The desiring heart that fears and begs
Naanam vidaathatho
Will shyness not leave?
Acham vetkkam vittu ponaal
If fear and shame vanish
Thaanae varaathatho
Will it not come on its own?
Thanga thoniyilae
In a golden boat
Thavazhum penn azhagae
O beautiful woman floating
Male :Nee kanavu kannigaiyo
Male: Are you a dream maiden?
Illai kaadhal thevathaiyo
Or a goddess of love?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Thanga Thoniyilae' is a romantic duet from the classic 1973 Tamil film 'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban'. The song features a poetic exchange between lovers taking place during a boat ride. The hero expresses his fascination with her beauty, describing her as a dream goddess floating on a golden vessel, while the heroine responds playfully about her presence in his heart and thoughts. Through poetic imagery of flowers, cups, and lightnings, Vaali captures the delicate nuances of courtship, modesty, and romantic longing set to M. S. Viswanathan's melodious composition.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kannam ennum kinnam thanthu”
'Kannam ennum kinnam' metaphors the heroine's cheek to a cup offering love.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thanga thoniyilae / Thavazhum pen azhagae”
Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound in 'Thanga' and 'Thavazhum'.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Naan kanavil vanthavalo / Un manathil nindravalo”
Agreement of the second letter 'n' in 'Kanavu' and 'Manathil' across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban' was a blockbuster directed and produced by M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song 'Thanga Thoniyilae' was sung by K. J. Yesudas and P. Susheela, composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and shot in picturesque foreign locations, which was a major highlight for Tamil cinema in 1973.
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