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Lyrics & meaning

Thanga Thoniyile

From Ulagam Sutrum Valiban · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ulagam Sutrum Valiban
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
16 Jun 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanga thoniyilae
Thavazhum pen azhagae
Nee kanavu kannigaiyo
Illai kaadhal thevathaiyo
Vanna paavai
Kanni thaenai
Kannam ennum kinnam thanthu
Unna sonnaalo
Thanga thoniyilae
Thavazhum penn azhagae
Naan kanavil vanthavalo
Un manathil nindravalo
Minnal kolam kannil poda
Yaar sonnatho
Female :Kolam podum neela kannil
Yaar nindratho
Menmai konjam pennmai enna
Paadal peraathatho
Innum konjam solla cholla
Kaadhal undaanatho
Thanga thoniyilae
Thavazhum penn azhagae
Female :Naan kanavil vanthavalo
Un manathil nindravalo
Alli poovai killi paarkka
Naal ennavo
Female :Killum pothae kanni pogum
Poo allavo
Anjum kenjum aasai nenjam
Naanam vidaathatho
Acham vetkkam vittu ponaal
Thaanae varaathatho
Thanga thoniyilae
Thavazhum penn azhagae
Male :Nee kanavu kannigaiyo
Illai kaadhal thevathaiyo
In this golden boat,
O graceful beauty drifting along,
Are you the girl of my dreams,
Or the goddess of love?
Did this lovely doll,
offering fresh honey
in the cup of her cheek,
invite me to taste it?
In this golden boat,
O graceful beauty drifting along...
Am I the one who came into your dreams,
Or the one who stays in your heart?
To draw bright lightning patterns in your eyes,
who told you to do that?
Female: In these blue eyes that draw such patterns,
who is standing there?
Why hasn't this gentle, tender womanhood
received a song of its own?
As you keep speaking a little more,
has love begun to blossom?
In this golden boat,
O graceful beauty drifting along...
Female: Am I the one who came into your dreams,
Or the one who stays in your heart?
To gently pluck and hold this water lily,
what is the right day?
Female: The moment you pinch it, its freshness is lost—
is it not such a flower?
A longing heart that fears and pleads,
will it not shed its shyness?
Once fear and shyness slip away,
won't it come all on its own?
In this golden boat,
O graceful beauty drifting along,
Male: Are you the girl of my dreams,
Or the goddess of love?
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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