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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thangapadkathin

From Engal Thangam · 1970

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Engal Thangam1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thanga padhakkathin melaeLike upon a gold medal,
Oru muthu padhithadhu polaeAs if a pearl were embedded,
Undhan pattu kannangalin melaeUpon your silky soft cheeks,
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamoMay I give you a gentle touch?
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamoWill you yield and allow me?
Female
Aa… aa…aa….aa….aa…aaa…Aa… aa…aa….aa….aa…aaa…
Male
Thanga padhakkathin melaeLike upon a gold medal,
Oru muthu padhithadhu polaeAs if a pearl were embedded,
Undhan pattu kannangalin melaeUpon your silky soft cheeks,
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamoMay I give you a gentle touch?
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamoWill you yield and allow me?
Male
Mullai poo pallakku aadai sumandhuCarrying a dress light as a jasmine palanquin,
Mella thavazhvadhu kanduSeeing you glide along softly,
Mullai poo pallakku aadai sumandhuCarrying a dress light as a jasmine palanquin,
Mella thavazhvadhu kanduSeeing you glide along softly,
Oru kodi ennam aasai nenjilA crore of desires and thoughts in my heart,
Minni maraivadhu unduFlash and vanish continuously,
Oru kodi ennam aasai nenjilA crore of desires and thoughts in my heart,
Minni maraivadhu unduFlash and vanish continuously,
Male
Azhagu nadaiyai pazhagum silaiyaiTo embrace this statue learning a graceful walk,
Anaikka vandhenaeI have come forward,
Idhazhgal pozhiyum amudha mazhaiyilIn the nectar rain showered by your lips,
Midhakka vandhenaeI have come to float away.
Male
Thanga padhakkathin melaeLike upon a gold medal,
Oru muthu padhithadhu polaeAs if a pearl were embedded,
Undhan pattu kannangalin melaeUpon your silky soft cheeks,
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamoMay I give you a gentle touch?
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamoWill you yield and allow me?
Male
Pattaadai thottaada thendral kunindhuTo brush against the silk dress, the breeze bowed down,
Pakkam nadandhadhu ennaWhy did it walk so closely beside you?
Pattaadai thottaada thendral kunindhuTo brush against the silk dress, the breeze bowed down,
Pakkam nadandhadhu ennaWhy did it walk so closely beside you?
Uyir kaadhal thalaivan kaaval irukkaWhen my soulmate and beloved stands guard,
Thottu izhuppadhu ennaWhy touch and pull me near?
Uyir kaadhal thalaivan kaaval irukkaWhen my soulmate and beloved stands guard,
Thottu izhuppadhu ennaWhy touch and pull me near?
Male
Paniyil nanaiyum malarin udalilOn the body of a flower drenched in dew,
KuliredukkaadhoWill it not feel a chill?
Oruvan madiyil mayangum pozhudhuWhen swooning in a lover's lap,
Sugam pirakkaadhoWill sweet bliss not be born?
Female
Thanga padhakkathin melaeLike upon a gold medal,
Oru muthu padhithadhu polaeAs if a pearl were embedded,
Indha pattu kannangalin melaeUpon these silky soft cheeks,
Male
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamoMay I give you a gentle touch?
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamoWill you yield and allow me?
Female
Kothodu muthaada vanji kodiyaiTo kiss in bunches, why follow,
Thottu thodarvadhu ennaAnd touch this slender creeper vine?
Female
Kothodu muthaada vanji kodiyaiTo kiss in bunches, why follow,
Thottu thodarvadhu ennaAnd touch this slender creeper vine?
Andhi maalai pozhudhil kaadhal ninaivaiIn the gentle twilight hour, why pour out,
Kotti alappadhu ennaAnd measure all love's memories?
Andhi maalai pozhudhil kaadhal ninaivaiIn the gentle twilight hour, why pour out,
Kotti alappadhu ennaAnd measure all love's memories?
Female
Ooru uravum ariyum varaiyilUntil the town and relatives know of our bond,
Kangal mattoduLet only our eyes meet,
Ooru uravum ariyum varaiyilUntil the town and relatives know of our bond,
Kangal mattoduLet only our eyes meet,
Mana maalai tholil soodum naalilOn the day the wedding garland adorns our shoulders,
Kaigal thottaaduThen let our hands touch and play,
Mana maalai tholil soodum naalilOn the day the wedding garland adorns our shoulders,
Kaigal thottaaduThen let our hands touch and play.
Female
Thanga padhakkathin melaeLike upon a gold medal,
Oru muthu padhithadhu polaeAs if a pearl were embedded,
Indha pattu kannangalin melaeUpon these silky soft cheeks,
Male
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamoMay I give you a gentle touch?
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamoWill you yield and allow me?
Female
Aa… aa…aa…aa…Aa… aa…aa…aa…
Mm..mm..mm..mm..mmMm..mm..mm..mm..mm

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thanga Padhakkathin Melae is a romantic duet featuring playful flirtation between two lovers. The hero compares his beloved's smooth, silky cheeks to a pearl studded atop a golden medal and asks for a gentle touch of intimacy. He expresses his overwhelming romantic desires upon seeing her graceful walk and sweet charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upama / Simile

Thanga padhakkathin melae / Oru muthu padhithadhu polae

Compares the beloved's silky cheeks to a gold medal inlaid with a pearl.

Personification

Pattaadai thottaada thendral kunindhu / Pakkam nadandhadhu enna

Personifies the gentle breeze as bending down and walking beside her to touch her silk garment.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Idhazhgal pozhiyum amudha mazhaiyil

Refers to the woman as a slender creeper vine (vanji kodiyai) and the sweet words/kisses as nectar rain (amudha mazhai).

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Undhan pattu kannangalin melae / Ondru thottu koduthidalaamo

The second consonant 'tt' rhymes across consecutive lines (Thanga vs Ondru / Pattu vs Thottu).

Did you know?

Trivia

Engal Thangam (1970) starred M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics penned by Vaali, and the duet was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. It remains one of the most famous classic Tamil romantic duets of the 1970s.

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