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Engal Thangam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thangapadkathin

From Engal Thangam · 1970

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Engal Thangam
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
27 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanga padhakkathin melae
Oru muthu padhithadhu polae
Undhan pattu kannangalin melae
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamo
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamo
Aa… aa…aa….aa….aa…aaa…
Thanga padhakkathin melae
Oru muthu padhithadhu polae
Undhan pattu kannangalin melae
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamo
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamo
Mullai poo pallakku aadai sumandhu
Mella thavazhvadhu kandu
Mullai poo pallakku aadai sumandhu
Mella thavazhvadhu kandu
Oru kodi ennam aasai nenjil
Minni maraivadhu undu
Oru kodi ennam aasai nenjil
Minni maraivadhu undu
Azhagu nadaiyai pazhagum silaiyai
Anaikka vandhenae
Idhazhgal pozhiyum amudha mazhaiyil
Midhakka vandhenae
Thanga padhakkathin melae
Oru muthu padhithadhu polae
Undhan pattu kannangalin melae
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamo
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamo
Pattaadai thottaada thendral kunindhu
Pakkam nadandhadhu enna
Pattaadai thottaada thendral kunindhu
Pakkam nadandhadhu enna
Uyir kaadhal thalaivan kaaval irukka
Thottu izhuppadhu enna
Uyir kaadhal thalaivan kaaval irukka
Thottu izhuppadhu enna
Paniyil nanaiyum malarin udalil
Kuliredukkaadho
Oruvan madiyil mayangum pozhudhu
Sugam pirakkaadho
Thanga padhakkathin melae
Oru muthu padhithadhu polae
Indha pattu kannangalin melae
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamo
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamo
Kothodu muthaada vanji kodiyai
Thottu thodarvadhu enna
Kothodu muthaada vanji kodiyai
Thottu thodarvadhu enna
Andhi maalai pozhudhil kaadhal ninaivai
Kotti alappadhu enna
Andhi maalai pozhudhil kaadhal ninaivai
Kotti alappadhu enna
Ooru uravum ariyum varaiyil
Kangal mattodu
Ooru uravum ariyum varaiyil
Kangal mattodu
Mana maalai tholil soodum naalil
Kaigal thottaadu
Mana maalai tholil soodum naalil
Kaigal thottaadu
Thanga padhakkathin melae
Oru muthu padhithadhu polae
Indha pattu kannangalin melae
Ondru thottu koduthidalaamo
Neeyum vittu koduthidalaamo
Aa… aa…aa…aa…
Mm..mm..mm..mm..mm
Like set upon a gold medal...
...just like a pearl embedded on it,
upon your soft, silky cheeks,
may I touch and give you a kiss?
And will you yield and let me?
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... aah...
Like set upon a gold medal...
...just like a pearl embedded on it,
upon your soft, silky cheeks,
may I touch and give you a kiss?
And will you yield and let me?
Seeing this jasmine palanquin draped in fine robes
as it gently glides along,
seeing this jasmine palanquin draped in fine robes
as it gently glides along,
countless desires in this yearning heart
flash and fade away.
Countless desires in this yearning heart
flash and fade away.
To embrace the living sculpture learning her graceful walk,
I came to hold you close.
In the sweet nectar rain showering from your lips,
I came to float away.
Like set upon a gold medal...
...just like a pearl embedded on it,
upon your soft, silky cheeks,
may I touch and give you a kiss?
And will you yield and let me?
Why did the daring breeze brush my silk dress
and walk right by my side?
Why did the daring breeze brush my silk dress
and walk right by my side?
When the true love of my life stands guard,
why does it still reach out and pull me?
When the true love of my life stands guard,
why does it still reach out and pull me?
When a flower is soaked in chilly dew,
won't its body shiver with cold?
When swooning softly in her lover's lap,
won't sweet pleasure be born?
Like set upon a gold medal...
...just like a pearl embedded on it,
upon these soft, silky cheeks,
may I touch and give you a kiss?
And will you yield and let me?
Why chase and touch this slender vine
just to shower it with bunches of kisses?
Why chase and touch this slender vine
just to shower it with bunches of kisses?
In this quiet evening hour, why pour out
and measure all these loving thoughts?
In this quiet evening hour, why pour out
and measure all these loving thoughts?
Until our town and family come to know,
let it stay within our eyes alone.
Until our town and family come to know,
let it stay within our eyes alone.
On the day the wedding garland adorns our shoulders,
let your hands reach out and play.
On the day the wedding garland adorns our shoulders,
let your hands reach out and play.
Like set upon a gold medal...
...just like a pearl embedded on it,
upon these soft, silky cheeks,
may I touch and give you a kiss?
And will you yield and let me?
Aah... aah... aah... aah...
Mmm... mmm... mm... mm... mm...
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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