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Kaveriyin Kanavan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thanjavur Bommaiyai

From Kaveriyin Kanavan · 1959

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Trichy Loganathan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
27 Dec 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanjavur bommaiyai pol
Thalaiyattum kuruvigala …haei
Ungalukku thanmanamae
Endrum sannamaagum
Idhai maravadhir
Thamizh naattu paravaigala.. paravaigala
Thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thanthandhina thandhaana kuyilae
Un sangadhi ellaam therinjikka than
Vandhenae mayilae
Thandhanathaana thanthandhina thandhaana kuyilae
Un sangadhi ellaam therinjikka than
Vandhenae mayilae
Pathaavadhu padicha ponnae
Paritchai paasachaa
Nee padikkaama kottadicha
Varusham paasachaa
Pathaavadhu padicha ponnae
Paritchai paasachaa
Nee padikkaama kottadicha
Varusham paasachaa
Andha kuthaalathu neeru veezhchi
Kodaikaanal season ellaam
Suthaamale suthi vara
Shokku vandhaacha
Andha kuthaalathu neeru veezhchi
Kodaikaanal season ellaam
Suthaamale suthi vara
Shokku vandhaacha
Thandhanathaana thanthandhina thandhaana kuyilae
Un sangadhi ellaam therinjikka than
Vandhenae mayilae
Pombalaingha sirichaa
Karppin veeram poyidum
Pugaiyilaiyai virichu vittaa
Kaaram poyidum
Pombalaingha sirichaa
Karppin veeram poyidum
Pugaiyilaiyai virichu vittaa
Kaaram poyidum
Sembavala udhattin melae
Danger saayam iruppadhinaal
Haeiyaa
Sembavala udhattin melae
Danger saayam iruppadhinaal
Chinnanchiru mainarellaam
Therinju palaganum….palaganum
Thandhanathaana thanthandhina thandhaana kuyilae
Un sangadhi ellaam therinjikka than
Vandhenae mayilae
Paazhum ulagai purinjikkadha
Bangaru pappa
Un personalitykku yethathu than
Paijaama jippa
Paazhum ulagai purinjikkadha
Bangaru pappa
Un personalitykku yethathu than
Paijaama jippa
Kaalam pora dhinsai paathu
Kavanamaaga karppai kaathu
Aalai kandu mayangidaama
Poganum rougha
Indha kaalam pora dhinsai paathu
Kavanamaaga karppai kaathu
Aalai kandu mayangidaama
Poganum rougha…..roughaa
Thandhanathaana
Thandhanathaana thanthandhina thandhaana kuyilae
Un sangadhi ellaam therinjikka than
Vandhenae mayilae
Like a Thanjavur doll
nodding your heads, O little birds... hey!
Your sense of self-respect
will always wear thin!
Do not forget this either,
O birds of Tamil Nadu... O birds!
Thanthana thaanaa
Thanthana thaanaa thanthanthina thanthaana, O cuckoo,
just to know all your news
I have come, my peacock!
Thanthana thaanaa thanthanthina thanthaana, O cuckoo,
just to know all your news
I have come, my peacock!
O girl studying in the tenth grade,
did you pass your exam?
If you just fooled around without studying,
did the whole year just slip by?
O girl studying in the tenth grade,
did you pass your exam?
If you just fooled around without studying,
did the whole year just slip by?
To the Courtallam waterfalls
and the pleasant Kodaikanal season,
to roam freely without aim,
has the fancy caught you?
To the Courtallam waterfalls
and the pleasant Kodaikanal season,
to roam freely without aim,
has the fancy caught you?
Thanthana thaanaa thanthanthina thanthaana, O cuckoo,
just to know all your news
I have come, my peacock!
If women laugh carelessly,
the strength of their virtue is lost;
if tobacco leaves are left open,
their punch is lost!
If women laugh carelessly,
the strength of their virtue is lost;
if tobacco leaves are left open,
their punch is lost!
Upon those coral-red lips,
because there is a dangerous lipstick shade,
Hey-ya!
Upon those coral-red lips,
because there is a dangerous lipstick shade,
all the young playboys
must know better and mingle carefully... tread carefully!
Thanthana thaanaa thanthanthina thanthaana, O cuckoo,
just to know all your news
I have come, my peacock!
Without understanding this wicked world,
O precious golden girl,
what truly suits your style
is a pajama and jippa (loose tunic)!
Without understanding this wicked world,
O precious golden girl,
what truly suits your style
is a pajama and jippa (loose tunic)!
Seeing the direction these times are heading,
carefully guarding your honor,
without getting swayed by any man,
you should carry yourself tough!
Seeing the direction these times are heading,
carefully guarding your honor,
without getting swayed by any man,
you should carry yourself tough... tough!
Thanthana thaanaa
Thanthana thaanaa thanthanthina thanthaana, O cuckoo,
just to know all your news
I have come, my peacock!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This lively social commentary song from Kaveriyin Kanavan (1959) uses traditional Tamil folk rhythm (Naiyandi / Karagattam style) to deliver a satirical message about changing modern values, modern education, and youth behavior. The singer addresses young people metaphorically as birds and Thanjavur dolls, warning them against blindly imitating modern trends or losing their self-respect and moral strength. Packed with references to 10th-grade exams, modern attire like pyjama-jippa, lipstick, and hill-station trips, lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass uses playful folk metaphors to advise youth to remain strong, cautious, and practical in an evolving world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Thanjavur bommaiyai pol

Compares blindly agreeing or nodding people to 'Thanjavur bommai' (Thanjavur nodding dolls).

Rhyme (Monai / Etukai)

Pathaavadhu padicha ponnae / Paritchai paasachaa

Second-letter rhyming (Etukai) between 'Pathaavadhu' and 'Paritchai' / 'Sembavala' and 'Danger' within the stanzas.

Apostrophe / Personification

Thandhanathaana thanthandhina thandhaana kuyilae / Un sangadhi ellaam therinjikka than / Vandhenae mayilae

Addressing people using metaphorical bird terms like 'kuyilae' (cuckoo) and 'mayilae' (peacock).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Kaveriyin Kanavan (1959) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki, with iconic music composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Sung by Trichy Loganathan, this track is celebrated for blending classical Tamil folk tunes with modern urban satire.

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