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Anjatha Nenjangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thanna Thaana Thalanthana

From Anjatha Nenjangal · 1981

Lyricist
Thooyavan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Anjatha Nenjangal
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
31 Jul 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thannathaana thalanthaanaa
Thathi thathi aadathaana
Suthi suthi paadathaana
Thannathaana thalanthaanaa
Thathi thathi aadathaana
Suthi suthi paadathaana
{Sutti paiyaa matti paiya
Etti podaa kaali soda
Ennagum poongodi
Polladha pokkiri} (2)
Oongi valarndha panamaram
Unakku edhukku suyam varam
Oongi valarndha panamaram
Unakku edhukku suyam varam
Yaeni padi yen ippadi aasa paduthoo
Enna padi vanna kodi maalai idumoo
Thannathaana thalanthaanaa
Thathi thathi aadathaana
Suthi suthi paadathaana
{Kitta vandha patta vaadai
Kattipenaa indha aalai
Eppodhum milli thaan
Konjaadhu alli thaan} (2)
Aaru velai theeni thaan
Aaana polae maeni thaan
Aaru velai theeni thaan
Aaana polae maeni thaan
Ponnai katti pongi poda othu varuma
Endha ponnum unnai kandaa aasa padumaa
Thannathaana thalanthaanaa
Thathi thathi aadathaana
Suthi suthi paadathaana
Is this tune and beat,
just to hop and dance around?
just to spin around and sing?
Is this tune and beat,
just to hop and dance around?
just to spin around and sing?
You mischievous boy, you foolish guy,
step back, you empty soda bottle!
What will become of this delicate girl,
with a wicked rogue like you?
You have grown tall like a palm tree,
why do you even need a swayamvaram (ceremony to choose a bride)?
You have grown tall like a palm tree,
why do you even need a swayamvaram (ceremony to choose a bride)?
Why does this ladder-like fellow desire so much?
Will a lovely girl ever garland you as you dream?
Is this tune and beat,
just to hop and dance around?
just to spin around and sing?
If you come near, you reek of country liquor,
would I ever embrace a man like you?
You are always downing drinks,
this tender girl will never cuddle with you!
You eat heavy meals six times a day,
and your body is built like an elephant!
You eat heavy meals six times a day,
and your body is built like an elephant!
Can you manage to marry a girl and feed her?
Would any girl ever desire you if she sees you?
Is this tune and beat,
just to hop and dance around?
just to spin around and sing?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playfully mocking song from the 1981 Tamil film Anjatha Nenjangal, written by lyricist Thooyavan, features folk-style teasing directed at a giant, drunken, and unruly man who dreams of finding love. The singer humorously criticizes his massive appetite, constant drinking habits, and rough personality, rejecting any romantic advances. Through lively folk rhythm and colloquial metaphors, the protagonist warns that no maiden would fall for a man who eats six times a day like an elephant and smells of liquor, mockingly comparing him to a tall palmyra tree trying to hold a royal marriage selection ceremony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Aaana polae maeni thaan

Compares the man's large physical body structure directly to an elephant.

Uvagam (Metaphor)

Oongi valarndha panamaram

Metaphorically refers to the tall, lanky man as a palmyra tree to highlight his awkward stature.

Ethirukai (Second letter rhyme)

Sutti paiyaa matti paiya / Etti podaa kaali soda

The second letter 't' (ட்/த்) rhymes in 'Sutti' and 'Etti'.

Anaphora / Repetition

Thannathaana thalanthaanaa / Suthi suthi paadathaana

Rhythmic folk refrains 'Thannathaana' and 'Suthi suthi' create a dance beat through repetition.

Did you know?

Trivia

Anjatha Nenjangal (1981) features playful character-driven folk numbers penned by lyricist Thooyavan. The song employs rhythmic folk syllables like 'Thannathaana' alongside contemporary street slang of 1980s Tamil Nadu like 'kaali soda' (empty soda bottle) and 'milli' (a small peg of liquor).

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