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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanni Kodam Thookkum

From Sigappu Thali · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sigappu Thali1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thanni kodam thookkum pennaeOh girl carrying a water pot,
Thaagam konjam yaerumMy thirst rises a little.
Rendu kodam thanni thanthaaIf you give me two pots of water,
Thaagam konjam theerumMy thirst will be quenched a little.
Rendu kodam thanni thanthaaIf you give me two pots of water,
Thaagam konjam theerumMy thirst will be quenched a little.
Male
Thanni kodam thookkum haei….Oh girl carrying a water pot, hey!
Thanni kodam thookkum pennaeOh girl carrying a water pot,
Thaagam konjam yaerumMy thirst rises a little.
Rendu kodam thanni thanthaaIf you give me two pots of water,
Thaagam konjam theerumMy thirst will be quenched a little.
Male
Nenjukkulla nesam vachchu neenda kaalam aachchuIt has been a long time since I held love inside my heart,
Nenjukkulla nesam vachchu neenda kaalam aachchuIt has been a long time since I held love inside my heart,
Vaai thoranthu solla vanthaa vaanguthammaa moochchuWhen I open my mouth to say it, I gasp for breath,
Vaai thoranthu solla vanthaa vaanguthammaa moochchuWhen I open my mouth to say it, I gasp for breath,
Male
Thanni kodam thookkum haei….Oh girl carrying a water pot, hey!
Thanni kodam thookkum pennaeOh girl carrying a water pot,
Thaagam konjam yaerumMy thirst rises a little.
Rendu kodam thanni thanthaaIf you give me two pots of water,
Thaagam konjam theerumMy thirst will be quenched a little.
Rendu kodam thanni thanthaaIf you give me two pots of water,
Thaagam konjam theerum…..My thirst will be quenched a little.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a flirtatious rural Tamil folk-style duet where the protagonist teases a village girl carrying pots of water. He uses physical thirst ('thaagam') as a metaphor for his romantic desire and emotional longing for her. He confesses that he has secretly loved her for a long time, but becomes overwhelmed and breathless whenever he attempts to express his feelings openly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Thaagam konjam yaerum

The word 'Thaagam' (Thirst) is used metaphorically to represent romantic desire and emotional longing rather than literal thirst for water.

Mogana / Alliteration (Monaai)

Nenjukkulla nesam vachchu neenda kaalam aachchu

Repetition of the 'N' sound in 'Nenjukkulla' and 'nesam' creates a pleasing phonetic rhythm.

Iyaibu (Rhyme)

Vaai thoranthu solla vanthaa vaanguthammaa moochchu

The lines end with rhyming sounds 'aachchu' and 'moochchu', giving the stanza a melodic flow typical of folk poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

The theme of a hero teasing a village woman carrying a water pot (Kudam) is one of the most enduring tropes in rural Tamil cinema music, frequently used by lyricist Vairamuthu to infuse folk idioms into mainstream film soundtracks.

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