Thanni Thavikuthu
From Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu | There is desire inside the heart |
| Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu | There is security guarding inside the house |
| Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu | There is desire inside the heart |
| Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu | There is security guarding inside the house |
| Male :Kanni kili raathirikku | Male: Maiden parrot, for the night |
| Kannu muzhi | Keep your eyes open |
| Female :Aaaan | Female: Ahhh |
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Male | |
| Thaapaalum pottachu | The latch has been put |
| Thayakkam enna | Why the hesitation? |
| Saapaadu keepaadu | Food or whatever else |
| Thandhaal enna | Why not give it? |
| Female | |
| Ariyaadha siru pennai | Calling a naive young girl |
| Azhaippadhenna | Why call her like this? |
| Yaarachum paarthaalae | If someone sees us |
| Enna panna | What to do then? |
| Male | |
| Samanja pinnalae | After attaining womanhood |
| Samaikka vanthom | We came to cook |
| Pasikku nee thaaane | For hunger, it is you indeed |
| Rusikkirae | That tastes delicious |
| Female | |
| Tholakka vandhava | The one who came to clean |
| Velakka yetha mudiyumaa | Can she light the lamp? |
| Male :Adi yethi paaru | Male: Hey, try lighting it |
| Velakku eriya marukkuma | Will the lamp refuse to burn? |
| Female | |
| Ullukkulla ichai | Desire inside |
| Irukkuthu | It remains |
| Acham innum micham irukkuthu | Fear still lingers as a remnant |
| Male :Pozhuthu ponaa | Male: Once night falls |
| Manmadhan manasu | The mind of Lord Manmatha |
| Mathalam kottudhu | Beats like a drum |
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu | There is desire inside the heart |
| Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu | There is security guarding inside the house |
| Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu | There is desire inside the heart |
| Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu | There is security guarding inside the house |
| Male :Kanni kili raathirikku | Male: Maiden parrot, for the night |
| Kannu muzhi | Keep your eyes open |
| Male | |
| Pesaama koosaama | Without speaking, without hesitating |
| Elunthu vaadi | Get up and come, girl |
| Yaar enna sonnaalum | No matter who says what |
| Naan thaan jodi | I am your pair |
| Female | |
| Aathaalum paarthaalae | Even if mother sees |
| Theriyum saedhi | The news will be known |
| Unnodu seraathu | Will not merge with you |
| Ezhai jaadhi | The poor caste |
| Male | |
| Kalantha pinnaalae | Once united together |
| Ethukku jaadhi | Why care about caste? |
| Enakku oru jaadhi | For me, there is only one caste |
| Ponjaadhii… | My wife... |
| Female | |
| Indha thaavani thaamara | This lotus wearing a half-saree |
| Aavani varaiyil porukkava | Should I wait till the month of Aavani? |
| Male :Adi velanja kathiru | Male: Hey, the ripened crop |
| Valanju nikkuthu arukkava | Stands bent, shall I harvest it? |
| Female | |
| Saamathila kannu | In the middle of the night, eyes |
| Muzhikkiren | I keep open |
| Kolam pottu vaasal thelikkiren | I draw rangoli patterns and sprinkle water at the entrance |
| Male :Unna enni kattilu methaiya | Male: Thinking of you, the bed and mattress |
| Katti pudikkiren | I embrace tightly |
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu | There is desire inside the heart |
| Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu | There is security guarding inside the house |
| Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu | There is desire inside the heart |
| Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu | There is security guarding inside the house |
| Male :Kanni kili raathirikku | Male: Maiden parrot, for the night |
| Kannu muzhi | Keep your eyes open |
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Male | |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Thanni thavikudhu | Water is thirsty |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
| Andha thanni kudathula | In that water pot |
| Thanni kudikanum | I must drink water |
| Vanna kili | Oh colorful parrot |
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
வண்ணக் கிளி
அந்த தண்ணி குடத்துல
தண்ணி குடிக்கணும்
வண்ணக் கிளி
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
வண்ணக் கிளி
அந்த தண்ணி குடத்துல
தண்ணி குடிக்கணும்
வண்ணக் கிளி
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள ஆவல் இருக்குது
வீட்டுக்குள்ள காவல் இருக்குது
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள ஆவல் இருக்குது
வீட்டுக்குள்ள காவல் இருக்குது
கன்னிக் கிளி ராத்திரிக்கு
கண்ணு முழி
ஹான்
There is desire inside the heart
There is security guarding inside the house
There is desire inside the heart
There is security guarding inside the house
Male: Maiden parrot, for the night
Keep your eyes open
Female: Ahhh
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
வண்ணக் கிளி
அந்த தண்ணி குடத்துல
தண்ணி குடிக்கணும்
வண்ணக் கிளி
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
தாப்பாளும் போட்டாச்சு
தயக்கம் என்ன
சாப்பாடு கீப்பாடு
தந்தால் என்ன
The latch has been put
Why the hesitation?
Food or whatever else
Why not give it?
அறியாத சிறு பெண்ணை
அழைப்பதென்ன
யாராச்சும் பார்த்தாலே
என்ன பண்ண
Calling a naive young girl
Why call her like this?
If someone sees us
What to do then?
சமஞ்ச பின்னாலே
சமைக்க வந்தோம்
பசிக்கு நீ தானே ருசிக்கிறே
After attaining womanhood
We came to cook
For hunger, it is you indeed
That tastes delicious
தொலக்க வந்தவ
வெளக்கு ஏத்த முடியுமா
அடி ஏத்தி பாரு
விளக்கு எரிய மறுக்குமா
The one who came to clean
Can she light the lamp?
Male: Hey, try lighting it
Will the lamp refuse to burn?
உள்ளுக்குள்ள இச்சை இருக்குது
அச்சம் இன்னும் மிச்சமிருக்குது
பொழுது போனா மன்மதன் மனசு
மத்தளம் கொட்டுது...........
Desire inside
It remains
Fear still lingers as a remnant
Male: Once night falls
The mind of Lord Manmatha
Beats like a drum
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
வண்ணக் கிளி
அந்த தண்ணி குடத்துல
தண்ணி குடிக்கணும்
வண்ணக் கிளி
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள ஆவல் இருக்குது
வீட்டுக்குள்ள காவல் இருக்குது
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள ஆவல் இருக்குது
வீட்டுக்குள்ள காவல் இருக்குது
கன்னிக் கிளி ராத்திரிக்கு
கண்ணு முழி
There is desire inside the heart
There is security guarding inside the house
There is desire inside the heart
There is security guarding inside the house
Male: Maiden parrot, for the night
Keep your eyes open
பேசாம கூசாம
எழுந்து வாடி
யார் என்ன சொன்னாலும்
நான்தான் ஜோடி
Without speaking, without hesitating
Get up and come, girl
No matter who says what
I am your pair
ஆத்தாளும் பாத்தாலே
தெரியும் சேதி
உன்னோடு சேராது
ஏழ ஜாதி
Even if mother sees
The news will be known
Will not merge with you
The poor caste
கலந்த பின்னாலே
எதுக்கு ஜாதி
எனக்கு ஒரு ஜாதி பொஞ்சாதி
Once united together
Why care about caste?
For me, there is only one caste
My wife...
இந்த தாவணி தாமர
ஆவணி வரையில் பொறுக்கவா
அடி வெளஞ்ச கதிரு
வளைந்து நிக்குது அறுக்கவா
This lotus wearing a half-saree
Should I wait till the month of Aavani?
Male: Hey, the ripened crop
Stands bent, shall I harvest it?
சாமத்திலே கண்ணு முழிக்கிறேன்
கோலம் போட்டு வாசல் தெளிக்கிறேன்
உன்ன எண்ணி கட்டிலு மெத்தைய
கட்டிப் புடிக்கிறேன்................
In the middle of the night, eyes
I keep open
I draw rangoli patterns and sprinkle water at the entrance
Male: Thinking of you, the bed and mattress
I embrace tightly
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
வண்ணக் கிளி
அந்த தண்ணி குடத்துல
தண்ணி குடிக்கணும்
வண்ணக் கிளி
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள ஆவல் இருக்குது
வீட்டுக்குள்ள காவல் இருக்குது
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள ஆவல் இருக்குது
வீட்டுக்குள்ள காவல் இருக்குது
கன்னிக் கிளி ராத்திரிக்கு
கண்ணு முழி
There is desire inside the heart
There is security guarding inside the house
There is desire inside the heart
There is security guarding inside the house
Male: Maiden parrot, for the night
Keep your eyes open
{தண்ணி தவிக்குது
தண்ணி தவிக்குது
வண்ணக் கிளி
அந்த தண்ணி குடத்துல
தண்ணி குடிக்கணும்
வண்ணக் கிளி} (2)
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
Water is thirsty
Water is thirsty
Oh colorful parrot
In that water pot
I must drink water
Oh colorful parrot
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu
There is desire inside the heart
Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu
There is security guarding inside the house
Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu
There is desire inside the heart
Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu
There is security guarding inside the house
Male :Kanni kili raathirikku
Male: Maiden parrot, for the night
Kannu muzhi
Keep your eyes open
Female :Aaaan
Female: Ahhh
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Thaapaalum pottachu
The latch has been put
Thayakkam enna
Why the hesitation?
Saapaadu keepaadu
Food or whatever else
Thandhaal enna
Why not give it?
Ariyaadha siru pennai
Calling a naive young girl
Azhaippadhenna
Why call her like this?
Yaarachum paarthaalae
If someone sees us
Enna panna
What to do then?
Samanja pinnalae
After attaining womanhood
Samaikka vanthom
We came to cook
Pasikku nee thaaane
For hunger, it is you indeed
Rusikkirae
That tastes delicious
Tholakka vandhava
The one who came to clean
Velakka yetha mudiyumaa
Can she light the lamp?
Male :Adi yethi paaru
Male: Hey, try lighting it
Velakku eriya marukkuma
Will the lamp refuse to burn?
Ullukkulla ichai
Desire inside
Irukkuthu
It remains
Acham innum micham irukkuthu
Fear still lingers as a remnant
Male :Pozhuthu ponaa
Male: Once night falls
Manmadhan manasu
The mind of Lord Manmatha
Mathalam kottudhu
Beats like a drum
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu
There is desire inside the heart
Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu
There is security guarding inside the house
Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu
There is desire inside the heart
Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu
There is security guarding inside the house
Male :Kanni kili raathirikku
Male: Maiden parrot, for the night
Kannu muzhi
Keep your eyes open
Pesaama koosaama
Without speaking, without hesitating
Elunthu vaadi
Get up and come, girl
Yaar enna sonnaalum
No matter who says what
Naan thaan jodi
I am your pair
Aathaalum paarthaalae
Even if mother sees
Theriyum saedhi
The news will be known
Unnodu seraathu
Will not merge with you
Ezhai jaadhi
The poor caste
Kalantha pinnaalae
Once united together
Ethukku jaadhi
Why care about caste?
Enakku oru jaadhi
For me, there is only one caste
Ponjaadhii…
My wife...
Indha thaavani thaamara
This lotus wearing a half-saree
Aavani varaiyil porukkava
Should I wait till the month of Aavani?
Male :Adi velanja kathiru
Male: Hey, the ripened crop
Valanju nikkuthu arukkava
Stands bent, shall I harvest it?
Saamathila kannu
In the middle of the night, eyes
Muzhikkiren
I keep open
Kolam pottu vaasal thelikkiren
I draw rangoli patterns and sprinkle water at the entrance
Male :Unna enni kattilu methaiya
Male: Thinking of you, the bed and mattress
Katti pudikkiren
I embrace tightly
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu
There is desire inside the heart
Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu
There is security guarding inside the house
Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu
There is desire inside the heart
Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu
There is security guarding inside the house
Male :Kanni kili raathirikku
Male: Maiden parrot, for the night
Kannu muzhi
Keep your eyes open
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Thanni thavikudhu
Water is thirsty
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Andha thanni kudathula
In that water pot
Thanni kudikanum
I must drink water
Vanna kili
Oh colorful parrot
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful duet features a young couple expressing their mutual romantic longing and desire under the cover of night. Using metaphorical village imagery such as thirst, water pots, lighting lamps, and harvesting mature crops, the lyrics weave a story of secret intimacy amidst societal boundaries and caste differences.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagamy (Metaphor / Double Entendre)
“Thanni thavikudhu”
The phrase 'Thanni thavikudhu' (Water itself is thirsty) uses paradox and metaphor to describe deep emotional and physical craving for love.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nenjukkulla aaval irukkudhu / Veetukkulla kaaval irukkudhu”
Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('Nenjukkulla' and 'Veetukkulla').
Uvamaani (Simile/Symbolism)
“Adi velanja kathiru Valanju nikkuthu arukkava”
Comparing the beloved to a ripe crop ready for harvest ('velanja kathiru valanju nikkuthu').
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu' (1986) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Sivaji Ganesan, Pandiyan, and Ilavarasi. The lyrics written by Vairamuthu showcase classic rural romantic metaphors standard in 1980s Tamil cinema.
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