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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thannikkulle Chinna Ponnu

From Boom Boom Madu · 1982

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Boom Boom Madu1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thannikkullae chinna ponnuInside the water, a young girl
Thaavuthammaa meen polaeLeaps around like a fish
Poththi vachcha kattazhaguThe well-guarded, well-sculpted beauty
Thulluthammaa alai maelaeBounces on top of the waves
Female
Thaegamellam neeru thottuAs the water touches her entire body
Kilukilunguthu thannaalaeIt jingles and sparkles on its own
Thennai mara thoppu mattumOnly the coconut grove
Silusilunguthu munnaalaeRustles softly ahead
Female
Thannikkullae chinna ponnuInside the water, a young girl
Thaavuthammaa meen polaeLeaps around like a fish
Poththi vachcha kattazhaguThe well-guarded, well-sculpted beauty
Thulluthammaa alai maelaeBounces on top of the waves
Female
Thaegamellam neeru thottuAs the water touches her entire body
Kilukilunguthu thannaalaeIt jingles and sparkles on its own
Thennai mara thoppu mattumOnly the coconut grove
Silusilunguthu munnaalaeRustles softly ahead
Female
Mottaaga irupathellaamWhatever is a bud right now
Malaraagum paruvamithuThis is the age when it turns into a blossom
Katti vachcha mullai chenduA tied bouquet of jasmine flowers
Kannai simittuthammaaWinks its eyes
Female
Mottaaga irupathellaamWhatever is a bud right now
Malaraagum paruvamithuThis is the age when it turns into a blossom
Katti vachcha mullai chenduA tied bouquet of jasmine flowers
Kannai simittuthammaaWinks its eyes
Female
Ennai naanae thottapothuWhen I touch myself
Yaekkam vanthu ennai vaattumLonging comes and plagues me
Ennai naanae thottpothuWhen I touch myself
Yaekkam vanthu ennai vaattumLonging comes and plagues me
Kaalangal maarumpothuAs time changes
Kanavugal vilaiyaadumDreams play around
Female
Thannikkullae chinna ponnuInside the water, a young girl
Thaavuthammaa meen polaeLeaps around like a fish
Poththi vachcha kattazhaguThe well-guarded, well-sculpted beauty
Thulluthammaa alai maelaeBounces on top of the waves
Female
Thaegamellam neeru thottuAs the water touches her entire body
Kilukilunguthu thannaalaeIt jingles and sparkles on its own
Thennai mara thoppu mattumOnly the coconut grove
Silusilunguthu munnaalaeRustles softly ahead
Female
Thalathalakkum maeniyilaeOn the luscious, glowing body
Palapalakkum thaamaraigalGlowing lotuses
Thaththi thaththi aadumDance and leap around
Mella thannanthaniyaagaSlowly and all alone
Female
Thalathalakkum maeniyilaeOn the luscious, glowing body
Palapalakkum thaamaraigalGlowing lotuses
Thaththi thaththi aadumDance and leap around
Mella thannanthaniyaagaSlowly and all alone
Female
Vaazhai thandu nadai podaAs the plantain-stalk-like legs walk
Aadai kondu idai aadaAs the dress sways around the waist
Thullaamal thullum ilamaiYouth that leaps without even trying
Alluthu sugamaagaCaptivates with immense pleasure
Female
Thannikkullae chinna ponnuInside the water, a young girl
Thaavuthammaa meen polaeLeaps around like a fish
Poththi vachcha kattazhaguThe well-guarded, well-sculpted beauty
Thulluthammaa alai maelaeBounces on top of the waves
Female
Thaegamellam neeru thottuAs the water touches her entire body
Kilukilunguthu thannaalaeIt jingles and sparkles on its own
Thennai mara thoppu mattumOnly the coconut grove
Silusilunguthu munnaalae…..Rustles softly ahead...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures a youthful and sensual scene of a young woman bathing in a natural water body amidst a coconut grove. The lyrics poetically describe her joy, grace, and awakening desires as she plays in the water like a fish. Metaphors of blooming buds, lotus flowers, and swaying plantain stalks emphasize her blossoming youth and natural charm, surrounded by the idyllic sights and sounds of nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thaavuthammaa meen polae

Compares the young woman leaping gracefully in the water to a fish ('meen polae').

Onomatopoeia (Irattai Kilavi)

Kilukilunguthu thannaalae

Uses rhythmic reduplicated words like 'Kilukilunguthu' and 'Silusilunguthu' to evoke the sensory jingling of water and rustling of coconut palm leaves.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Mottaaga irupathellaam malaraagum paruvamithu

Compares the girl's youthful transition to a flower blooming from a bud ('Mottaaga irupathellaam malaraagum').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Boom Boom Madu' (1982) is an obscure Tamil film featuring lyrics written by renowned poet Muthulingam, who is known for his deeply evocative rural imagery and traditional literary devices in Tamil cinema songs.

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