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Pakkathu Veettu Roja album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thanniyillenna Thangadhu Meenu

From Pakkathu Veettu Roja · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Pakkathu Veettu Roja
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
31 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanniyillaennaa thaangaathu meenu
Unna thodalennaa thoongaathu kannu
Thanniyillaennaa thaangaathu meenu
Unna thodalennaa thoongaathu kannu
Kaayum kaniyaachchu kanavum nenavaachu
Kaayum kaniyaachchu kanavum nenavaachu
Kadhal uravaadum kaalam vanthaachchu
Thanniyillaennaa thaangaathu meenu
Unna thodalennaa thoongaathu kannu
Thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…ae….
Female :Hae hae thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…
Mogam undaachu munthaana pattu
Modhalum vattuyumaa saerththu nee kattu
Mogam undaachu munthaana pattu
Modhalum vattuyumaa saerththu nee kattu
Konji pesum kumariyoda
Kolam pottu kummaalam kottu
Male :Aa…
Female :Konji pesum kumariyoda
Kolam pottu kummaalam kottu
Kaalaada idai noolaada
Kaaththaada manam kooththaada
Female :Naanaaduvaen sendaattam
Namakku ippo kondaattam
Thanni…..thanni….thanni…
Thanniyillaennaa thaangaathu meenu
Unna thodalennaa thoongaathu kannu
Kaayum kaniyaachchu kanavum nenavaachu
Kadhal uravaadum kaalam vanthaachchu
Thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…ae….
Female :Hae hae thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…
Sirichi pazhagi varum singaara pappaa
Irutti pochchunaa yaedhaachchum ketppaa
Sirichi pazhagi varum singaara pappaa
Irutti pochchunaa yaedhaachchum ketppaa
Arththathodum poruththathodum
Aththa ponnu oyaama paappaa
Arththathodum poruththathodum
Aththa ponnu oyaama paappaa
Haa…ammaadi iivan killaadi
Thappaama kuri vappaandi
Male :Mella thottaen ingaethaan
Michchamellaam angaethaan
Thanni…..thanni….thanni…
Thanniyillaennaa thaangaathu meenu
Unna thodalennaa thoongaathu kannu
Kaayum kaniyaachchu kanavum nenavaachu
Kadhal uravaadum kaalam vanthaachchu
Thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…ae….
Female :Hae hae thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…ae….
Male :Thanannaa thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…ae….
Female :Hae hae thanthaanae thanthaanae thanthaanae…ae….
Without water, a fish cannot survive
Without touching you, my eyes cannot sleep
Without water, a fish cannot survive
Without touching you, my eyes cannot sleep
The raw fruit has ripened, the dream has come true
The raw fruit has ripened, the dream has come true
The time has come for love to unite us
Without water, a fish cannot survive
Without touching you, my eyes cannot sleep
Thanthane thanthane thanthane... yae...
Female: Hey hey thanthane thanthane thanthane...
Desire has sparked on this silk saree
Hold me close through playful games and clashes
Desire has sparked on this silk saree
Hold me close through playful games and clashes
With this sweet-talking young girl,
Make merry and celebrate with joy!
Male: Aah...
Female: With this sweet-talking young girl,
Make merry and celebrate with joy!
As feet dance and the slender waist sways,
As the breeze blows and the heart dances with joy,
Female: I will dance a lively step,
It is time for our celebration now!
Water... water... water...
Without water, a fish cannot survive
Without touching you, my eyes cannot sleep
The raw fruit has ripened, the dream has come true
The time has come for love to unite us
Thanthane thanthane thanthane... yae...
Female: Hey hey thanthane thanthane thanthane...
This lovely girl who smiles and mingles playfully,
Once it gets dark, she will ask for something!
This lovely girl who smiles and mingles playfully,
Once it gets dark, she will ask for something!
With deep meaning and a perfect match,
My cousin girl gazes at me without stopping!
With deep meaning and a perfect match,
My cousin girl gazes at me without stopping!
Ha... oh my, this fellow is such a trickster!
He never misses his target, girl!
Male: I touched you gently only right here,
And the rest is still over there!
Water... water... water...
Without water, a fish cannot survive
Without touching you, my eyes cannot sleep
The raw fruit has ripened, the dream has come true
The time has come for love to unite us
Thanthane thanthane thanthane... yae...
Female: Hey hey thanthane thanthane thanthane... yae...
Male: Thananna thanthane thanthane thanthane... yae...
Female: Hey hey thanthane thanthane thanthane... yae...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thanniyillaennaa Thaangaathu Meenu is a lively, rhythmic Tamil romantic duet composed by Shankar Ganesh for the 1982 film Pakkathu Veettu Roja. Featuring expressive vocals by Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam with lyricist Vaali's folk-infused penning, the song portrays playful intimacy and affectionate teasing between two lovers. The opening lines set the central motif: just as a fish cannot survive out of water, the lovers cannot bear separation or sleeplessness without each other's touch.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Thanniyillaennaa thaangaathu meenu

Compares the absolute necessity of the lover's touch to a fish's need for water to survive.

Initial Alliteration (Anaaphora / Monai)

Kaayum kaniyaachchu kanavum nenavaachu

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words creates melodic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaalaada idai noolaada

Refers to a slender waist as a thin 'thread' ('nool').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the dynamic duo Shankar–Ganesh, the song relies heavily on rhythmic folk beats and vocal harmony. Vaali's colloquial lyricism seamlessly integrates everyday metaphors (like a fish out of water) into catchy cinematic melodies.

Keep listening

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View album

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