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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thatthai Nenjam

From Server Sundaram (1964) · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Sadan, P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Server Sundaram (1964)1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thathai nenjamParrot-like tender heart
Female :NenjamHeart
Female :MuthathilaeIn kisses
Female :MuthathilaeIn kisses
Female :Thithithadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sweet, or was it not?
Female :llaiyaaOr was it not
Female
Mutham andhaThat kiss
Female :AndhaThat
Female :Thathai nenjilIn the parrot-like heart
Female :NenjilIn the heart
Female :Vithitadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sown, or was it not?
Female :IllaiyaaOr was it not
Female
Thathai nenjamParrot-like tender heart
MuthathilaeIn kisses
Thithithadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sweet, or was it not?
Mutham andhaThat kiss
Thathai nenjilIn the parrot-like heart
Vithitadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sown, or was it not?
Female
Kaththum kadal muthukalaalWith pearls from the roaring sea
Pottitadhaa illaiyaa..Was it not adorned, or was it not?
Kaththum kadal muthukalaalWith pearls from the roaring sea
Pottitadhaa illaiyaa..Was it not adorned, or was it not?
Pottitadhil athaan nenjuBy that adornment, did her lover's heart
Thottitadhaa illaiyaaTouch it, or did it not?
Female
Thathai nenjamParrot-like tender heart
MuthathilaeIn kisses
Thithithadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sweet, or was it not?
Mutham andhaThat kiss
Thathai nenjilIn the parrot-like heart
Vithitadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sown, or was it not?
Female
Kothum kili kannangalilOn the cheeks of the pecking parrot
Koditadhaa illaiyaa..Was a mark drawn, or was it not?
Kothum kili kannangalilOn the cheeks of the pecking parrot
Koditadhaa illaiyaa..Was a mark drawn, or was it not?
Koditadhaal kodisugamBy drawing that mark, millions of pleasures
Neritadhaa illaiyaaDid they occur, or did they not?
Female
Thathai nenjamParrot-like tender heart
MuthathilaeIn kisses
Thithithadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sweet, or was it not?
Mutham andhaThat kiss
Thathai nenjilIn the parrot-like heart
Vithitadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sown, or was it not?
Female
Aha..oho..oho ahaAha.. oho.. oho aha
Aahaa..aahaa..Aahaa.. aahaa..
Female
Kannpattadhum kaipattadhumWhen eyes met and hands touched
Punnpattadhaa illaiyaaWas it hurt, or was it not?
Kannpattadhum kaipattadhumWhen eyes met and hands touched
Punnpattadhaa illaiyaaWas it hurt, or was it not?
Punnpattadhum pennmai konjamAfter being hurt, did womanhood a little
Pannpattadhaa illaiyaa..Become refined, or did it not?
Female
Thathai nenjamParrot-like tender heart
Female :NenjamHeart
Female :MuthathilaeIn kisses
Female :MuthathilaeIn kisses
Female :Thithithadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sweet, or was it not?
Female :llaiyaaOr was it not
Female
Mutham andhaThat kiss
Female :AndhaThat
Female :Thathai nenjilIn the parrot-like heart
Female :NenjilIn the heart
Female :Vithitadhaa illaiyaaWas it not sown, or was it not?
Female :IllaiyaaOr was it not

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thathai Nenjam is a playful romantic track from the classic 1964 film Server Sundaram. Written by Kavinar Kannadasan, the lyric highlights a heroine's delicate emotions by comparing her heart to a soft parrot (thathai). The heroine playfully questions herself and her lover through the recurring refrain 'illaiyaa' (is it not?), reflecting on the sweetness of intimate kisses and the beauty of romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Urvakam)

Thathai nenjam

Compares the innocent and delicate human heart to a parrot ('Thathai nenjam').

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)

Thithithadhaa illaiyaa

Repeatedly uses 'illaiyaa' (is it not?) at the end of lines to evoke playful confirmation and intimacy.

Alliteration and Rhyme (Monnai / Ethukai)

Thathai nenjam / Muthathilae / Thithithadhaa illaiyaa

Uses soft dental and labial sounds like 'Thathai', 'Muthathilae', and 'Thithithadhaa' to create a rhythmic, musical quality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Server Sundaram (1964) is a landmark Tamil movie produced by AVM and starring Nagesh and K. R. Vijaya. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan. The chorus echo effect in the opening lines gives the song its distinct vocal structure.

Keep listening

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