Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thavikkidhu Thayangudhu

From Nathiyai Thedi Vantha Kadal · 1980

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Jayachandran, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nathiyai Thedi Vantha Kadal1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thavikkudhu thayangudhu oru manadhuA heart yearns and hesitates
Thavikkudhu thayangudhu oru manadhuA heart yearns and hesitates
Dhinam dhinam thoongaamalaeWithout sleeping day after day
Oru sugam kaanamalaeWithout finding any joy
Adhu thodarndhu enai padarndhuIt continuously spreads over me
Yedho solgindradhuAnd says something mysterious
Manam engo selgindradhuThe mind strays off somewhere
Thavikkudhu thayangudhu oru manadhuA heart yearns and hesitates
Female
Yedho ondru nenjilaeSomething in the chest
Ezhundhadhenna unnilaeWhat has awakened within you?
Yengo sendra kannailaeIn those eyes gazing far away
Yekkam enna pennilaeWhat is this longing in you, my girl?
Malarndhidatha aasaiyaeOh unblossomed desire
Malargindra neramaeNow is the time for it to bloom
Female
Enniya sugam ennudan varumThe sweet joy envisioned will come along with me
La..lala lalaa..la..lala…lalaaLa..lala lalaa..la..lala…lalaa
Kaniyidhazh suvaidhanil kaadhal neeroduWith love flowing in the taste of fruit-like lips
Thavikkudhu thayangudhu oru manadhuA heart yearns and hesitates
Male
Pongum aasai aatrilaeIn the river of overflowing desire
Nanaindha endhan ullamaeMy heart that has become drenched
Engum inba vellameEverywhere is a flood of happiness
Ezhundhu paaindhu sellumaeIt rises and flows rapidly
Thondrugindra thaagamaeOh thirst that is emerging
Thodarugindra kaalamaeOh time that continues onwards
Male
Paarpadhil sugam pala vidha ragamThere is joy in watching, with varied shades of melodies
La..lala lalaa..la..lala…lalaa laalaaLa..lala lalaa..la..lala…lalaa laalaa
Pasikkoru unavena paavai nee vaa vaaCome, my lady, like food for my hunger
Thavikkudhu thayangudhu oru manadhuA heart yearns and hesitates
Male
Gangai konda cholaninOf the Chola king who conquered the Ganges
Kanavil vandha deviyaeOh goddess who came in his dream
Female :Mangai endhan vaazhvilaeIn my life as a young maiden
Mannan neeyum padhiyaeYou, the king, are my lord
Male
Silaiyai pondra thottramaeA divine appearance like a sculpture
Dhinamum ennai vattumaeTorments me every single day
Female :Innisai suram en vasam tharumThe sweet musical notes grant control to me
Male :La..lala lalaa..la..lala…lalaaLa..lala lalaa..la..lala…lalaa
Female :Iravilum pagalilum meetta nee vaa vaaCome to strum me night and day
Male
ThavikkudhuIt yearns
Female :ThayangudhuIt hesitates
Male :Oru manadhuA heart
Female :Dhinam dhinam thoongaamalaeWithout sleeping day after day
Male :Oru sugam kaanamalaeWithout finding any joy
Female :Adhu thodarndhuIt continuously
Male :Enai padarndhuSpreads over me
Female :Yedho solgindradhuAnd says something
Male :Manam engo selgindradhuThe mind strays off somewhere
Female :Yedho solgindradhuAnd says something
Male :Manam engo selgindradhuThe mind strays off somewhere

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Thavikkudhu Thayangudhu Oru Manadhu' from the 1980 film Nathiyai Thedi Vantha Kadal is a soul-stirring romantic duet composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Gangai Amaran. The song vividly captures the sweet torment, hesitation, and deep yearning experienced by two lovers as their passion deepens. The lyricism portrays love as an all-consuming flood and a unending thirst that keeps them awake night after night. Rich in poetic imagery, the male lover compares his beloved to a statue-like goddess dreamt of by the Gangaikonda Chola king, while the female lover accepts him as her king and invites him to play her heart like a musical instrument. Set to Ilaiyaraaja's gentle orchestration and lush vocal harmonies, the track expresses the joyful surrendering of two minds into one unified bond of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Alliteration)

Thavikkudhu thayangudhu oru manadhu

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Th' (Thavikkudhu / Thayangudhu) creating a natural rhythmic cadence.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Gangai konda cholanin / Mangai endhan vaazhvilae

Repetition of the second consonant 'nga' in consecutive structural lines ('Gangai' / 'Mangai').

Urvagham (Metaphor)

Pongum aasai aatrilae

Describing intense romantic desire metaphorically as a rising river ('aasai aaru').

Uvamai (Simile)

Silaiyai pondra thottramae

Explicit comparison of the beloved's physical beauty to a sculpted statue using the comparative word 'pondra' (like).

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nathiyai Thedi Vantha Kadal' (1980) featured former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in one of her final mainstream film roles before transitioning into full-time politics. The song remains celebrated for P. Jayachandran and S.P. Shailaja's delicate vocal expression.

Keep listening

More from Nathiyai Thedi Vantha Kadal