- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- En Swasa Kaatre
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Jul 2017
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kandrum unnaadhu
Kalaththinum padaadhu
Nallaan theembaal
Nilaththu ukkaanghu
Enakkum aagaadhu
En aikkum udhavaadhu
Pasalai uneeiyar vendum
Thivvalai algul en maamai kavinae
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Oru viral vandhu ennai theendiyadhae
En narambodu veenai meettiyadhae
Manam avandhaanaa
Ivan endru thidukkittadhae
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Oru viral vandhu unnai theendiyadho
Un narambodu veenai meettiyadho
Un uyirkkullae
Kaadhal ambai thoduththittadho…ooo
Vaanil pirandha amudhandro
Paavai vilaindha mazhai andro
Mullai vagulam kurukkaththi
Thollaiyin idaintha udal andro
Theendai mei theendai
Vizhiyodum theendal undu
Viralodum theendal undu
Irandodum bedham ulladhu
Vizhiththeendal uyir killum
Viral theendal ullam killum
Adhudhaanae nee solvadhu
Nadhi ora poovin melae
Jadhipaadum saaral polae
Ennil inba thunbham
Seiguvadhoo
Oru kannam thandhen munnae
Maru kannam thandhaai pennae
Yesunaadhar kaatru vandhu
Veesiyadhoo
Uravin uyirae uyirae
Ennai pennaai cheiga
Male :Azhagae azhagae
Un aasai velga… aa… aa
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Oru viral vandhu ennai theendiyadhae
En narambodu veenai meettiyadhae
Manam avandhaanaa
Ivan endru thidukkittadhae
Kadalodu muththam thandhum
Kalaiyaadha vaanam pola
Udalodu ottikkollavoo
Udalodu angum ingum
Uraigindra jeevan pola
Unnodu kattikkollavoo
Unai thaedi mannil vandhen
Enai thedi neeyum vandhaai
Unnai naanum ennai neeyum
Kandukondoam
Pala pergal kaadhal seidhu
Pazhangaadhal theerumbodhu
Bhooi vaazha pudhiya kaadhal
Kondu vandhom
Paniyo paniyin thuliyo
Un idhazhmel yenna
Female :Paniyo thaeno
Nee suvaiththaal yenna.. aa… aa..
Theendaaii
Female :Theendaaii
Male :Mei theendaai
Female :Mei theendaai
Thaandaai
Female :Thaandaai
Male :Padi thaandaai
Female :Padi thaandaai
Oru viral vandhu unnai theendiyadho
Female :Oru viral vandhu ennai theendiyadhae
Male :Un narambodu veenai meettiyadho
Female :En narambodu veenai meettiyadhae
Male :Un uyirkkullae
Female :Manam avandhaanaa
Male :Kaadhal ambai thoduththittadho…ooo
Female :Ivan endru thidukkittadhae….
Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Chorus :Vaanil pirandha amudhandro
Female :Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Chorus :Paavai vilaindha mazhai andro
Female :Theendaai mei theendaai
Thaandaai padi thaandaai
Padi thaandaai…padi thaandaai..
Padi thaandaai…padi thaandaai…
Untasted by the calf,
Uncollected in a pot,
Like the sweet milk of a good cow
Spilling onto the ground and going to waste,
Neither enjoyed by me,
Nor of any use to my beloved lord,
Consumed by the pale longing of separation
Is the radiant beauty of my waist and skin.
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
A single finger came and touched me,
It plucked the veena (lute) of my nerves,
My heart wondered, "Is it him?
Is it really him?" and skipped a beat!
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Did a single finger come and touch you?
Did it pluck the veena of your nerves?
Deep within your soul,
Did it shoot an arrow of love?
Isn't she divine nectar born in the skies?
Isn't she rain that blossomed into a maiden?
Jasmine, magizham, and kurukkathi blooms—
Isn't her body woven together with all of them?
Touch me, touch my body!
There is a touch with the eyes,
And there is a touch with the fingers,
There is a difference between the two.
The touch of eyes pinches the soul,
The touch of fingers pinches the heart.
Isn't that what you mean to say?
Over a flower by the riverbank,
Like a rhythmic drizzle,
Are you stirring sweet joy and pain
Inside of me?
I offered one cheek first,
And you gave your other cheek, my girl!
Has the gentle breeze of Lord Jesus
Blown across us?
O life of our bond, my very life,
Make me whole as a woman!
Male: O beautiful one, beautiful one,
May your desire triumph!
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
A single finger came and touched me,
It plucked the veena of my nerves,
My heart wondered, "Is it him?
Is it really him?" and skipped a beat!
Like the sky that kisses the ocean
Without ever losing itself,
Shall I cling close to your body?
Like the life-breath dwelling
Everywhere within the body,
Shall I hold you tight?
I came to this earth searching for you,
You too came searching for me,
You and I
Have found one another!
While so many people fall in love
And their old love comes to an end,
For this earth to flourish, a brand-new love
We have brought into being!
Is it mist, or a drop of dew
Resting upon your lips?
Female: Whether it is dew or honey,
Why don't you taste it?
Touch!
Female: Touch!
Male: Touch my body!
Female: Touch my body!
Cross over!
Female: Cross over!
Male: Cross the threshold!
Female: Cross the threshold!
Did a single finger come and touch you?
Female: A single finger came and touched me!
Male: Did it pluck the veena of your nerves?
Female: It plucked the veena of my nerves!
Male: Deep within your soul,
Female: My heart wondered, "Is it him?
Male: Did it shoot an arrow of love?
Female: Is it really him?" and skipped a beat!
Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Chorus: Isn't she divine nectar born in the skies?
Female: Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Chorus: Isn't she rain that blossomed into a maiden?
Female: Touch me, touch my body!
Cross over, cross the threshold!
Cross the threshold... cross the threshold...
Cross the threshold... cross the threshold...
Female
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song 'Theendai Mei Theendai' from En Swasa Kaatre explores the deep physical and emotional intimacy between two lovers. It opens with a classical Sangam poem (Kuruntokai 27 by female poet Velliveedhiyar) comparing unfulfilled romantic passion to wasted cow's milk that neither nourishes the calf nor fills the pail. As the modern song unfolds, the lovers engage in a sensual dialogue distinguishing eye contact ('vizhi theendal') from physical touch ('mei theendal'), celebrating how physical intimacy fulfills spiritual longing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Classical Allusion (Sangam Literature)
“Kandrum unnaadhu Kalaththinum padaadhu...”
The introductory verse 'Kandrum unnaadhu...' directly quotes verse 27 of Kuruntokai composed by ancient Tamil poetess Velliveedhiyar.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“En narambodu veenai meettiyadhae”
Compares human nerves to the strings of a veena played by the touch of love.
Simile (Upamai)
“Nadhi ora poovin melae Jadhipaadum saaral polae”
Compares the delicate feeling of love to rhythmic rain falling gently on a flower along a riverbank.
Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Etukai)
“Theendaai mei theendaai / Thaandaai padi thaandaai”
Uses rhythmic assonance and rhyming roots ('Theendaai' / 'Thaandaai') to build musical momentum.
Did you know?
Trivia
Though attributed to A.R. Rahman, the soundtrack of En Swasa Kaatre features this sensual classical blend with ancient Sangam Tamil poetry (Kuruntokai 27), bridging 2000-year-old classical literature with modern film music orchestrations.
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