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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thenandal Koyilukku

From Naagam · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Naagam
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
8 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thenaandaal koyilukku vilakkeththi pottaen
Unnodu naan vaazha varam onnu kettaen
Thenaandaal koyilukku vilakkeththi pottaen
Unnodu naan vaazha varam onnu kettaen
Edhai paarththapothum unai pola thonum
Idhu pothum ingae enakkenna venum
Ooo….oo….oo….ooo….oo….oo….ooo….oo…ooo….
Thenaandaal koyilukku vilakkeththi pottaen
Unnodu naan vaazha varam onnu kettaen
Iduppukku melae uduththura sela
Enakkoru paaram polae iruppathanaalae
Iduppukku melae uduththura sela
Enakkoru paaram polae iruppathanaalae
Thegam thallaada intha thaamaraipoo vaada
Thegam thallaada intha thaamaraipoo vaada
Paayai poda paattu paada neeyum naanumthaan
Saari paambum naagapaambum serum neranthaan
Thenaandaal koyilukku vilakkeththi pottaen
Unnodu naan vaazha varam onnu kettaen
Ilampirai polae irukkura mogam
Pozhuthuthaan poga poga pournami aagum
Ilampirai polae irukkura mogam
Pozhuthuthaan poga poga pournami aagum
Aasaigal undaaga chinna aalilai thindaada
Aasaigal undaaga chinna aalilai thindaada
Maalai pottu valaiyal maattu nee en kayilthaan
Neeyilaatti nilavum kooda kaththiri veyyilthaan
Thenaandaal koyilukku vilakkeththi pottaen
Unnodu naan vaazha varam onnu kettaen
Edhai paarththapothum unai pola thonum
Idhupothum ingae enakkenna venum
Ooo….oo….oo….ooo….oo….oo….ooo….oo…ooo….
I lit a lamp at Thenandal temple,
And asked for a blessing to live with you.
I lit a lamp at Thenandal temple,
And asked for a blessing to live with you.
Whatever I look at, it reminds me of you,
This is enough—what else could I ever want?
Oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh...
I lit a lamp at Thenandal temple,
And asked for a blessing to live with you.
Even the saree draped above my waist
Has begun to feel like a heavy burden to me,
Even the saree draped above my waist
Has begun to feel like a heavy burden to me,
As my body wavers and this lotus blossom wilts,
As my body wavers and this lotus blossom wilts,
It is just you and me to lay the mat and sing our song,
This is the hour for the two serpents to unite.
I lit a lamp at Thenandal temple,
And asked for a blessing to live with you.
This passion, like a crescent moon,
Will grow into a full moon as time passes.
This passion, like a crescent moon,
Will grow into a full moon as time passes.
As desires awaken and my tender banyan-leaf waist trembles,
As desires awaken and my tender banyan-leaf waist trembles,
Place a garland around me and slip bangles onto my hands,
Without you, even the moonlight burns like the scorching summer sun.
I lit a lamp at Thenandal temple,
And asked for a blessing to live with you.
Whatever I look at, it reminds me of you,
This is enough—what else could I ever want?
Oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh... oh...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thenaandaal Koyilukku is a sensual romantic track from the 1985 Tamil movie Naagam. The song depicts a woman expressing her deep devotion and longing for her lover. She begins by describing how she lit a sacred lamp at the Thenandal temple, praying to the deity for the single blessing of sharing her life with him. Every object around her reflects her lover's face, filling her world with complete fulfillment. As the melody unfolds, she poetically articulates her intimacy and passionate yearning, describing how her love grows from a crescent to a full moon and how even gentle moonlight feels scorching in his absence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Ilampirai polae irukkura mogam

Compares the budding desire/passion to a young crescent moon ('Ilampirai polae irukkura mogam') that gradually matures into a full moon.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Neeyilaatti nilavum kooda kaththiri veyyilthaan

Compares the lover's absence to unbearable heat, stating that even soothing moonlight feels like the scorching May sun ('Kaththiri veyyil') without him.

Monaib / Alliteration

Paayai poda paattu paada neeyum naanumthaan

Repetition of the initial 'p' sound in 'Paayai poda paattu paada' creates a rhythmic, melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the movie Naagam (1985), starring Action King Arjun and Radha, directed by Karthik Raghunath. The legendary lyricist Vaali cleverly incorporated snake imagery ('Saari paambum naagapaambum') into the romantic lyrics to weave in the snake-centric theme of the movie's title.

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