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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thendrale Thendrale Thedinen

From Ilamai · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Shailaja, P. Jayachandran
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Ilamai1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Female :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaFemale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Male
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Female :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaFemale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Male
Un kannukkullae yaenintha veppangalWhy is there this heat within your eyes?
Female :En nenjukkul poo alli kottungalFemale: Shower handfuls of flowers into my heart!
Male :Paapappaa paapappaaMale: Paapappaa paapappaa
Male
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Female :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaFemale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Male
Yaeno paruvam vanthathuWhy did youth arrive?
Female :Unai yaar pazhaga sonnathuFemale: Who told you to get accustomed?
Male :Aahaa paravai vanthathuMale: Aha, the bird arrived.
Female :Maramaa kaditham pottathuFemale: Did the tree send a letter?
Male :Penmai vayasu vanthathuMale: Womanhood has reached its age.
Female :Thunaiyaai varuga endrathuFemale: It asked to come along as a companion.
Male :Aahaa nadhiyum vanthathuMale: Aha, the river also arrived.
Female: Kadalaa kannadiththathuFemale: Did the sea wink at it?
Female
Unaiyae ninaiththaen uyirai veruththaenI thought only of you, I grew weary of my life.
Nadhiyaai inainthaen nagamum karuththaenI merged like a river, my nails turned dark.
Male :Nadhiyae unakkum nadukkam yaenoMale: Oh river, why are you trembling too?
Female
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Male :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaMale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Un kannukkullae yaenintha veppangal aahaahaaWhy is there this heat within your eyes, aha aha?
Female :En nenjukkul poo alli kottungal…..Female: Shower handfuls of flowers into my heart...
Male :Paapppaa paapappaaMale: Paapppaa paapappaa
Female
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Male :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaMale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Chorus
…………….[Musical Interlude]
Male
Aahaa pudhiaya vellamaeAha, a new flood of water!
Female :Vaa vaa anai udaikka vaaFemale: Come, come, break the dam and enter!
Male :Neeyo azhagu rajjiyamMale: You are a kingdom of beauty.
Female :Naanum padai edukkavaaFemale: Shall I launch an invasion?
Male :Vaa vaa kaaman thambiyaeMale: Come, come, younger brother of Cupid!
Female :Neeyum kalithuvakkuvaaiFemale: You start the celebration too!
Male :Aasai manathu polavaeMale: Just like a desiring heart,
Female :Naanum madai thirakkavaaFemale: Shall I open the sluice gates?
Female
Ilamai mayakkamThe intoxication of youth,
Male :Idhamaai irukkumMale: Will feel comforting.
Female :Irukkum varaikkumFemale: As long as it lasts,
Male :Idhayam surakkumMale: The heart will overflow with love.
Uyirai kasakkum nerukkam inbamThe closeness that squeezes life is bliss.
Male
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Female :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaFemale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Male :Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaMale: Oh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Female :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaaFemale: As youth arrived, I withered, come.
Male
Un kannukkullae yaenintha veppangalWhy is there this heat within your eyes?
Female :En nenjukkul poo alli kottungalFemale: Shower handfuls of flowers into my heart!
Both :Paapappaa paapappaaBoth: Paapappaa paapappaa
Male
Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaaOh gentle breeze, gentle breeze, I searched for you, come.
Female :Vaalibam vanthathum vaadinaen vaa….Female: As youth arrived, I withered, come...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Thendralae Thendralae' from the movie 'Ilamai' (1985) is a passionate romantic duet between two young lovers celebrating the onset of youth and mutual desire. Set to lyricist Vairamuthu's vivid imagery, the song uses elements of nature—such as the gentle breeze, flowing rivers, birds, and bursting floods—as metaphors for physical attraction and emotional intensity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Male :Neeyo azhagu rajjiyam

The male lead compares the female lover to a kingdom of beauty ('azhagu rajjiyam') open to romantic conquest.

Personification (Maanidamayakuthal)

Female: Kadalaa kannadiththathu

Nature is given human traits, such as the ocean winking at the river ('Kadalaa kannadiththathu').

Rhyme & Assonance (Iyaibu & Ethukai)

Ilamai mayakkam / Idhamaai irukkum / Irukkum varaikkum / Idhayam surakkum

Extensive use of end-rhyming and internal vowel matching ('mayakkam', 'irukkum', 'varaikkum', 'surakkum') creates a smooth, rhythmic flow.

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku Thodar)

Thendralae thendralae thedinaen vaa

The repetition of 'thendralae' underscores longing and creates a lingering musical effect.

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Trivia

The song showcases lyricist Vairamuthu's signature style from the mid-1980s, weaving sensual imagery together with elements of geography and natural forces.

Keep listening

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