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Lyrics & meaning

Thendralukku Theriyuma

From Bharathi Kannamma · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Arun Mozhi, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Bharathi Kannamma1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ae…..ae…..aei…..ae….Ae…..ae…..aei…..ae….
Aei….ae…ae…ae……Aei….ae…ae…ae……
Male
Seaththu mada thorakka sevvaala meen thudikkaAs the mud sluice gate opens and the red-tailed fish wriggles,
Thaavi kudhichcha meenu thaavanikul vizhunthuvidaThe jumping fish landed inside her half-saree,
Paambu pugunthathunnu paruva ponnu koochchalidaThinking a snake had entered, the young girl screamed out,
Murai maaman oodi vanthu munthaanaikkul meen edukkaHer eligible cousin ran over to retrieve the fish from her pallu,
Vaala meena pudikka vanthu saelai mena pudichathenna oo….Coming to catch the fish with a tail, why did he end up catching the fish of a saree? Oh...
Female
Aaaaaaaa…..aa…..aa…..aa….Aaaaaaaa…..aa…..aa…..aa….
Male
Thendralukku theriyumaa themmaangu paattuDoes the gentle breeze know the rustic folk song?
Adhu ennaannu kettu oru mettu pottu kaattuAsk what it is, compose a tune, and sing it to us!
Thendralukku theriyumaa themmaangu paattuDoes the gentle breeze know the rustic folk song?
Adhu ennaannu kettu oru mettu pottu kaattuAsk what it is, compose a tune, and sing it to us!
Female
Thendralukku theriyumae themmaangu paattuIndeed, the breeze knows the rustic folk song!
Adhu paasamenum paattuIt is a song of deep affection.
Adha kaththu tharaporaen kaadha nee kaattuI will teach it to you, lend me your ear!
Thendralukku theriyumae themmangu paattuIndeed, the breeze knows the rustic folk song!
Chorus
………………….....................
Female
Ullankaiyil vanthu thaen vizhunthaaIf honey falls right onto your palm,
Adha urinchi kudippathill thappirukkaaIs there any harm in sipping and drinking it up?
Vanna sirukodi pooththirukkaaA colorful little creeper has blossomed,
Vandu kanna moodikondaal arththamundaaDoes it make sense if the beetle closes its eyes?
Male
Vaanaththila nilaa pooththirukkuThe moon has bloomed in the sky,
Vandu thaenedukka oru thembirukkaaDoes the bee have the courage to go up and take its honey?
Maattu kombil vanthu paal karakkaTrying to milk cow's milk from a bull's horn,
Manam aasapattaa athil thothirukkaaIf the mind desires so, is that a flaw or defeat?
Female
Erumbu oora kallum theyum idhu theriyaathaEven ants crawling continuously can wear away stone, don't you know this?
Male :Kalla vidavum ullam uruthi athu theriyaathaaMale: A resolute heart is firmer than stone, don't you know that?
Female :Vidukadhai potten oru vidai theriyaathaaFemale: I posed a riddle, don't you know the answer?
Male :Vidukadhai potten oru vidai theriyaathaaMale: I too posed a riddle, don't you know the answer?
Female
Ada yaendaa peraandiHey young lad!
Adha solla theriyalaiyaaCan't you explain it?
Naan solli thaarean vaariyaaCome, I shall explain it to you!
Chorus
…………………...................
Female
Ennaiyum thanniyum……Oil and water...
Male
Ennaiyum thanniyumOil and water,
Onnaa kalanthathillae kalanthathillaeHave never mixed together, never mixed together.
Nellai pola koraiyirukkumJust like chaff mixed with paddy,
Vilainjathilla vilainthathillaIt never yields a harvest, never yields!
Female
Nattu vechcha naaththu bhoomiyaThe planted sapling on earth,
Pidippathilla pidippathillaDoes not hold root, does not hold root!
Veru vitta piragu mannaiBut once rooted, from the soil,
Pirivathilla pirivathillaIt never separates, never separates!
Male
Paaraiyil vidhaichcha vidhaiA seed sown upon a hard rock,
Palanukku varuvathillaNever yields any fruit!
Female :Paaraiyilum sedi mulaikkumFemale: Even on rocks, plants can sprout, why haven't you seen that?
Yaen athai paaththathillaPeeling fiber from a stone,
Male
Kallula naar urikkumSuch a story has never happened anywhere!
Kadhai engum nadanthathillaFemale: Sculpting a statue out of stone, that art is no lie either!
Female :Kallula sela sedhukkumIs this a riddle or is it fate?
Kalai athu poiyum illaMy head is spinning around!
Male
Idhu vidukadhaiyaa illa vidhiyaaFemale: The true state of things will be understood, this is just evasive talk!
En thalai suththi pochchuHey young lad!
Female :Unmai nilai theriyumDidn't you hear what she said?
Adhu puriyum idhu mazhuppura pechchuCome, I will explain it to you!
Female
Ada yaendaa peraandiDoes the gentle breeze know the rustic folk song?
Ava sonnathu kekalaiyaaAsk what it is, compose a tune, and sing it to us!
Naan solli thaaren variyaa{Indeed, the breeze knows the rustic folk song!
Male
Thendralukku theriyumaa themmaangu paattuIt is a song of deep affection.
Adhu ennaannu kettu oru mettu pottu kaattuI will teach it to you, lend me your ear!} (2)
Female
{Thendralukku theriyumae themmaangu paattuIndeed, the breeze knows the rustic folk song!
Adhu paasamenum paattu
Adha kaththu tharaporaen kaadha nee kaattu} (2)
Female
Thendralukku theriyumae themmaangu paattu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thendralukku Theriyumaa is a vibrant folk duet from the movie Bharathi Kannamma (1997). The song opens with humorous rural imagery of a playful sluice-gate mishap, setting an affectionate tone. It quickly evolves into a lyrical riddle duel (Vidukadhai) between the lovers, supported by elders who mediate the banter. Through rural allegories—such as bees and flowers, ants carving rocks, oil and water mixing, and saplings taking root—the characters express their deep love, debate societal divisions, and test each other's emotional resolve.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaai (Alliteration)

Seaththu mada thorakka sevvaala meen thudikka / Thaavi kudhichcha meenu thaavanikul vizhunthuvida Performance of initial consonant harmony (Se/Se, Tha/Tha). Syntax creates rhythmic flow suited for folk song style.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Ennaiyum thanniyum... Onnaa kalanthathillae

Vidukadhai (Riddle Form)

Vidukadhai potten oru vidai theriyaathaa

Did you know?

Trivia

Bharathi Kannamma (1997), directed by Cheran, features music composed by Deva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song vividly captures traditional Tamil village banter and riddle-based courtship rituals (Vidukadhai paattu) common in southern Tamil Nadu folk culture.

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