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Isaimozhi
Udhaya Geetham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thene Thenpaandi

From Udhaya Geetham · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Udhaya Geetham
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
3 Jun 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaenae thenpaandi meenae
Isai thenae isai thenae
Thaenae thenpaandi meenae
Isai thenae isai thenae
Maanae ila maanae
Needhaan sendhaamaarai
Aareeraaroo
Netri moondraampirai
Thaalaelaeloo
Thaenae thenpaandi meenae
Isai thenae isai thenae
Maanae ila maanae
Maalai veiyil velaiyil
Madhurai varum thendralae
Aadi maadha vaigaiyil
Aadi varum vellamae
Nanjai punjai naalum undu
Neeyum adhai aalalaam
Maaman veettu mayilum undu
Maalai katti podalaam
Raajaa needhan nenjathilae
Nirkum pillai
Thaenae thenpaandi meenae
Isai thenae isai thenae
Paal kudutha nenjilae
Eeram innum kaayalae
Paal manathai paarkkiren
Pillai undhan vaayilae
Paadhai konjam maari ponaal
Paasam vittu pogumaa
Thaazham poovai dhoora vaithaal
Vaasam vittu pogumaa
Raaja needhaan
Naan edutha muthu pillai
Thaenae thenpaandi meenae
Isai thenae isai thenae
Maanae ila maanae
Needhaan sendhaamaarai
Aareeraaroo
Netri moondraampirai
Thaalaelaeloo
Thaenae thenpaandi meenae
Isai thenae isai thenae
Maanae ila maanae
My honey, sweet fish of the southern Pandya land,
O sweet melody, I sang this song for you!
My honey, sweet fish of the southern Pandya land,
O sweet melody, I sang this song for you!
My deer, my tender little deer,
You are a fresh red lotus,
Aariraaro,
Your forehead is a crescent moon,
Thaalelelo,
My honey, sweet fish of the southern Pandya land,
O sweet melody, I sang this song for you!
My deer, my tender little deer,
In the glow of the evening sun,
You are the gentle breeze that visits Madurai,
In the month of Aadi,
You are the joyous flood dancing on the Vaigai river!
There are rich wetlands and dry fields awaiting you,
And you can rule over them all;
There is a peacock at your uncle's home,
For whom you can tie a wedding garland!
My prince, you are the child...
...who stays forever in my heart!
My honey, sweet fish of the southern Pandya land,
O sweet melody, I sang this song for you!
In the heart that nursed you,
The tenderness has not yet dried;
I can still smell the sweet scent of milk,
On your little lips, my child!
Even if our paths have drifted apart a bit,
Will our deep love ever fade away?
If you place a fragrant screwpine flower far away,
Will its sweet scent ever leave it?
You are my prince,
The precious pearl of a child I raised in my arms!
My honey, sweet fish of the southern Pandya land,
O sweet melody, I sang this song for you!
My deer, my tender little deer,
You are a fresh red lotus,
Aariraaro,
Your forehead is a crescent moon,
Thaalelelo,
My honey, sweet fish of the southern Pandya land,
O sweet melody, I sang this song for you!
My deer, my tender little deer!
Male
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Male
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Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Thaenae Thenpaandi Meenae' from Udhaya Geetham (1985) is an iconic Tamil lullaby that expresses deep emotional warmth, bonding, and unconditional love towards a child. Lyricist Vaali uses rich cultural motifs from Tamil literature—referencing Madurai, the Vaigai river flood, and the ancient Pandya dynasty symbol of the fish—to extol the child's purity and royalty in the speaker's eyes. The song poetically argues that just as fragrance cannot be separated from a screwpine flower, maternal/paternal affection can never be severed by mere distance or changes in life's path. Ilaiyaraaja's soothing melodic composition and gentle rhythmic structure enhance the timeless lullaby quality of the track.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

“Needhaan sendhaamaarai”

Comparing the child directly to 'thenpaandi meenae' (Pandyan fish), 'sendhaamaarai' (red lotus), and 'muthu pillai' (pearl child) to denote value and purity.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Paadhai konjam maari ponaal”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound across lines such as 'Paadhai' and 'Thaazham', or 'Nanjai' and 'Maaman'.

Anaapora / Repetition

“Isai thenae isai thenae”

Repetition of 'Isai thenae' and lullaby refrain words ('Aareeraaroo', 'Thaalaelaeloo') to establish a gentle rhythmic pattern.

Imagery (Visual & Olfactory)

“Thaazham poovai dhoora vaithaal / Vaasam vittu pogumaa”

Evoking strong sensory images through references to the Madurai breeze, Aadi river flood, and the sweet scent of the screwpine flower (Thaazhampoo).

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the user context mentions unknown details, this celebrated lullaby from Udhaya Geetham was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, written by Vaali, and rendered in distinct emotional versions by K.J. Yesudas and S.P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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