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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thenkasi Thene

From Brahmachari (1992 Film) · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Mano, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Details
Brahmachari (1992 Film)1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thenkasi thaenae kuttraala kuyilaeOh honey of Tenkasi, cuckoo of Courtallam!
En meedhu yaen kobamoWhy are you angry with me?
Female :Sillendru vellam paaikindra ullamFemale: The heart through which a cool flood flows,
Santhosham kondaaduthoIs it celebrating happiness?
Male
Padithen paamaalamaalai…I recited a garland of verse-garlands...
Female :Thoduththen poomaalaiFemale: I wove a flower garland!
Male :Namma rajangamthaanMale: It is our own kingdom!
Idhu poorvaangamthanThis is just the prelude!
Ini paai pottu naam paadumHow many songs will we sing hereafter,
Paadalgal eththanaiyoSpreading out a mat?
Male
Thenkasi thaenae kuttraala kuyilaeOh honey of Tenkasi, cuckoo of Courtallam!
En meedhu yaen kobamoWhy are you angry with me?
Female :Sillendru vellam paaikindra ullamFemale: The heart through which a cool flood flows,
Santhosham kondaaduthoIs it celebrating happiness?
Male
Ellaarum kavingnadiEveryone becomes a poet,
Kadhal seiyyum velaiyilaeWhen they fall in love!
Illaatha santham pidippaen naanthaanI am the one who catches non-existent rhythms,
Un meedhu sinthu padippaenAnd sings a 'sinthu' poem on you!
Female
Ennaalum poiyya solliAlways telling lies,
Paatteduppaar kavingar ellaamAll poets compose songs!
Un paattu antha kanakkuIs your song of that type?
Poovai suttraathae kaadhil enakkuDon't fool me by wrapping flowers around my ears!
Male
Saththiyamaa neethaan oru chiththiraththai polaeTruly, you are like a fine painting!
Female :Intha kavi pothum nee kambanukkum maelaeFemale: This poetry is enough, you excel even Kamban!
Male :Un adimai naanae ila maanae pasunthaenaeMale: I am your slave, young deer, pure honey!
Male
Thenkasi thaenae kuttraala kuyilaeOh honey of Tenkasi, cuckoo of Courtallam!
En meedhu yaen kobamoWhy are you angry with me?
Female :Sillendru vellam paaikindra ullamFemale: The heart through which a cool flood flows,
Santhosham kondaaduthoIs it celebrating happiness?
Female
Andraadam raaththiriilEvery night,
Vennilaavai thoothu vittuSending the moonlight as a messenger,
Kann paarvai pooththu kidappaenMy eyes stay wide awake in bloom,
Unnai kai sera kaaththu kidappenWaiting to hold your hands!
Female
Un perai naanum inaeYour name, sweet one,
Ooyaamalthaan utcharippaenI will utter incessantly!
Vaayaadum vannakkiliyaeOh chatty colorful parrot!
Neeyae vaarayo thannanthaniyaeWon't you come all by yourself?
Female
Ullaththilae aasai pudhu vellamena paayaAs desire surges like a new flood in the heart,
Male :Un madiyil naanum siru pillaiyena saayaMale: So that I may lean on your lap like a little child!
Female :Paadattumaa paattu adha kettu thalaiyaattuFemale: Shall I sing a song? Listen to it and nod your head!
Male
Thenkasi thaenae kuttraala kuyilaeOh honey of Tenkasi, cuckoo of Courtallam!
En meedhu yaen kobamoWhy are you angry with me?
Female :Sillendru vellam paaikindra ullamFemale: The heart through which a cool flood flows,
Santhosham kondaaduthoIs it celebrating happiness?
Male
Padithen paamaalamaalai…I recited a garland of verse-garlands...
Female :Thoduththen poomaalaiFemale: I wove a flower garland!
Male :Namma rajangamthaanMale: It is our own kingdom!
Idhu poorvaangamthanThis is just the prelude!
Ini paai pottu naam paadumHow many songs will we sing hereafter,
Paadalgal eththanaiyoSpreading out a mat?
Male
Thenkasi thaenae kuttraala kuyilaeOh honey of Tenkasi, cuckoo of Courtallam!
En meedhu yaen kobamoWhy are you angry with me?
Female :Sillendru vellam paaikindra ullamFemale: The heart through which a cool flood flows,
Santhosham kondaadutho….Is it celebrating happiness?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thenkasi Thaenae is a sweet and playful romantic duet depicting the affectionate banter between two lovers. The male protagonist addresses his beloved using romantic imagery associated with southern Tamil regions—calling her the sweet honey of Tenkasi and the singing cuckoo of Courtallam—while gently asking why she seems upset with him. The female protagonist responds with equal affection, teasing his poetic embellishments while admitting how much joy his presence brings to her heart. As their conversation unfolds, they trade loving compliments, compare their romance to a grand kingdom, and speak of sleepless nights spent dreaming of each other. The song celebrates love through poetic expressions, playful teasing, and a deep emotional connection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thenkasi thaenae kuttraala kuyilae

Directly equating the beloved to the sweetness of Tenkasi honey and the melody of a Courtallam cuckoo bird.

Simile (Uvamaani)

Saththiyamaa neethaan oru chiththiraththai polae

Comparing the heroine's physical beauty to a divine portrait using the comparative word 'polae'.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Padithen paamaalamaalai…

Repetition of the 'pa' sound across words ('Padithen', 'paamaalamaalai') establishing melodic rhythm.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Intha kavi pothum nee kambanukkum maelae

Exaggerating the male lead's poetic skills by humorously declaring him greater than the legendary Tamil poet Kamban.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyricist Vairamuthu frequently incorporates geographical metaphors and natural landmarks from southern Tamil Nadu into his romantic songs. By referring to Tenkasi honey and the Courtallam cuckoo, he invokes the famous lush, waterfall-rich landscape of Tenkasi/Courtallam, adding regional flavor and vivid natural imagery to the song's romance.

Keep listening

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