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Lyrics & meaning

Thenmadurai Seemaiyile

From Thangamana Raasa · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thangamana Raasa1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Kalyaanam eppo sollammaTell me, when is the wedding, dear girl?
En kannammaa sollammaTell me, my beloved Kannamma!
Yendi vetkamaaWhy are you feeling so shy?
Female
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Kalyaanam panni kolluvomWe shall get married,
En ponnammaaMy precious golden girl,
Sollaama alli kolluvomWithout telling anyone, we shall embrace each other.
Female
Naan enna sollaWhat can I say in response?
Vaartha yedhum sikkavillaNo words seem to come to mind.
Nalla thaiyil velli kaalaOn a Friday morning in the auspicious month of Thai,
Naanga maatha porom maalaWe are going to exchange garlands.
Female
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Kalyaanam panni kolluvomWe shall get married,
En ponnammaaMy precious golden girl,
Sollaama alli kolluvomWithout telling anyone, we shall embrace each other.
Female
Maala mayakkathulaIn the evening stupor,
Maaman veettulaIn my maternal uncle's home,
Vela naan paathu poven roomulaI will finish my chores and head to the room.
Chorus :AahaaChorus: Aahaa
Female
Paala nan koduthaaWhen I offered milk,
Maaman vaangalaMy uncle didn't accept it.
Paatha paarvaiyilaIn the gaze he bestowed upon me,
Edhuvum thonalaNothing else seemed clear.
Chorus :HaaChorus: Haa
Female
Ennoda maeniya thaanHe would embrace my body,
Ponnaaga aravanaippaanTreating it like precious gold.
Sonnaa sooraavali vegam thaanIf told, he moves with the speed of a cyclone!
Kan moodi irukka veppaanHe makes me close my eyes,
Ulloora sirikka veppaanHe makes me smile deep within,
Pannum sarasathula raajan thaanHe is a king when it comes to playful romance!
Female
Sokkudhu ninnu ponnunnuStanding fascinated like a bride,
Podudhu oru kolam thaanA lovely pattern (kolam) is formed.
Naan enni enni paarthenI thought about it over and over again,
Ini mela solla maattenI won't say anything more beyond this!
Female
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Kalyaanam panni kolluvomWe shall get married,
En ponnammaaMy precious golden girl,
Sollaama alli kolluvomWithout telling anyone, we shall embrace each other.
Chorus
Haa….aaa…aa….Haa....aaa...aa....
Haaa….aaa…aaa..Haaa....aaa...aaa..
Haaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…..Haaa...aaa...aaa...aaa...aaa.....
Female
Kaala nerathulaIn the early morning hours,
Vaigai aathulaIn the river Vaigai,
Naan thaan neeraadaWhen I went to bathe,
Yaarum paakkalaNo one was watching.
Chorus : HaahaanChorus: Haahaan
Female
Manja kezhangeduthuTaking fresh turmeric roots,
Arachen kallulaI ground them on the grinding stone.
Eduthu naan poosaWhen I tried to apply it to myself,
Ennaal mudiyalaI couldn't do it alone.
Chorus : HaanChorus: Haan
Female
Aal aravam kettadhammaaI heard the sound of footsteps, dear,
Alli mugam verthadhammaaMy flower-like face began to sweat, dear.
Vandha aalu adhu yaarammaaWho was the person who arrived, dear?
Chandhirana pola vandhuComing like the bright Moon,
Indhirana pola angaeStanding there like Lord Indra,
Vandhaan maamanCame my maternal uncle,
Avan thaanammaaYes, it was him, my dear!
Female
Thottu eduthu angangaeReaching out and touching me everywhere,
Muthira vechaan paarammaaLook how he left his marks/kisses, my dear!
Ada rendu perum sirichomAh, both of us shared a smile,
Appuram onnaa serndhu kulichomAnd then we bathed together!
Chorus
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Kalyaanam eppo sollammaTell me, when is the wedding, dear girl?
En kannammaa sollammaTell me, my beloved Kannamma!
Yendi vetkamaaWhy are you feeling so shy?
Female
Naan enna sollaWhat can I say in response?
Vaartha yedhum sikkavillaNo words seem to come to mind.
Nalla thaiyil velli kaalaOn a Friday morning in the auspicious month of Thai,
Naanga maatha porom maalaWe are going to exchange garlands.
Female
Then madhura seemaiyilaIn the sweet southern land of Madurai,
Meenaatchi kovililaIn the temple of Goddess Meenakshi,
Kalyaanam panni kolluvomWe shall get married,
En ponnammaaMy precious golden girl,
Sollaama alli kolluvomWithout telling anyone, we shall embrace each other.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Then Madhura Seemaiyila' is a romantic folk duets from the film 'Thangamana Raasa' (1989). Set against the cultural backdrop of Madurai and the sacred Meenakshi Amman Temple, the song captures a playful conversation between two lovers anticipating their upcoming wedding. They express their deep affection, shyness, and intimate romantic moments, looking forward to exchanging wedding garlands during the auspicious Tamil month of Thai.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Then madhura seemaiyila / Meenaatchi kovilila

The second consonant 'na' (ன) rhymes across lines in 'Then madhura' and 'Meenaatchi'.

Simile (Upamanalankara)

Chandhirana pola vandhu / Indhirana pola angae

Comparing the hero's arrival and grand presence to the Moon ('Chandhirana pola') and Lord Indra ('Indhirana pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Ennoda maeniya thaan / Ponnaaga aravanaippaan

Refers to the maiden's body as gold ('ponnaaga') and her face as a lily flower ('Alli mugam').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Sonnaa sooraavali vegam thaan

Exaggerating the speed of his romantic advances as swift as a cyclone ('sooraavali vegam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the music for 'Thangamana Raasa' is credited to Deva, Gangai Amaran penned the lyrics for this track capturing the authentic rural flavor of southern Tamil Nadu folk traditions.

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