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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thenna Mara thoppukkulle

From Kannamma · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Kannamma1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thenna mara thoppukullaeInside the coconut grove
Paartha gyabagamI remember seeing you
Nee saelai kaaya podum podhuWhen you were putting your saree out to dry
Paartha gyabagam paartha gyabagamI remember seeing it, I remember seeing it
Female
Munnae vandhu ninnadhagaThat you came and stood in front of me
Konjam gyabagamI vaguely remember
Munnae vandhu ninnadhagaThat you came and stood in front of me
Konjam gyabagamI vaguely remember
Ennai mulusaaga paarthadhaagaThat you looked at me completely
Enakku gyabagam enakku gyabagamI remember it, I remember it
Male
Ennakkum gyabagamI remember it too
Thenna mara thoppukullaeInside the coconut grove
Paartha gyabagamI remember seeing you
Male
Udhavi seiya sonnadhaagaThat you asked for help
Yedho gyabagamI vaguely remember
Female :Udambai konjamFemale: Touching my body
Thottadhaaga enakku gyabagamA little, I remember that
Male
Udhavi seiya sonnadhaagaThat you asked for help
Yedho gyabagamI vaguely remember
Female :Udambai konjamFemale: Touching my body
Thottadhaaga enakku gyabagamA little, I remember that
Male
Innum konjam thodattumaannuAsking if you could touch a bit more
Ketta gyabagam…ketta gyabagamI remember asking... I remember asking
Female :Idhu varaikkum podhumunnuFemale: Saying that this was enough for now
Sonna gyabagam sonna gyabagamI remember saying it, I remember saying it
Female
Thennai mara thoppukkullaeInside the coconut grove
Paartha gyabagamI remember seeing you
Male :Nee saelai kaaya podum podhuMale: When you were putting your saree out to dry
Paartha gyabagam paartha gyabagamI remember seeing it, I remember seeing it
Chorus
……………....
Female
Kaadhalaaga irundha podhu kanavu vandhadhuWhen it was love, dreams came along
Male :Adhu kalyanathil mudintha podhu kaikku vandhadhuMale: When it ended in marriage, it came into hand
Female
Kaadhalaaga irundha podhu kanavu vandhadhuWhen it was love, dreams came along
Male :Adhu kalyanathil mudintha podhu kaikku vandhadhuMale: When it ended in marriage, it came into hand
Male
Bodhaiyaaga irundhadhellam purinthu vittadhu…purinthu vittadhuEverything that was like intoxication became understood... became understood
Female :Naan purinthu kolla muyalum podhuFemale: As I tried to understand it
Vidinthu vittadhu vidinthu vittadhuDawn arrived, dawn arrived
Male
Thennai mara thoppukkullaeInside the coconut grove
PaarthagyabagamI remember seeing you
Nee saelai kaaya podum podhuWhen you were putting your saree out to dry
Paartha gyabagam paartha gyabagamI remember seeing it, I remember seeing it
Female
Munnae vandhu ninnadhagaThat you came and stood in front of me
Konjam gyabagamI vaguely remember
Ennai mulusaaga paarthadhaagaThat you looked at me completely
Enakku gyabagam enakku gyabagamI remember it, I remember it
Male
Ada ennakkum gyabagamOh, I remember it too!
Chorus
……………....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This nostalgic romantic duet features a playful banter between a husband and wife as they fondly recall the early days of their romance. Starting with their secretive encounters in a coconut grove while drying clothes, they playfully reminisce about initial touches, shy requests, and timid boundaries. As the song progresses, they reflect on how their sweet courtship dreams transformed into the reality of marriage, bringing clarity, intimacy, and a lifetime of shared laughter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Mondhu/Gyabagam)

Paartha gyabagam paartha gyabagam

The phrase 'Paartha gyabagam' and variations ending with 'gyabagam' (remember) are repeatedly used at the end of lines to emphasize playful recollection.

Emona / Rhyme (Iyaibhum Monai)

Kaadhalaaga irundha podhu kanavu vandhadhu

Rhyming words like 'vandhadhu' and 'vandhadhu' in adjacent lines establish melodic symmetry.

Antithesis / Contrast

Bodhaiyaaga irundhadhellam purinthu vittadhu

Contrasting the dream-like state of love before marriage with the practical reality after tying the knot.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Shankar Ganesh with lyrics penned by the legend Kannadasan, 'Paartha Gyabagam' remains one of the iconic romantic duet compositions from Tamil cinema in the early 1970s, showcasing T.M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela's timeless vocal chemistry.

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