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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thennamarathula Thendraladikkudhu

From Lakshmi (1979) · 1979

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Susheela, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Lakshmi (1979)1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Male
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Naan dhinam thorum rasichaalumEven if I relish it every single day
Thigattaadhu pasikkaadhuI am never satiated, nor do I feel hungry
Chinna mani kuyilaeLittle sweet cuckoo
Adiyae unnai ninaikkaiyilaeHey, when thinking of you
Male
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Female
Kannam sivakkudhuCheeks turn red
Ennam thavikkudhuThoughts long deeply
Unna nenaikkaiyilaeWhen thinking of you
Idhamaa enna anaikkaiyilaeWhen gently embracing me
Kannu simittudhu enna verattudhuEyes wink and tease me
Mella chirikkaiyilaeWhen smiling softly
Nee thaan enna rasikkaiyilaeWhen you relish me
Male
Ullam silirkkudhuThe heart shivers in excitement
Minni sokikkudhuIt flashes and dazzles
Katti pudikkaiylaeWhen hugging tightly
Nesamaa kaiya pudikkaiyilaeWhen holding hands affectionately
Idhu anaichaalum koraiyaadhuEven if extinguished, this fire won't diminish
Azhichaalum maraiyaadhuEven if erased, it won't disappear
Solla therinjirundhumEven though I know how to express it
Adha naan solla mudiyalaiyaeI am unable to say it out loud
Female
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Naan dhinam thorum rasichaalumEven if I relish it every single day
Thigattaadhu pasikkaadhuI am never satiated, nor do I feel hungry
Chinna mani kuyilaeLittle sweet cuckoo
Dhenamum unnai ninaikkaiyilaeEvery day when thinking of you
Female
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Male
Pattu kaluthula muthu theriyudhuPearls glisten on the silky neck
Ponnu sirikkaiyilaeWhen the girl smiles
Azhagu kanna parikkaiyilaeHer beauty dazzles the eyes
Thottu thazhuvunnu solli azhaikkudhuIt calls out asking to touch and embrace
Indha manasinilaeIn this heart
Rendum chinna vayasinilaeBoth at a tender young age
Female
Vittu vilagunnuAsking to step back
Vetkam thadukkudhuShyness holds one back
Poga mudiyalaiyaeUnable to walk away
Enakku yedhum puriyalaiyaeI don't understand anything
Naan paai pottu paduthaalumEven if I lay out a mat to sleep
Paalaaga kudichaalumEven if I drink pure milk
Thookkam pudikkalaiyaeSleep eludes me
Enakku yedhum rusikkalaiyaeNothing tastes good to me anymore
Male
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Female
ChinnanjirusugaThe young lovers
Konji kulavudhuAre cuddling and fondling
Andhi pozhudhinilaeIn the evening twilight
Oonjal aala vizhudhinilaeSwinging on the aerial roots of the banyan tree
Male
Kanni vayasulaIn youthful maiden age
Ponnu sirikkudhuThe girl smiles
Enna sugam adhilaeWhat sweet joy lies in that
Nenachu yengi thavippadhilaeIn yearning and longing through thoughts
Female
Inba nenappulaIn thoughts of bliss
Vendhu thavikkudhuBurning with longing
Patta pagalinilaeIn broad daylight
Koluthum uchi veyilinilaeIn the scorching mid-day sun
Male
Idhu thaanaaga aaraadhuThis passion won't cool down on its own
Thazhuvaama theeraadhuIt won't subside without a warm embrace
Female
Onnum puriyalaiyaeI understand nothing
Purinjum sollatheriyalaiyaeEven understanding it, I don't know how to explain
Male
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Naan dhinam thorum rasichaalumEven if I relish it every single day
Thigattaadhu pasikkaadhuI am never satiated, nor do I feel hungry
Chinna mani kuyilaeLittle sweet cuckoo
Adiyae unnai ninaikkaiyilaeHey, when thinking of you
Female
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest
Naan dhinam thorum rasichaalumEven if I relish it every single day
Thigattaadhu pasikkaadhuI am never satiated, nor do I feel hungry
Chinna mani kuyilaeLittle sweet cuckoo
Dhenamum unnai ninaikkaiyilaeEvery day when thinking of you
Male
Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhuThe breeze blows in the coconut tree
Nandhavana kiliyaeOh parrot of the flower garden
Adiyae punna vana kuyilaeHey cuckoo of the punnai forest

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Thenna marathula thendraladikkudhu' is a classic rural Tamil romantic song that captures the tender, overwhelming emotions of young love. Set against the serene backdrop of nature—gentle breezes blowing through coconut groves, garden parrots, and cuckoos—the song uses natural elements to mirror the internal excitement, shyness, and sweet agony felt by lovers. The lyrics vividly depict the physical and emotional symptoms of falling in love: blushing cheeks, restless thoughts, loss of appetite, and sleepless nights. It emphasizes a passion so deep that words cannot fully express it, depicting a pure and innocent love that flourishes amidst simple village life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaimai)

Nandhavana kiliyae / Adiyae punna vana kuyilae

Addressing the beloved as 'Nandhavana kiliyae' (parrot of the flower garden) and 'punna vana kuyilae' (cuckoo of the punnai forest) metaphorically compares her sweetness, beauty, and voice to cherished birds.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Idhamaa enna anaikkaiyilae / Mella chirikkaiyilae

The repeated usage of words ending with '-aiyilae' ('anaikkaiyilae', 'chirikkaiyilae', 'rasikkaiyilae', 'pudikkaiyilae') creates a melodic and rhythmic end-rhyme across lines.

Edhugai (Second letter agreement)

Kannam sivakkudhu / Ennam thavikkudhu

The second consonant 'n' is matched across adjacent lines ('Kannam' and 'Ennam'), giving rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1979 film 'Lakshmi', this song showcases his signature ability to blend folk-infused imagery with accessible, deeply expressive Tamil romantic lyrics.

Keep listening

More from Lakshmi (1979)