Thenthoongum
From Kodai Mazhai · 1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaa….aaa….aa….aaa… | Ah... ah... ah... ah... |
| Aaa….aaa….aaa… | Ah... ah... ah... |
| Female | |
| Thaen thoongum poovae | Oh flower in which honey slumbers, |
| Vaadaamal vaazhga | May you live without ever fading! |
| Paal vennilaavae thaeyaamal vaazhga | Oh milky white moon, live without waning! |
| Ila maanae unnodu | Oh gentle young doe, along with you, |
| Nizhal polae pinnodu varuven naanae | I will follow behind like a shadow. |
| Female | |
| Paavaendhar paadiya paadal | Is the song sung by the king of poets, |
| Magalae un vaarthai thaano | Your sweet words, my child? |
| Moovaendhar maaligai dheepam | Is the bright lamp in the palace of the ancient kings, |
| Magalae un paarvai thaano | Your radiant glance, my child? |
| Female | |
| Paavaendhar paadiya paadal | Is the song sung by the king of poets, |
| Magalae un vaarthai thaano | Your sweet words, my child? |
| Moovaendhar maaligai dheepam | Is the bright lamp in the palace of the ancient kings, |
| Magalae un paarvai thaano | Your radiant glance, my child? |
| Female | |
| Nenjae ponnoonjal polae | Like a golden swing in my heart, |
| Selvamae vandhu aadu | Come and swing playfully, my treasure! |
| Saeyum thaayum naalellaam | Child and mother, all through the days, |
| Serndhu vaazhalaam | Let us live together happily! |
| Female | |
| Thaen thoongum poovae | Oh flower in which honey slumbers, |
| Vaadaamal vaazhga | May you live without ever fading! |
| Female | |
| Aagaayam boomi anaithum | Everything across the sky and the earth, |
| Neeyaaga thondrudhammaa | Appears to me as only you, my dear child! |
| Naan kaanum kanavugal unnaal | All the dreams that I dream, |
| Niraivaera koodumammaa | Are bound to come true because of you, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Aagaayam boomi anaithum | Everything across the sky and the earth, |
| Neeyaaga thondrudhammaa | Appears to me as only you, my dear child! |
| Naan kaanum kanavugal unnaal | All the dreams that I dream, |
| Niraivaera koodumammaa | Are bound to come true because of you, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Neeyae ingillaiyaanaal | If you are not present here with me, |
| Mannil naan vaazhvadhaedhu | How can I possibly live on this earth? |
| Naeram kaalam maaralaam | Times and circumstances may change, |
| Naesam maarumo | But will our deep love ever change? |
| Female | |
| Thaen thoongum poovae | Oh flower in which honey slumbers, |
| Vaadaamal vaazhga | May you live without ever fading! |
| Paal vennilaavae thaeyaamal vaazhga | Oh milky white moon, live without waning! |
| Ila maanae unnodu | Oh gentle young doe, along with you, |
| Nizhal polae pinnodu varuven naanae | I will follow behind like a shadow. |
| Female | |
| Thaen thoongum poovae | Oh flower in which honey slumbers, |
| Vaadaamal vaazhga | May you live without ever fading! |
ஆஆஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ......ஆஅ......
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.......ஆஅ....
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Ah... ah... ah...
தேன் தூங்கும் பூவே
வாடாமல் வாழ்க
பால் வெண்ணிலாவே தேயாமல் வாழ்க
இள மானே உன்னோடு
நிழல் போலே பின்னோடு வருவேன் நானே
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
May you live without ever fading!
Oh milky white moon, live without waning!
Oh gentle young doe, along with you,
I will follow behind like a shadow.
தேன் தூங்கும் பூவே
வாடாமல் வாழ்க
Is the song sung by the king of poets,
Your sweet words, my child?
Is the bright lamp in the palace of the ancient kings,
Your radiant glance, my child?
பாவேந்தர் பாடிய பாடல்
மகளே உன் வார்த்தை தானோ
மூவேந்தர் மாளிகை தீபம்
மகளே உன் பார்வை தானோ
Is the song sung by the king of poets,
Your sweet words, my child?
Is the bright lamp in the palace of the ancient kings,
Your radiant glance, my child?
பாவேந்தர் பாடிய பாடல்
மகளே உன் வார்த்தை தானோ
மூவேந்தர் மாளிகை தீபம்
மகளே உன் பார்வை தானோ
Like a golden swing in my heart,
Come and swing playfully, my treasure!
Child and mother, all through the days,
Let us live together happily!
நெஞ்சே பொன்னூஞ்சல் போலே
செல்வமே வந்து ஆடு
சேயும் தாயும் நாளெல்லாம்
சேர்ந்து வாழலாம்
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
May you live without ever fading!
தேன் தூங்கும் பூவே
வாடாமல் வாழ்க
Everything across the sky and the earth,
Appears to me as only you, my dear child!
All the dreams that I dream,
Are bound to come true because of you, my dear!
ஆகாயம் பூமி அனைத்தும்
நீயாகத் தோன்றுதம்மா
நான் காணும் கனவுகள் உன்னால்
நிறைவேறக் கூடுமம்மா
Everything across the sky and the earth,
Appears to me as only you, my dear child!
All the dreams that I dream,
Are bound to come true because of you, my dear!
ஆகாயம் பூமி அனைத்தும்
நீயாகத் தோன்றுதம்மா
நான் காணும் கனவுகள் உன்னால்
நிறைவேறக் கூடுமம்மா
If you are not present here with me,
How can I possibly live on this earth?
Times and circumstances may change,
But will our deep love ever change?
நீயே இங்கில்லையானால்
மண்ணில் நான் வாழ்வதேது
நேரம் காலம் மாறலாம்
நேசம் மாறுமோ
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
May you live without ever fading!
Oh milky white moon, live without waning!
Oh gentle young doe, along with you,
I will follow behind like a shadow.
தேன் தூங்கும் பூவே
வாடாமல் வாழ்க
பால் வெண்ணிலாவே தேயாமல் வாழ்க
இள மானே உன்னோடு
நிழல் போலே பின்னோடு வருவேன் நானே
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
May you live without ever fading!
தேன் தூங்கும் பூவே
வாடாமல் வாழ்க
Aaa….aaa….aa….aaa…
Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Aaa….aaa….aaa…
Ah... ah... ah...
Thaen thoongum poovae
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
Vaadaamal vaazhga
May you live without ever fading!
Paal vennilaavae thaeyaamal vaazhga
Oh milky white moon, live without waning!
Ila maanae unnodu
Oh gentle young doe, along with you,
Nizhal polae pinnodu varuven naanae
I will follow behind like a shadow.
Paavaendhar paadiya paadal
Is the song sung by the king of poets,
Magalae un vaarthai thaano
Your sweet words, my child?
Moovaendhar maaligai dheepam
Is the bright lamp in the palace of the ancient kings,
Magalae un paarvai thaano
Your radiant glance, my child?
Paavaendhar paadiya paadal
Is the song sung by the king of poets,
Magalae un vaarthai thaano
Your sweet words, my child?
Moovaendhar maaligai dheepam
Is the bright lamp in the palace of the ancient kings,
Magalae un paarvai thaano
Your radiant glance, my child?
Nenjae ponnoonjal polae
Like a golden swing in my heart,
Selvamae vandhu aadu
Come and swing playfully, my treasure!
Saeyum thaayum naalellaam
Child and mother, all through the days,
Serndhu vaazhalaam
Let us live together happily!
Thaen thoongum poovae
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
Vaadaamal vaazhga
May you live without ever fading!
Aagaayam boomi anaithum
Everything across the sky and the earth,
Neeyaaga thondrudhammaa
Appears to me as only you, my dear child!
Naan kaanum kanavugal unnaal
All the dreams that I dream,
Niraivaera koodumammaa
Are bound to come true because of you, my dear!
Aagaayam boomi anaithum
Everything across the sky and the earth,
Neeyaaga thondrudhammaa
Appears to me as only you, my dear child!
Naan kaanum kanavugal unnaal
All the dreams that I dream,
Niraivaera koodumammaa
Are bound to come true because of you, my dear!
Neeyae ingillaiyaanaal
If you are not present here with me,
Mannil naan vaazhvadhaedhu
How can I possibly live on this earth?
Naeram kaalam maaralaam
Times and circumstances may change,
Naesam maarumo
But will our deep love ever change?
Thaen thoongum poovae
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
Vaadaamal vaazhga
May you live without ever fading!
Paal vennilaavae thaeyaamal vaazhga
Oh milky white moon, live without waning!
Ila maanae unnodu
Oh gentle young doe, along with you,
Nizhal polae pinnodu varuven naanae
I will follow behind like a shadow.
Thaen thoongum poovae
Oh flower in which honey slumbers,
Vaadaamal vaazhga
May you live without ever fading!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Thaen Thoongum Poovae' is a soulful and heartwarming lullaby/maternal ballad expressing deep maternal affection and devotional love for a child. The song uses vivid imagery from nature and classical Tamil literature to elevate the innocence and beauty of the daughter, comparing her voice to poetry sung by supreme poets and her sight to royal lamps in majestic palaces. The mother pledges eternal presence, describing herself as a shadow that will never leave her child's side. She reflects on how the child brings purpose to her life and fills her world completely, emphasizing that while time and seasons may change, a mother's affection remains timeless and unshakeable.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Thaen thoongum poovae”
Addressing the child directly as a flower housing honey ('Thaen thoongum poovae') and a unwaning moon ('Paal vennilaavae').
Uvamaai (Simile)
“Nizhal polae pinnodu varuven naanae”
Comparing the mother's constant presence and protection to a shadow following closely ('Nizhal polae pinnodu varuven naanae').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Paavaendhar paadiya paadal”
Matching initial letters/sounds across words in a line ('Paavaendhar' and 'paadiya' / 'Magalae' and 'maaligai').
Emonai / Rhetorical Question
“Naesam maarumo”
Asking 'Naesam maarumo' (Will love change?) to strongly affirm that true love never changes regardless of time.
Did you know?
Trivia
While many songs of this era were composed by Ilaiyaraaja, 'Kodai Mazhai' (1986) famously featured music composed by legendary singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam himself, showcasing his musical composition skills alongside lyrics penned by the acclaimed Tamil poet Mu. Metha.
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