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Lyrics & meaning

Therattam Nee Nadandha

From Namma Ooru Nayagan · 1988

Lyricist
Rajesh Khanna
Singer
Ramesh
Music director
Rajesh Khanna
Details
Namma Ooru Nayagan1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!
Aararoo paada pora vayasammaIs this the age to sing a lullaby, dear girl?
Ammadi en manasu thaanguma poduOh my, can my heart withstand this? Play on!
Male
Kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyammaOh young maiden carrying bundles and bundles of books in hand,
Kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyammaOh young maiden carrying bundles and bundles of books in hand!
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!
Male
Vaadi yei athai mavalae yaaro petha ivalaeCome on, cousin girl, born to someone else!
Rosa mottu malarae nee laesa thotta alaruraeOh rosebud flower, you startle even if touched lightly!
Vandaaga alaiyuromae pasangalaeWe boys are wandering around like bumblebees,
Poochendaaga neenga vandhaa thappungalaIs it wrong if you come along like a bouquet of flowers?
Thindaadi thavikkuromae kannungalaWe are struggling and suffering, dear girls,
Dharisanam thaan thaarungalaen ponnungalaaWon't you at least give us a glimpse, young ladies?
Male
Kaathirundhom ammammaa kaal valikkaWe waited, oh dear, until our legs hurt,
Paarthirunthom appappaa kann valikkaWe watched, oh my, until our eyes ached!
Kaathirundhom ammammaa kaal valikkaWe waited, oh dear, until our legs hurt,
Paarthirunthom appappaa kann valikkaWe watched, oh my, until our eyes ached!
Male
Paarungalaen konjam paarungalaenLook at us, please look at us a little!
Kaattungalaen karunai kattungalaen adiyaeiShow some mercy, show us some compassion, hey girl!
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!
Male
Ottrai kaalil nindru naanumEven if I stand on one leg,
Vithai jaalam kaatinaalumAnd perform magical tricks for you,
Satham pottu thurathuriyaeYou make noise and chase me away!
Saranam saranam un paadhamae un paadhamaeI surrender, I surrender at your feet, at your feet!
Male
Unga poopaatham noga vida naanga mattomaeWe will never let your flower-like tender feet get hurt,
Enga mudhugu mela yerikinga naanga sumakkiromClimb onto our backs, and we will carry you!
Pudhusaaga vandhirukkom naanga thaanungaWe are the ones who have arrived anew,
Manasaara neenga engala vaazhthi paadungaPlease bless us and sing for us whole-heartedly!
Male
Yekkam thaandi ammadi engalukkuBeyond longing, oh dear girl, for us,
Thookam illai appadi kangalukkuThere is no sleep at all for our eyes!
Yekkam thaandi ammadi engalukkuBeyond longing, oh dear girl, for us,
Thookam illai appadi kangalukkuThere is no sleep at all for our eyes!
Male
Thaaringala onnu tharingalaaWill you give us something, will you give us one thing?
Vaaringalaa kooda vaaringalaWill you come with us, will you join us?
Thathithagida thathithagida thai thai thithithaaiThathithagida thathithagida thai thai thithithaai (rhythmic folk beats)
Male
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!
Aararoo paada pora vayasammaIs this the age to sing a lullaby, dear girl?
Ammadi en manasu thaanguma poduOh my, can my heart withstand this? Play on!
Male
Kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyammaOh young maiden carrying bundles and bundles of books in hand,
Yamma kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyammaOh my, young maiden carrying bundles and bundles of books in hand!
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannamaWhen you walk like a temple chariot procession, my dear Kannamma,
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnammaThe entire street shakes, my golden girl!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thaerattam Nee Nadantha Kannama is a lively rural folk track from the 1988 film Namma Ooru Nayagan. The song captures the playful banter and romantic pursuit of local village youths addressing school/college-going maidens. The protagonist praises the heroine's grand gait, comparing her steps to a majestic temple chariot procession that makes the whole street sway in admiration. Throughout the track, the lyrics utilize charming metaphors, contrasting the innocent charm of the young women carrying books with the earnest longings of the boys who follow them like bees around flowers. Despite comical rejections and exaggerated complaints of waiting till their eyes and legs hurt, the overall mood remains light-hearted, joyful, and deeply rooted in Tamil folk culture.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama

Compares the maiden's graceful and grand gait to the grand movement of a temple chariot (Thaer).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma

Exaggerates the impact of her walking by stating that the entire street shakes under her steps.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Rosa mottu malarae nee laesa thotta alarurae

Directly compares the young maiden to a delicate rosebud and a bouquet of flowers, and the boys to restless bees.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Etukai)

Kaathirundhom ammammaa kaal valikka / Paarthirunthom appappaa kann valikka

Presents second-letter rhyming across consecutive lines (Kaathirundhom / Paarthirundhom) to create rhythmic musical harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Namma Ooru Nayagan (1988) starred Ramarajan and Gautami in the lead roles. The film featured music composed by Rajesh Khanna, showcasing energetic Tamil rural folk rhythms popular in late 80s South Indian cinema.

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