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Lyrics & meaning

Therattam Nee Nadandha

From Namma Ooru Nayagan · 1988

Lyricist
Rajesh Khanna
Singer
Ramesh
Music director
Rajesh Khanna
Movie name
Namma Ooru Nayagan
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
27 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
Aararoo paada pora vayasamma
Ammadi en manasu thaanguma podu
Kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyamma
Kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyamma
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
Vaadi yei athai mavalae yaaro petha ivalae
Rosa mottu malarae nee laesa thotta alarurae
Vandaaga alaiyuromae pasangalae
Poochendaaga neenga vandhaa thappungala
Thindaadi thavikkuromae kannungala
Dharisanam thaan thaarungalaen ponnungalaa
Kaathirundhom ammammaa kaal valikka
Paarthirunthom appappaa kann valikka
Kaathirundhom ammammaa kaal valikka
Paarthirunthom appappaa kann valikka
Paarungalaen konjam paarungalaen
Kaattungalaen karunai kattungalaen adiyaei
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
Ottrai kaalil nindru naanum
Vithai jaalam kaatinaalum
Satham pottu thurathuriyae
Saranam saranam un paadhamae un paadhamae
Unga poopaatham noga vida naanga mattomae
Enga mudhugu mela yerikinga naanga sumakkirom
Pudhusaaga vandhirukkom naanga thaanunga
Manasaara neenga engala vaazhthi paadunga
Yekkam thaandi ammadi engalukku
Thookam illai appadi kangalukku
Yekkam thaandi ammadi engalukku
Thookam illai appadi kangalukku
Thaaringala onnu tharingalaa
Vaaringalaa kooda vaaringala
Thathithagida thathithagida thai thai thithithaai
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
Aararoo paada pora vayasamma
Ammadi en manasu thaanguma podu
Kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyamma
Yamma kattu kattaa puthagamaa kaiyil sumakkum kanniyamma
Thaerattam nee nadantha kannama
Theruvellam kulunguthadi ponnamma
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
Is this an age to sing you a lullaby?
Oh girl, can my heart handle this? Hit the beat!
Carrying bundles of books in your hands, young girl!
Carrying bundles of books in your hands, young girl!
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
Come on, hey cousin girl, someone's precious daughter!
You blooming rosebud, you shriek if lightly touched!
We boys are buzzing around like bees!
Is it wrong if you girls come together like a bouquet of flowers?
We are struggling and restless, sweet darlings!
Won't you girls grant us just a glimpse of you?
We waited, oh my, until our legs started aching!
We kept watching, goodness, until our eyes grew tired!
We waited, oh my, until our legs started aching!
We kept watching, goodness, until our eyes grew tired!
Look at us, please look our way a little!
Show some mercy, please have pity on us, hey girl...
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
Even if I stand on one leg
and perform magic tricks for you,
You scream and chase me away!
I surrender, I bow at your feet, at your feet...
We will never let your flower-soft feet hurt!
Climb onto our backs, we will carry you!
We are the newcomers here, you see!
Sing and bless us from the bottom of your heart!
We are filled with longing, oh girl!
There is no sleep at all for our eyes!
We are filled with longing, oh girl!
There is no sleep at all for our eyes!
Will you give us something, will you give us one?
Will you come along, will you come with us?
Thathi thakida thathi thakida thai thai thai thithithai...
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
Is this an age to sing you a lullaby?
Oh girl, can my heart handle this? Hit the beat!
Carrying bundles of books in your hands, young girl!
Carrying bundles of books in your hands, young girl!
When you walk like a grand chariot, my dear Kannamma,
The whole street sways, my golden girl!
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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