Thillalangadi Thillalangadi
From Sigappu Thali · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Sigappu Thali1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae | Oh trickster cuckoo bird! |
| Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae | This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse! |
| Kooththadum nadarasan pola | Like the dancing Lord Nataraja, |
| Kumari naa kaal thookku maele | I, a young girl, raise my leg up high! |
| Male | |
| Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae | There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul! |
| Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae | Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty! |
| Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae | There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat! |
| Male | |
| Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae | Oh trickster cuckoo bird! |
| Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae | This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse! |
| Kooththadum nadarasan pola | Like the dancing Lord Nataraja, |
| Kumari naa kaal thookku maele | I, a young girl, raise my leg up high! |
| Male | |
| Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae | There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul! |
| Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae | Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty! |
| Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae | There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat! |
| Male | |
| Nallaa paru engakitta | Look closely at what we have got, |
| Kushthikku vel kambu ellaam undu | We have spears and staff weapons for wrestling! |
| Kamba konjam suththu vittaa | If I spin the staff just a little bit, |
| Paadhaalam paaikindra veeram undu haan | I possess the courage to leap into the netherworld, haan! |
| Female | |
| Aambillai pol aasai varum | I get ambitious desires like a man; |
| Enna senjaa meesai varum | What should I do to grow a mustache? |
| Thandaalu nee poda tharaiyoda naan vaada | When you do push-ups, I wither flat to the ground! |
| Thuduppu valikkum payirchchi enakku iduppu valikkumae | My oars hurt during practice, and my waist hurts too! |
| Male | |
| Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae | Oh trickster cuckoo bird! |
| Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae | This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse! |
| Female :Kooththadum nadarasan pola | Female: Like the dancing Lord Nataraja, |
| Kumari naa kaal thookku maele | I, a young girl, raise my leg up high! |
| Male | |
| Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae | There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul! |
| Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae | Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty! |
| Female :Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae | Female: There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat! |
| Male :Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae | Male: Oh trickster cuckoo bird! |
| Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae….. | This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse... |
தில்லாலங்கடி தில்லாலங்கடி குயிலே
இது சேல ரவிக்க ஒத்து வராத மயிலே
கூத்தாடும் நடராசன் போல
குமரி நீ கால் தூக்கு மேலே
Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse!
Like the dancing Lord Nataraja,
I, a young girl, raise my leg up high!
துணிஞ்ச கட்டைக்கு துன்பம் இல்லையே
செஞ்சு பாத்துட்டா சிரமம் இல்லையே
வேர்க்க வேர்க்க ஓடி ஆட ஜாதி இல்லையே
There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul!
Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty!
There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat!
தில்லாலங்கடி தில்லாலங்கடி குயிலே
இவ சேல ரவிக்க ஒத்து வராத மயிலே
கூத்தாடும் நடராசன் போல
குமரி என் கால் போகும் மேலே
Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse!
Like the dancing Lord Nataraja,
I, a young girl, raise my leg up high!
துணிஞ்ச கட்டைக்கு துன்பம் இல்லையே
செஞ்சு பாத்துட்டா சிரமம் இல்லையே
வேர்க்க வேர்க்க ஓடி ஆட ஜாதி இல்லையே
There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul!
Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty!
There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat!
நல்லா பாரு எங்க கிட்ட
குஸ்திக்கு வேல் கம்பு எல்லாம் உண்டு
கம்ப கொஞ்சம் சுத்தி விட்டா
பாதாளம் பாய்கின்ற வீரம் உண்டு ஹான்
Look closely at what we have got,
We have spears and staff weapons for wrestling!
If I spin the staff just a little bit,
I possess the courage to leap into the netherworld, haan!
ஆம்பிளை போல் ஆசை வரும்
என்ன செஞ்சா மீசை வரும்
தண்டாலு நீ போட தரையோட நான் வாட
துடுப்பு வலிக்கும் பயிற்சி எனக்கு இடுப்பு வலிக்குமே
I get ambitious desires like a man;
What should I do to grow a mustache?
When you do push-ups, I wither flat to the ground!
My oars hurt during practice, and my waist hurts too!
அட தில்லாலங்கடி தில்லாலங்கடி குயிலே
இது சேல ரவிக்க ஒத்து வராத மயிலே
கூத்தாடும் நடராசன் போல
குமரி என் கால் போகும் மேலே
Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse!
Female: Like the dancing Lord Nataraja,
I, a young girl, raise my leg up high!
துணிஞ்ச கட்டைக்கு துன்பம் இல்லையே
செஞ்சு பாத்துட்டா சிரமம் இல்லையே
வேர்க்க வேர்க்க ஓடி ஆட ஜாதி இல்லையே
தில்லாலங்கடி தில்லாலங்கடி குயிலே
இது சேல ரவிக்க ஒத்து வராத மயிலே....
There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul!
Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty!
Female: There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat!
Male: Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse...
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse!
Kooththadum nadarasan pola
Like the dancing Lord Nataraja,
Kumari naa kaal thookku maele
I, a young girl, raise my leg up high!
Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae
There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul!
Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae
Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty!
Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae
There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat!
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse!
Kooththadum nadarasan pola
Like the dancing Lord Nataraja,
Kumari naa kaal thookku maele
I, a young girl, raise my leg up high!
Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae
There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul!
Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae
Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty!
Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae
There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat!
Nallaa paru engakitta
Look closely at what we have got,
Kushthikku vel kambu ellaam undu
We have spears and staff weapons for wrestling!
Kamba konjam suththu vittaa
If I spin the staff just a little bit,
Paadhaalam paaikindra veeram undu haan
I possess the courage to leap into the netherworld, haan!
Aambillai pol aasai varum
I get ambitious desires like a man;
Enna senjaa meesai varum
What should I do to grow a mustache?
Thandaalu nee poda tharaiyoda naan vaada
When you do push-ups, I wither flat to the ground!
Thuduppu valikkum payirchchi enakku iduppu valikkumae
My oars hurt during practice, and my waist hurts too!
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse!
Female :Kooththadum nadarasan pola
Female: Like the dancing Lord Nataraja,
Kumari naa kaal thookku maele
I, a young girl, raise my leg up high!
Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae
There is no sorrow for a brave and determined soul!
Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae
Once you try doing it, there is no difficulty!
Female :Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae
Female: There is no caste distinction in running and dancing till you sweat!
Male :Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Male: Oh trickster cuckoo bird!
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae…..
This peacock does not fit into a traditional saree and blouse...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thillaalangadi from Sigappu Thali (1988) is a lively, folk-inspired dance track that playfully challenges traditional gender expectations and promotes physical boldness. The female lead rejects passive traditional roles—symbolized by fitting into a tight saree and blouse—and instead embraces energetic physical training, martial arts, and bold high kicks reminiscent of Lord Nataraja's cosmic dance posture. Written by Vairamuthu, the song mixes humor and egalitarian commentary, highlighting that sports, sweat, and perseverance know no caste or gender barriers. The fun dialogue between the male and female characters over push-ups, staff-spinning (silambam), and physical endurance makes it a spirited anthem of athletic vigor and self-confidence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Kooththadum nadarasan pola”
Compares the dancer's high leg kick to the divine dancing posture of Lord Nataraja.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae”
Refers to the woman as a peacock ('mayil') who cannot be constrained by traditional feminine attire ('saela ravika').
Repetition / Alliteration (Adukku Thodar)
“Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae”
Repetition of words like 'Thillaalangadi' and 'Verkka verkka' to create a rhythmic, fast-paced folk cadence.
Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae / Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae”
The second letters 'n' match in 'Thuninja' and 'Senju' across consecutive lines to form traditional Tamil rhyme.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sigappu Thali (1988) features lyrics by Vairamuthu, who incorporated rustic, folk-infused Tamil idioms like 'Thillaalangadi' (meaning trickster or playfulness) and 'Thuninja kattai' (bold person). The song highlights female athletic empowerment and martial arts themes which were popular in 1980s Tamil commercial cinema dance sequences.
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