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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thillalangadi Thillalangadi

From Sigappu Thali · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sigappu Thali
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
21 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae
Kooththadum nadarasan pola
Kumari naa kaal thookku maele
Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae
Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae
Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae
Kooththadum nadarasan pola
Kumari naa kaal thookku maele
Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae
Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae
Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae
Nallaa paru engakitta
Kushthikku vel kambu ellaam undu
Kamba konjam suththu vittaa
Paadhaalam paaikindra veeram undu haan
Aambillai pol aasai varum
Enna senjaa meesai varum
Thandaalu nee poda tharaiyoda naan vaada
Thuduppu valikkum payirchchi enakku iduppu valikkumae
Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae
Female :Kooththadum nadarasan pola
Kumari naa kaal thookku maele
Thuninja kattaikku thunbam ilaiyae
Senju paaththuttaa siramam illaiyae
Female :Verkka verkka odi aada jaadhi illaiyae
Male :Thillaalangadi thillaalangadi kuyilae
Idhu saela ravika oththu varaatha mayilae…..
Tricky, playful cuckoo bird,
A peacock who doesn't suit a saree and blouse!
Like Lord Nataraja in his cosmic dance,
I, a young girl, lift my leg up high!
A daring soul never suffers any sorrow,
Once you give it a try, it isn't hard at all!
There is no barrier to running and playing till you sweat!
Tricky, playful cuckoo bird,
A peacock who doesn't suit a saree and blouse!
Like Lord Nataraja in his cosmic dance,
I, a young girl, lift my leg up high!
A daring soul never suffers any sorrow,
Once you give it a try, it isn't hard at all!
There is no barrier to running and playing till you sweat!
Take a good look at what we have,
We have wrestling, spears, and fighting sticks!
If I give the stick just a quick spin,
I have the fierce courage to pierce the depths of the earth, ha!
I get ambitions just like a man,
What should I do to grow a mustache?
While you do push-ups, I am worn out on the floor,
This rowing-like exercise makes my waist ache!
Tricky, playful cuckoo bird,
A peacock who doesn't suit a saree and blouse!
Female: Like Lord Nataraja in his cosmic dance,
I, a young girl, lift my leg up high!
A daring soul never suffers any sorrow,
Once you give it a try, it isn't hard at all!
Female: There is no barrier to running and playing till you sweat!
Male: Tricky, playful cuckoo bird,
A peacock who doesn't suit a saree and blouse...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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