Thoda Thoda Malarndhadhenna
From Indira · 1995
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Indira1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Thottavanai maranthadhenna | Why did you forget the one who touched you? |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Thottavanai maranthadhenna | Why did you forget the one who touched you? |
| Male | |
| Paarvaigal puthithaa | Are these glances new to you? |
| Sparisangal puthithaa | Are these touches new to you? |
| Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna | Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives? |
| Paarvaigal puthithaa | Are these glances new to you? |
| Sparisangal puthithaa | Are these touches new to you? |
| Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna | Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives? |
| Male | |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Thottavanai maranthadhenna | Why did you forget the one who touched you? |
| Male | |
| Antha ila vayathil | At that young tender age, |
| Aatrangarai manalil | On the sands of the riverbank, |
| Kaaladi thadam pathithom | We left our footprints. |
| Yaar azhithaar | Who erased them? |
| Female | |
| Nanthavana karaiyil | On the edge of the flower garden, |
| Nattu vaitha chediyil | In the sapling we planted, |
| Mottu vitta muthar poovai | The first flower that budded, |
| Yaar parithaar | Who plucked it? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalar theendaatha | Untouched by lovers, |
| Pookkalil thaenillai | Flowers carry no honey. |
| Female :Idaiveli thaandaadhae | Female: Do not cross the boundary, |
| En vasam naan illai | I am no longer in control of myself. |
| Female | |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Chuda chuda nanaidhadhenna | Why did you get soaked in warmth? |
| Female | |
| Paarvaigal puthithu | Glances feel new, |
| Sparisangal puthithu | Touches feel new, |
| Narambugal pinna pinna nadukkamenna | Why this trembling as our nerves intertwine? |
| Female | |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Chuda chuda nanaindhadhenna | Why did you get soaked in warmth? |
| Male | |
| Panithanil kulitha | Bathed in the morning dew, |
| Paalmalar kaana | To behold this milky flower, |
| Irubathu vasanthangal | For twenty long springs, |
| Vizhi valarthen | I nurtured my eyes in wait. |
| Female | |
| Pasithavan amutham | For the hungry lover to sip nectar, |
| Parugida thaanae | Just so he could drink, |
| Pathinezhu vasanthangal | For seventeen springs, |
| Ithazh valarthen | I nurtured my lips. |
| Male | |
| Ilai moodum malaraaga | Like a flower hidden under foliage, |
| Ithayathai maraikkaadhae | Do not conceal your heart. |
| Female :Malar kollum kaatraaga | Female: Like a wind that gathers flowers, |
| Ithayathai ulukkaadhae | Do not shake my heart. |
| Female | |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Chuda chuda nanaindhadhenna | Why did you get soaked in warmth? |
| Male | |
| Paarvaigal puthithaa | Are these glances new to you? |
| Sparisangal puthithaa | Are these touches new to you? |
| Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna | Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives? |
| Paarvaigal puthithaa | Are these glances new to you? |
| Sparisangal puthithaa | Are these touches new to you? |
| Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna | Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives? |
| Male | |
| Thoda thoda | As I touch you gently, |
| Malarndhadhenna poovae | Why did you bloom, oh flower? |
| Thottavanai maranthadhenna | Why did you forget the one who touched you? |
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
தொட்டவனை மறந்ததென்ன
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
தொட்டவனை மறந்ததென்ன
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
பார்வைகள் புதிதா
ஸ்பரிசங்கள் புதிதா
மழை வர பூமி மறுப்பதென்ன
பார்வைகள் புதிதா
ஸ்பரிசங்கள் புதிதா
மழை வர பூமி மறுப்பதென்ன
Are these glances new to you?
Are these touches new to you?
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
Are these glances new to you?
Are these touches new to you?
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
தொட்டவனை மறந்ததென்ன
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
விசில் :
........................
At that young tender age,
On the sands of the riverbank,
We left our footprints.
Who erased them?
அந்த இள வயதில்
ஆற்றங்கரை மணலில்
காலடித் தடம் பதித்தோம்
யார் அழித்தார்
On the edge of the flower garden,
In the sapling we planted,
The first flower that budded,
Who plucked it?
நந்தவன கரையில்
நட்டு வைத்த செடியில்
மொட்டு விட்ட முதற் பூவை
யார் பறித்தார்
Untouched by lovers,
Flowers carry no honey.
Female: Do not cross the boundary,
I am no longer in control of myself.
காதலர் தீண்டாத
பூக்களில் தேனில்லை
இடைவெளி தாண்டாதே
என் வசம் நானில்லை
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you get soaked in warmth?
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
சுடச்சுட நனைந்ததென்ன
Glances feel new,
Touches feel new,
Why this trembling as our nerves intertwine?
பார்வைகள் புதிது
ஸ்பரிசங்கள் புதிது
நரம்புகள் பின்ன பின்ன நடுக்கமென்ன
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you get soaked in warmth?
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
சுடச்சுட நனைந்ததென்ன
Bathed in the morning dew,
To behold this milky flower,
For twenty long springs,
I nurtured my eyes in wait.
பனிதனில் குளித்த
பால்மலர் காண
இருபது வசந்தங்கள்
விழி வளர்த்தேன்
For the hungry lover to sip nectar,
Just so he could drink,
For seventeen springs,
I nurtured my lips.
பசித்தவன் அமுதம்
பருகிடத் தானே
பதினேழு வசந்தங்கள்
இதழ் வளர்த்தேன்
Like a flower hidden under foliage,
Do not conceal your heart.
Female: Like a wind that gathers flowers,
Do not shake my heart.
இலை மூடும் மலராக
இதயத்தை மறைக்காதே
மலர் கொல்லும் காற்றாக
இதயத்தை உலுக்காதே
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you get soaked in warmth?
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
சுடச்சுட நனைந்ததென்ன
Are these glances new to you?
Are these touches new to you?
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
Are these glances new to you?
Are these touches new to you?
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
பார்வைகள் புதிதா
ஸ்பரிசங்கள் புதிதா
மழை வர பூமி மறுப்பதென்ன
பார்வைகள் புதிதா
ஸ்பரிசங்கள் புதிதா
மழை வர பூமி மறுப்பதென்ன
As I touch you gently,
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
தொட தொட
மலர்ந்ததென்ன பூவே
தொட்டவனை மறந்ததென்ன
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Thottavanai maranthadhenna
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Thottavanai maranthadhenna
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
Paarvaigal puthithaa
Are these glances new to you?
Sparisangal puthithaa
Are these touches new to you?
Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
Paarvaigal puthithaa
Are these glances new to you?
Sparisangal puthithaa
Are these touches new to you?
Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Thottavanai maranthadhenna
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
Antha ila vayathil
At that young tender age,
Aatrangarai manalil
On the sands of the riverbank,
Kaaladi thadam pathithom
We left our footprints.
Yaar azhithaar
Who erased them?
Nanthavana karaiyil
On the edge of the flower garden,
Nattu vaitha chediyil
In the sapling we planted,
Mottu vitta muthar poovai
The first flower that budded,
Yaar parithaar
Who plucked it?
Kaadhalar theendaatha
Untouched by lovers,
Pookkalil thaenillai
Flowers carry no honey.
Female :Idaiveli thaandaadhae
Female: Do not cross the boundary,
En vasam naan illai
I am no longer in control of myself.
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Chuda chuda nanaidhadhenna
Why did you get soaked in warmth?
Paarvaigal puthithu
Glances feel new,
Sparisangal puthithu
Touches feel new,
Narambugal pinna pinna nadukkamenna
Why this trembling as our nerves intertwine?
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Chuda chuda nanaindhadhenna
Why did you get soaked in warmth?
Panithanil kulitha
Bathed in the morning dew,
Paalmalar kaana
To behold this milky flower,
Irubathu vasanthangal
For twenty long springs,
Vizhi valarthen
I nurtured my eyes in wait.
Pasithavan amutham
For the hungry lover to sip nectar,
Parugida thaanae
Just so he could drink,
Pathinezhu vasanthangal
For seventeen springs,
Ithazh valarthen
I nurtured my lips.
Ilai moodum malaraaga
Like a flower hidden under foliage,
Ithayathai maraikkaadhae
Do not conceal your heart.
Female :Malar kollum kaatraaga
Female: Like a wind that gathers flowers,
Ithayathai ulukkaadhae
Do not shake my heart.
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Chuda chuda nanaindhadhenna
Why did you get soaked in warmth?
Paarvaigal puthithaa
Are these glances new to you?
Sparisangal puthithaa
Are these touches new to you?
Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
Paarvaigal puthithaa
Are these glances new to you?
Sparisangal puthithaa
Are these touches new to you?
Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna
Why does the earth refuse when rain arrives?
Thoda thoda
As I touch you gently,
Malarndhadhenna poovae
Why did you bloom, oh flower?
Thottavanai maranthadhenna
Why did you forget the one who touched you?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thoda Thoda Malarndhadhenna is a classic, evocative romantic duet that expresses the sweet tension and deep affection between childhood sweethearts reuniting in youth. The male protagonist reminisces about their shared past, childhood footprints, and the natural blossom of love, questioning her hesitation as an earth denying the rain. The female protagonist expresses her overwhelmed emotion, admitting her loss of self-control under his touch and gaze. Through metaphoric comparisons of flowers, spring seasons, and rainfall, Vairamuthu captures the romantic awakening and passionate vulnerability of both lovers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Thoda thoda”
The phrase 'Thoda thoda' repeats the verb root to express continuous, gentle physical touch.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Mazhai vara bhoomi maruppadhenna”
Compares the hero's romantic arrival to falling rain and the heroine's hesitation to the earth, highlighting the natural harmony of their union.
Visual Imagery (Katchi Bimbam)
“Panithanil kulitha Paalmalar kaana”
Evokes vivid nature imagery of a delicate flower drenched in dew and nurtured across seasons.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman for Suhasini Maniratnam's directorial debut 'Indira' (1995), this iconic song features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The track remains famous for its lush orchestration and timeless romantic melody.
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