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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thodalaam Thottalum

From Kalicharan · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, T. L. Thiagarajan
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Kalicharan1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
ThodalaamYou can touch
Thottaalum yogamthaanEven if touched, it is good fortune
Arumbaana thirumeniThe body that is like a bud
Malaraagum aasai thenoorumWill blossom as desire oozes sweet nectar
Male
ThodalaamYou can touch
Thottaalum yogamthaanEven if touched, it is good fortune
Arumbaana thirumeniThe body that is like a bud
Malaraagum aasai thenoorumWill blossom as desire oozes sweet nectar
Male
Eera megam thooral podaWhen wet clouds drizzle
Neram paarkkumoDoes it wait for time?
Female
Verai paarthu vaadumbothuWhen seeing the root wither
Neerai vaarkkumoWill it pour water?
Male
Yerikkaatrum poovai theendaDoes the lake breeze ask anyone
Yaarai ketkkumoBefore touching the flower?
Female
Kaaval illaiyoIs there no guard?
Ingu kelvi illaiyoIs there no questioning here?
Male
KaathiruppathoShall I keep waiting?
Innum paarthiruppathoShall I keep watching further?
Female
ThodalaamYou can touch
Thottaalum yogamthaanEven if touched, it is good fortune
Arumbaana thirumeniThe body that is like a bud
Malaraagum aasai thenoorumWill blossom as desire oozes sweet nectar
Female
Odaithaane boomi penninIs it not the stream that acts as
Aadai pondrathoThe dress for the Earth woman?
Male
Aadai neekki paarkkathaaneTo remove the dress and see
Vaadai yenguthoDoes the northern wind yearn?
Female
Paarkka paarkka melum melumThe more one looks,
Bothai yeruthoDoes intoxication rise further?
Male
Un vasathileIn your control
Iniya then kidaikkumoWill sweet honey be found?
Female
Pen mayakkamaaIs it a woman's spell?
Rendu kan sivakkumaaWill both eyes turn red?
Male
ThodalaamYou can touch
Female
Thottaalum yogamthaanEven if touched, it is good fortune
Male
ArumbaanaBud-like
Female
ThirumeniBody
Male
MalaraagumWill blossom

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thodalaam is a romantic duet from the 1988 Tamil movie Kalicharan, composed by Chandrabose and written by lyricist Vaali. The song captures a sensual dialogue between two lovers expressing their deep attraction and romantic yearning. Through rich nature metaphors, such as drizzling rain clouds, gentle lake breezes, and flowing streams acting as garments for the earth, the lovers describe the natural and irresistible nature of love, desire, and physical closeness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Arumbaana thirumeni / Malaraagum aasai thenoorum

Compares a young woman's body to an unblossomed bud (Arumbaana thirumeni) that blossoms with sweet honey when desire overflows.

Personification (Tharkurippu Aettru Ani)

Odaithaane boomi pennin / Aadai pondratho

Personifies nature by describing clouds drizzling without checking time, breeze touching flowers without permission, and the stream acting as a dress for Mother Earth.

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)

Eera megam thooral poda / Neram paarkkumo

Rhyming of the second letter in adjacent lines ('Eera' and 'Neram', 'Verai' and 'Neerai') creating a rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalicharan (1988) featured music by Chandrabose, who delivered multiple hit albums in Tamil cinema during the late 1980s. Sung by Vani Jayaram and T. L. Thiagarajan, this track highlights lyricist Vaali's signature ability to blend romantic intimacy with natural poetic imagery.

Keep listening

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