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Isaimozhi
Maanagara Kaaval album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thodi Raagam Paadava

From Maanagara Kaaval · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Maanagara Kaaval
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
15 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………….
Thodi raagam paadava
Female :Mella paadu
Aadhi thaalam podava
Female :Mella podu
Maeni ennum veenai
Meetugindra vaelai
Madiyinil unnai serthu
Thodi raagam paadava
Female :Mella paadu
Aadhi thaalam podava
Female :Mella podu
…………………….
Idhu varai unai naanum
Female :Aa ..aaa
Male :Ilayavan enai neeyum
Female :Aa ..aaa
Male :Kaanamaal koodaamal engaeyo vaazhndhom
Female :Mudhan mudhal mugam paarthu
Muzhuvadhum udal verthu
Neerada poraada innaalil sernthom
Kalyanam kacheri
Kannaara ennaalil kaanalaam
Ponoonjal poopandhal
Vaibogam thai maadham maalaiyidu
Thodi raagam paadava
Female :Mella paadu
Aadhi thaalam podava
Female :Mella podu
………………….
Iravugal enai vaatum
Idaiyinil anal mootum
Nee indri naan ingu paai podum maadhu
Pirivugal ini yaedhu
Piraviyil kidaiyaadhu
Nee thaanae naan vandhu poochoodum maadhu
Andraadam poongaatru
Un perai en kaadhil oodhudhu
Eppodhu naan vendum
Appodhu poongaatrai thoodhu vidu
Thodi raagam paadava
Male :Mella paadu
Aadhi thaalam podava
Male :Mella podu
Maeni ennum veenai
Meetugindra vaelai
Madiyinil ennai serthu
Thodi raagam paadava
Female :Mella paadu
Aadhi thaalam podava
Female :Mella podu
...
Shall I sing the Thodi ragam?
Female: Sing softly.
Shall I beat the Adi rhythm?
Female: Tap it softly.
The veena that is your body,
as its strings are plucked,
gathering you into my lap,
Shall I sing the Thodi ragam?
Female: Sing softly.
Shall I beat the Adi rhythm?
Female: Tap it softly.
...
Until this day, I without you,
Female: Aa... aaa
Male: And you without me, your youthful lover,
Female: Aa... aaa
Male: Lived somewhere apart, unseen and ununited.
Female: Looking into each other's eyes for the very first time,
sweating all over our bodies,
we came together today to bathe in passion and playfully struggle.
A wedding concert,
on which day shall our eyes feast upon it?
A golden swing and a canopy of flowers,
exchange garlands in grand celebration in the month of Thai.
Shall I sing the Thodi ragam?
Female: Sing softly.
Shall I beat the Adi rhythm?
Female: Tap it softly.
...
The nights torment me,
igniting a fire inside,
as I lay out my bed here without you, a lonely woman.
What separations can there be anymore?
They will not exist in this lifetime!
Are you not the maiden I come to adorn with blossoms?
Every day, the gentle breeze
whispers your name into my ears.
Whenever you need me,
send that gentle breeze as your messenger then.
Shall I sing the Thodi ragam?
Male: Sing softly.
Shall I beat the Adi rhythm?
Male: Tap it softly.
The veena that is your body,
as its strings are plucked,
gathering me into your lap,
Shall I sing the Thodi ragam?
Female: Sing softly.
Shall I beat the Adi rhythm?
Female: Tap it softly.
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet, 'Thodi Raagam Paadava', uses classical music motifs like ragas and talas as metaphors for intimacy and deep emotional union. The lovers express how they spent years apart in ignorance of each other, but now that they have met, their desire and yearning have culminated in a passionate bond, looking forward to formalizing their union in marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Maeni ennum veenai”

Compares the human body ('Maeni') to a string instrument ('Veenai'), symbolizing sensitive sensory touch and intimacy.

Personification

“Andraadam poongaatru Un perai en kaadhil oodhudhu”

Attributes human behavior to the spring breeze ('Poongaatru'), describing it as whispering a lover's name and serving as a messenger ('thoodhu').

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhugai)

“Thodi raagam paadava / Aadhi thaalam podava”

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines ('Thodi' and 'Aadhi', 'Iravugal' and 'Idaiyinil') creating melodic symmetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Maanagara Kaaval' (1991) was actor Vijayakanth's milestone 100th film, produced by the prestigious banner AVM Productions and directed by M. Thiyagarajan. The music for this hit album was composed by Chandrabose, with vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.

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