Thoduvadhenna Thendralo Malargalo
From Sabatham · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- G. K. Venkatesh
- Details
- Sabatham1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo | What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers? |
| Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo | Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits? |
| Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo | What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers? |
| Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo | Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits? |
| Udalengum kuliraavadhenna | Why does my entire body turn cool? |
| En manamengum nerupaavadhenna ha….ha…. | Why does my entire mind turn to fire? Ha... ha... |
| Male | |
| Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo | What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers? |
| Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo | Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits? |
| Male | |
| Thaerilaeri dhevadhai vandhu | Did a goddess arrive riding on a chariot, |
| Ingu neeril aadum ennudan nindru | And stand with me as I play in the water here? |
| Male | |
| Thaerilaeri dhevadhai vandhu | Did a goddess arrive riding on a chariot, |
| Ingu neeril aadum ennudan nindru | And stand with me as I play in the water here? |
| Udal thaeithu vittaalo | Did she scrub my body? |
| Mugam parthu vittaalo | Did she gaze at my face? |
| Udal thaeithu vittaalo | Did she scrub my body? |
| Mugam parthu vittaalo | Did she gaze at my face? |
| Indru chithira muthangal | Today, these picture-like kisses, |
| Sindhiya rathinam yaaro…. | Who is the jewel that scattered them? |
| Aval yaaro m m…. aa aa…. | Who is she? Mm... aa aa... |
| Male | |
| Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo | What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers? |
| Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo | Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits? |
| Male | |
| Kamadhaenu paal karandhaalo | Did Kamadhenu yield her milk? |
| Adhil kanni mangai thaen kalandhaalo | Did a young maiden mix honey into it? |
| Male | |
| Kamadhaenu paal karandhaalo | Did Kamadhenu yield her milk? |
| Adhil kanni mangai thaen kalandhaalo | Did a young maiden mix honey into it? |
| Adhai nadakka vittaalo | Did she let it flow? |
| Ennai midhakka vittaalo | Did she make me float? |
| Adhai nadakka vittaalo | Did she let it flow? |
| Ennai midhakka vittaalo | Did she make me float? |
| Ilam chittu mugam konda | The one with the face of a young sparrow, |
| Pottu kulamagal yaaro | Who is that virtuous woman adorned with a bindi? |
| Aval yaaro m m…. aa aa…. | Who is she? Mm... aa aa... |
| Male | |
| Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo | What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers? |
| Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo | Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits? |
| Udalengum kuliraavadhenna | Why does my entire body turn cool? |
| En manamengum nerupaavadhenna | Why does my entire mind turn to fire? |
| Haa….haa…..haaa | Haa... haa... haaa |
| Male | |
| Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo | What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers? |
| Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo | Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits? |
தொடுவதென்ன தென்றலோ மலர்களோ
பனியில் வந்த துளிகளோ கனிகளோ
தொடுவதென்ன தென்றலோ மலர்களோ
பனியில் வந்த துளிகளோ கனிகளோ
உடலெங்கும் குளிராவதென்ன
என் மனமெங்கும் நெருப்பாவதென்ன
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Why does my entire body turn cool?
Why does my entire mind turn to fire? Ha... ha...
தொடுவதென்ன தென்றலோ மலர்களோ
பனியில் வந்த துளிகளோ கனிகளோ
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
தேரில் ஏறி தேவதை வந்து
இங்கு நீரில் ஆடும் என்னுடன் நின்று
Did a goddess arrive riding on a chariot,
And stand with me as I play in the water here?
தேரில் ஏறி தேவதை வந்து
இங்கு நீரில் ஆடும் என்னுடன் நின்று
உடல் தேய்த்து விட்டாளோ
முகம் பார்த்து விட்டாளோ
உடல் தேய்த்து விட்டாளோ
முகம் பார்த்து விட்டாளோ
இன்று சித்திர முத்தங்கள்
சிந்திய ரத்தினம் யாரோ.....
அவள் யாரோ...ம்ம்ம்ம் ஆஆஆஆ
Did a goddess arrive riding on a chariot,
And stand with me as I play in the water here?
Did she scrub my body?
Did she gaze at my face?
Did she scrub my body?
Did she gaze at my face?
Today, these picture-like kisses,
Who is the jewel that scattered them?
Who is she? Mm... aa aa...
தொடுவதென்ன தென்றலோ மலர்களோ
பனியில் வந்த துளிகளோ கனிகளோ
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
காமதேனு பால் கறந்தாளோ
அதில் கன்னி மங்கை தேன் கலந்தாளோ
அதை நடக்க விட்டளோ
என்னை மிதக்க விட்டளோ
அதை நடக்க விட்டளோ
என்னை மிதக்க விட்டளோ
இளம் சிட்டு முகம் கொண்ட
பொட்டு குலமகள் யாரோ
அவள் யாரோ ம்ம்ம்ம் ......ஆஆஆஆ
Did Kamadhenu yield her milk?
Did a young maiden mix honey into it?
தொடுவதென்ன தென்றலோ மலர்களோ
பனியில் வந்த துளிகளோ கனிகளோ
உடலெங்கும் குளிராவதென்ன
என் மனமெங்கும் நெருப்பாவதென்ன
ஹ......ஹ......ஹா
Did Kamadhenu yield her milk?
Did a young maiden mix honey into it?
Did she let it flow?
Did she make me float?
Did she let it flow?
Did she make me float?
The one with the face of a young sparrow,
Who is that virtuous woman adorned with a bindi?
Who is she? Mm... aa aa...
தொடுவதென்ன தென்றலோ மலர்களோ
பனியில் வந்த துளிகளோ கனிகளோ
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Why does my entire body turn cool?
Why does my entire mind turn to fire?
Haa... haa... haaa
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Udalengum kuliraavadhenna
Why does my entire body turn cool?
En manamengum nerupaavadhenna ha….ha….
Why does my entire mind turn to fire? Ha... ha...
Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Thaerilaeri dhevadhai vandhu
Did a goddess arrive riding on a chariot,
Ingu neeril aadum ennudan nindru
And stand with me as I play in the water here?
Thaerilaeri dhevadhai vandhu
Did a goddess arrive riding on a chariot,
Ingu neeril aadum ennudan nindru
And stand with me as I play in the water here?
Udal thaeithu vittaalo
Did she scrub my body?
Mugam parthu vittaalo
Did she gaze at my face?
Udal thaeithu vittaalo
Did she scrub my body?
Mugam parthu vittaalo
Did she gaze at my face?
Indru chithira muthangal
Today, these picture-like kisses,
Sindhiya rathinam yaaro….
Who is the jewel that scattered them?
Aval yaaro m m…. aa aa….
Who is she? Mm... aa aa...
Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Kamadhaenu paal karandhaalo
Did Kamadhenu yield her milk?
Adhil kanni mangai thaen kalandhaalo
Did a young maiden mix honey into it?
Kamadhaenu paal karandhaalo
Did Kamadhenu yield her milk?
Adhil kanni mangai thaen kalandhaalo
Did a young maiden mix honey into it?
Adhai nadakka vittaalo
Did she let it flow?
Ennai midhakka vittaalo
Did she make me float?
Adhai nadakka vittaalo
Did she let it flow?
Ennai midhakka vittaalo
Did she make me float?
Ilam chittu mugam konda
The one with the face of a young sparrow,
Pottu kulamagal yaaro
Who is that virtuous woman adorned with a bindi?
Aval yaaro m m…. aa aa….
Who is she? Mm... aa aa...
Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Udalengum kuliraavadhenna
Why does my entire body turn cool?
En manamengum nerupaavadhenna
Why does my entire mind turn to fire?
Haa….haa…..haaa
Haa... haa... haaa
Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo
What touches me, is it the breeze or flowers?
Paniyil vandha thuligalo kanigalo
Is it water droplets in the dew, or fruits?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the enchanting feelings of love, sensory sensation, and wonder experienced by the protagonist. As water touches his skin, he wonders if it is the cool breeze, delicate flowers, or dew droplets, feeling a strange contrast of physical coolness across his body alongside an inner fire of passionate longing within his heart. He muses on whether a divine nymph descended from a chariot to join him in the water, questioning who this noble and beautiful maiden could be who leaves him feeling light and floating in bliss.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo / Udalengum kuliraavadhenna”
The second consonant sound 'da' matches across adjacent lines ('Thoduvadhenna' and 'Udalengum').
Rhetorical Question (Iyaarkai Vinavaal)
“Thoduvadhenna thendralo malargalo”
The lyricist uses poetic inquiry comparing touch to natural elements like breeze, blossoms, dew, and fruits to convey sensory confusion and romantic bliss.
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Udalengum kuliraavadhenna / En manamengum nerupaavadhenna”
Juxtaposition of physical sensation ('kuliraavadhenna' - body cooling) with internal emotion ('nerupaavadhenna' - heart burning) to capture the dual nature of romantic awakening.
Hyperbole & Imagery
“Kamadhaenu paal karandhaalo / Adhil kanni mangai thaen kalandhaalo”
Comparing the maiden to a goddess descending on a chariot and referencing Kamadhenu's milk mixed with honey to heighten her beauty and pure charm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sabatham (1971) featured music composed by G. K. Venkatesh, with lyrics written by Kannadasan. This song, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, is well remembered for its lush melodic arrangement and evocative water imagery.
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