- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Singers
- Shreya Ghoshal, Nakul Abhyankar
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Cobra
- Movie release year
- 2022
- Lyrics added on
- 24 May 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
'Thumbi Thumbi' is a celebratory and romantic track from the movie Cobra (2022), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vivek. The song captures a blend of grand festivity and intimate expression of love. Using the dragonfly ('Thumbi') as a metaphor for joy, freedom, and fluttering emotions, the protagonist expresses deep affection and longing for her partner, comparing his presence to a warm breeze and an indispensable part of her soul. The song seamlessly blends traditional folk beat cadence ('Sadugudu') with lush orchestral arrangements, portraying how love brought purpose to an otherwise aimless life and creating a tapestry of romantic devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo / Thaniyae thaniyae thaniyae”
Repetition of the word 'Thumbi' (dragonfly) and 'Thaniyae' (alone) creates rhythmic momentum and emphasizes playful joy and solitude.
Edict of Rhyme (Monorhyme / Edhai / Monai)
“Thodum ellamae theeyena thee maatrumae / Adhu pol theenda nee yena naan venduvaen”
Tamil poetic alliteration and rhyming like 'Thodum ellamae theeyena' matching with 'Adhu pol theenda' across lines.
Onomatopoeia
“Oh hooo jala jal jala jal maniyae”
Use of rhythmic oral percussion sounds like 'Sadugudu', 'Dama dam', and sound of ornaments 'Jala jal' to evoke celebratory movement.
Metaphor
“Kaathoram un moochin thee vendumae”
Comparing the lover's breath to fire ('moochin thee') and the lover as the depth of a smile ('kalla chiripin neelam neeyae').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song marks a celebrated collaboration between A.R. Rahman and Shreya Ghoshal in Tamil. The track heavily features Malayalam-flavored folk festivity elements fused with modern symphonic instrumentation, matching the grand festival backdrop depicted in the Cobra film visual sequence.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Cobra
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.