Thumbi Thullal
From Cobra · 2022
- Lyricist
- Vivek
- Singers
- Shreya Ghoshal, Nakul Abhyankar
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Cobra2022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Sadugudu sadugudu di di | Sadugudu sadugudu di di (Rhythmic syllable chants) |
| Di di dama dam dam | Di di dama dam dam (Rhythmic beat sounds) |
| Sadugudu di di di di dam dam | Sadugudu di di di di dam dam (Rhythmic rhythm pattern) |
| Konjum sindhoora singaara kinnaara | Coaxing, vermilion-adorned, beautiful musical instrument sound |
| Ponthendralaai vannu | Coming like a golden southern breeze |
| Madhu manamo madhumanamo madhumanmo | Is it the fragrance of sweet honey? |
| Madhu manamoo | The sweet fragrance of honey |
| Female | |
| Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo | Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily |
| Indro indro thumbi thullalo | Will the dragonfly leap with joy today? |
| Oh hooo jala jal jala jal maniyae | Oh, jingling, sparkling precious gem |
| Avanidam idai irangidu maniyae | Oh gem, descend softly upon him |
| Thaniyae thaniyae thaniyae | Alone, alone, alone |
| Avan ulaginil naan mattum thaniyae | In his world, I am the only one left alone |
| En kalla chiripin neelam neeyae | You are the true depth behind my shy smile |
| Female | |
| Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo | Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily |
| Oh oh indro indro thumbi thullalo | Oh, today, today, will the dragonfly leap with joy? |
| Chorus | |
| Sadugudu sadugudu di di | Sadugudu sadugudu di di (Rhythmic syllable chants) |
| Di di dama dam dam | Di di dama dam dam (Rhythmic beat sounds) |
| Sadugudu di di di di dam dam | Sadugudu di di di di dam dam (Rhythmic rhythm pattern) |
| Konjum sindhoora singaara kinaara | Coaxing, vermilion-adorned, beautiful musical instrument sound |
| Ponthendralaai vannu | Coming like a golden southern breeze |
| Female | |
| Kan thoongum neraththil | In the moments when my eyes fall asleep |
| Nee neenga koodathu | You must never leave me |
| Kaathoram un moochin thee vendumae | I need the warmth of your breath near my ear |
| Thodum ellamae theeyena thee maatrumae | Everything touched turns into fire |
| Adhu pol theenda nee yena naan venduvaen | I pray that your touch enflames me the same way |
| Female | |
| Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo | Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily |
| Oh …. indro indro thumbi thullalo | Oh... today, today, will the dragonfly leap with joy? |
| Male | |
| Kaaranangal yedhum theriyaamal | Without knowing any reasons |
| Naatkal poga kandenae | I saw the days passing by aimlessly |
| Unnidam vandhen andha nodiyae | The moment I reached you |
| Orr artham serthanthae | It added a deep meaning to my life |
| Oru ganam kooda vilagaamal uyiraavaen | Without separating even for a instant, I will remain your soul |
| Irudhi varai kaigal naluvaamal yaendhuven | Until the end, without slipping away, I will cradle your hands |
| Chorus | |
| ………….. | ... |
| Female :Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo | Female: Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily |
| Indro indro thumbi thullalo | Will the dragonfly leap with joy today? |
| Oh hooo jal jal jala jal maniyae | Oh, jingling, sparkling precious gem |
| Avanidam idai irangidu maniyae | Oh gem, descend softly upon him |
| Thaniyae thaniyae thaniyae | Alone, alone, alone |
| Avan ulaginil naan mattum thaniyae | In his world, I am the only one left alone |
| En kalla chiripin neelam neeyae | You are the true depth behind my shy smile |
சடுகுடு சடுகுடு டி டி
டி டி டம டம் டம்
சடுகுடு டி டி டி டி டம் டம்
கொஞ்சும் சிந்தூர சிங்காரா கிண்ணார
பூந்தென்றலாய் வன்னூ
மது மனமோ மதுமனமோ மதுமனமோ
மது மனமோ.....
Sadugudu sadugudu di di (Rhythmic syllable chants)
Di di dama dam dam (Rhythmic beat sounds)
Sadugudu di di di di dam dam (Rhythmic rhythm pattern)
Coaxing, vermilion-adorned, beautiful musical instrument sound
Coming like a golden southern breeze
Is it the fragrance of sweet honey?
The sweet fragrance of honey
தும்பி தும்பி தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
இன்றோ இன்றோ தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
ஓ ஹோ......ஜல ஜல் ஜல ஜல் மணியே
அவனிடம் இடை இறங்கிடு மணியே
தனியே தனியே தனியே
அவன் உலகினில் நான் மட்டும் தனியே
என் கள்ள சிரிப்பின் நீளம் நீயே
Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Will the dragonfly leap with joy today?
Oh, jingling, sparkling precious gem
Oh gem, descend softly upon him
Alone, alone, alone
In his world, I am the only one left alone
You are the true depth behind my shy smile
தும்பி தும்பி தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
ஓ ஓ இன்றோ இன்றோ தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Oh, today, today, will the dragonfly leap with joy?
சடுகுடு சடுகுடு டி டி
டி டி டம டம் டம்
சடுகுடு டி டி டி டி டம் டம்
கொஞ்சும் சிந்தூர சிங்காரா கிண்ணார
பூந்தென்றலாய் வன்னூ
Sadugudu sadugudu di di (Rhythmic syllable chants)
Di di dama dam dam (Rhythmic beat sounds)
Sadugudu di di di di dam dam (Rhythmic rhythm pattern)
Coaxing, vermilion-adorned, beautiful musical instrument sound
Coming like a golden southern breeze
கண் தூங்கும் நேரத்தில்
நீ நீங்க கூடாது
காதோரம் உன் மூச்சின் தீ வேண்டுமே
தொடும் எல்லாமே தீயென தீ மாற்றுமே
அதுபோல் தீண்ட நீ என நான் வேண்டுவேன்
In the moments when my eyes fall asleep
You must never leave me
I need the warmth of your breath near my ear
Everything touched turns into fire
I pray that your touch enflames me the same way
தும்பி தும்பி தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
ஓ......இன்றோ இன்றோ தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Oh... today, today, will the dragonfly leap with joy?
காரணங்கள் ஏதும் தெரியாமல்
நாட்கள் போக கண்டேனே
உன்னிடம் வந்தேன் அந்த நொடியே
ஓர் அர்த்தம் சேர்ந்ததே
ஒரு கணம் கூட விலகாமல் உயிராவேன்
இறுதி வரை கைகள் நழுவாமல் ஏந்துவேன்
Without knowing any reasons
I saw the days passing by aimlessly
The moment I reached you
It added a deep meaning to my life
Without separating even for a instant, I will remain your soul
Until the end, without slipping away, I will cradle your hands
பெண் குழு :
ஆண் அழகன் காலு நம்ம பக்கம்
கண்ணு மட்டும் பேரழகி பக்கம்
ஆண் குழு :
நம்ம சத்தம் காதில் விழ வில்லையே
வெடிக்கும் பீரங்கி கொண்டு வரணும்
...
Female: Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Will the dragonfly leap with joy today?
Oh, jingling, sparkling precious gem
Oh gem, descend softly upon him
Alone, alone, alone
In his world, I am the only one left alone
You are the true depth behind my shy smile
பெண் குழு :
நீங்க தர வேணும் நூறு புள்ள
ஆண் குழு :
அய்யோ.....போதவில்லை
பெண் குழு :
உங்க பொறுப்பில் நம்ம
ஜனத்தொகை இருக்குது
............................
தும்பி தும்பி தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
ஹா....ஆ....இன்றோ இன்றோ தும்பி துள்ளல்லோ
ஓ ஹோ ஜல் ஜல் ஜல ஜல் மணியே
அவனிடம் இடை இறங்கிடு மணியே
தனியே தனியே தனியே
அவன் உலகினில் நான் மட்டும் தனியே
என் கள்ள சிரிப்பின் நீளம் நீயே...
Sadugudu sadugudu di di
Sadugudu sadugudu di di (Rhythmic syllable chants)
Di di dama dam dam
Di di dama dam dam (Rhythmic beat sounds)
Sadugudu di di di di dam dam
Sadugudu di di di di dam dam (Rhythmic rhythm pattern)
Konjum sindhoora singaara kinnaara
Coaxing, vermilion-adorned, beautiful musical instrument sound
Ponthendralaai vannu
Coming like a golden southern breeze
Madhu manamo madhumanamo madhumanmo
Is it the fragrance of sweet honey?
Madhu manamoo
The sweet fragrance of honey
Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo
Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Indro indro thumbi thullalo
Will the dragonfly leap with joy today?
Oh hooo jala jal jala jal maniyae
Oh, jingling, sparkling precious gem
Avanidam idai irangidu maniyae
Oh gem, descend softly upon him
Thaniyae thaniyae thaniyae
Alone, alone, alone
Avan ulaginil naan mattum thaniyae
In his world, I am the only one left alone
En kalla chiripin neelam neeyae
You are the true depth behind my shy smile
Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo
Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Oh oh indro indro thumbi thullalo
Oh, today, today, will the dragonfly leap with joy?
Sadugudu sadugudu di di
Sadugudu sadugudu di di (Rhythmic syllable chants)
Di di dama dam dam
Di di dama dam dam (Rhythmic beat sounds)
Sadugudu di di di di dam dam
Sadugudu di di di di dam dam (Rhythmic rhythm pattern)
Konjum sindhoora singaara kinaara
Coaxing, vermilion-adorned, beautiful musical instrument sound
Ponthendralaai vannu
Coming like a golden southern breeze
Kan thoongum neraththil
In the moments when my eyes fall asleep
Nee neenga koodathu
You must never leave me
Kaathoram un moochin thee vendumae
I need the warmth of your breath near my ear
Thodum ellamae theeyena thee maatrumae
Everything touched turns into fire
Adhu pol theenda nee yena naan venduvaen
I pray that your touch enflames me the same way
Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo
Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Oh …. indro indro thumbi thullalo
Oh... today, today, will the dragonfly leap with joy?
Kaaranangal yedhum theriyaamal
Without knowing any reasons
Naatkal poga kandenae
I saw the days passing by aimlessly
Unnidam vandhen andha nodiyae
The moment I reached you
Orr artham serthanthae
It added a deep meaning to my life
Oru ganam kooda vilagaamal uyiraavaen
Without separating even for a instant, I will remain your soul
Irudhi varai kaigal naluvaamal yaendhuven
Until the end, without slipping away, I will cradle your hands
…………..
...
Female :Thumbi thumbi thumbi thullalo
Female: Dragonfly, dragonfly, dragonfly leap happily
Indro indro thumbi thullalo
Will the dragonfly leap with joy today?
Oh hooo jal jal jala jal maniyae
Oh, jingling, sparkling precious gem
Avanidam idai irangidu maniyae
Oh gem, descend softly upon him
Thaniyae thaniyae thaniyae
Alone, alone, alone
Avan ulaginil naan mattum thaniyae
In his world, I am the only one left alone
En kalla chiripin neelam neeyae
You are the true depth behind my shy smile
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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.
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