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Lyrics & meaning

Un Athanum Naanthane

From Chakravarthi Thirumagal · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
S. C. Krishnan, T. V. Rathinam
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Chakravarthi Thirumagal1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nenachathellaam thappunu thaadaiyileThinking that everything you thought was wrong, on the chin...
Pottuka venum aahng..You must hit yourself, ah...
Female :Pottukitten pottukittenFemale: I hit myself, I hit myself
PottukittenI hit myself!
Inimel nee padichathellaam pakkuvamaaFrom now on, whatever you have learned, with maturity...
Solli kodukka venum athaanYou must teach me, my cousin/beloved...
Athaan aaaa……..Beloved, ah...
Male
Un athaanum naan thaaneI am your beloved cousin, am I not?
Sattai pothaanum neethaaneAnd you are my shirt button, aren't you?
Athaanum naan thaaneI am your beloved cousin, am I not?
Sattai pothaanum neethaaneAnd you are my shirt button, aren't you?
Athaanum naan thaaneI am your beloved cousin, am I not?
Female
En muthaaram neethaaneYou are my precious pearl necklace, aren't you?
Ini sethaalum maraveneEven if I die hereafter, I will not forget
En muthaaram neethaaneYou are my precious pearl necklace, aren't you?
Ini sethaalum maraveneEven if I die hereafter, I will not forget
Muthaaram neethaaneYou are my precious pearl necklace, aren't you?
Male
Sitraadai selvame thingaatha vellameMy treasure clad in simple silk dress, my sweet overflowing flood
Female :Vithaara thangame vedhaantha singameFemale: My grand golden treasure, my lion of philosophy
Male :Sitraadai selvame thingaatha vellameMale: My treasure clad in simple silk dress, my sweet overflowing flood
Female :Vithaara thangame vedhaantha singameFemale: My grand golden treasure, my lion of philosophy
Male
Pattaadai samsaara sangeethameMy silk-adorned marital music
Unakku athaanum arumai athaanumTo you, I am your cousin, your precious cousin...
Aasai athaanum naan thaaneI am your desired cousin, am I not?
Female :En muthaaram neethaaneFemale: You are my precious pearl necklace, aren't you?
Male :Athaanum naan thaaneMale: I am your beloved cousin, am I not?
Female
Unnai mala pola ninaichirukenI thought of you as steadfast as a mountain
Nee asaiyaamal irukkaatheDo not remain unmoving without responding
Male :Unnaiyum thangaMale: I too have thought of you like a golden...
Chilai pola nenachirukken...statue, pure and shining
Nee pesaamal irukkaathe kannu en kannuDo not sit silently without speaking, my dear eye
Female
Unnaattam buthi sali ulaginil yeadhuWhere in this world can anyone as intelligent as you be found?
Male :Oho ennaattam unakkini yeathum amaiyaathuMale: Oh, you will never find anyone as suitable as me
Female :Unnaattam buthi sali ulaginil yeadhuFemale: Where in this world can anyone as intelligent as you be found?
Male :Ennaattam unakkini yeathum amaiyaathuMale: You will never find anyone as suitable as me
Female
Ennaalum namakku ini inai kidaiyaathuForevermore, there is no match for us
Male :Sundariye.. adi sundariye..Male: Oh beautiful lady... hey beautiful lady...
Kannu sundariye.. andharangameMy lovely beautiful lady... my intimate beloved
Female :Manam sokkuthe aananda vellameFemale: My heart is mesmerized in a flood of joy
Male :Sundariye andharangameMale: Beautiful lady, my intimate beloved
Female :Manam sokkuthe aananda vellameFemale: My heart is mesmerized in a flood of joy
Male
Un athaanum naan thaaneI am your beloved cousin, am I not?
Sattai pothaanum neethaaneAnd you are my shirt button, aren't you?
Female :En muthaaram neethaaneFemale: You are my precious pearl necklace, aren't you?
Ini sethaalum maravene..Even if I die hereafter, I will not forget...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet from the film Chakravarthi Thirumagal features a lighthearted banter between the lead couple. The male and female characters exchange clever compliments and affectionately tease each other through folk-infused poetic metaphors, comparing each other to shirt buttons, golden statues, pearl necklaces, and philosophical lions. Overall, the song celebrates their mutual love, intellectual compatibility, and unbreakable bond.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Sitraadai selvame thingaatha vellame / Vithaara thangame vedhaantha singame

The second letter 'tta' rhymes in 'Sattai' and 'Muthaaram' (phonetically aligning lines) as well as 'Sitraadai' and 'Vithaara'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Sattai pothaanum neethaane / En muthaaram neethaane

Comparing the lover to a shirt button ('sattai pothaan') and a pearl necklace ('muthaaram') to signify essential closeness and preciousness.

Simile (Uvamai)

Unnai mala pola ninaichiruken / Chilai pola nenachirukken

Comparing the lover to a mountain ('mala pola') and a golden statue ('thanga chilai pola').

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Trivia

Composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass, this track showcases the comic-romantic duet style popular in 1950s Tamil cinema, sung with energetic expression by S. C. Krishnan and T. V. Rathinam.

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