Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Valayapatti Thavile

From Azhagiya Tamil Magan · 2007

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Naresh Iyer, Ujjayinee, Srimathumitha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Azhagiya Tamil Magan2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nee nathaswaram pola vanthaaa…aa..If you come like the Nadaswaram...
Nee nathaswaram pola vanthaIf you come like the Nadaswaram
Nabi kamalam nanaI am the lotus blooming from the navel
Nee ezhu swaram pola vanthaIf you come like the seven musical notes
Ettaa swaram nanaI am the unreachable eighth note
Ettaa swaram nanaI am the unreachable eighth note
Chorus
…………………………….
Male
Valayapatti thavilae thavilaeO Valayapatti Thavil drum, Thavil drum!
Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalaeO daughter-in-law who plays a duet musical duel!
Ada jimikki potta mayilae mayilaeHey peacock wearing jhumka earrings!
Enna mayakiriyaeYou are mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me
Male :MayakiriyaeMale: Mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me
Male
Valayapatti thavilae thavilaeO Valayapatti Thavil drum, Thavil drum!
Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalaeO daughter-in-law who plays a duet musical duel!
Ada jimikki potta mayilae mayilaeHey peacock wearing jhumka earrings!
Enna mayakiriyaeYou are mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me
Female
Nee nathaswaram pola vanthaaa…aa..If you come like the Nadaswaram...
Nee nathaswaram pola vanthaIf you come like the Nadaswaram
Nabi kamalam nanaI am the lotus blooming from the navel
Nee ezhu swaram pola vanthaIf you come like the seven musical notes
Ettaa swaram nanaI am the unreachable eighth note
Ettaa swaram nanaI am the unreachable eighth note
Male
Valayapatti thavilae thavilaeO Valayapatti Thavil drum, Thavil drum!
Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalaeO daughter-in-law who plays a duet musical duel!
Ada jimikki potta mayilae mayilaeHey peacock wearing jhumka earrings!
Enna mayakiriyaeYou are mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me
Female
Nee nathaswaram pola vanthaaa…aa..If you come like the Nadaswaram...
Nee nathaswaram pola vanthaIf you come like the Nadaswaram
Nabi kamalam nanaI am the lotus blooming from the navel
Nee ezhu swaram pola vanthaIf you come like the seven musical notes
Ettaa swaram nanaI am the unreachable eighth note
Male :Ettaa swaram neethaanMale: You are that unreachable eighth note
Chorus
………………………………
Male
Unn kangal rendum kalyaniBoth your eyes are Raga Kalyani
Unn siripo sinthu bairavi…aann..aaan..Your smile is Sindhu Bhairavi...
Unn kangal rendumChorus :KalyaniBoth your eyes are Chorus: Kalyani
Unn siripoChorus :Sinthu bairaviYour smile is Chorus: Sindhu Bhairavi
Nee paarkum pothuChorus :Bhagiya shreeWhen you look Chorus: Bageshri
Nee konjum pothuChorus :Nilampari..eee.When you cuddle Chorus: Neelambari...
Female
Naan thiruvaiyaaru kacheriI am a Thiruvaiyaru musical concert
Nee thalam podu pitheriYou keep rhythm and drive me wild
Pala ragangal solven pinnadiI will recite many ragas later
En ooruku vaa nee bus yeriBoard the bus and come to my town
Chorus
Valayapatti thavilae thavilaeO Valayapatti Thavil drum, Thavil drum!
Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalaeO daughter-in-law who plays a duet musical duel!
Ada jimikki potta mayilae mayilaeHey peacock wearing jhumka earrings!
Enna mayakiriyae …You are mesmerizing me...
Chorus
………………………………..
Female
Nee pakum pothuWhen you look
Nee pakum pothae pathikuthuJust as you look, fire catches on
Sontha ooru sivakasiyaIs your native place Sivakasi?
Pesum pothae jillunguthaeEven as you speak, it feels cool
Unga ooru sirapunjiyaIs your native place Cherrapunji?
Male
Nee nerungum pothaeAs you come close
Current eruthaeCurrent/electricity surges
Unga ooru kalpakkamaIs your town Kalpakkam?
Narabellam murukeruthaeAll the nerves tighten up
Endi neeyum manaparaiyaaWhy girl, are you from Manapparai?
Male
Nee kai kaal mulacha mathalammaAre you a drum with hands and feet grown?
Unna vasika pinnaal suthanummaMust I follow behind to play you?
Nee hormoniya kattaiyammaAre you a harmonium reed, woman?
En hormone seiyuthu settaiyamma…aa…My hormones are playing mischief, woman...
Female
Naan valibam thirudum veenaiyadaI am a Veena that steals youth, man
Engae vanthaal oliyum poonaiyadaWherever I go, I am a cat that hides, man
Naan vayathuku vantha violin adaI am a matured, full-grown Violin, man
Enna minora pola vasiyadaPlay me like a youthful minor, man
Enna minora pola vasiyada….Play me like a youthful minor, man...
Chorus
Valayapatti thavilae thavilaeO Valayapatti Thavil drum, Thavil drum!
Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalaeO daughter-in-law who plays a duet musical duel!
Ada jimikki potta mayilae mayilaeHey peacock wearing jhumka earrings!
Enna mayakiriyae…. mayakiriyaeYou are mesmerizing me... mesmerizing me
Male :MayakiriyaeMale: Mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me
Chorus
Valayapatti thavilae thavilaeO Valayapatti Thavil drum, Thavil drum!
Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalaeO daughter-in-law who plays a duet musical duel!
Ada jimikki potta mayilae mayilaeHey peacock wearing jhumka earrings!
Enna mayakiriyae…. mayakiriyaeYou are mesmerizing me... mesmerizing me
Male :MayakiriyaeMale: Mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me
Male :MayakiriyaeMale: Mesmerizing me
Chorus :MayakiriyaeChorus: Mesmerizing me

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Valayapatti Thavile is a high-energy, folk-Carnatic fusion dance song from the movie Azhagiya Tamil Magan (2007), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Na. Muthukumar. The song builds on a clever metaphor that blends classical Indian musical instruments, ragas, and geographic specialities of Tamil Nadu with playful romantic banter between the lead lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Metaphor / Simile)

Unn kangal rendum kalyani / Unn siripo sinthu bairavi

Comparing the heroine's facial features and emotions to classical ragas (Kalyani, Sindhu Bhairavi, Bageshri, Neelambari) and musical instruments (Thavil, Veena, Violin).

Metonymy / Geographical Metaphor

Sontha ooru sivakasiya / Unga ooru sirapunjiya

Using places famous for specific attributes (Sivakasi for fire/crackers, Cherrapunji for rain/coolness, Kalpakkam for nuclear power/electricity, Manapparai for crispy murukku/tightness) as metaphors for physical sensations.

Emoni (Anaphora / Rhyme)

Valayapatti thavilae thavilae / Jugal banthi vaikum mavalae mavalae

Repeated rhyming structure across lines created by musical instrument and place names.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman, 'Valayapatti Thavile' uniquely blends traditional Carnatic ragas and folk percussion instruments with modern synth beats. The name 'Valayapatti' pays homage to Valayapatti A. R. Subramaniam, a legendary Thavil maestro in South Indian classical music.

Keep listening

More from Azhagiya Tamil Magan