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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vetkamenna Thendral

From Thanga Thambi · 1967

Lyricist
‘Avinasi’ Mani
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thanga Thambi
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
2 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vetkamenna thendral vandhu
Thottaalum vetkamenna
Female :Kuttramenna kangal ondru
Pattaalum kuttramenna
Vetkamenna thendral vandhu
Thottaalum vetkamenna
Female :Kuttramenna kangal ondru
Pattaalum kuttramenna
Vetkamenna ..aa..hoo
Haa..aaa…
Maiyalandha paarvaiyaalae
Poiyalandhu pesalaama
Female :Kannalandha maeni azhagai
Mei marandhu parkkalaama..aa
Maiyalandha paarvaiyaalae
Poiyalandhu pesalaama
Female :Kannalandha maeni azhagai
Mei marandhu parkkalaama.
Aasai ennai thallum
Female :Naanam ennai kollum
Male :Saelai kondu paal mugathai moodalaama
Female :Kaadhal nenjam kaaval indri oodalaama
Male :Saelai kondu paal mugathai moodalaama
Female :Kaadhal nenjam kaaval indri oodalaam
Haiyoo vetkamenna thendral vandhu
Thottaalum vetkamenna
Female :Kuttramenna kangal ondru
Pattaalum kuttramenna
Male :Vetkamenna
Female :Aaah
Male :Ohh
Both :Hmm mm mmm
Oodai neeril aadum bothu
Oorakannaal paarkkalaama..aa
Male :Uttru paarkkum kannai vittu
Ennai mattum ketkalaama..haan haan
Oodai neeril aadum bothu
Oorakannaal paarkkalaama..aa
Male :Uttru paarkkum kannai vittu
Ennai mattum ketkalaama…
Aadai maattrum neram
Male :Vaadai kaattru veesum
Female :Kaigal kondu maeni engum moodi kollavaa
Male :Manadhukkullae kaadhal raagam paadi kollavaa
Female :Kaigal kondu maeni engum moodi kollavaa
Male :Manadhukkullae kaadhal raagam paadi kollavaa
Vetkamenna thendral vandhu
Thottaalum vetkamenna
Female :Kuttramenna kangal ondru
Pattaalum kuttramenna
Male :Vetkamenna
Female :Aaah
Male :Ohh
Both :Hmm mm mmm
Why this shyness? When the gentle breeze comes
And touches you, why feel so shy?
Female: What is the fault if our eyes
Meet each other, what is the fault?
Why this shyness? When the gentle breeze comes
And touches you, why feel so shy?
Female: What is the fault if our eyes
Meet each other, what is the fault?
Why this shyness? Ah... ooh...
Ha... aah...
With your kohl-lined eyes,
Can you weave such clever lies?
Female: At the beauty of a body measured by your gaze,
Can you look on, forgetting yourself? Ah...
With your kohl-lined eyes,
Can you weave such clever lies?
Female: At the beauty of a body measured by your gaze,
Can you look on, forgetting yourself?
Desire pushes me forward,
Female: But shyness is overwhelming me.
Male: Should you cover your fair face with your sari?
Female: Should a loving heart playfully sulk with no restraint?
Male: Should you cover your fair face with your sari?
Female: Can a loving heart playfully sulk with no restraint?
Oh, why this shyness? When the gentle breeze comes
And touches you, why feel so shy?
Female: What is the fault if our eyes
Meet each other, what is the fault?
Male: Why this shyness?
Female: Aah
Male: Oh
Both: Mmm mm mmm
While bathing in the stream,
Can you steal glances from the corner of your eye? Ah...
Male: Instead of blaming the eyes that gaze intently,
Can you question only me? Haan haan...
While bathing in the stream,
Can you steal glances from the corner of your eye? Ah...
Male: Instead of blaming the eyes that gaze intently,
Can you question only me?
When it is time to change clothes,
Male: The chilly wind begins to blow...
Female: Shall I cover my body all over with my hands?
Male: Shall I sing a tune of love within my heart?
Female: Shall I cover my body all over with my hands?
Male: Shall I sing a tune of love within my heart?
Why this shyness? When the gentle breeze comes
And touches you, why feel so shy?
Female: What is the fault if our eyes
Meet each other, what is the fault?
Male: Why this shyness?
Female: Aah
Male: Oh
Both: Mmm mm mmm
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic duet features a romantic and playful banter between lovers. The male protagonist teases his beloved for being coy when the breeze touches her or when he looks at her, encouraging her to cast away her hesitation. The female protagonist playfully defends her modesty, asking if it is wrong for a person to admire beauty or feel shy under a lover's loving gaze.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Maiyalandha paarvaiyaalae / Kannalandha maeni azhagai

The second letters of 'Maiyalandha' and 'Kannalandha' match ('i'/'n' nasal phonetic alignment), creating classic Tamil poetic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Saelai kondu paal mugathai moodalaama

'Paal mugam' compares the brightness and fairness of her face to milk.

Antithesis / Playful Contrast

Aasai ennai thallum / Naanam ennai kollum

Desire pushing forward contrasted directly with modesty holding back.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan for the 1967 film 'Thanga Thambi', this track highlights the signature vocal chemistry of T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, written by lyricist 'Avinasi' Mani.

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