thillai
1. Sacred place, Chidambaram. 2. No, not, never.
Meaning
The romanization 'thillai' can refer to two distinct Tamil words. In one sense, it denotes Chidambaram, a temple town in Tamil Nadu, India, famous for its Nataraja temple; dancers encounter it when lyrics invoke Lord Shiva. In another sense, it is a romanization of 'illai', a common Tamil word meaning 'no' or 'not', used to express negation or absence in a sentence.
In the songs
thaiyale keladi undhan paiyanai polave indha vaiyagathil oru pillai ammamma naan kanda thillai
Oh lady, listen! Like your boy, in this entire world, oh my, I have never seen another child!
Thaye Yashoda · Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer
thaiyale keladi undhan paiyanai polave indha vaiyagathil oru pillai ammamma naan kanda thillai
Oh lady, listen! Like your boy, in this entire world, oh my, I have never seen another child!
Thaye Yashoda · Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer
Unadhu thaal panindhu kalaiyodu vaazha varam tharum thillai paramesha
Bowing at your feet, grant me the boon to live with this art, Oh Supreme Lord of Thillai.
Thillana and Mangalam · Traditional