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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Eduthu Vacha Paalum (Sad)

From Ninaive Oru Sangeetham · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ninaive Oru Sangeetham1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Eduththu vachcha paalum virichchi vachcha paayumThe milk kept aside and the mat spread out
Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthuAre going to waste while that silver moon shines.
Male
Eduththu vachcha paalum virichchi vachcha paayumThe milk kept aside and the mat spread out
Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthuAre going to waste while that silver moon shines.
Adi poongaattrae manam vaadaathae siru oodhaa poovaeOh gentle breeze, do not wither in spirit, my small purple flower,
Adi neethaan enthan vaazhvaeOh, you alone are my life!
Male
Eduththu vachcha paalum virichchi vachcha paayumThe milk kept aside and the mat spread out
Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthuAre going to waste while that silver moon shines.
Male
Naadodi mannan nee paaththu vantha nammooru theater-ulaIn our town's theater where you went to watch Nadodi Mannan,
Adha naaninnum marakkavillaiI haven't forgotten that even today.
Thoongaatha thambi paattonnai solliBy singing a song from Thoongadha Thambi,
Thoongaama pannalaiyaa adha nee ippa ennalaiyaaDidn't you keep me awake? Have you forgotten that now?
Male
Thoonginaal thaangumaa maman nenjamIf you sleep, will this uncle's heart bear it?
Naan padum vedhanai kelu konjamListen a little to the pain I am suffering.
En jeevan needhaan un devan naanthaanYou are my life, and I am your deity.
Male
Eduththu vachcha paalum virichchi vachcha paayumThe milk kept aside and the mat spread out
Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthuAre going to waste while that silver moon shines.
Male
Sollaama naanae thindaaduraenaeWithout telling anyone, I am struggling inside,
Singara poonthaenae en samsaaram needhaanaeBeautiful honey flower, you are my wife.
Nee vachcha paasam neengaatha nesam naan vaiththu naalaachchuIt has been days since I held onto the affection and unending love you gave,
Edhu en paavam endraachchuI wonder what sin of mine caused this separation.
Male
En nilaa kannuthaan eeraamaachchuMy moon's eyes have become tearful,
Ennamo nenjilae paaramaachchuA strange heavy burden has settled in my heart.
Anthi neram aanaa intha paattuthaanaaWhenever evening comes, is it only this song?
Male
Eduththu vachcha paalum virichchi vachcha paayumThe milk kept aside and the mat spread out
Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthuAre going to waste while that silver moon shines.
Male
Adi poongaattrae manam vaadaathae siru oodhaa poovaeOh gentle breeze, do not wither in spirit, my small purple flower,
Adi neethaan enthan vaazhvaeOh, you alone are my life!
Male
Eduththu vachcha paalum virichchi vachcha paayumThe milk kept aside and the mat spread out
Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthuAre going to waste while that silver moon shines.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Eduththu Vachcha Paalum' expresses the deep yearning, romantic frustration, and agony of a husband longing for his beloved wife's presence. Set against the serene backdrop of a moonlit night, he laments how the glass of milk set aside for intimacy and the bed spread out for rest are going to waste in her absence. He fondly recalls nostalgic memories from their past—such as going to the local cinema hall to watch classic M.G. Ramachandran films like 'Nadodi Mannan' and singing songs from 'Thoongadha Thambi'. Through sweet folk metaphors and tender pleas, he confesses his suffering, declaring her to be his very soul while lamenting the fate that keeps them apart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

En jeevan needhaan un devan naanthaan

The line directly equates the wife to the speaker's life force ('jeevan') and sweet nectar ('poonthaenae').

Contrast / Visual Imagery (முரண் / காட்சிப்படுத்துதல்)

Veenaakaththaan poguthu antha velli nilaa kaayuthu

Juxtaposes the romantic, ideal setting of bright silver moonlight with the tragic waste of unused domestic intimacy (poured milk and spread mat).

Cultural Allusion (திரைப்படக் குறிப்பு)

Naadodi mannan nee paaththu vantha nammooru theater-ula

References real-life iconic MGR films ('Nadodi Mannan' and 'Thoongadha Thambi') to ground the couple's shared romantic nostalgia in Tamil pop culture.

Eukai / Rhyme (எதுகை)

Thoonginaal thaangumaa maman nenjam

Rhythmic second-letter rhyming typical in Tamil folk lyrics (e.g., 'Thoonginaal' / 'Naan padum').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features iconic pop-culture references to legendary Tamil actor M. G. Ramachandran's (MGR) blockbuster movies 'Nadodi Mannan' (1958) and 'Thoongadha Thambi' (1956). Gangai Amaran's lyrics seamlessly integrate rustic rural conversational Tamil with nostalgic film references, while Ilaiyaraaja's composition and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam's expressive vocals made it one of the most celebrated solo romantic tracks of 1987.

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