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Aayiram Nilave Vaa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Gangai Aatril

From Aayiram Nilave Vaa · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Aayiram Nilave Vaa
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
14 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
Kannai moodi kaatchi thedi
Innum engae selvaal ival
Thannaiyae dhaan nambaadhu
Povadhum yen pedhai maadhu
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
Poi polavae
Vesham mei pottadhu
Andha meiyae poiyaai kondaal
Orr aayiram
Saatchi yaar koorinum
Avai ellaam vesham endraal
Than kann seidha maayam
Penn mel enna paavam
Than nenjodu theeraadhu sogam
Ipporaattam eppodhu theerum ini
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
Poi maanaiyae
Andru mei maan ena
Andha seethai pedhai aanaal
Mei maanaiyae
Indru poi maan ena
Indha kodhai pedhai aanaal
Poi nambikkai angae
Veen sandhegam ingae
Kan ovvondrum vevveru paarvai
Endraalum yemaatram ondraanathu
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
Kannai moodi kaatchi thedi
Innum engae selvaal ival
Thannaiyae dhaan nambaadhu
Povadhum yen pedhai maadhu
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
Standing in the river Ganga,
she is a deer searching for water.
Closing her eyes to search for a sight,
where else will she go now?
Not even trusting herself,
why does this innocent girl keep walking?
Standing in the river Ganga,
she is a deer searching for water.
Just like a lie,
an illusion put on the mask of truth.
If she mistakes that truth for a lie,
and even if a thousand
witnesses come forward to speak,
if she calls it all a mere act,
it is a trick played by her own eyes;
what fault is it of this woman?
The sorrow in her heart knows no end;
when will this inner struggle ever cease?
Standing in the river Ganga,
she is a deer searching for water.
Taking a fake deer
to be a real one back then,
Sita was deceived.
Taking a real deer
to be a fake one today,
this girl has been deceived.
False trust was over there;
pointless doubt is over here.
Each eye sees a different view,
yet the disappointment is the same.
Standing in the river Ganga,
she is a deer searching for water.
Closing her eyes to search for a sight,
where else will she go now?
Not even trusting herself,
why does this innocent girl keep walking?
Standing in the river Ganga,
she is a deer searching for water.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Gangai Aatril Nindru Kondu' uses profound metaphorical imagery to depict a woman consumed by self-doubt, confusion, and misjudgment. The central refrain compares her to a female deer standing right inside the flowing Ganges River yet searching desperately for water—symbolizing a person who is surrounded by love, truth, and clarity but is blinded by her own internal conflicts and unable to recognize reality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor

“Gangai aatril nindru kondu / Neerai thedum pen maan ival”

Compares a woman seeking truth/love to a deer standing in the river Ganges searching for water, representing extreme blindness to reality.

Muran (Antithesis)

“Andha meiyae poiyaai kondaal”

Contrasts 'Mei' (truth) and 'Poi' (falsehood) to highlight the central conflict of perception.

Mythological Allusion

“Poi maanaiyae / Andru mei maan ena / Andha seethai pedhai aanaal”

References Goddess Sita from the Ramayana mistaking Maricha (the golden illusion deer) for a real deer, drawing a parallel to the protagonist's tragic misjudgment.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Poi nambikkai angae / Veen sandhegam ingae”

Rhyming words 'angae' and 'ingae' at the end of consecutive lines create rhythmic balance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1983 Tamil film 'Aayiram Nilave Vaa', directed by A. S. Pragasam and starring Karthik and Sulakshana. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyricist Gangai Amaran weaving classical Ramayana allegories into the contemporary narrative.

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