Gangai Aatril
From Aayiram Nilave Vaa · 1983
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Aayiram Nilave Vaa1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Gangai aatril nindru kondu | Standing right in the river Ganges, |
| Neerai thedum pen maan ival | She is a female deer searching for water. |
| Kannai moodi kaatchi thedi | Closing her eyes, searching for a vision, |
| Innum engae selvaal ival | Where else will she go now? |
| Thannaiyae dhaan nambaadhu | Without even trusting herself, |
| Povadhum yen pedhai maadhu | Why does this naive maiden keep wandering? |
| Female | |
| Gangai aatril nindru kondu | Standing right in the river Ganges, |
| Neerai thedum pen maan ival | She is a female deer searching for water. |
| Female | |
| Poi polavae | Just like a lie, |
| Vesham mei pottadhu | Disguise took on the form of truth. |
| Andha meiyae poiyaai kondaal | If she considers that very truth as a lie, |
| Orr aayiram | Even if a thousand |
| Saatchi yaar koorinum | Witnesses come forward to testify, |
| Avai ellaam vesham endraal | And if she considers them all to be disguises, |
| Female | |
| Than kann seidha maayam | Is it an illusion created by her own eyes? |
| Penn mel enna paavam | Why blame the poor woman? |
| Than nenjodu theeraadhu sogam | The sorrow in her heart remains unhealed, |
| Ipporaattam eppodhu theerum ini | When will this turmoil finally come to an end? |
| Female | |
| Gangai aatril nindru kondu | Standing right in the river Ganges, |
| Neerai thedum pen maan ival | She is a female deer searching for water. |
| Female | |
| Poi maanaiyae | The illusory fake deer, |
| Andru mei maan ena | Back then, as a real deer, |
| Andha seethai pedhai aanaal | That naive Sita mistook; |
| Mei maanaiyae | The real deer, |
| Indru poi maan ena | Today, as a fake deer, |
| Indha kodhai pedhai aanaal | This naive maiden mistook. |
| Female | |
| Poi nambikkai angae | False faith was over there, |
| Veen sandhegam ingae | Futile doubt is over here. |
| Kan ovvondrum vevveru paarvai | Every pair of eyes views things differently, |
| Endraalum yemaatram ondraanathu | Yet the heart-wrenching deception remains the same. |
| Female | |
| Gangai aatril nindru kondu | Standing right in the river Ganges, |
| Neerai thedum pen maan ival | She is a female deer searching for water. |
| Kannai moodi kaatchi thedi | Closing her eyes, searching for a vision, |
| Innum engae selvaal ival | Where else will she go now? |
| Thannaiyae dhaan nambaadhu | Without even trusting herself, |
| Povadhum yen pedhai maadhu | Why does this naive maiden keep wandering? |
| Female | |
| Gangai aatril nindru kondu | Standing right in the river Ganges, |
| Neerai thedum pen maan ival | She is a female deer searching for water. |
கங்கை ஆற்றில்
நின்று கொண்டு
நீரைத் தேடும் பெண்மான் இவள்
கண்ணை மூடி காட்சி தேடி
இன்னும் எங்கே செல்வாள் இவள்
தன்னையே தான் நம்பாது
போவதும் ஏன் பேதை மாது
Standing right in the river Ganges,
She is a female deer searching for water.
Closing her eyes, searching for a vision,
Where else will she go now?
Without even trusting herself,
Why does this naive maiden keep wandering?
கங்கை ஆற்றில்
நின்று கொண்டு
நீரைத் தேடும் பெண்மான் இவள்
Standing right in the river Ganges,
She is a female deer searching for water.
பொய் போலவே
வேஷம் மெய் போட்டது
அந்த மெய்யே
பொய்யாய்க் கொண்டாள்
ஓர் ஆயிரம் சாட்சி யார் கூறினும்
அவை எல்லாம் வேஷம் என்றாள்
Just like a lie,
Disguise took on the form of truth.
If she considers that very truth as a lie,
Even if a thousand
Witnesses come forward to testify,
And if she considers them all to be disguises,
தன் கண் செய்த மாயம்
பெண்மேல் என்ன பாவம்
தன் நெஞ்சோடு தீராத சோகம்
இப்போராட்டம் எப்போது தீரும் இனி
Is it an illusion created by her own eyes?
Why blame the poor woman?
The sorrow in her heart remains unhealed,
When will this turmoil finally come to an end?
கங்கை ஆற்றில்
நின்று கொண்டு
நீரைத் தேடும் பெண்மான் இவள்
Standing right in the river Ganges,
She is a female deer searching for water.
பொய் மானையே
அன்று மெய் மான் என
அந்த சீதை பேதை ஆனாள்
மெய் மானையே
இன்று பொய் மானென
இந்த கோதை பேதை ஆனாள்
The illusory fake deer,
Back then, as a real deer,
That naive Sita mistook;
The real deer,
Today, as a fake deer,
This naive maiden mistook.
பொய் நம்பிக்கை அங்கே
வீண் சந்தேகம் இங்கே
கண் ஒவ்வொன்றும்
வெவ்வேறு பார்வை
என்றாலும் ஏமாற்றம் ஒன்றானது
False faith was over there,
Futile doubt is over here.
Every pair of eyes views things differently,
Yet the heart-wrenching deception remains the same.
கங்கை ஆற்றில்
நின்று கொண்டு
நீரைத் தேடும் பெண்மான் இவள்
கண்ணை மூடி காட்சி தேடி
இன்னும் எங்கே செல்வாள் இவள்
தன்னையே தான் நம்பாது
போவதும் ஏன் பேதை மாது
Standing right in the river Ganges,
She is a female deer searching for water.
Closing her eyes, searching for a vision,
Where else will she go now?
Without even trusting herself,
Why does this naive maiden keep wandering?
கங்கை ஆற்றில்
நின்று கொண்டு
நீரைத் தேடும் பெண்மான் இவள்
Standing right in the river Ganges,
She is a female deer searching for water.
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Standing right in the river Ganges,
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
She is a female deer searching for water.
Kannai moodi kaatchi thedi
Closing her eyes, searching for a vision,
Innum engae selvaal ival
Where else will she go now?
Thannaiyae dhaan nambaadhu
Without even trusting herself,
Povadhum yen pedhai maadhu
Why does this naive maiden keep wandering?
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Standing right in the river Ganges,
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
She is a female deer searching for water.
Poi polavae
Just like a lie,
Vesham mei pottadhu
Disguise took on the form of truth.
Andha meiyae poiyaai kondaal
If she considers that very truth as a lie,
Orr aayiram
Even if a thousand
Saatchi yaar koorinum
Witnesses come forward to testify,
Avai ellaam vesham endraal
And if she considers them all to be disguises,
Than kann seidha maayam
Is it an illusion created by her own eyes?
Penn mel enna paavam
Why blame the poor woman?
Than nenjodu theeraadhu sogam
The sorrow in her heart remains unhealed,
Ipporaattam eppodhu theerum ini
When will this turmoil finally come to an end?
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Standing right in the river Ganges,
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
She is a female deer searching for water.
Poi maanaiyae
The illusory fake deer,
Andru mei maan ena
Back then, as a real deer,
Andha seethai pedhai aanaal
That naive Sita mistook;
Mei maanaiyae
The real deer,
Indru poi maan ena
Today, as a fake deer,
Indha kodhai pedhai aanaal
This naive maiden mistook.
Poi nambikkai angae
False faith was over there,
Veen sandhegam ingae
Futile doubt is over here.
Kan ovvondrum vevveru paarvai
Every pair of eyes views things differently,
Endraalum yemaatram ondraanathu
Yet the heart-wrenching deception remains the same.
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Standing right in the river Ganges,
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
She is a female deer searching for water.
Kannai moodi kaatchi thedi
Closing her eyes, searching for a vision,
Innum engae selvaal ival
Where else will she go now?
Thannaiyae dhaan nambaadhu
Without even trusting herself,
Povadhum yen pedhai maadhu
Why does this naive maiden keep wandering?
Gangai aatril nindru kondu
Standing right in the river Ganges,
Neerai thedum pen maan ival
She is a female deer searching for water.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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