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Lyrics & meaning

Gangai Nadhi Maraiyalam

From Poove Ilam Poove · 2015

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Amal Dev
Movie name
Poove Ilam Poove
Movie release year
2015
Lyrics added on
26 Jan 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaam
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaam
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaam
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaam
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaam
Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo oo
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu poguma
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaam
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaam
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaam
Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo oo
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu poguma
Kattalai pottuvittaal kadalum thoonguma
Karaigal thaduthuvitaal alaiyum ooyuma
Kattalai pottuvittaal kadalum thoonguma
Karaigal thaduthuvitaal alaiyum ooyuma
Nilavinai thiraiyai katti maraikka mudiyuma
Nilavinai thirayai katti maraikka mudiyuma
Ingu kaaval ondru pottu vittaal kaadhal adanguma
Pudhaitha pinnum vidhaigal mulaikkumae aa aa aa
Paritha pinnum pookkal manakkumae
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaam
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaam
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaam
Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo oo
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu poguma
Iyarkkai unarchi andro kaadhal enbadhu
Idhanai thadukkum sakthi engu ulladhu
Iyarkkai unarchi andro kaadhal enbadhu
Idhanai thadukkum sakthi engu ulladhu
Thadi kondu adithuvittaal thaneer piriyuma
Aa…aa…aa…
Thadi kondu adithuvittaal thaneer piriyuma
Uyir kaadhal theeyil neiyai vittaal
Anaindhu poguma
Suriyanum karuppadhillaiyae aa aa aa
Kaadhal niram veluppadhillaiyae
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaam
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaam
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaam
{Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo oo
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu poguma} (2)
The River Ganga may disappear,
The waters of the Bengal sea may dry up,
The River Ganga may disappear,
The waters of the Bengal sea may dry up,
Even the snow-sleeping Himalayas may fall to the ground,
But will a loving heart ever fall? Oh, oh, oh...
Will it scatter away when the wind blows?
The River Ganga may disappear,
The waters of the Bengal sea may dry up,
Even the snow-sleeping Himalayas may fall to the ground,
But will a loving heart ever fall? Oh, oh, oh...
Will it scatter away when the wind blows?
If an order is given, will the ocean go to sleep?
If the shore blocks the way, will the waves ever stop?
If an order is given, will the ocean go to sleep?
If the shore blocks the way, will the waves ever stop?
Can you hide the moon by hanging a curtain?
Can you hide the moon by hanging a curtain?
If you place a guard around it, will love ever be held back?
Even after being buried, seeds will still sprout, ah, ah, ah...
Even after being plucked, flowers will still smell sweet!
The River Ganga may disappear,
The waters of the Bengal sea may dry up,
Even the snow-sleeping Himalayas may fall to the ground,
But will a loving heart ever fall? Oh, oh, oh...
Will it scatter away when the wind blows?
Isn't love a natural feeling of life?
Where is the power that can stop it?
Isn't love a natural feeling of life?
Where is the power that can stop it?
If you strike water with a stick, will it ever split apart?
Ah... ah... ah...
If you strike water with a stick, will it ever split apart?
If you pour ghee into the living fire of love,
will it ever be put out?
The sun never turns black, ah, ah, ah...
And the true color of love never fades away!
The River Ganga may disappear,
The waters of the Bengal sea may dry up,
Even the snow-sleeping Himalayas may fall to the ground,
Will a loving heart ever fall? Oh, oh, oh...
Will it scatter away when the wind blows?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Gangai Nadhi Maraiyalaam' is a powerful poetic declaration on the unyielding and eternal nature of true love. Through majestic imagery of natural phenomena—such as the drying up of the Ganges, the shrinking of the Bay of Bengal, or the crumbling of the mighty Himalayas—the song emphasizes that while the greatest physical structures in the world can perish, true love remains forever unshaken.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Gangai nadhi maraiyalaam / Vanga kadal kuraiyalaam

The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes ('maraiyalaam' and 'kuraiyalaam'), creating a rhythmic flow in the verse.

Rhetorical Question

Thadi kondu adithuvittaal thaneer piriyuma

Poses a poetic question ('If you strike water with a stick, will it separate?') to assert that true lovers cannot be separated by force.

Hyperbole & Natural Metaphors

Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaam

Uses dramatic cosmic hyperbole—the falling of the Himalayas—to contrast the fragility of nature against the durability of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features music composed by Amal Dev (Jerry Amaldev), a acclaimed composer known primarily for his classic Malayalam film scores. The poignant lyrics were penned by veteran Tamil lyricist Muthulingam and brought to life by the legendary playback singer S. Janaki.

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