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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gangai Nadhi Maraiyalam

From Poove Ilam Poove · 2015

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Amal Dev
Details
Poove Ilam Poove2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaamThe Ganges river may disappear,
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaamThe Bay of Bengal may recede,
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaamThe Ganges river may disappear,
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaamThe Bay of Bengal may recede,
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaamEven the snow-laden Himalayas may collapse to the ground,
Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo ooWill a loving heart ever falter? Oh oh oh,
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu pogumaWill it scatter away when the wind blows?
Female
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaamThe Ganges river may disappear,
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaamThe Bay of Bengal may recede,
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaamEven the snow-laden Himalayas may collapse to the ground,
Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo ooWill a loving heart ever falter? Oh oh oh,
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu pogumaWill it scatter away when the wind blows?
Female
Kattalai pottuvittaal kadalum thoongumaWill the ocean go to sleep if an order is issued?
Karaigal thaduthuvitaal alaiyum ooyumaWill the waves cease if the shores try to stop them?
Kattalai pottuvittaal kadalum thoongumaWill the ocean go to sleep if an order is issued?
Karaigal thaduthuvitaal alaiyum ooyumaWill the waves cease if the shores try to stop them?
Female
Nilavinai thiraiyai katti maraikka mudiyumaCan you hide the moon by tying a curtain around it?
Female
Nilavinai thirayai katti maraikka mudiyumaCan you hide the moon by tying a curtain around it?
Ingu kaaval ondru pottu vittaal kaadhal adangumaIf a guard is posted here, will love ever be suppressed?
Pudhaitha pinnum vidhaigal mulaikkumae aa aa aaSeeds will sprout even after being buried, ah ah ah,
Paritha pinnum pookkal manakkumaeFlowers will remain fragrant even after being plucked.
Female
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaamThe Ganges river may disappear,
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaamThe Bay of Bengal may recede,
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaamEven the snow-laden Himalayas may collapse to the ground,
Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo ooWill a loving heart ever falter? Oh oh oh,
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu pogumaWill it scatter away when the wind blows?
Female
Iyarkkai unarchi andro kaadhal enbadhuIsn't love a natural human emotion?
Idhanai thadukkum sakthi engu ulladhuWhere is the power that can halt it?
Iyarkkai unarchi andro kaadhal enbadhuIsn't love a natural human emotion?
Idhanai thadukkum sakthi engu ulladhuWhere is the power that can halt it?
Female
Thadi kondu adithuvittaal thaneer piriyumaIf you strike water with a stick, will it ever divide?
Aa…aa…aa…Ah… ah… ah…
Thadi kondu adithuvittaal thaneer piriyumaIf you strike water with a stick, will it ever divide?
Uyir kaadhal theeyil neiyai vittaalIf ghee is poured into the fire of true love,
Anaindhu pogumaWill it be extinguished?
Suriyanum karuppadhillaiyae aa aa aaThe sun never turns black, ah ah ah,
Kaadhal niram veluppadhillaiyaeAnd the true color of love never fades away.
Female
Gangai nadhi maraiyalaamThe Ganges river may disappear,
Vanga kadal kuraiyalaamThe Bay of Bengal may recede,
Pani thoongum imaiyam kooda mannil saayalaamEven the snow-laden Himalayas may collapse to the ground,
{Kaadhal ullam saaindhu poguma oo oo ooWill a loving heart ever falter? Oh oh oh,
Kaatradithaal kalaindhu poguma} (2)Will it scatter away when the wind blows?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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