Indha Mandrathil Odi Varum
From Policekaran Magal · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. B. Sreenivas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Policekaran Magal1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| Nee sendridum vazhiyinilae | Along the path where you travel, |
| En dheivathai kanbaayo | Will you catch sight of my deity? |
| Female | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| Female | |
| Vanna malargalil arumbaavaal | She was a tender bud among colorful flowers, |
| Un manadhukku karumbaavaal | She was like sweet sugarcane to your heart, |
| Vanna malargalil arumbaavaal | She was a tender bud among colorful flowers, |
| Un manadhukku karumbaavaal | She was like sweet sugarcane to your heart, |
| Indru alai kadal thurumbaanaal | Today she has become a speck of straw in a stormy ocean, |
| Endru oru murai kooraayo..ooo..ooo | Won't you tell him this at least once? |
| Female | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| Female | |
| Nadu iravinil vizhikkindraal | She wakes up in the middle of the night, |
| Un uravinai ninaikkindraal | She lies thinking of her bond with you, |
| Nadu iravinil vizhikkindraal | She wakes up in the middle of the night, |
| Un uravinai ninaikkindraal | She lies thinking of her bond with you, |
| Aval vidindha pin thuyilgindraal | She falls asleep only after the day dawns, |
| Ennum vedhanai kooraayo oo… oo…. | Won't you convey this sorrow of hers? |
| Male | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| En kannukku kannaagum | She who is the light of my eyes, |
| Ival sonnadhu saridhaanaa… aaa… aa | Is what she said really true? |
| Male | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| Male | |
| Than kannanai thedugiraal | She searches for her Krishna, |
| Mana kaadhalai koorugiraal | She expresses her heart's deep love, |
| Than kannanai thedugiraal | She searches for her Krishna, |
| Mana kaadhalai koorugiraal | She expresses her heart's deep love, |
| Indha annanai marandhu vittaal | Has she forgotten this brother of hers? |
| En kadhaiyaiyum kooraayoo..oo..ooo | Won't you tell him my story too? |
| Male | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze, |
| En kannukku kannaagum | She who is the light of my eyes, |
| Ival sonnadhu saridhaanaa aaa.. aa… | Is what she said really true? |
| Male | |
| Indha mandrathil odi varum | I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall, |
| Ilam thendralai ketkindren | I ask the gentle breeze. |
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளம் தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளம் தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
நீ சென்றிடும் வழியினிலே
என் தெய்வத்தை காண்பாயோ
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
Along the path where you travel,
Will you catch sight of my deity?
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளம் தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
வண்ண மலர்களின் அரும்பாவாள்
உன் மனதுக்குள் கரும்பாவாள்
வண்ண மலர்களின் அரும்பாவாள்
உன் மனதுக்குள் கரும்பாவாள்
இன்று அலைகடல் துரும்பானாள்
என்று ஒரு மொழி கூறாயோ
She was a tender bud among colorful flowers,
She was like sweet sugarcane to your heart,
She was a tender bud among colorful flowers,
She was like sweet sugarcane to your heart,
Today she has become a speck of straw in a stormy ocean,
Won't you tell him this at least once?
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளம் தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
நடு இரவினில் விழிக்கின்றாள்
உன் உறவினை நினைக்கின்றாள்
நடு இரவினில் விழிக்கின்றாள்
உன் உறவினை நினைக்கின்றாள்
அவள் விடிந்தபின் துயில்கின்றாள்
என்னும் வேதனை கூறாயோ
She wakes up in the middle of the night,
She lies thinking of her bond with you,
She wakes up in the middle of the night,
She lies thinking of her bond with you,
She falls asleep only after the day dawns,
Won't you convey this sorrow of hers?
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளந்தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
என் கண்ணுக்கு கண்ணாகும்
இவள் சொன்னது சரிதானா
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
She who is the light of my eyes,
Is what she said really true?
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளந்தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
தன் கண்ணனை தேடுகிறாள்
மன காதலை கூறுகிறாள்
தன் கண்ணனை தேடுகிறாள்
மன காதலை கூறுகிறாள்
இந்த அண்ணனை மறந்துவிட்டாள்
என் அதனையும் கூறாயோ
She searches for her Krishna,
She expresses her heart's deep love,
She searches for her Krishna,
She expresses her heart's deep love,
Has she forgotten this brother of hers?
Won't you tell him my story too?
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளந்தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
என் கண்ணுக்கு கண்ணாகும்
இவள் சொன்னது சரிதானா
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze,
She who is the light of my eyes,
Is what she said really true?
இந்த மன்றத்தில் ஓடிவரும்
இளந்தென்றலை கேட்கின்றேன்
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
I ask the gentle breeze.
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
Nee sendridum vazhiyinilae
Along the path where you travel,
En dheivathai kanbaayo
Will you catch sight of my deity?
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
Vanna malargalil arumbaavaal
She was a tender bud among colorful flowers,
Un manadhukku karumbaavaal
She was like sweet sugarcane to your heart,
Vanna malargalil arumbaavaal
She was a tender bud among colorful flowers,
Un manadhukku karumbaavaal
She was like sweet sugarcane to your heart,
Indru alai kadal thurumbaanaal
Today she has become a speck of straw in a stormy ocean,
Endru oru murai kooraayo..ooo..ooo
Won't you tell him this at least once?
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
Nadu iravinil vizhikkindraal
She wakes up in the middle of the night,
Un uravinai ninaikkindraal
She lies thinking of her bond with you,
Nadu iravinil vizhikkindraal
She wakes up in the middle of the night,
Un uravinai ninaikkindraal
She lies thinking of her bond with you,
Aval vidindha pin thuyilgindraal
She falls asleep only after the day dawns,
Ennum vedhanai kooraayo oo… oo….
Won't you convey this sorrow of hers?
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
En kannukku kannaagum
She who is the light of my eyes,
Ival sonnadhu saridhaanaa… aaa… aa
Is what she said really true?
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
Than kannanai thedugiraal
She searches for her Krishna,
Mana kaadhalai koorugiraal
She expresses her heart's deep love,
Than kannanai thedugiraal
She searches for her Krishna,
Mana kaadhalai koorugiraal
She expresses her heart's deep love,
Indha annanai marandhu vittaal
Has she forgotten this brother of hers?
En kadhaiyaiyum kooraayoo..oo..ooo
Won't you tell him my story too?
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze,
En kannukku kannaagum
She who is the light of my eyes,
Ival sonnadhu saridhaanaa aaa.. aa…
Is what she said really true?
Indha mandrathil odi varum
I ask the young southern breeze that runs through this hall,
Ilam thendralai ketkindren
I ask the gentle breeze.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Indha Mandrathil Odi Varum from the 1962 Tamil film Policekaran Magal is a poignant song centered on emotional longing, sorrow, and familial affection. Composed by the Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo with lyrics by Kannadasan, the song adopts the classic Sangam poetry motif of 'Thendral Thoodhu'—asking the gentle southern breeze to act as a messenger to a distant beloved and convey the protagonist's silent suffering.\n\nThe lyrics contrast past happiness with present grief, describing a cherished young woman who was once vibrant like a flower bud but is now lost like a piece of straw tossed in a turbulent sea. Plagued by sleepless nights and unfulfilled love, her plight is observed with deep empathy by her protective brother, who questions the tragic twists of fate while pleading for truth and emotional resolution.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification / Thoodhu (Wind Messenger Motif)
“Indha mandrathil odi varum / Ilam thendralai ketkindren”
The breeze ('Ilam thendral') is personified as a compassionate messenger capable of carrying messages of distress to a distant lover.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Indru alai kadal thurumbaanaal”
Comparing the helpless, drifting state of the beloved to a tiny piece of straw ('thurumbu') tossed in a stormy ocean ('alai kadal').
Rhyme / Assonance (Edhugai & Monai)
“Vanna malargalil arumbaavaal / Un manadhukku karumbaavaal”
Rhyming 'arumbaavaal' (bud) with 'karumbaavaal' (sugarcane) to highlight the beloved's former sweetness and innocence.
Idiomatic Metaphor
“En kannukku kannaagum”
'Kannukku kannaagum' is a classic Tamil idiom meaning 'precious as one's own sight' or 'the apple of one's eye'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Policekaran Magal (1962) was based on a popular stage play written by C. V. Sridhar. The song 'Indha Mandrathil Odi Varum' features iconic vocal renditions by P. B. Sreenivas and S. Janaki. The song is celebrated as one of Kannadasan's finest examples of adapting classical Sangam literature's 'Thoodhu' (messenger) genre into contemporary Tamil film cinema.
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