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Lyrics & meaning

Iravu Nadakindrathu

From Panthayam · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Panthayam1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Iravu nadakindrathuThe night moves along
En idhayam malargindrathuMy heart blossoms
Un varavu theringindrathuYour arrival becomes evident
Vaazhndha vaazhkai puringindrathuThe life lived becomes clear
Male
Iravu nadakindrathuThe night moves along
En idhayam malargindrathuMy heart blossoms
Un varavu theringindrathuYour arrival becomes evident
Vaazhndha vaazhkai puringindrathuThe life lived becomes clear
Male
Saalaigal irandum pirinthuWhere two roads diverge
Meendum sandhikkum velaiyilaeAt the moment when they meet again
Saalaigal irandum pirinthuWhere two roads diverge
Meendum sandhikkum velaiyilaeAt the moment when they meet again
Avai thanukkul pesum aaiyiram pechuThey speak a thousand words amongst themselves
Aanandha bodhaiyilaeIn a blissful intoxication
Male
Naalai poluthu yaarukku vidiyumFor whom will tomorrow dawn
Iruvarin vaazhkaiyilaeIn the lives of the two of us?
Naalai poluthu yaarukku vidiyumFor whom will tomorrow dawn
Iruvarin vaazhkaiyilaeIn the lives of the two of us?
Indha nadagathil vetri yaarukkendruWho wins in this drama
Theriyum serkaiyilaeWill be known when we unite
Male
Iravu nadakindrathuThe night moves along
En idhayam malargindrathuMy heart blossoms
Un varavu theringindrathuYour arrival becomes evident
Vaazhndha vaazhkai puringindrathuThe life lived becomes clear
Male
Vanjaga ulagai vanjagathalaeThis deceitful world, through deceit
Vendrathu en manamaeMy mind has conquered
Vanjaga ulagai vanjagathalaeThis deceitful world, through deceit
Vendrathu en manamaeMy mind has conquered
En vaazhkaiyai kettaalIf you hear about my life
Idhudhaan seriyena varuvaai ennudanaeYou will agree this is right and come with me
Nee varuvaai ennudanaeYou will come with me
Male
Sattam dharmam needhiLaw, righteousness, justice
Sattam dharmam needhikkuTo law, righteousness, and justice
Ennai thandhu vitten manamaeI have surrendered myself, O my heart
Sattam dharmam needhikkuTo law, righteousness, and justice
Ennai thandhu vitten manamaeI have surrendered myself, O my heart
Naam sandhithavudanaeAs soon as we meet
Idhudhaan seriyena varuvaai ennudanaeYou will agree this is right and come with me
Nee varuvaai ennudanaeYou will come with me
Male
Iravu nadakindrathuThe night moves along
En idhayam malargindrathuMy heart blossoms
Un varavu theringindrathuYour arrival becomes evident
Vaazhndha vaazhkai puringindrathuThe life lived becomes clear
Male
Poluthae poluthae poi vidu poividuTime, O time, pass away, pass away
Yen innum thayangugiraaiWhy do you still hesitate?
Poluthae poluthae poi vidu poividuTime, O time, pass away, pass away
Yen innum thayangugiraaiWhy do you still hesitate?
Anbu pongum engal idhayathai kanduSeeing our hearts overflowing with love
Nee yen mayangugiraaiWhy do you get mesmerized?
Male
Vidiyum poluthae vidiyum poluthaeO dawning day, O dawning day
Viraivil vandhu viduArrive quickly
Vidiyum poluthae vidiyum poluthaeO dawning day, O dawning day
Viraivil vandhu viduArrive quickly
Engal pirivin thuyarai pesi mudikkaTo talk and end the grief of our separation
Nanbanai thandhu vidu nanbanai thandhu viduGive us a friend, give us a friend

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Iravu nadakindrathu from Panthayam (1967) presents a philosophical and dramatic musical duel between two characters standing on opposing sides of life's principles. One perspective argues that a deceitful world must be met with cunning and strategy, while the opposing perspective upholds absolute devotion to law, moral righteousness, and justice. Set against the passage of night into dawn, the lyricism ponders who will ultimately prevail in the drama of life. Kannadasan uses the imagery of diverging roads meeting again to signify crossroad moments in human destiny. As night turns into day, both speakers urge time to pass quickly so that truth, understanding, and reconciliation can prevail, emphasizing that ultimate victory is determined when lives intersect and righteousness is tested.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Iravu nadakindrathu

Attributing human movement to the night ('Iravu nadakindrathu' - the night walks/moves) to emphasize the gradual passage of time.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

En idhayam malargindrathu

Consistent end rhyming suffix (-gindrathu) across consecutive lines to create a rhythmic, melodic cadence.

Extended Metaphor

Saalaigal irandum pirinthu

Comparing human life paths, choices, and destiny to two roads that diverge and intersect.

Repetition / Anaphora

Poluthae poluthae poi vidu poividu

Doubling words ('Poluthae poluthae', 'poi vidu poividu') to build urgency and dramatic intensity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Panthayam (1967) features a notable duet composition by T. R. Pappa, bringing together two titan vocalists of Tamil cinema—T. M. Soundarajan and Seerkazhi Govindarajan—to represent conflicting moral philosophies written by Kannadasan.

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