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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kadavulum Neeyum Oru

From Sindhu Nathi Poo · 1994

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singers: S. Janaki, K. J. Yesudas
Music director: Soundaryan
Movie name: Sindhu Nathi Poo
Movie release year: 1994
Lyrics added on: 4 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Hey thaananaanaa thaananaanaa thananaanaa

Hey thananaanaa thananaanaa thananaanaa

Hey thananaanaa thananaanaa thananaanaa

Kadavulum neeyum oru thaaipillai

Iruvarum thanimaram thaanae

Avanukkum unakuum annai illai

Athanaal oorinam thaanae

Nadhi endraal nurai undu

Vaazhvendral kurai undu

Aipasi vandhaal adaimazhai kaalam

Silar aayul muzhuthum aipasi maatham

Kadavulum neeyum oru thaaipillai

Iruvarum thanimaram thaanae

Avanukkum unakuum annaiillai

Athanaal verinam thaanae

Androru naal chinna pillayilae

Un thaai erindhaal sondha kolliyilae

Vendhuvittaai chinna pinjinilae

Patta vadu innum nenjinilae

Thaaimai illaamal yaarum ingillai

Garbam illaamal kadavul ingillai

Thaaipaalai pola theertham vaerillai

Aval vaai sollai pola vedham vaerillai

Kadavulum neeyum oru thaaipillai

Iruvarum thanimaram thaanae

Avanukkum unakuum annai illai

Athanaal verinam thaanae

Nadhiendraal nurai undu

Vaazhvendraal kurai undu

Thee irundhal angae pugaiirukkum

Uravirunthal konjam pagaiyirukkum

Kadalinrunthaal engo karairukkum

Kathaiirunthaal edho mudivirukkum

Vaazhvum varaamal saavum naerammal

Rendum illamaal mannil vaazhgindraai

Penmai kandalae thaaimai kaangindraai

Palar poojai kondaadum poovaai vaazhgindraai

Anbulla maganae azhuthathu podhum

Punnagai sindhu idhu ini pookalin maatham

Kadavulum neeyum oru thaaipillai

Iruvarum thanimaram thaanae

Avanukkum unakuum annai illai

Athanal verinam thaanae

Nadhiendraal nurai undu

Vaazhvendraal kurai undu

Hey thaananaanaa thaananaanaa thananaanaa

Hey thananaanaa thananaanaa thananaanaa

Hey thananaanaa thananaanaa thananaanaa

God and you are born of the same mother,

Both of you stand alone like solitary trees.

He has no mother, and neither do you,

So aren't you both of the same kind?

Wherever there is a river, there is foam,

Wherever there is life, there are flaws.

When the rainy month of Aippasi arrives, it brings endless downpours,

And for some, their entire life is like that stormy month.

God and you are born of the same mother,

Both of you stand alone like solitary trees.

He has no mother, and neither do you,

So aren't you a different kind altogether?

Long ago, when you were just a little child,

Your mother was consumed by fire in your own backyard.

You were deeply scarred at such a tender age,

And that wound still aches in your heart.

No one in this world exists without a mother,

Even God cannot appear here without a mother's womb.

There is no holy water greater than a mother's milk,

There are no sacred scriptures greater than her words.

God and you are born of the same mother,

Both of you stand alone like solitary trees.

He has no mother, and neither do you,

So aren't you a different kind altogether?

Wherever there is a river, there is foam,

Wherever there is life, there are flaws.

Where there is fire, there will be smoke,

Where there are close bonds, there will be some bitterness.

For every vast ocean, there is always a shore somewhere,

Every story must have an ending.

Without truly living, yet without meeting death,

Trapped between the two, you live on this earth.

In every woman you see, you look for a mother,

You live like a pure flower offered in prayer.

My dearest son, you have wept enough,

Share a smile now, for it is the season of flowers.

God and you are born of the same mother,

Both of you stand alone like solitary trees.

He has no mother, and neither do you,

So aren't you a different kind altogether?

Wherever there is a river, there is foam,

Wherever there is life, there are flaws.

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kadavulum Neeyum' from Sindhu Nathi Poo is a deeply emotional philosophical song sung from the perspective of an elder or mother figure comforting a protagonist who grew up motherless after a tragic past. Vairamuthu's lyrics draw a poignant parallel between the protagonist and God—both exist without a human mother, making them lonely figures in the world, yet elevated in spirit. The song addresses life's inherent imperfections, comparing human sorrow to foam in a river, smoke from fire, or the stormy downpours of the Tamil month Aipasi. Ultimately, the song offers solace, encouraging the protagonist to overcome past trauma, let go of tears, and embrace hope as a flower blooming in a new spring.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

“Iruvarum thanimaram thaanae”

Comparing the protagonist and God to a 'Thanimaram' (solitary tree) emphasizes isolation, divine detachment, and emotional loneliness.

Edhugai (எதுகை - Second letter rhyming)

“Nadhi endraal nurai undu / Vaazhvendral kurai undu”

The second letter 'dhi' (தி) rhymes across consecutive lines 'Nadhi' and 'Vaazhve' (phonetically aligning structure).

Analogy & Symbolism

“Thee irundhal angae pugaiirukkum / Uravirunthal konjam pagaiyirukkum”

Using natural phenomena (river foam, smoke from fire, ocean shores) as allegories for inevitable natural flaws and truths in human life.

Did you know?

Trivia

Music director Soundaryan, who gained fame with 'Cheran Pandiyan', composed the soundtrack for 'Sindhu Nathi Poo' (1994). Lyricist Vairamuthu's evocative imagery connecting maternal loss with philosophical detachment is considered one of the highlights of the album, complemented by the emotive vocals of K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki.

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