Madai Thiranthu
From Nizhalgal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nizhalgal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Laalalalalalaa….. | Tra-la-la-la-la-laa... |
| Male | |
| Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan | I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate, |
| Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan | I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart. |
| Isai kalaignan en aasaigal aayiram | I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams, |
| Ninaithathu palithathu hoo.. | What I envisioned has come true, hoo... |
| Male | |
| Laalalalalalaa….. | Tra-la-la-la-la-laa... |
| Male | |
| Paabappa paa paaa….. | Pa-ba-ppa pa paaa... |
| Male | |
| Kaalam kanindhadhu | The time has ripened, |
| Kadhavugal thirandhadhu | The doors have opened, |
| Gnanam vilaindhadhu nallisai pirandhadhu | Wisdom blossomed, and melodious music was born. |
| Pudhu raagam padaipathaalae | Because I create new melodies, |
| Naanum iraivanae | I too am a god. |
| Pudhu raagam padaipathaalae | Because I create new melodies, |
| Naanum iraivanae | I too am a god. |
| Viralilum kuralilum swarangalin naattiyam | A dance of musical notes in my fingers and voice, |
| Amaithaen naan | I have composed. |
| Male | |
| Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan | I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate, |
| Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan | I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart. |
| Isai kalaignan en aasaigal aayiram | I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams, |
| Ninaithathu palithathu hoo.. | What I envisioned has come true, hoo... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | |
| Male | |
| Naetrin arangilae | On yesterday's stage, |
| Nizhalgalin naadagam | It was a play of shadows. |
| Indrin edhirilae nijangalin dharisanam | Today right before me is the vision of realities. |
| Varungaalam vasantha kaalam | The future is a season of spring, |
| Naalum mangalam | Every day brings auspiciousness. |
| Varungaalam vasantha kaalam | The future is a season of spring, |
| Naalum mangalam | Every day brings auspiciousness. |
| Isaikkena isaigindra rasigargal raajjiyam | A kingdom of fans who resonate with music, |
| Enakkae dhaan | Belongs solely to me. |
| Male | |
| Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan | I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate, |
| Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan | I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart. |
| Isai kalaignan en aasaigal aayiram | I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams, |
| Ninaithathu palithathu hoo.. | What I envisioned has come true, hoo... |
| Male | |
| Laalalalalalaa….. | Tra-la-la-la-la-laa... |
லலலலலால ..................
Tra-la-la-la-la-laa...
மடை திறந்து தாவும் நதியலை நான்
மனம் திறந்து கூவும் சிறு குயில் நான்
இசை கலைஞன் என் ஆசைகள் ஆயிரம்
நினைத்தது பலித்தது ஹோ...
I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate,
I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart.
I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams,
What I envisioned has come true, hoo...
லலலலலால............
Tra-la-la-la-la-laa...
...............................
Pa-ba-ppa pa paaa...
காலம் கனிந்தது கதவுகள் திறந்தது
ஞானம் விளைந்தது நல்லிசை பிறந்தது
புது ராகம் படைப்பதாலே நானும் இறைவனே
புது ராகம் படைப்பதாலே நானும் இறைவனே
விரலிலும் குரலிலும் ஸ்வரங்களின் நாட்டியம்
அமைத்தேன் நான்
The time has ripened,
The doors have opened,
Wisdom blossomed, and melodious music was born.
Because I create new melodies,
I too am a god.
Because I create new melodies,
I too am a god.
A dance of musical notes in my fingers and voice,
I have composed.
மடை திறந்து தாவும் நதியலை நான்
மனம் திறந்து கூவும் சிறு குயில் நான்
இசை கலைஞன் என் ஆசைகள் ஆயிரம்
நினைத்தது பலித்தது ஹோ...
I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate,
I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart.
I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams,
What I envisioned has come true, hoo...
..........................
நேற்றென் அரங்கிலே நிழல்களின் நாடகம்
இன்றென் எதிரிலே நிஜங்களின் தரிசனம்
வருங்காலம் வசந்த காலம் நாளும் மங்கலம்
வருங்காலம் வசந்த காலம் நாளும் மங்கலம்
இசைக்கென இசைகின்ற ரசிகர்கள் ராஜ்ஜியம்
எனக்கே தான்...
On yesterday's stage,
It was a play of shadows.
Today right before me is the vision of realities.
The future is a season of spring,
Every day brings auspiciousness.
The future is a season of spring,
Every day brings auspiciousness.
A kingdom of fans who resonate with music,
Belongs solely to me.
மடை திறந்து தாவும் நதியலை நான்
மனம் திறந்து கூவும் சிறு குயில் நான்
இசை கலைஞன் என் ஆசைகள் ஆயிரம்
நினைத்தது பலித்தது ஹோ...
I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate,
I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart.
I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams,
What I envisioned has come true, hoo...
லலலலலால............
Tra-la-la-la-la-laa...
Laalalalalalaa…..
Tra-la-la-la-la-laa...
Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan
I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate,
Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan
I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart.
Isai kalaignan en aasaigal aayiram
I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams,
Ninaithathu palithathu hoo..
What I envisioned has come true, hoo...
Laalalalalalaa…..
Tra-la-la-la-la-laa...
Paabappa paa paaa…..
Pa-ba-ppa pa paaa...
Kaalam kanindhadhu
The time has ripened,
Kadhavugal thirandhadhu
The doors have opened,
Gnanam vilaindhadhu nallisai pirandhadhu
Wisdom blossomed, and melodious music was born.
Pudhu raagam padaipathaalae
Because I create new melodies,
Naanum iraivanae
I too am a god.
Pudhu raagam padaipathaalae
Because I create new melodies,
Naanum iraivanae
I too am a god.
Viralilum kuralilum swarangalin naattiyam
A dance of musical notes in my fingers and voice,
Amaithaen naan
I have composed.
Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan
I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate,
Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan
I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart.
Isai kalaignan en aasaigal aayiram
I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams,
Ninaithathu palithathu hoo..
What I envisioned has come true, hoo...
…………………….
Naetrin arangilae
On yesterday's stage,
Nizhalgalin naadagam
It was a play of shadows.
Indrin edhirilae nijangalin dharisanam
Today right before me is the vision of realities.
Varungaalam vasantha kaalam
The future is a season of spring,
Naalum mangalam
Every day brings auspiciousness.
Varungaalam vasantha kaalam
The future is a season of spring,
Naalum mangalam
Every day brings auspiciousness.
Isaikkena isaigindra rasigargal raajjiyam
A kingdom of fans who resonate with music,
Enakkae dhaan
Belongs solely to me.
Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan
I am a river wave leaping forth through an opened sluice gate,
Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan
I am a little cuckoo singing with an open heart.
Isai kalaignan en aasaigal aayiram
I am a musical artist with a thousand dreams,
Ninaithathu palithathu hoo..
What I envisioned has come true, hoo...
Laalalalalalaa…..
Tra-la-la-la-la-laa...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Madai Thiranthu is an iconic Tamil song celebrating artistic freedom, divine creativity, and the triumphant realization of long-held dreams. The protagonist compares his unleashed musical talents to a river breaking free from a sluice gate and a cuckoo singing without restraint. Through the act of creating fresh, soulful ragas, the artist feels elevated to the status of a creator god, mastering notes both in voice and instrument. The song reflects a shift from past struggles (shadows) to present triumphs (realities). Looking ahead to a bright, prosperous future filled with admiring listeners, the artist expresses immense joy and supreme confidence in his musical realm.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Madai thiranthu thaavum nadhi alai naan”
Compares the sudden release of creative music to a river rushing out when a sluice gate is opened.
Metaphor & Imagery
“Manam thirandhu koovum siru kuyil naan”
Compares the artist to a cuckoo bird singing freely from an open heart.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaalam kanindhadhu / Kadhavugal thirandhadhu”
Repetition of the initial letter sounds 'Ka' ('Kaalam' / 'Kadhavugal') creating rhythmic harmony.
Contrast (Antithesis)
“Naetrin arangilae Nizhalgalin naadagam / Indrin edhirilae nijangalin dharisanam”
Contrasts past illusions ('Nizhalgal' - shadows) with present truth ('Nijangal' - reality).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Madai Thiranthu' from the 1980 film Nizhalgal was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, written by Vaali, and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The song's title played on the movie's title 'Nizhalgal' (Shadows) with the line 'Nizhalgalin naadagam / Indrin edhirilae nijangalin dharisanam'.
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