Mahanadi
From Nadigaiyar Thilagam · 2018
- Lyricist
- Madhan Karky
- Singer
- Anurag Kulkarni
- Music director
- Mickey J. Meyer
- Details
- Nadigaiyar Thilagam2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thirai minnathaan | For the silver screen to shine |
| Tharai minnathaan | For the earth to glow |
| Pudhu vinmeenaai ival vandhaalae | She arrived as a new star |
| Aan singangal thalai thookkithaan | Male lions lifted their heads in awe |
| Thanai paarkkathaan ival nindraalae | She stood for the world to behold her |
| Male | |
| Vizhiyaal edhaiyum | Expressing everything through her eyes |
| Mozhivaal ival | Speaking through her words |
| Mozhigal kadandhum | Surpassing language boundaries |
| Olirvaal ival | She continues to shine bright |
| Oliyaai azhagai pozhivaal ival | She showers beauty like radiant light |
| Nilavaai nilavaai kaaygindraal | She glows warmly like the soothing moon |
| Male | |
| Ilainjar kanavil | In the dreams of the youth |
| Dhinamum ival | She resides every single day |
| Palarin manadhil | In the hearts of many |
| Manamum ival | She is the sweet fragrance |
| Silarin vizhiyil panamum ival | In the eyes of a few, she is wealth |
| Karaigal kadandhae paaigindraal | She flows boundlessly, crossing all banks |
| Chorus | |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Male | |
| Pugazhai thurathi | Chasing after fame |
| Palarum alaivaarae | Many people wander endlessly |
| Ivalai thurathi | While chasing her |
| Pugazh alaiya kandaal | Fame itself was seen wandering |
| Uyara uyara | As people rise higher and higher |
| Thimir valarum ooril | In a world where arrogance grows |
| Vaanai adaindhum | Even after reaching the peak of the sky |
| Panivai ival kondaal | She retained her grace and humility |
| Male | |
| Ival thangai magal | As a younger sister, a daughter |
| Annai ena | And like a loving mother |
| Vedam ellaamae eduppaal | She donned every sacred role |
| Oru dhaanam ena | Like a charitable gift |
| Yaarum vara | When anyone approached her |
| Theivam ondraagi koduppaal | She gave endlessly like a benevolent deity |
| Chorus | |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Male | |
| Veliyil ivaloo | In the world outside |
| Kalangaraiyin theeyaai | She shines like a lighthouse flame |
| Veettil ivaloo | Within her home |
| Agal malarum theeyaai | She glows like the warmth of a humble lamp |
| Thiraiyai kadandhum | Surpassing the movie screen |
| Valarum oru kaadhal | A love that continues to grow |
| Arangai kadandhum | Surpassing the theater stage |
| Thodarum oru paadal | A song that continues to echo |
| Male | |
| Azhagaai orr kanaa | A beautiful dream |
| Kaadhal kanaa | A dream of true love |
| Adhuvae vaazhvendru irundhaal | She lived believing that dream was her whole life |
| Thannullae chiru | Deep within herself |
| Vinmeen karu | Carrying the embryo of a tiny star |
| Kondae vinnaagi virindhaal | She expanded into the vast cosmos |
| Chorus | |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
| Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi… | Great river... great river... |
திரை மின்னத்தான்
தரை மின்னத்தான்
புது விண்மீனாய் இவள் வந்தாளே
ஆண் சிங்கங்கள் தலை தூக்கித்தான்
தனைப் பார்க்கத்தான் இவள் நின்றாளே
For the silver screen to shine
For the earth to glow
She arrived as a new star
Male lions lifted their heads in awe
She stood for the world to behold her
விழியால் எதையும்
மொழிவாள் இவள்
மொழிகள் கடந்தும்
ஒளிர்வாள் இவள்
ஒளியாய் அழகாய் பொழிவாள் இவள்
நிலவாய் நிலவாய் காய்கின்றாள்
Expressing everything through her eyes
Speaking through her words
Surpassing language boundaries
She continues to shine bright
She showers beauty like radiant light
She glows warmly like the soothing moon
இளைஞர் கனவில்
தினமும் இவள்
பலரின் மனதில்
மணமும் இவள்
சிலரின் விழியில் பணமும் இவள்
கரைகள் கடந்தே பாய்கின்றாள்
In the dreams of the youth
She resides every single day
In the hearts of many
She is the sweet fragrance
In the eyes of a few, she is wealth
She flows boundlessly, crossing all banks
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
புகழைத் துரத்தி
பலரும் அலைவாரே
இவளைத் துரத்தி
புகழ் அலையக் கண்டாள்
உயர உயர
திமிர் வளரும் ஊரில்
வானை அடைந்தும்
பணிவை இவள் கொண்டாள்
Chasing after fame
Many people wander endlessly
While chasing her
Fame itself was seen wandering
As people rise higher and higher
In a world where arrogance grows
Even after reaching the peak of the sky
She retained her grace and humility
இவள் தங்கை மகள்
அன்னை என
வேடம் எல்லாமே எடுப்பாள்
ஒரு தானம் என
யாரும் வர
தெய்வம் ஒன்றாகி கொடுப்பாள்
As a younger sister, a daughter
And like a loving mother
She donned every sacred role
Like a charitable gift
When anyone approached her
She gave endlessly like a benevolent deity
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
வெளியில் இவளோ
கலங்கரையின் தீயாய்
வீட்டில் இவளோ
அகல் மலரும் தீயாய்
திரையைக் கடந்தும்
வளரும் ஒரு காதல்
அரங்கைக் கடந்தும்
தொடரும் ஒரு பாடல்
In the world outside
She shines like a lighthouse flame
Within her home
She glows like the warmth of a humble lamp
Surpassing the movie screen
A love that continues to grow
Surpassing the theater stage
A song that continues to echo
அழகாய் ஓர் கனா
காதல் கனா
அதுவே வாழ்வென்று இருந்தாள்
தன்னுள்ளே சிறு
விண்மீன் கரு
கொண்டே விண்ணாக விரிந்தாள்
A beautiful dream
A dream of true love
She lived believing that dream was her whole life
Deep within herself
Carrying the embryo of a tiny star
She expanded into the vast cosmos
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
மகாநதி... மகாநதி...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Great river... great river...
Thirai minnathaan
For the silver screen to shine
Tharai minnathaan
For the earth to glow
Pudhu vinmeenaai ival vandhaalae
She arrived as a new star
Aan singangal thalai thookkithaan
Male lions lifted their heads in awe
Thanai paarkkathaan ival nindraalae
She stood for the world to behold her
Vizhiyaal edhaiyum
Expressing everything through her eyes
Mozhivaal ival
Speaking through her words
Mozhigal kadandhum
Surpassing language boundaries
Olirvaal ival
She continues to shine bright
Oliyaai azhagai pozhivaal ival
She showers beauty like radiant light
Nilavaai nilavaai kaaygindraal
She glows warmly like the soothing moon
Ilainjar kanavil
In the dreams of the youth
Dhinamum ival
She resides every single day
Palarin manadhil
In the hearts of many
Manamum ival
She is the sweet fragrance
Silarin vizhiyil panamum ival
In the eyes of a few, she is wealth
Karaigal kadandhae paaigindraal
She flows boundlessly, crossing all banks
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Pugazhai thurathi
Chasing after fame
Palarum alaivaarae
Many people wander endlessly
Ivalai thurathi
While chasing her
Pugazh alaiya kandaal
Fame itself was seen wandering
Uyara uyara
As people rise higher and higher
Thimir valarum ooril
In a world where arrogance grows
Vaanai adaindhum
Even after reaching the peak of the sky
Panivai ival kondaal
She retained her grace and humility
Ival thangai magal
As a younger sister, a daughter
Annai ena
And like a loving mother
Vedam ellaamae eduppaal
She donned every sacred role
Oru dhaanam ena
Like a charitable gift
Yaarum vara
When anyone approached her
Theivam ondraagi koduppaal
She gave endlessly like a benevolent deity
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Veliyil ivaloo
In the world outside
Kalangaraiyin theeyaai
She shines like a lighthouse flame
Veettil ivaloo
Within her home
Agal malarum theeyaai
She glows like the warmth of a humble lamp
Thiraiyai kadandhum
Surpassing the movie screen
Valarum oru kaadhal
A love that continues to grow
Arangai kadandhum
Surpassing the theater stage
Thodarum oru paadal
A song that continues to echo
Azhagaai orr kanaa
A beautiful dream
Kaadhal kanaa
A dream of true love
Adhuvae vaazhvendru irundhaal
She lived believing that dream was her whole life
Thannullae chiru
Deep within herself
Vinmeen karu
Carrying the embryo of a tiny star
Kondae vinnaagi virindhaal
She expanded into the vast cosmos
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Mahaanadhi… mahaanadhi…
Great river... great river...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Mahaanadhi' from the movie 'Nadigaiyar Thilagam' (Mahanati) is a soulful tribute celebrating the life, legacy, and screen presence of the legendary actress Savitri. The song compares her life to a mighty river (Mahaanadhi) that flows past all obstacles, leaving an indelible mark on millions of hearts through her generosity, screen radiance, and boundless grace. The lyrics capture her rise to fame, her humble domestic life compared to her public stardom, and her tragic search for true love that elevated her into an eternal star.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Pudhu vinmeenaai ival vandhaalae”
The subject is compared to a 'Mahaanadhi' (great river) and a 'Pudhu Vinmeen' (new star) to emphasize her overflowing talent, majesty, and celestial beauty.
Contrast / Juxtaposition
“Veliyil ivaloo / Veettil ivaloo”
Contrasts her public persona ('Kalangaraiyin theeyai' - lighthouse flame) with her domestic nature ('Agal malarum theeyai' - gentle earthen lamp flame).
Alliteration (Ethukai / Muna)
“Thirai minnathaan / Tharai minnathaan”
Rhyming patterns in Tamil poetry such as Thirai / Tharai and Veliyil / Veettil enhance the musical cadence of the lyrics.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Nadigaiyar Thilagam' is the Tamil dubbed/adapted release of the acclaimed 2018 Telugu biographical film 'Mahanati', based on the life of veteran actress Savitri. The soundtrack was composed by Mickey J. Meyer, with Tamil lyrics penned by Madhan Karky.
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