Maya Nadhi
From Kabali · 2016
- Lyricist
- Uma Devi
- Singers
- Ananthu, Pradeep, Swetha Mohan
- Music director
- Santhosh Narayanan
- Details
- Kabali2016
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nenjam ellam vannam pala vannam aaguthe | My heart becomes filled with many vibrant colors |
| Kanngal ellam inbam koodi kaneer aaguthe | My eyes gather immense joy and turn into tears |
| Female | |
| Naan unnai kanum varaiyil thaabatha nilaiyae | Until the moment I saw you, I was in a state of endless longing |
| Deshangal thirinthen thaniyae thaniyaeee | I wandered through distant lands all alone, so alone |
| Male | |
| Aayiram koodi murai naan thinam iranthen | A thousand crore times I died every single day |
| Naan ennai uyirrthen pirivil pirivilll.. | Yet I resurrected myself in this separation, within separation... |
| Male | |
| {Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe | {A mystical river flows upon my chest today |
| Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe} (2) | Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair} (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Neer vazhiyae meengalai pol | Like fish slipping away along the flow of water |
| En uravai naan izhanthen | I lost my loved ones and my bonds |
| Nee irunthum nee irunthum | Even while you existed, even while you were alive |
| Oru thuravai naan adainthen | I entered a state of ascetic solitude |
| Male | |
| Oli pokum irulae vazhvin porulaghi | O darkness where light vanishes, becoming the very meaning of life |
| Vali theerkkum valiyaai vaanjai tharavaa ahhh | As a way that heals pain, shall I offer my deep affection? |
| Male | |
| Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe | A mystical river flows upon my chest today |
| Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe | Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair |
| Male | |
| Yaanai balam ingae serum uravilae | With the strength of an elephant gathering in this reunion |
| Pona vazhiyilae vazhkkai thirumbuthe | Life returns back along the path it once left |
| Female | |
| Desham ellam aalugindra oru padaiyai naan adainthen | I commanded an army that ruled over entire lands |
| Kalam ennum veeranidam en kodiyai naan ezhanthen | Yet to the warrior named Time, I surrendered my flag |
| Manal orrum mazhaiyaai madi methu vizhava vaa | Like rain soaking into sand, shall I come fall upon your lap? |
| Anai merum punalaai maar saainthu azhavaa | Like a flood overflowing a dam, shall I lean on your chest and weep? |
| Male | |
| Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe | A mystical river flows upon my chest today |
| Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe | Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair |
| Female | |
| Yaanai balam ingae serum uravilae | With the strength of an elephant gathering in this reunion |
| Pona vazhiyilae vaazhkkai thirumbuthe | Life returns back along the path it once left |
நெஞ்சம் எல்லாம்
வண்ணம் பல வண்ணம்
ஆகுதே கண்கள் எல்லாம்
இன்பம் கூடி கண்ணீா் ஆகுதே
My heart becomes filled with many vibrant colors
My eyes gather immense joy and turn into tears
நான் உன்னை காணும்
வரையில் தாபத நிலையே
தேசங்கள் திாிந்தேன் தனியே தனியே
Until the moment I saw you, I was in a state of endless longing
I wandered through distant lands all alone, so alone
ஆயிரம் கோடி முறை
நான் தினம் இறந்தேன் நான்
என்னை உயிா்த்தேன் பிாிவில் பிாிவில்
A thousand crore times I died every single day
Yet I resurrected myself in this separation, within separation...
{ மாய நதி இன்று
மாா்பில் வழியுதே தூய
நரையிலும் காதல் மலருதே } (2)
{A mystical river flows upon my chest today
Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair} (Repeated)
நீா் வழியே மீன்களைப்
போல் என் உறவை நான் இழந்தேன்
நீ இருந்தும் நீ இருந்தும் ஒரு
துறவை நான் அடைந்தேன்
Like fish slipping away along the flow of water
I lost my loved ones and my bonds
Even while you existed, even while you were alive
I entered a state of ascetic solitude
ஒளி பூக்கும் இருளே
வாழ்வின் பொருளாகி வலி
தீா்க்கும் வலியாய் வாஞ்சை தரவா.....
O darkness where light vanishes, becoming the very meaning of life
As a way that heals pain, shall I offer my deep affection?
மாய நதி இன்று
மாா்பில் வழியுதே தூய
நரையிலும் காதல் மலருதே
A mystical river flows upon my chest today
Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair
யானை பலம் இங்கே
சேரும் உறவிலே போன
வழியிலே வாழ்க்கை திரும்புதே
With the strength of an elephant gathering in this reunion
Life returns back along the path it once left
தேசமெல்லாம் ஆளுகின்ற
ஒரு படையை நான் அடைந்தேன்
காலம் என்னும் வீரனிடம்
என் கொடியை நான் இழந்தேன்
I commanded an army that ruled over entire lands
Yet to the warrior named Time, I surrendered my flag
Like rain soaking into sand, shall I come fall upon your lap?
Like a flood overflowing a dam, shall I lean on your chest and weep?
மணல் ஊரும்
மழையாய் மடிமீது விழ
வா வா அணை மீறும் புனலாய்
மாா் சாய்ந்து அழ வா
A mystical river flows upon my chest today
Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair
மாய நதி இன்று
மாா்பில் வழியுதே தூய
நரையிலும் காதல் மலருதே
With the strength of an elephant gathering in this reunion
Life returns back along the path it once left
யானை பலம் இங்கே
சேரும் உறவிலே போன
வழியிலே வாழ்க்கை திரும்புதே
Nenjam ellam vannam pala vannam aaguthe
My heart becomes filled with many vibrant colors
Kanngal ellam inbam koodi kaneer aaguthe
My eyes gather immense joy and turn into tears
Naan unnai kanum varaiyil thaabatha nilaiyae
Until the moment I saw you, I was in a state of endless longing
Deshangal thirinthen thaniyae thaniyaeee
I wandered through distant lands all alone, so alone
Aayiram koodi murai naan thinam iranthen
A thousand crore times I died every single day
Naan ennai uyirrthen pirivil pirivilll..
Yet I resurrected myself in this separation, within separation...
{Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe
{A mystical river flows upon my chest today
Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe} (2)
Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair} (Repeated)
Neer vazhiyae meengalai pol
Like fish slipping away along the flow of water
En uravai naan izhanthen
I lost my loved ones and my bonds
Nee irunthum nee irunthum
Even while you existed, even while you were alive
Oru thuravai naan adainthen
I entered a state of ascetic solitude
Oli pokum irulae vazhvin porulaghi
O darkness where light vanishes, becoming the very meaning of life
Vali theerkkum valiyaai vaanjai tharavaa ahhh
As a way that heals pain, shall I offer my deep affection?
Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe
A mystical river flows upon my chest today
Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe
Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair
Yaanai balam ingae serum uravilae
With the strength of an elephant gathering in this reunion
Pona vazhiyilae vazhkkai thirumbuthe
Life returns back along the path it once left
Desham ellam aalugindra oru padaiyai naan adainthen
I commanded an army that ruled over entire lands
Kalam ennum veeranidam en kodiyai naan ezhanthen
Yet to the warrior named Time, I surrendered my flag
Manal orrum mazhaiyaai madi methu vizhava vaa
Like rain soaking into sand, shall I come fall upon your lap?
Anai merum punalaai maar saainthu azhavaa
Like a flood overflowing a dam, shall I lean on your chest and weep?
Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe
A mystical river flows upon my chest today
Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe
Love blossoms even amidst pure gray hair
Yaanai balam ingae serum uravilae
With the strength of an elephant gathering in this reunion
Pona vazhiyilae vaazhkkai thirumbuthe
Life returns back along the path it once left
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Maaya Nadhi is a deeply moving romantic ballad from Kabali that captures the emotional reunion of an elderly couple after decades of painful separation. It depicts the overwhelming surge of joy, relief, and vulnerability when two soulmates discover that their bond has survived time, distance, and suffering. Despite aging and gray hair, their love blossoms with unyielding strength, proving that true affection remains eternal. The lyrics beautifully juxtapose the protagonist's worldly power as a feared leader against his utter helplessness in the face of time and lost love. Reuniting with his wife restores his purpose and emotional vitality, allowing years of suppressed grief to wash away like a river overflowing its banks.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Maaya nathi indru maarbil vazhiyuthe”
'Maaya nathi' (Mystical River) represents the sudden, overwhelming surge of emotions flooding the protagonist's chest upon reunion.
Personification & Metaphor
“Kalam ennum veeranidam en kodiyai naan ezhanthen”
'Kalam ennum veeran' personifies Time as an invincible warrior to whom even a powerful ruler must surrender his flag.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Neer vazhiyae meengalai pol”
'Neer vazhiyae meengalai pol' compares the loss of loved ones to fish being helplessly swept away along a water current.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Manal orrum mazhaiyaai madi methu vizhava vaa”
'Manal orrum mazhaiyaai' compares resting on the loved one's lap to rain soaking seamlessly into dry sand.
Visual Imagery
“Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe”
'Thooya naraiyilum kadhal malaruthe' creates a poignant visual contrast between white/gray hair of old age and the fresh blossoming of youthful love.
Did you know?
Trivia
Penned by lyricist K. Uma Devi, 'Maaya Nadhi' received widespread critical acclaim for its poetic depth and sensitive portrayal of romance in late adulthood. Uma Devi became one of the prominent female voices in contemporary Tamil lyric writing through this iconic soundtrack composed by Santhosh Narayanan.
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