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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Meenodu Meen Vandhu (Male)

From Alai Payum Nenjangal · 1983

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
S. N. Surendar
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Alai Payum Nenjangal
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
17 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
Kadal thodum karaiyai
Karai thodum padagai
Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
Thottukka mudiyallae ottikka edamillae
Thodara paadhai illaiyae
Kittavum nerungalae ettiyum odhungalae
Kizhakku merku idhilae
Neela thiraiyai virichchu aazhakadalum sirikkum
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
Sonthaththa nenaikkuthu santhikka vazhiyillae
Engittu ponathu porappu
Vanthatha paaththathum sanggeetham padikkuthu
Nenjilae ponguthu sirippu
Paasamthaam rompa perisu paavaththukkenna mavusu
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
Kadal thodum karaiyai
Karai thodum padagai
Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae…..
One fish comes and speaks to another,
yet the water around them does not know.
The sea touches the shore,
and the boat touches the shore;
watching this, the breeze laughs.
One fish comes and speaks to another,
yet the water around them does not know.
They cannot touch, there is no space to hold close,
and there is no path to go further.
Neither coming near nor drifting far away,
caught between east and west.
Spreading its blue veil, the deep ocean laughs.
One fish comes and speaks to another,
yet the water around them does not know.
Longing for loved ones, but with no way to meet,
where did our shared bonds drift away?
Seeing them arrive, a melody begins to sing,
and laughter overflows in the heart.
Affection is truly the greatest thing; what value does sorrow hold?
One fish comes and speaks to another,
yet the water around them does not know.
The sea touches the shore,
and the boat touches the shore;
watching this, the breeze laughs.
One fish comes and speaks to another,
yet the water around them does not know.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song uses rich oceanic imagery to metaphorically express silent, unacknowledged love and the poignant emotional distance between two souls. Just as two fish communicate unnoticed by the surrounding water, the unspoken feelings between lovers remain invisible to the world around them. Elements of nature—the sea, shore, boat, and wind—serve as witnesses to this dance of closeness and separation. Despite the yearning to bridge the gap (which feels as vast as east and west), the lyrics carry a profound, acceptance-filled tone. Pulamaipithan contrasts human emotional struggles with nature's quiet, playful existence, ultimately celebrating the power of love and human connection over fate and suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu / Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae”

The communication between two fish unnoticed by water symbolizes silent, hidden intimacy occurring within a world that remains completely oblivious.

Personification (மாந்தரூபமாக்கம்)

“Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru”

Nature elements like the wind and deep ocean are attributed human emotions and actions like laughing and spreading a curtain.

Contrast / Antithesis (முரண்)

“Kizhakku merku idhilae”

East and West are used as contrasting opposites to illustrate severe spatial and emotional distance between two entities.

Internal Rhyme (எதுகை / இயைபு)

“Thottukka mudiyallae ottikka edamillae”

Rhythmic assonance and rhyming words like 'Thottukka' and 'ottikka' enhance the musicality of the folk rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the acclaimed Tamil scholar and poet Pulamaipithan, the song showcases his signature style of combining deep philosophical metaphors drawn from nature with accessible, expressive Tamil vocabulary.

Keep listening

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Mayangugiraal Oru Maadhu1961
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From the same album

More songs from Alai Payum Nenjangal

View album
Sugamana Neram Ithamaga1983
Alai Payum NenjangalFlirtatious
Ninaippathu Nadakkum1983
Alai Payum NenjangalJoyful
Meenodu Meen Vandhu (Female)1983
Alai Payum NenjangalContemplative

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