Meenodu Meen Vandhu (Male)
From Alai Payum Nenjangal · 1983
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Alai Payum Nenjangal1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu | A fish comes and speaks with another fish, |
| Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae | But the water itself does not seem to realize it. |
| Kadal thodum karaiyai | The shore touches the sea, |
| Karai thodum padagai | The boat touches the shore, |
| Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru | Seeing this, the wind laughs. |
| Male | |
| Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu | A fish comes and speaks with another fish, |
| Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae | But the water itself does not seem to realize it. |
| Male | |
| Thottukka mudiyallae ottikka edamillae | Unable to touch, with no space to cling to, |
| Thodara paadhai illaiyae | There is no path to move forward. |
| Kittavum nerungalae ettiyum odhungalae | Neither drawing close nor moving far away, |
| Kizhakku merku idhilae | Like the east and the west in this. |
| Neela thiraiyai virichchu aazhakadalum sirikkum | Unfurling a blue curtain, the deep ocean laughs. |
| Male | |
| Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu | A fish comes and speaks with another fish, |
| Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae | But the water itself does not seem to realize it. |
| Male | |
| Sonthaththa nenaikkuthu santhikka vazhiyillae | Thinking of loved ones, but there is no way to meet, |
| Engittu ponathu porappu | Where has this birth and destiny led us? |
| Vanthatha paaththathum sanggeetham padikkuthu | Upon seeing what has arrived, music begins to play, |
| Nenjilae ponguthu sirippu | Laughter swells up inside the heart. |
| Paasamthaam rompa perisu paavaththukkenna mavusu | Love and affection are immense, so what worth does sin carry? |
| Male | |
| Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu | A fish comes and speaks with another fish, |
| Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae | But the water itself does not seem to realize it. |
| Kadal thodum karaiyai | The shore touches the sea, |
| Karai thodum padagai | The boat touches the shore, |
| Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru | Seeing this, the wind laughs. |
| Male | |
| Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu | A fish comes and speaks with another fish, |
| Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae….. | But the water itself does not seem to realize it... |
மீனோடு மீன் வந்து பேசுது
அது தண்ணிக்கு தெரியவில்லையே
கடல் தொடும் கரையை
கரை தொடும் படகை
இதை பார்த்தால் சிரிக்கும் காற்று
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
The shore touches the sea,
The boat touches the shore,
Seeing this, the wind laughs.
மீனோடு மீன் வந்து பேசுது
அது தண்ணிக்கு தெரியவில்லையே
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
தொட்டுக்க முடியல்லே ஒட்டிக்க எடமில்லே
தொடர பாதை இல்லையே
கிட்டவும் நெருங்கலே எட்டியும் ஒதுங்கலே
கிழக்கு மேற்கு இதிலே
நீலத் திரையை விரிச்சு ஆழக்கடலும் சிரிக்கும்
Unable to touch, with no space to cling to,
There is no path to move forward.
Neither drawing close nor moving far away,
Like the east and the west in this.
Unfurling a blue curtain, the deep ocean laughs.
மீனோடு மீன் வந்து பேசுது
அது தண்ணிக்கு தெரியவில்லையே
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
சொந்தத்த நெனைக்குது சந்திக்க வழியில்லே
எங்கிட்டு போனது பொறப்பு
வந்தத பாத்ததும் சங்கீதம் படிக்குது
நெஞ்சிலே பொங்குது சிரிப்பு
பாசம்தான் ரொம்ப பெரிசு பாவத்துக்கென்ன மவுசு
Thinking of loved ones, but there is no way to meet,
Where has this birth and destiny led us?
Upon seeing what has arrived, music begins to play,
Laughter swells up inside the heart.
Love and affection are immense, so what worth does sin carry?
மீனோடு மீன் வந்து பேசுது
அது தண்ணிக்கு தெரியவில்லையே
கடல் தொடும் கரையை
கரை தொடும் படகை
இதை பார்த்தால் சிரிக்கும் காற்று
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
The shore touches the sea,
The boat touches the shore,
Seeing this, the wind laughs.
மீனோடு மீன் வந்து பேசுது
அது தண்ணிக்கு தெரியவில்லையே
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
But the water itself does not seem to realize it...
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
Kadal thodum karaiyai
The shore touches the sea,
Karai thodum padagai
The boat touches the shore,
Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru
Seeing this, the wind laughs.
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
Thottukka mudiyallae ottikka edamillae
Unable to touch, with no space to cling to,
Thodara paadhai illaiyae
There is no path to move forward.
Kittavum nerungalae ettiyum odhungalae
Neither drawing close nor moving far away,
Kizhakku merku idhilae
Like the east and the west in this.
Neela thiraiyai virichchu aazhakadalum sirikkum
Unfurling a blue curtain, the deep ocean laughs.
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
Sonthaththa nenaikkuthu santhikka vazhiyillae
Thinking of loved ones, but there is no way to meet,
Engittu ponathu porappu
Where has this birth and destiny led us?
Vanthatha paaththathum sanggeetham padikkuthu
Upon seeing what has arrived, music begins to play,
Nenjilae ponguthu sirippu
Laughter swells up inside the heart.
Paasamthaam rompa perisu paavaththukkenna mavusu
Love and affection are immense, so what worth does sin carry?
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae
But the water itself does not seem to realize it.
Kadal thodum karaiyai
The shore touches the sea,
Karai thodum padagai
The boat touches the shore,
Idhai paarththaal sirikkum kaattru
Seeing this, the wind laughs.
Meenodu meen vanthu pesuthu
A fish comes and speaks with another fish,
Adhu thannikku theriyavillaiyae…..
But the water itself does not seem to realize it...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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