Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naam Nadandha Theruvil

From Naatpadu Theral · 2021

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Aalap Raju
Music director
Aalap Raju
Details
Naatpadu Theral2021

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naam nadandha theruvilOn the street where we once walked,
Naan mattumOnly I remain...
Nizhal vizhundha theruvilOn the street where shadows used to fall,
Irul mattumOnly darkness remains...
Male
Kavidhai paadiya kuyilgalThe cuckoos that sang poetry,
Irandhu ponadhadiHave died away, my dear.
Kaalam ennum nadhiyooThe river called time,
Vadindhu ponadhadiHas completely dried up, my dear.
Kanneer eritha saambal mattumOnly the ash burnt by tears,
Kaatril alaiyudhadiWanders in the wind, my dear.
Male
Naam nadandha theruvilOn the street where we once walked,
Naan mattumOnly I remain...
Nizhal vizhundha theruvilOn the street where shadows used to fall,
Irul mattumOnly darkness remains...
Male
Indha theruvil kaagam karaindhalIf a crow caws on this street,
Isai thaanIt sounds like music itself.
Indha theruvil puzhudhi parandhalIf dust flies on this street,
Manam thaanIt feels like fragrance itself.
Indha theruvil vaeppam kaniyum thaen thaanOn this street, even the bitter neem fruit tastes like sweet honey.
Ithanai maayam nigazhndha kaaranam neethaanYou are the sole reason why all this magic occurred.
Male
Kaadhal nadandha veedhiyilaeWalking through the street where love once walked,
Nadandhu paarthal kodumaiyaeWalking through it now is pure cruelty.
Dhegam thedi aadai ondruA lone garment searching for a body,
Nadandhu podhal naragamaeWalking along is sheer hell.
Male
Oru sollum pesamalaeWithout speaking a single word,
Oomai kaadhal mudindhadhadiThe silent love came to an end, my dear.
Naam idhayangalin uraiyaadalai thaanThe conversation between our hearts,
Indha theruvae pesudhadiIs what this very street speaks now, my dear.
Male
Naam nadandha theruvilOn the street where we once walked,
Naan mattumOnly I remain...
Nizhal vizhundha theruvil……On the street where shadows used to fall...
Male
Saayam pona pookkal pookkumTrees with discolored, faded flowers,
MarangalTrees...
Naam kannam pola kaarai peyarndhaWalls with plaster peeled off like our cheeks,
SuvargalWalls...
Thinnai ellaam odi pona kudilgalHuts whose verandas have run away,
Unnai ennai thedi paarkum thadangalTraces looking around searching for you and me.
Male
Veedhiyirundhum verumaiyaaiEmpty despite having a street,
Naadhiyirundhum thanimaiyaaiLonely despite having support,
Ilakkanathil mattum allaNot just in grammar rules,
Vaazhkkaiyilum orumaiaaiBut in real life as well, standing singular.
Male
Oru sollum pesamalaeWithout speaking a single word,
Oomai kaadhal mudindhadhadiThe silent love came to an end, my dear.
Naam idhayangalin uraiyaadalai thaanThe conversation between our hearts,
Indha theruvae pesudhadiIs what this very street speaks now, my dear.
Male
Naam nadandha theruvilOn the street where we once walked,
Naan mattumOnly I remain...
Nizhal vizhundha theruvilOn the street where shadows used to fall,
Irul mattumOnly darkness remains...
Male
Kavidhai paadiya kuyilgalThe cuckoos that sang poetry,
Irandhu ponadhadiHave died away, my dear.
Kaalam ennum nadhiyaThe river called time,
Vadindhu ponadhadiHas completely dried up, my dear.
Kanneer eritha saambal mattumOnly the ash burnt by tears,
Kaatril alaiyudhadiWanders in the wind, my dear.
Male
Naam nadandha theruvilOn the street where we once walked,
Naan mattumOnly I remain...
Nizhal vizhundha theruvil…mmm..mm..On the street where shadows used to fall... mmm..mm..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naam Nadandha Theruvil is a poignant lamentation of a lover reflecting on a street that once held fond memories of togetherness, but is now consumed by loneliness and sorrow after an unexpressed silent breakup. The song vividly contrasts the magical past—where even mundane dust or bitter neem fruits felt sweet due to love—with the bleak present, where the lover wanders alone like an empty garment without a body. Vairamuthu weaves themes of grief, solitude, and nostalgic agony as physical elements of the street echo the loss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Kaalam ennum nadhiyoo

Compares time to a river ('Kaalam ennum nadhi') that has dried up due to sorrow.

Uvamai (Simile)

Naam kannam pola kaarai peyarndha

Compares the peeled, weathered plaster on old walls to the faded cheeks of grieving lovers ('kannam pola kaarai peyarndha').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Veedhiyirundhum verumaiyaai / Naadhiyirundhum thanimaiyaai

Uses matching second letters 'dhi' across consecutive lines ('Veedhiyirundhum' / 'Naadhiyirundhum') to enhance rhythmic symmetry.

Oxymoron / Paradox

Indha theruvil vaeppam kaniyum thaen thaan

Describes bitter neem fruits transforming into sweet honey through the magical lens of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is part of 'Naatpadu Theral' (2021), a grand independent non-filmi music initiative conceived by veteran lyricist Vairamuthu. The project featured 100 original Tamil songs composed by various music directors, with this particular song composed and soulfully rendered by singer-bassist Aalap Raju.

Keep listening

More from Naatpadu Theral