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Lyrics & meaning

Naan Erikkarai Melirunthu (Sad)

From Chinna Thayee · 1992

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Chinna Thayee
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
19 Jun 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Ooradangi pona pinnum
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
En themmaangu paatta kettu
Then kaaththu odi vandhu
Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila
Naan undaana aasaigala
Chollaama pootti vachchi
Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Ooradangi pona pinnum
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
Neththu vedhachi vacha
Nesam thaan
Poothu kaninji varum
Neram thaan
Vaaraama pogaadhu
Vaadaadhae poondhenae
Seraama vaazhaadhu
Thanneera semmeenae
Nammooru kottachaami
Unna enna serthaachi
En jodi nee thaan endru
Endro ezhudhi vachchaachi
Eppodhum sondhangal pogaadhu
Sendhaazha kaththaazha aagaadhu
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Ooradangi pona pinnum
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
En themmaangu paatta kettu
Then kaaththu odi vandhu
Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila
Naan undaana aasaigala
Chollaama pootti vachchi
Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Ooradangi pona pinnum
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
Ooraar odhukki vachcha oviyam
Ennapporuththavara kaaviyam
Ennaalum neethaandi
Ennoda raasaaththi
Ponnaattam nenjodu
Vechenae kaappaathi
Engae naan ponaa enna
Ennam yaavum ingaethaan
Un pera mettukkatti
Ullam paadum angaethaan
Ennaasa kaaththodu pogaadhu
Ennaalum en vaakku poikkaadhu
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Ooradangi pona pinnum
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
En themmaangu paatta kettu
Then kaaththu odi vandhu
Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila
Naan undaana aasaigala
Chollaama pootti vachchi
Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Ooradangi pona pinnum
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
From atop the lake bank,
Looking out in all eight directions,
I waited with longing, but you were nowhere to be seen.
Even after it was seven and eight at night,
Even after the village fell asleep,
I didn't feel like having food or water.
Hearing my rustic folk song,
The southern breeze should come running
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
Keeping all the desires born in me
Locked up without speaking,
I am wilting inside on this shore.
From atop the lake bank,
Looking out in all eight directions,
I waited with longing, but you were nowhere to be seen.
Even after it was seven and eight at night,
Even after the village fell asleep,
I didn't feel like having food or water.
The love that was sown
only yesterday,
Has now reached the time
to blossom and bear fruit.
It will surely arrive,
do not wither, my sweet honey!
It cannot survive apart,
like a red fish without water.
Our village deity Kottasamy
has united you and me.
That you are my destined pair
was written down long ago.
Our bond will never be lost,
A fragrant screw-pine flower will never turn into a cactus.
From atop the lake bank,
Looking out in all eight directions,
I waited with longing, but you were nowhere to be seen.
Even after it was seven and eight at night,
Even after the village fell asleep,
I didn't feel like having food or water.
Hearing my rustic folk song,
The southern breeze should come running
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
Keeping all the desires born in me
Locked up without speaking,
I am wilting inside on this shore.
From atop the lake bank,
Looking out in all eight directions,
I waited with longing, but you were nowhere to be seen.
Even after it was seven and eight at night,
Even after the village fell asleep,
I didn't feel like having food or water.
A painting cast aside by the villagers,
is an epic masterpiece to me.
Forever, you alone
are my queen.
Cherished like gold against my chest,
I have kept you safe.
No matter where I go,
all my thoughts remain right here.
Setting your name to a melody,
my heart sings over there.
My love will not drift away with the wind,
My word will never turn false on any day.
From atop the lake bank,
Looking out in all eight directions,
I waited with longing, but you were nowhere to be seen.
Even after it was seven and eight at night,
Even after the village fell asleep,
I didn't feel like having food or water.
Hearing my rustic folk song,
The southern breeze should come running
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
Keeping all the desires born in me
Locked up without speaking,
I am wilting inside on this shore.
From atop the lake bank,
Looking out in all eight directions,
I waited with longing, but you were nowhere to be seen.
Even after it was seven and eight at night,
Even after the village fell asleep,
I didn't feel like having food or water.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Naan Yerikkara Melirundhu is a deeply poignant folk melody from the 1992 Tamil movie Chinna Thayee. The song captures the intense longing and emotional pain of a lover waiting by the lake bank late into the night. Despite the village going silent and time passing late into the night, the protagonist forgets hunger and thirst, yearning for their beloved on the opposite bank. The lyrics evoke rural metaphors—comparing love to seeds blooming into fruit, and the inseparable connection of lovers to fish and water. Even when society ostracizes the beloved, the singer holds them dear like a timeless epic poem, promising eternal devotion and trust.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Naan yerikkara melirundhu / Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'Yerikkara' and 'Ettu'.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagagandham)

Seraama vaazhaadhu / Thanneera semmeenae

Comparing the lovers' inseparable bond to red fish and water.

Personification

Then kaaththu odi vandhu / Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila

Addressing the southern wind (Then kaaththu) as a messenger (Thoodhu) that runs across the lake.

Contrast / Anthesis

Sendhaazha kaththaazha aagaadhu

Contrasting 'Sendhaazha' (fragrant screwpine) with 'Kaththaazha' (cactus) to illustrate that true innate goodness never degrades.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. S. Chithra and Mano (with a famous solo version by Swarnalatha/Ilaiyaraaja). Chinna Thayee (1992) featured Vignesh and Radha in lead roles, and this particular song remains one of Vaali and Ilaiyaraaja's finest rural folk compositions, celebrated for its authentic imagery of lake banks and southern breezes.

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