Naan Erikkarai Melirunthu (Sad)
From Chinna Thayee · 1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan yerikkara melirundhu | Sitting on top of the lake bank, |
| Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu | Looking in all eight directions, |
| Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala | I waited with yearning, but could not see you. |
| Male | |
| Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum | Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock, |
| Ooradangi pona pinnum | And even after the village fell quiet, |
| Soru thanni venuminnu thonala | I did not feel like having food or water. |
| Male | |
| En themmaangu paatta kettu | Hearing my folk song, |
| Then kaaththu odi vandhu | The southern breeze should run, |
| Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila | And go as a messenger to the other shore. |
| Male | |
| Naan undaana aasaigala | The desires that arose within me, |
| Chollaama pootti vachchi | I kept locked without telling anyone, |
| Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila | And I wither inside on this shore. |
| Male | |
| Naan yerikkara melirundhu | Sitting on top of the lake bank, |
| Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu | Looking in all eight directions, |
| Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala | I waited with yearning, but could not see you. |
| Male | |
| Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum | Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock, |
| Ooradangi pona pinnum | And even after the village fell quiet, |
| Soru thanni venuminnu thonala | I did not feel like having food or water. |
| Male | |
| Neththu vedhachi vacha | The love that was sown yesterday, |
| Nesam thaan | Is indeed love itself, |
| Poothu kaninji varum | It is the time for it to bloom and ripen. |
| Neram thaan | It will definitely arrive, |
| Male | |
| Vaaraama pogaadhu | Do not wither, my flower-honey, |
| Vaadaadhae poondhenae | Life cannot be lived without uniting, |
| Seraama vaazhaadhu | Just like red fish and water. |
| Thanneera semmeenae | Our village deity Kottachaami, |
| Male | |
| Nammooru kottachaami | Has united you and me, |
| Unna enna serthaachi | Saying that you are my soulmate, |
| En jodi nee thaan endru | Was written long ago. |
| Endro ezhudhi vachchaachi | Relationships will never fade away, |
| Male | |
| Eppodhum sondhangal pogaadhu | Fragrant pandanus will never turn into a cactus. |
| Sendhaazha kaththaazha aagaadhu | Sitting on top of the lake bank, |
| Male | |
| Naan yerikkara melirundhu | Looking in all eight directions, |
| Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu | I waited with yearning, but could not see you. |
| Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala | Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock, |
| Male | |
| Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum | And even after the village fell quiet, |
| Ooradangi pona pinnum | I did not feel like having food or water. |
| Soru thanni venuminnu thonala | Hearing my folk song, |
| Male | |
| En themmaangu paatta kettu | The southern breeze should run, |
| Then kaaththu odi vandhu | And go as a messenger to the other shore. |
| Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila | The desires that arose within me, |
| Male | |
| Naan undaana aasaigala | I kept locked without telling anyone, |
| Chollaama pootti vachchi | And I wither inside on this shore. |
| Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila | Sitting on top of the lake bank, |
| Male | |
| Naan yerikkara melirundhu | Looking in all eight directions, |
| Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu | I waited with yearning, but could not see you. |
| Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala | Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock, |
| Male | |
| Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum | And even after the village fell quiet, |
| Ooradangi pona pinnum | I did not feel like having food or water. |
| Soru thanni venuminnu thonala | A painting cast aside by the villagers, |
| Male | |
| Ooraar odhukki vachcha oviyam | Is an epic poem as far as I am concerned. |
| Ennapporuththavara kaaviyam | Every day it is you, |
| Ennaalum neethaandi | My beloved queen. |
| Ennoda raasaaththi | Like gold against my heart, |
| Male | |
| Ponnaattam nenjodu | I kept and protected you. |
| Vechenae kaappaathi | No matter where I go, |
| Engae naan ponaa enna | All my thoughts remain right here. |
| Ennam yaavum ingaethaan | Setting your name to a tune, |
| Un pera mettukkatti | My heart sings over there. |
| Ullam paadum angaethaan | My desires will not blow away with the wind, |
| Male | |
| Ennaasa kaaththodu pogaadhu | My word will never prove false. |
| Ennaalum en vaakku poikkaadhu | Sitting on top of the lake bank, |
| Male | |
| Naan yerikkara melirundhu | Looking in all eight directions, |
| Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu | I waited with yearning, but could not see you. |
| Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala | Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock, |
| Male | |
| Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum | And even after the village fell quiet, |
| Ooradangi pona pinnum | I did not feel like having food or water. |
| Soru thanni venuminnu thonala | Hearing my folk song, |
| Male | |
| En themmaangu paatta kettu | The southern breeze should run, |
| Then kaaththu odi vandhu | And go as a messenger to the other shore. |
| Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila | The desires that arose within me, |
| Male | |
| Naan undaana aasaigala | I kept locked without telling anyone, |
| Chollaama pootti vachchi | And I wither inside on this shore. |
| Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila | Sitting on top of the lake bank, |
| Male | |
| Naan yerikkara melirundhu | Looking in all eight directions, |
| Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu | I waited with yearning, but could not see you. |
| Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala | Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock, |
| Male | |
| Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum | And even after the village fell quiet, |
| Ooradangi pona pinnum | I did not feel like having food or water. |
| Soru thanni venuminnu thonala | |
நான் ஏரிக்கரை
மேலிருந்து எட்டு திசை
பார்த்திருந்து ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
காத்திருந்தேன் காணல
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Looking in all eight directions,
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
மணி ஏழு எட்டு
ஆன பின்னும் ஊரடங்கி
போன பின்னும் சோறு
தண்ணி வேணுமின்னு
தோணல
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
And even after the village fell quiet,
I did not feel like having food or water.
என் தெம்மாங்கு
பாட்ட கேட்டு தென்காத்து
ஓடி வந்து தூதாக போக
வேணும் அக்கரையில
Hearing my folk song,
The southern breeze should run,
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
நான் உண்டான
ஆசைகள சொல்லாம
பூட்டி வச்சி உள்ளார
வாடுறேனே இக்கரையில
The desires that arose within me,
I kept locked without telling anyone,
And I wither inside on this shore.
நான் ஏரிக்கரை
மேலிருந்து எட்டு திசை
பார்த்திருந்து ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
காத்திருந்தேன் காணல
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Looking in all eight directions,
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
மணி ஏழு எட்டு
ஆன பின்னும் ஊரடங்கி
போன பின்னும் சோறு
தண்ணி வேணுமின்னு
தோணல
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
And even after the village fell quiet,
I did not feel like having food or water.
நேத்து வெதச்சி
வச்ச நேசம் தான் பூத்து
கனிஞ்சி வரும் நேரம்
தான்
The love that was sown yesterday,
Is indeed love itself,
It is the time for it to bloom and ripen.
It will definitely arrive,
வாராம போகாது
வாடாதே பூந்தேனே சேராம
வாழாது தண்ணீர செம்மீனே
Do not wither, my flower-honey,
Life cannot be lived without uniting,
Just like red fish and water.
Our village deity Kottachaami,
நம் ஊரு கோட்ட
சாமி உன்ன என்னை
சேர்த்தாச்சி என் ஜோடி
நீதான் என்று என்றோ
எழுதி வச்சாச்சி
Has united you and me,
Saying that you are my soulmate,
Was written long ago.
Relationships will never fade away,
எப்போதும்
சொந்தங்கள் போகாது
செந்தாழ கத்தாழ ஆகாது
Fragrant pandanus will never turn into a cactus.
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
நான் ஏரிக்கரை
மேலிருந்து எட்டு திசை
பார்த்திருந்து ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
காத்திருந்தேன் காணல
Looking in all eight directions,
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
மணி ஏழு எட்டு
ஆன பின்னும் ஊரடங்கி
போன பின்னும் சோறு
தண்ணி வேணுமின்னு
தோணல
And even after the village fell quiet,
I did not feel like having food or water.
Hearing my folk song,
என் தெம்மாங்கு
பாட்ட கேட்டு தென்காத்து
ஓடி வந்து தூதாக போக
வேணும் அக்கரையில
The southern breeze should run,
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
The desires that arose within me,
நான் உண்டான
ஆசைகள சொல்லாம
பூட்டி வச்சி உள்ளார
வாடுறேனே இக்கரையில
I kept locked without telling anyone,
And I wither inside on this shore.
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
நான் ஏரிக்கரை
மேலிருந்து எட்டு திசை
பார்த்திருந்து ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
காத்திருந்தேன் காணல
Looking in all eight directions,
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
மணி ஏழு எட்டு
ஆன பின்னும் ஊரடங்கி
போன பின்னும் சோறு
தண்ணி வேணுமின்னு
தோணல
And even after the village fell quiet,
I did not feel like having food or water.
A painting cast aside by the villagers,
ஊரார் ஒதுக்கி
வச்ச ஓவியம் என்னை
பொறுத்த வர காவியம்
எந்நாளும் நீ தான்டி
என்னோட ராசாத்தி
Is an epic poem as far as I am concerned.
Every day it is you,
My beloved queen.
Like gold against my heart,
பொண்ணாட்டம்
நெஞ்சோடு வெச்சேனே
காப்பாத்தி எங்கே நான்
போனா என்ன எண்ணம்
யாவும் இங்கேதான் உன்
பேர மெட்டுக்கட்டி உள்ளம்
பாடும் அங்கேதான்
I kept and protected you.
No matter where I go,
All my thoughts remain right here.
Setting your name to a tune,
My heart sings over there.
My desires will not blow away with the wind,
என்னாசை காத்தோடு
போகாது எந்நாளும் என்
வாக்கு பொய்க்காது
My word will never prove false.
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
நான் ஏரிக்கரை
மேலிருந்து எட்டு திசை
பார்த்திருந்து ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
காத்திருந்தேன் காணல
Looking in all eight directions,
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
மணி ஏழு எட்டு
ஆன பின்னும் ஊரடங்கி
போன பின்னும் சோறு
தண்ணி வேணுமின்னு
தோணல
And even after the village fell quiet,
I did not feel like having food or water.
Hearing my folk song,
என் தெம்மாங்கு
பாட்ட கேட்டு தென்காத்து
ஓடி வந்து தூதாக போக
வேணும் அக்கரையில
The southern breeze should run,
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
The desires that arose within me,
நான் உண்டான
ஆசைகள சொல்லாம
பூட்டி வச்சி உள்ளார
வாடுறேனே இக்கரையில
I kept locked without telling anyone,
And I wither inside on this shore.
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
நான் ஏரிக்கரை
மேலிருந்து எட்டு திசை
பார்த்திருந்து ஏங்கி ஏங்கி
காத்திருந்தேன் காணல
Looking in all eight directions,
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
மணி ஏழு எட்டு
ஆன பின்னும் ஊரடங்கி
போன பின்னும் சோறு
தண்ணி வேணுமின்னு
தோணல
And even after the village fell quiet,
I did not feel like having food or water.
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Looking in all eight directions,
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
Ooradangi pona pinnum
And even after the village fell quiet,
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
I did not feel like having food or water.
En themmaangu paatta kettu
Hearing my folk song,
Then kaaththu odi vandhu
The southern breeze should run,
Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
Naan undaana aasaigala
The desires that arose within me,
Chollaama pootti vachchi
I kept locked without telling anyone,
Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila
And I wither inside on this shore.
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
Looking in all eight directions,
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
Ooradangi pona pinnum
And even after the village fell quiet,
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
I did not feel like having food or water.
Neththu vedhachi vacha
The love that was sown yesterday,
Nesam thaan
Is indeed love itself,
Poothu kaninji varum
It is the time for it to bloom and ripen.
Neram thaan
It will definitely arrive,
Vaaraama pogaadhu
Do not wither, my flower-honey,
Vaadaadhae poondhenae
Life cannot be lived without uniting,
Seraama vaazhaadhu
Just like red fish and water.
Thanneera semmeenae
Our village deity Kottachaami,
Nammooru kottachaami
Has united you and me,
Unna enna serthaachi
Saying that you are my soulmate,
En jodi nee thaan endru
Was written long ago.
Endro ezhudhi vachchaachi
Relationships will never fade away,
Eppodhum sondhangal pogaadhu
Fragrant pandanus will never turn into a cactus.
Sendhaazha kaththaazha aagaadhu
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Looking in all eight directions,
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
And even after the village fell quiet,
Ooradangi pona pinnum
I did not feel like having food or water.
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
Hearing my folk song,
En themmaangu paatta kettu
The southern breeze should run,
Then kaaththu odi vandhu
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila
The desires that arose within me,
Naan undaana aasaigala
I kept locked without telling anyone,
Chollaama pootti vachchi
And I wither inside on this shore.
Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Looking in all eight directions,
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
And even after the village fell quiet,
Ooradangi pona pinnum
I did not feel like having food or water.
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
A painting cast aside by the villagers,
Ooraar odhukki vachcha oviyam
Is an epic poem as far as I am concerned.
Ennapporuththavara kaaviyam
Every day it is you,
Ennaalum neethaandi
My beloved queen.
Ennoda raasaaththi
Like gold against my heart,
Ponnaattam nenjodu
I kept and protected you.
Vechenae kaappaathi
No matter where I go,
Engae naan ponaa enna
All my thoughts remain right here.
Ennam yaavum ingaethaan
Setting your name to a tune,
Un pera mettukkatti
My heart sings over there.
Ullam paadum angaethaan
My desires will not blow away with the wind,
Ennaasa kaaththodu pogaadhu
My word will never prove false.
Ennaalum en vaakku poikkaadhu
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Looking in all eight directions,
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
And even after the village fell quiet,
Ooradangi pona pinnum
I did not feel like having food or water.
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
Hearing my folk song,
En themmaangu paatta kettu
The southern breeze should run,
Then kaaththu odi vandhu
And go as a messenger to the other shore.
Thoodhaaga poga venum akkaraiyila
The desires that arose within me,
Naan undaana aasaigala
I kept locked without telling anyone,
Chollaama pootti vachchi
And I wither inside on this shore.
Ullaara vaadurenae ikkaraiyila
Sitting on top of the lake bank,
Naan yerikkara melirundhu
Looking in all eight directions,
Ettu dhesa paarthirundhu
I waited with yearning, but could not see you.
Yengi yengi kaathirundhen kaanala
Even after it turned seven or eight o'clock,
Mani ezhu ettu aana pinnum
And even after the village fell quiet,
Ooradangi pona pinnum
I did not feel like having food or water.
Soru thanni venuminnu thonala
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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