Nadanthal Irandadi
From Chembaruthi · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Chembaruthi1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet of space is enough |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet of space is enough |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet |
| Paduthaal aaradi pothum | When lying down, six feet of space is enough |
| Intha nilamum antha vaanamum | This earth and that sky |
| Athu yellorkkum sondham | Belong equally to everyone |
| Male | |
| Adi solladi gnyana pennae | Hey tell me, wise girl |
| Unmai solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me the truth, wise girl |
| Solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me, wise girl |
| Unmai solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me the truth, wise girl |
| Male | |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Male | |
| Rekkai ulla kunju ithu | This is a bird chick with wings |
| Koodu onnum thevai illai | It needs no nest to rely on |
| Buthi ulla pillai ithu | This is a wise child |
| Kettu nikka povathillai | It will never go astray |
| Male | |
| Thaai oruthi irunthaa | If there is a mother |
| Oru thanthai undu kelamma | Listen dear, there is a father too |
| Thanthai onnu irunthaa | If there is a father |
| Petha paatti indri poguma | Will there be no grandmother who gave birth? |
| Male | |
| Theruvoram kidanthum | Even if lying on the roadside |
| Anaathai illai | I am not an orphan |
| Uravennai veruthaal thinam | If my relatives hate me |
| Tharuven thollai | I will give them trouble every day |
| Male | |
| Kettaalum pattaalum | Even if ruined or suffering |
| Un peran thaan | I carry your name |
| Ennadi gnyana pennae | What is it, wise girl? |
| Unmai solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me the truth, wise girl |
| Male | |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Male | |
| Aanaikkatti poraditha | Though my father Subban threshed grain with elephants |
| Appan subban kaanavillai | He is nowhere to be seen now |
| Andru mudhal indru varai | From that day until today |
| Akkaramum vaazhavillai | Even the bank of the river has not flourished |
| Male | |
| Vetta vetta vaazhaithaan | Just as a banana tree grows back stronger when cut |
| Adhu alli tharum vazhvai thaan | It gives a bountiful life in return |
| Vetti potta mannu thaan | Like the tilled and turned soil |
| Adai kattikaathaa ponnu thaan | She is a woman who shelters and protects her home |
| Male | |
| Naam vaazhum vaazhvae | The life we live |
| Adhu sila kaalam thaan | Lasts only for a short time |
| Uravodu vaazhnthaal | If lived together with loved ones |
| Athu pookkolam thaan | It is like a beautiful floral carpet |
| Kettaalum pattaalum | Even if ruined or suffering |
| Un peran thaan | I carry your name |
| Ennadi gnyana pennae | What is it, wise girl? |
| Unmai solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me the truth, wise girl |
| Male | |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet |
| Paduthaal aaradi pothum | When lying down, six feet of space is enough |
| Intha nilamum antha vaanamum | This earth and that sky |
| Athu yellorkkum sondham | Belong equally to everyone |
| Male | |
| Adi solladi gnyana pennae | Hey tell me, wise girl |
| Unmai solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me the truth, wise girl |
| Solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me, wise girl |
| Unmai solladi gnyana pennae | Tell me the truth, wise girl |
| Male | |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
| Irunthaal naangadi | When sitting, four feet |
| Nadanthaal irandadi | When walking, two feet |
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
படுத்தால் ஆறடிபோதும்
இந்த நிலமும் அந்த வானமும்
அது எல்லோருக்கும் சொந்தம்
When walking, two feet of space is enough
When sitting, four feet of space is enough
When walking, two feet
When sitting, four feet
When lying down, six feet of space is enough
This earth and that sky
Belong equally to everyone
அடி சொல்லடி
ஞானப்பெண்ணே
உண்மை சொல்லடி
ஞானப்பெண்ணே
சொல்லடி ஞானப்பெண்ணே
உண்மை சொல்லடி
ஞானப்பெண்ணே
Hey tell me, wise girl
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Tell me, wise girl
Tell me the truth, wise girl
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
When walking, two feet
When sitting, four feet
When walking, two feet
இறக்கை உள்ள குஞ்சு இது
கூடு ஒண்ணும் தேவையில்லை
புத்தியுள்ள பிள்ளை இது
கெட்டு நிற்கப்போவதில்லை
This is a bird chick with wings
It needs no nest to rely on
This is a wise child
It will never go astray
தாயொருத்தி இருந்தா
ஒரு தந்தை உண்டு கேளம்மா
தந்தை ஒண்ணு இருந்தா
பெத்த பாட்டி இன்றி போகுமா
If there is a mother
Listen dear, there is a father too
If there is a father
Will there be no grandmother who gave birth?
தெருவோரம் கிடந்தும்
அநாதை இல்லை
உறவென்னை வெறுத்தால்
தினம் தருவேன் தொல்லை
Even if lying on the roadside
I am not an orphan
If my relatives hate me
I will give them trouble every day
கெட்டாலும் பட்டாலும்
உன் பேரன் தான்
என்னடி ஞானப்பெண்ணே
உண்மை
சொல்லடி ஞானப்பெண்ணே
Even if ruined or suffering
I carry your name
What is it, wise girl?
Tell me the truth, wise girl
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
When walking, two feet
When sitting, four feet
When walking, two feet
ஆனைகட்டி போரடித்த
அப்பன் சுப்பன் காணவில்லை
அன்று முதல் இன்று வரை
அக்கறமும் வாழவில்லை
Though my father Subban threshed grain with elephants
He is nowhere to be seen now
From that day until today
Even the bank of the river has not flourished
வெட்ட வெட்ட வாழைதான்
அது அள்ளித்தரும் வாழ்வைத்தான்
வெட்டி போட்ட மண்ணு தான்
அதை கட்டிக்காத்தா பொண்ணுதான்
Just as a banana tree grows back stronger when cut
It gives a bountiful life in return
Like the tilled and turned soil
She is a woman who shelters and protects her home
நாம் வாழும் வாழ்வே
அது சிலகாலம் தான்
உறவோடு வாழ்ந்தால்
அது பூக்கோலம் தான்
The life we live
Lasts only for a short time
If lived together with loved ones
It is like a beautiful floral carpet
Even if ruined or suffering
I carry your name
What is it, wise girl?
Tell me the truth, wise girl
கெட்டாலும் பட்டாலும்
உன் பேரன் தான்
என்னடி ஞானப்பெண்ணே
உண்மை
சொல்லடி ஞானப்பெண்ணே
When walking, two feet
When sitting, four feet
When walking, two feet
When sitting, four feet
When lying down, six feet of space is enough
This earth and that sky
Belong equally to everyone
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
படுத்தால் ஆறடிபோதும்
இந்த நிலமும் அந்த வானமும்
அது எல்லோருக்கும் சொந்தம்
Hey tell me, wise girl
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Tell me, wise girl
Tell me the truth, wise girl
அடி சொல்லடி
ஞானப்பெண்ணே
உண்மை சொல்லடி
ஞானப்பெண்ணே
சொல்லடி ஞானப்பெண்ணே
உண்மை சொல்லடி
ஞானப்பெண்ணே
When walking, two feet
When sitting, four feet
When walking, two feet
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
இருந்தால் நான்கடி
நடந்தால் இரண்டடி
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet of space is enough
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet of space is enough
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet
Paduthaal aaradi pothum
When lying down, six feet of space is enough
Intha nilamum antha vaanamum
This earth and that sky
Athu yellorkkum sondham
Belong equally to everyone
Adi solladi gnyana pennae
Hey tell me, wise girl
Unmai solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me, wise girl
Unmai solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Rekkai ulla kunju ithu
This is a bird chick with wings
Koodu onnum thevai illai
It needs no nest to rely on
Buthi ulla pillai ithu
This is a wise child
Kettu nikka povathillai
It will never go astray
Thaai oruthi irunthaa
If there is a mother
Oru thanthai undu kelamma
Listen dear, there is a father too
Thanthai onnu irunthaa
If there is a father
Petha paatti indri poguma
Will there be no grandmother who gave birth?
Theruvoram kidanthum
Even if lying on the roadside
Anaathai illai
I am not an orphan
Uravennai veruthaal thinam
If my relatives hate me
Tharuven thollai
I will give them trouble every day
Kettaalum pattaalum
Even if ruined or suffering
Un peran thaan
I carry your name
Ennadi gnyana pennae
What is it, wise girl?
Unmai solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Aanaikkatti poraditha
Though my father Subban threshed grain with elephants
Appan subban kaanavillai
He is nowhere to be seen now
Andru mudhal indru varai
From that day until today
Akkaramum vaazhavillai
Even the bank of the river has not flourished
Vetta vetta vaazhaithaan
Just as a banana tree grows back stronger when cut
Adhu alli tharum vazhvai thaan
It gives a bountiful life in return
Vetti potta mannu thaan
Like the tilled and turned soil
Adai kattikaathaa ponnu thaan
She is a woman who shelters and protects her home
Naam vaazhum vaazhvae
The life we live
Adhu sila kaalam thaan
Lasts only for a short time
Uravodu vaazhnthaal
If lived together with loved ones
Athu pookkolam thaan
It is like a beautiful floral carpet
Kettaalum pattaalum
Even if ruined or suffering
Un peran thaan
I carry your name
Ennadi gnyana pennae
What is it, wise girl?
Unmai solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet
Paduthaal aaradi pothum
When lying down, six feet of space is enough
Intha nilamum antha vaanamum
This earth and that sky
Athu yellorkkum sondham
Belong equally to everyone
Adi solladi gnyana pennae
Hey tell me, wise girl
Unmai solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me, wise girl
Unmai solladi gnyana pennae
Tell me the truth, wise girl
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Irunthaal naangadi
When sitting, four feet
Nadanthaal irandadi
When walking, two feet
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nadanthaal irandadi' from the movie Chembaruthi (1992) carries a profound philosophical message about contentment, human equality, and family bonds. The lyricist Vaali uses philosophical folk rhetoric, addressing a 'Gnyana Penne' (wise girl), to express that human needs are fundamentally simple—we only need two feet to walk, four feet to sit, and six feet to lie down. Nature, earth, and sky belong equally to all living beings without discrimination.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Nadanthaal irandadi / Irunthaal naangadi”
Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Nadanthaal' and 'Irunthaal', creating rhythmic flow.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vetta vetta vaazhaithaan / Adhu alli tharum vazhvai thaan”
Comparing a resilient human life to a banana plant ('Vetta vetta vaazhai') that sprouts back stronger when chopped.
Repetition (Anaphora / Adukku Thodar)
“Nadanthaal irandadi / Irunthaal naangadi”
Repetition of 'Nadanthaal irandadi / Irunthaal naangadi' serves as a rhythmic hook emphasizing minimalism.
Did you know?
Trivia
The composition is set to an energetic folk rhythm composed by Ilaiyaraaja, starring Prashanth and Bhanupriya. The philosophical motif 'two feet to walk, six feet to sleep' echoes ancient Siddhar poems and folk philosophical ballads of Tamil Nadu.
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