Nadanthu Vantha
From Aasai Alaigal · 1963
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Aasai Alaigal1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae.. | On the path that I have walked upon... |
| Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen | I came looking in all four directions. |
| Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai | I could not understand what was good and what was bad. |
| Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai…. | Not all good people get to truly live... |
| Male | |
| Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae.. | On the path that I have walked upon... |
| Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen | I came looking in all four directions. |
| Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai | I could not understand what was good and what was bad. |
| Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai…. | Not all good people get to truly live... |
| Male | |
| Vanthathu varattum podaavendru | Saying 'let whatever happens happen'... |
| Vaazhum manithar oru vazhiyil | There are people living on one path. |
| Vanthathu varattum podaavendru | Saying 'let whatever happens happen'... |
| Vaazhum manithar oru vazhiyil | There are people living on one path. |
| Male | |
| Avar vaai sol kettu thavarugal purinthu | Listening to their words and committing mistakes, |
| Vazhiyai maranthavar nadu vazhiyil | Those who forgot their way end up stranded in the middle of the road. |
| Avar vaai sol kettu thavarugal purinthu | Listening to their words and committing mistakes, |
| Vazhiyai maranthavar nadu vazhiyil | Those who forgot their way end up stranded in the middle of the road. |
| Male | |
| Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae.. | On the path that I have walked upon... |
| Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen | I came looking in all four directions. |
| Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai | I could not understand what was good and what was bad. |
| Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai…. | Not all good people get to truly live... |
| Male | |
| Vazhiyil thunaiyaai varupavar ellaam | Can everyone who comes along as a companion on the way... |
| Vaazhkkai thunaiyaai aavaaraa…aa….aa….aa… | Become a true life partner? |
| Vazhiyil thunaiyaai varupavar ellaam | Can everyone who comes along as a companion on the way... |
| Vaazhkkai thunaiyaai aavaaraa | Become a true life partner? |
| Male | |
| Paasaththodu arugil irunthu | Will they stay close with deep affection... |
| Panigal yaavum seivaaraa | And perform all duties for you? |
| Paasaththodu arugil irunthu | Will they stay close with deep affection... |
| Panigal yaavum seivaaraa | And perform all duties for you? |
| Male | |
| Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae.. | On the path that I have walked upon... |
| Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen | I came looking in all four directions. |
| Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai | I could not understand what was good and what was bad. |
| Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai…. | Not all good people get to truly live... |
| Male | |
| Kadamaiyinaalae sugaththai maranthavar | Those who forgot personal pleasure out of duty, |
| Vaazhvil kaanbathu anbu vazhi | What they find in life is the path of love. |
| Kadamaiyinaalae sugaththai maranthavar | Those who forgot personal pleasure out of duty, |
| Vaazhvil kaanbathu anbu vazhi | What they find in life is the path of love. |
| Male | |
| Madamaiyinaalae thannai maranthavar | Those who forgot themselves out of ignorance, |
| Varunthi nirpathu thunba vazhi | Standing in sorrow, that is the path of pain. |
| Madamaiyinaalae thannai maranthavar | Those who forgot themselves out of ignorance, |
| Varunthi nirpathu thunba vazhi | Standing in sorrow, that is the path of pain. |
| Male | |
| Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae.. | On the path that I have walked upon... |
| Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen | I came looking in all four directions. |
| Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai | I could not understand what was good and what was bad. |
| Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai…. | Not all good people get to truly live... |
| Male | |
| Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae.. | On the path that I have walked upon... |
நடந்து வந்த பாதையிலே...ஏ....ஏ....
நாலு வழியும் பார்த்து வந்தேன்
நல்லது கெட்டது புரியவில்லை
நல்லவரெல்லாம் வாழ்வதில்லை.....
On the path that I have walked upon...
I came looking in all four directions.
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Not all good people get to truly live...
நடந்து வந்த பாதையிலே...ஏ....ஏ....
நாலு வழியும் பார்த்து வந்தேன்
நல்லது கெட்டது புரியவில்லை
நல்லவரெல்லாம் வாழ்வதில்லை.....
On the path that I have walked upon...
I came looking in all four directions.
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Not all good people get to truly live...
வந்தது வரட்டும் போடாவென்று
வாழும் மனிதர் ஒரு வழியில்
வந்தது வரட்டும் போடாவென்று
வாழும் மனிதர் ஒரு வழியில்
Saying 'let whatever happens happen'...
There are people living on one path.
Saying 'let whatever happens happen'...
There are people living on one path.
அவர் வாய்ச் சொல் கேட்டு தவறுகள் புரிந்து
வழியை மறந்தவர் நடு வழியில்
அவர் வாய்ச் சொல் கேட்டு தவறுகள் புரிந்து
வழியை மறந்தவர் நடு வழியில்.....
Listening to their words and committing mistakes,
Those who forgot their way end up stranded in the middle of the road.
Listening to their words and committing mistakes,
Those who forgot their way end up stranded in the middle of the road.
நடந்து வந்த பாதையிலே...ஏ....ஏ....
நாலு வழியும் பார்த்து வந்தேன்
நல்லது கெட்டது புரியவில்லை
நல்லவரெல்லாம் வாழ்வதில்லை.....
On the path that I have walked upon...
I came looking in all four directions.
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Not all good people get to truly live...
வழியில் துணையாய் வருபவர் எல்லாம்
வாழ்க்கை துணையாய் ஆவாரா....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ....
வழியில் துணையாய் வருபவர் எல்லாம்
வாழ்க்கை துணையாய் ஆவாரா
Can everyone who comes along as a companion on the way...
Become a true life partner?
Can everyone who comes along as a companion on the way...
Become a true life partner?
பாசத்தோடு அருகில் இருந்து
பணிகள் யாவும் செய்வாரா....
பாசத்தோடு அருகில் இருந்து
பணிகள் யாவும் செய்வாரா
Will they stay close with deep affection...
And perform all duties for you?
Will they stay close with deep affection...
And perform all duties for you?
நடந்து வந்த பாதையிலே...ஏ....ஏ....
நாலு வழியும் பார்த்து வந்தேன்
நல்லது கெட்டது புரியவில்லை
நல்லவரெல்லாம் வாழ்வதில்லை.....
On the path that I have walked upon...
I came looking in all four directions.
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Not all good people get to truly live...
கடமையினாலே சுகத்தை மறந்தவர்
வாழ்வில் காண்பது அன்பு வழி
கடமையினாலே சுகத்தை மறந்தவர்
வாழ்வில் காண்பது அன்பு வழி
Those who forgot personal pleasure out of duty,
What they find in life is the path of love.
Those who forgot personal pleasure out of duty,
What they find in life is the path of love.
மடமையினாலே தன்னை மறந்தவர்
வருந்தி நிற்பது துன்ப வழி......
மடமையினாலே தன்னை மறந்தவர்
வருந்தி நிற்பது துன்ப வழி......
Those who forgot themselves out of ignorance,
Standing in sorrow, that is the path of pain.
Those who forgot themselves out of ignorance,
Standing in sorrow, that is the path of pain.
நடந்து வந்த பாதையிலே...ஏ....ஏ....
நாலு வழியும் பார்த்து வந்தேன்
நல்லது கெட்டது புரியவில்லை
நல்லவரெல்லாம் வாழ்வதில்லை.....
On the path that I have walked upon...
I came looking in all four directions.
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Not all good people get to truly live...
நடந்து வந்த பாதையிலே...ஏ....ஏ....ஏ...
On the path that I have walked upon...
Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..
On the path that I have walked upon...
Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen
I came looking in all four directions.
Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai….
Not all good people get to truly live...
Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..
On the path that I have walked upon...
Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen
I came looking in all four directions.
Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai….
Not all good people get to truly live...
Vanthathu varattum podaavendru
Saying 'let whatever happens happen'...
Vaazhum manithar oru vazhiyil
There are people living on one path.
Vanthathu varattum podaavendru
Saying 'let whatever happens happen'...
Vaazhum manithar oru vazhiyil
There are people living on one path.
Avar vaai sol kettu thavarugal purinthu
Listening to their words and committing mistakes,
Vazhiyai maranthavar nadu vazhiyil
Those who forgot their way end up stranded in the middle of the road.
Avar vaai sol kettu thavarugal purinthu
Listening to their words and committing mistakes,
Vazhiyai maranthavar nadu vazhiyil
Those who forgot their way end up stranded in the middle of the road.
Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..
On the path that I have walked upon...
Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen
I came looking in all four directions.
Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai….
Not all good people get to truly live...
Vazhiyil thunaiyaai varupavar ellaam
Can everyone who comes along as a companion on the way...
Vaazhkkai thunaiyaai aavaaraa…aa….aa….aa…
Become a true life partner?
Vazhiyil thunaiyaai varupavar ellaam
Can everyone who comes along as a companion on the way...
Vaazhkkai thunaiyaai aavaaraa
Become a true life partner?
Paasaththodu arugil irunthu
Will they stay close with deep affection...
Panigal yaavum seivaaraa
And perform all duties for you?
Paasaththodu arugil irunthu
Will they stay close with deep affection...
Panigal yaavum seivaaraa
And perform all duties for you?
Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..
On the path that I have walked upon...
Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen
I came looking in all four directions.
Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai….
Not all good people get to truly live...
Kadamaiyinaalae sugaththai maranthavar
Those who forgot personal pleasure out of duty,
Vaazhvil kaanbathu anbu vazhi
What they find in life is the path of love.
Kadamaiyinaalae sugaththai maranthavar
Those who forgot personal pleasure out of duty,
Vaazhvil kaanbathu anbu vazhi
What they find in life is the path of love.
Madamaiyinaalae thannai maranthavar
Those who forgot themselves out of ignorance,
Varunthi nirpathu thunba vazhi
Standing in sorrow, that is the path of pain.
Madamaiyinaalae thannai maranthavar
Those who forgot themselves out of ignorance,
Varunthi nirpathu thunba vazhi
Standing in sorrow, that is the path of pain.
Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..
On the path that I have walked upon...
Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen
I came looking in all four directions.
Nallathu kettathu puriyavillai
I could not understand what was good and what was bad.
Nallavarellaam vaazhvathillai….
Not all good people get to truly live...
Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..
On the path that I have walked upon...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nadanthu Vantha Paadhaiyilae from the film Aasai Alaigal (1963) is a deeply reflective Tamil philosophical song that meditates on life's journey, morality, and human relationships. The protagonist reflects upon the path traversed so far, realizing the difficulty in discerning good from bad, and lamenting the tragedy that righteous people do not always thrive in this world. The song contrasts those who live carelessly with a fatalistic attitude against those who blindly follow bad counsel and lose their way midway. Furthermore, the lyrics question the durability of temporary companionship, asking whether fair-weather companions can ever become true life partners. It concludes with a moral realization: those who sacrifice self-indulgence for duty ultimately walk the path of love, while those led astray by ignorance and foolishness suffer on the path of sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Nadanthu vantha paadhaiyilae…ae…ae..”
Life is metaphorically represented as a physical walking path ('paadhai'), where life choices are directions ('vazhi').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naalu vazhiyum paarththu vanthaen”
Repetition of the initial 'Na' / 'Naa' consonants across consecutive lines (Nadanthu, Naalu, Nallathu, Nallavarellaam).
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kadamaiyinaalae sugaththai maranthavar”
The second consonant 'da' rhymes between 'Kadamaiyinaalae' (duty) and 'Madamaiyinaalae' (ignorance), contrasting two opposing traits.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vaazhvil kaanbathu anbu vazhi”
Rhyming endings using 'vazhi' in consecutive lines ('anbu vazhi' and 'thunba vazhi').
Did you know?
Trivia
Aasai Alaigal (1963) features lyrics by Panchu Arunachalam early in his career, before he gained iconic status in Tamil cinema as a writer, producer, and lyricist credited with reinventing mass cinema with Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan in the late 1970s.
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