Nadhi Engae Pogiradhu
From Iruvar Ullam · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Iruvar Ullam1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Nadhi engae pogiradhu … | Where is the river going? |
| Male :Kadalai thedi.. | In search of the sea.. |
| Female :Naal engae pogiradhu … | Where is the day going? |
| Male :Iravai thedi.. | In search of the night.. |
| Female | |
| Nilavengae pogiradhu …. | Where is the moon going? |
| Male :Malarai thedi… | In search of the flower.. |
| Female :Ninaivengae pogiradhu … | Where are the thoughts going? |
| Male :Uravai thedi…} (2) | In search of a loving bond.. |
| Female | |
| Nadhi engae pogiradhu … | Where is the river going? |
| Male :Kadalai thedi.. | In search of the sea.. |
| Female | |
| {Raaganggal nooru varum | A hundred ragas may arise, |
| Male :Veenai ondru.. | Yet the Veena is but one.. |
| Female :Megangal odi varum | Clouds come running across, |
| Male :Vaanam ondru} (2) | Yet the sky is but one. |
| Female | |
| {Ennanggal kodi varum | Crores of thoughts may arise, |
| Male :Idhayam ondru} (2) | Yet the heart is but one. |
| Female :Inbangal alli varum | Abundant joys gather together, |
| Male :Penmai ondru | For womanhood is one. |
| Female | |
| Nadhi engae pogiradhu … | Where is the river going? |
| Male :Kadalai thedi.. | In search of the sea.. |
| Male | |
| {Palliyarai pen manadhil | In the mind of a woman in the bedchamber, |
| Female :Yekkam yekkam… | There is longing, endless longing... |
| Male :Pakkathil thunaiyirundhaal | When her companion is right beside her, |
| Female :Vetkam vetkam..} (2) | There is shyness, blushing shyness.. |
| Male | |
| {Ilaimaikkul aadi varum | Twirling rhythmically within youthfulness, |
| Female :Inimai kandu} (2) | Upon discovering sweetness. |
| Male :Indrae naam kaanuvadhu | What we shall witness today, |
| Female :Irandil ondru.. | Is one of two outcomes.. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi engae pogiradhu … | Where is the river going? |
| Female :Kadalai thedi.. | In search of the sea.. |
| Male :Naal engae pogiradhu … | Where is the day going? |
| Female :Iravai thedi.. | In search of the night.. |
| Male | |
| Nilavengae pogiradhu …. | Where is the moon going? |
| Female :Malarai thedi… | In search of the flower.. |
| Male :Ninaivengae pogiradhu … | Where are the thoughts going? |
| Female :Uravai thedi… | In search of a loving bond.. |
{நதி எங்கே போகிறது
கடலைத் தேடி
நாளெங்கே போகிறது
இரவைத் தேடி
Where is the river going?
In search of the sea..
Where is the day going?
In search of the night..
நிலவெங்கே போகிறது
மலரைத் தேடி
நினைவெங்கே போகிறது
உறவைத் தேடி} (2)
Where is the moon going?
In search of the flower..
Where are the thoughts going?
In search of a loving bond..
நதி எங்கே போகிறது
கடலைத் தேடி
Where is the river going?
In search of the sea..
{ராகங்கள் நூறு வரும்
வீணை ஒன்று
மேகங்கள் ஓடி வரும்
வானம் ஒன்று} (2)
A hundred ragas may arise,
Yet the Veena is but one..
Clouds come running across,
Yet the sky is but one.
எண்ணங்கள் கோடி வரும்
இதயம் ஒன்று
எண்ணங்கள் கோடி வரும்
இதயம் ஒன்று
இன்பங்கள் அள்ளி வரும்
பெண்மை ஒன்று
Crores of thoughts may arise,
Yet the heart is but one.
Abundant joys gather together,
For womanhood is one.
நதி எங்கே போகிறது
கடலைத் தேடி
Where is the river going?
In search of the sea..
{பள்ளியறை பெண்மனதில்
ஏக்கம் ஏக்கம்
பக்கத்தில் துணையிருந்தால்
வெட்கம் வெட்கம்} (2)
In the mind of a woman in the bedchamber,
There is longing, endless longing...
When her companion is right beside her,
There is shyness, blushing shyness..
இளமைக்குள் ஆடிவரும்
இனிமை கண்டு
இளமைக்குள் ஆடிவரும்
இனிமை கண்டு
இன்றே நாம் காணுவது
இரண்டில் ஒன்று
Twirling rhythmically within youthfulness,
Upon discovering sweetness.
What we shall witness today,
Is one of two outcomes..
நதி எங்கே போகிறது
கடலைத் தேடி
நாளெங்கே போகிறது
இரவைத் தேடி
Where is the river going?
In search of the sea..
Where is the day going?
In search of the night..
நிலவெங்கே போகிறது
மலரைத் தேடி
நினைவெங்கே போகிறது
உறவைத் தேடி
Where is the moon going?
In search of the flower..
Where are the thoughts going?
In search of a loving bond..
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்...
{Nadhi engae pogiradhu …
Where is the river going?
Male :Kadalai thedi..
In search of the sea..
Female :Naal engae pogiradhu …
Where is the day going?
Male :Iravai thedi..
In search of the night..
Nilavengae pogiradhu ….
Where is the moon going?
Male :Malarai thedi…
In search of the flower..
Female :Ninaivengae pogiradhu …
Where are the thoughts going?
Male :Uravai thedi…} (2)
In search of a loving bond..
Nadhi engae pogiradhu …
Where is the river going?
Male :Kadalai thedi..
In search of the sea..
{Raaganggal nooru varum
A hundred ragas may arise,
Male :Veenai ondru..
Yet the Veena is but one..
Female :Megangal odi varum
Clouds come running across,
Male :Vaanam ondru} (2)
Yet the sky is but one.
{Ennanggal kodi varum
Crores of thoughts may arise,
Male :Idhayam ondru} (2)
Yet the heart is but one.
Female :Inbangal alli varum
Abundant joys gather together,
Male :Penmai ondru
For womanhood is one.
Nadhi engae pogiradhu …
Where is the river going?
Male :Kadalai thedi..
In search of the sea..
{Palliyarai pen manadhil
In the mind of a woman in the bedchamber,
Female :Yekkam yekkam…
There is longing, endless longing...
Male :Pakkathil thunaiyirundhaal
When her companion is right beside her,
Female :Vetkam vetkam..} (2)
There is shyness, blushing shyness..
{Ilaimaikkul aadi varum
Twirling rhythmically within youthfulness,
Female :Inimai kandu} (2)
Upon discovering sweetness.
Male :Indrae naam kaanuvadhu
What we shall witness today,
Female :Irandil ondru..
Is one of two outcomes..
Nadhi engae pogiradhu …
Where is the river going?
Female :Kadalai thedi..
In search of the sea..
Male :Naal engae pogiradhu …
Where is the day going?
Female :Iravai thedi..
In search of the night..
Nilavengae pogiradhu ….
Where is the moon going?
Female :Malarai thedi…
In search of the flower..
Male :Ninaivengae pogiradhu …
Where are the thoughts going?
Female :Uravai thedi…
In search of a loving bond..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic song from the 1963 Tamil film Iruvar Ullam features a charming lyrical dialogue between lovers, written by the legendary poet Kannadasan. Through poetically structured questions and answers, the song draws parallels between natural phenomena—a river flowing to the sea, day yielding to night, the moon seeking the nocturnal bloom—and the inevitable magnetic pull of human love and togetherness. The lyricist highlights themes of singularity amidst multiplicity: although many melodies, clouds, and thoughts exist, the instrument, sky, and heart remain one. The lovers express intimacy, longing, and bashfulness in anticipation of their union, celebrating devotion as a natural law of the universe.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Question and Answer Structure (Call-and-Response)
“Nadhi engae pogiradhu … / Kadalai thedi..”
The lyrics use a antiphonal format where one partner asks about a natural destination and the other answers, metaphorically mapping nature's order onto romantic longing.
Parallelism and Contrast
“Raaganggal nooru varum / Veenai ondru..”
The verse contrasts multiplicity ('hundred ragas', 'countless clouds', 'crores of thoughts') with oneness ('one veena', 'one sky', 'one heart') to emphasize singular love.
Adukkuthodar (Reduplication for Emphasis)
“Yekkam yekkam… / Vetkam vetkam..”
Repetition of words like 'yekkam yekkam' (longing) and 'vetkam vetkam' (shyness) intensifies the portrayal of romantic emotions.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featuring music by K. V. Mahadevan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, this iconic song is pictured on Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi in the movie Iruvar Ullam (1963).
Keep listening
More from Iruvar Ullam
Iruvar Ullam
Iruvar Ullam
Iruvar Ullam
Iruvar Ullam
Iruvar Ullam
Iruvar Ullam