Nadhi Enge
From Uyirodu Uyiraga · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Not listed
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Uyirodu Uyiraga1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nadhi engae valaiyum | Where the river bends, |
| Karai rendum ariyum | Both banks know. |
| Madhi engae alaiyum | Where the moon wanders, |
| Aagaayam ariyum | The sky knows. |
| Vidhi engae vilaiyum | Where fate unfolds, |
| Adhu yaarukku theriyum | Who knows that? |
| Male | |
| Adhai arindhu sollavum | To comprehend and tell that, |
| Madhi illai | Wisdom is not enough. |
| Madhi irundhaal | If wisdom could foresee it, |
| Adhan per vidhi illai | Its name would not be fate. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi engae valaiyum | Where the river bends, |
| Karai rendum ariyum | Both banks know. |
| Male | |
| Virumbi yaarum | No one is born |
| Pirappadhumillai | By their own desire. |
| Virumbiya paathiram | The role one desires |
| Kidaippadhumillai | Is not always received. |
| Male | |
| Pulikkum vaazhkkai | Lamenting that life has turned sour |
| Amaindhadhai enni | Due to the way things turned out, |
| Salikkum manadhil | In a weary mind, |
| Sandhosham illai | There is no joy. |
| Male | |
| Ettu naal vaazhum | Living for just eight days, |
| Pattaamboochi | A butterfly |
| Irappai patri ninaippadhumillai | Does not dwell on its death. |
| Arubadhu vayadhu | A human blessed with |
| Aayul kondavan | A lifespan of sixty years, |
| Irubadhu nimidam | Doesn't truly live |
| Vaazhavum illai | Even for twenty minutes. |
| Chorus | |
| Naalai enbadhai | Leaving tomorrow |
| Vidhiyidam koduthu | In the hands of fate, |
| Indru enbadhai eduthu nadathu | Seize today and march forward. |
| Kanner thuliyai kazhatri eduthu | Shed off your tear drops, |
| Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu | Wear a smile and wage life's battle. |
| Male :Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu | Male: Wear a smile and wage life's battle. |
| Chorus | |
| Aaah haa aaaa…aaa… | Aaah haa aaaa…aaa… |
| Aaah haa aaaa…aaa… | Aaah haa aaaa…aaa… |
| Haa…aaa….aaa…haa…aa….aaa…. | Haa…aaa….aaa…haa…aa….aaa…. |
| Aaah haa aaaa…aaa… | Aaah haa aaaa…aaa… |
| …………………………………………. | [Musical passage] |
| Male | |
| Kanavu kaanbadhu | To dream |
| Kangalin urimai | Is the right of the eyes. |
| Kanavu kalaippadhu | To shatter dreams |
| Kaalathin urimai | Is the right of time. |
| Male | |
| Sidhaindha kanavai | Gathering shattered dreams |
| Serthu serthu | Piece by piece, |
| Aranmanai kattudhal | Building a palace from them |
| Avaravar thiramai | Is individual skill. |
| Male | |
| Ovvoru nodiyilum | In every single second, |
| Unnadham kaanbadhu | To find greatness |
| Ulagil pirandha uyirgalin urimai | Is the right of every living soul born in this world. |
| Niraindha vaazhvum | If a complete life |
| Nilaithirundhaal | Were to endure, |
| Vandhadhu niraivadhu | Fulfilling one's journey |
| Vaazhvin kadamai | Is life's solemn duty. |
| Chorus | |
| Naalai enbadhai | Leaving tomorrow |
| Vidhiyidam koduthu | In the hands of fate, |
| Indru enbadhai eduthu nadathu | Seize today and march forward. |
| Kanner thuliyai kazhatri eduthu | Shed off your tear drops, |
| Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu | Wear a smile and wage life's battle. |
| Male :Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu | Male: Wear a smile and wage life's battle. |
நதி எங்கே வளையும்
கரை ரெண்டும் அறியும்
மதி எங்கே அலையும்
ஆகாயம் அறியும்
விதி எங்கே விளையும்
அது யாருக்கு தெரியும்
Where the river bends,
Both banks know.
Where the moon wanders,
The sky knows.
Where fate unfolds,
Who knows that?
அதை அறிந்து சொல்லவும்
மதி இல்லை
மதி இருந்தால்
அதன் பேர் விதி இல்லை
To comprehend and tell that,
Wisdom is not enough.
If wisdom could foresee it,
Its name would not be fate.
நதி எங்கே வளையும்
கரை ரெண்டும் அறியும்
Where the river bends,
Both banks know.
விரும்பி யாரும்
பிறப்பதுமில்லை
விரும்பிய பாத்திரம்
கிடைப்பதுமில்லை
No one is born
By their own desire.
The role one desires
Is not always received.
புளிக்கும் வாழ்க்கை
அமைந்ததை எண்ணி
சலிக்கும் மனதில்
சந்தோஷம் இல்லை
Lamenting that life has turned sour
Due to the way things turned out,
In a weary mind,
There is no joy.
எட்டு நாள் வாழும்
பட்டாம்பூச்சி
இறப்பை பற்றி நினைப்பதுமில்லை
அறுபது வயது
ஆயுள் கொண்டவன்
இருபது நிமிடம்
வாழவும் இல்லை
Living for just eight days,
A butterfly
Does not dwell on its death.
A human blessed with
A lifespan of sixty years,
Doesn't truly live
Even for twenty minutes.
நாளை என்பதை
விதியிடம் கொடுத்து
இன்று என்பதை எடுத்து நடத்து
கண்ணீர் துளியை கழற்றி எடுத்து
புன்னகை அணிந்து போரை நடத்து
புன்னகை அணிந்து
போரை நடத்து
Leaving tomorrow
In the hands of fate,
Seize today and march forward.
Shed off your tear drops,
Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Male: Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
...........................................
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Haa…aaa….aaa…haa…aa….aaa….
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
[Musical passage]
கனவு காண்பது
கண்களின் உரிமை
கனவு கலைப்பது
காலத்தின் உரிமை
To dream
Is the right of the eyes.
To shatter dreams
Is the right of time.
சிதைந்த கனவை
சேர்த்து சேர்த்து
அரண்மனை கட்டுதல்
அவரவர் திறமை
Gathering shattered dreams
Piece by piece,
Building a palace from them
Is individual skill.
ஒவ்வொரு நொடியிலும்
உன்னதம் காண்பது
உலகில் பிறந்த உயிர்களின் உரிமை
நிறைந்த வாழ்வும்
நிலைத்திருந்தால்
வந்தது நிறைவது
வாழ்வின் கடமை
In every single second,
To find greatness
Is the right of every living soul born in this world.
If a complete life
Were to endure,
Fulfilling one's journey
Is life's solemn duty.
நாளை என்பதை
விதியிடம் கொடுத்து
இன்று என்பதை எடுத்து நடத்து
கண்ணீர் துளியை கழற்றி எடுத்து
புன்னகை அணிந்து போரை நடத்து
புன்னகை அணிந்து
போரை நடத்து
Leaving tomorrow
In the hands of fate,
Seize today and march forward.
Shed off your tear drops,
Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Male: Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Nadhi engae valaiyum
Where the river bends,
Karai rendum ariyum
Both banks know.
Madhi engae alaiyum
Where the moon wanders,
Aagaayam ariyum
The sky knows.
Vidhi engae vilaiyum
Where fate unfolds,
Adhu yaarukku theriyum
Who knows that?
Adhai arindhu sollavum
To comprehend and tell that,
Madhi illai
Wisdom is not enough.
Madhi irundhaal
If wisdom could foresee it,
Adhan per vidhi illai
Its name would not be fate.
Nadhi engae valaiyum
Where the river bends,
Karai rendum ariyum
Both banks know.
Virumbi yaarum
No one is born
Pirappadhumillai
By their own desire.
Virumbiya paathiram
The role one desires
Kidaippadhumillai
Is not always received.
Pulikkum vaazhkkai
Lamenting that life has turned sour
Amaindhadhai enni
Due to the way things turned out,
Salikkum manadhil
In a weary mind,
Sandhosham illai
There is no joy.
Ettu naal vaazhum
Living for just eight days,
Pattaamboochi
A butterfly
Irappai patri ninaippadhumillai
Does not dwell on its death.
Arubadhu vayadhu
A human blessed with
Aayul kondavan
A lifespan of sixty years,
Irubadhu nimidam
Doesn't truly live
Vaazhavum illai
Even for twenty minutes.
Naalai enbadhai
Leaving tomorrow
Vidhiyidam koduthu
In the hands of fate,
Indru enbadhai eduthu nadathu
Seize today and march forward.
Kanner thuliyai kazhatri eduthu
Shed off your tear drops,
Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu
Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Male :Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu
Male: Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Haa…aaa….aaa…haa…aa….aaa….
Haa…aaa….aaa…haa…aa….aaa….
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
Aaah haa aaaa…aaa…
………………………………………….
[Musical passage]
Kanavu kaanbadhu
To dream
Kangalin urimai
Is the right of the eyes.
Kanavu kalaippadhu
To shatter dreams
Kaalathin urimai
Is the right of time.
Sidhaindha kanavai
Gathering shattered dreams
Serthu serthu
Piece by piece,
Aranmanai kattudhal
Building a palace from them
Avaravar thiramai
Is individual skill.
Ovvoru nodiyilum
In every single second,
Unnadham kaanbadhu
To find greatness
Ulagil pirandha uyirgalin urimai
Is the right of every living soul born in this world.
Niraindha vaazhvum
If a complete life
Nilaithirundhaal
Were to endure,
Vandhadhu niraivadhu
Fulfilling one's journey
Vaazhvin kadamai
Is life's solemn duty.
Naalai enbadhai
Leaving tomorrow
Vidhiyidam koduthu
In the hands of fate,
Indru enbadhai eduthu nadathu
Seize today and march forward.
Kanner thuliyai kazhatri eduthu
Shed off your tear drops,
Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu
Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Male :Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu
Male: Wear a smile and wage life's battle.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nadhi Engae Valaiyum is a deeply philosophical song that addresses the unpredictability of human destiny and the impermanence of life's struggles. Through vivid metaphors comparing human life to nature—such as rivers finding their bend, the moon traversing the sky, and butterflies living fully without worrying about death—the song illustrates that while no human can control fate or guaranteed desired outcomes, dwelling on sorrow is futile.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Nadhi engae valaiyum / Madhi engae alaiyum / Vidhi engae vilaiyum”
Harmonious sound agreement in the second consonant across lines (Nadhi / Madhi / Vidhi).
Juxtaposition
“Ettu naal vaazhum Pattaamboochi... Arubadhu vayadhu Aayul kondavan”
Contrasts a short-lived butterfly living without fear of death against a human with a long lifespan failing to live even 20 minutes happily.
Metaphor
“Punnagai anindhu porai nadathu”
Frames life as a war (por) where wearing a smile acts as armor.
Personification
“Kanavu kalaippadhu Kaalathin urimai”
Grants Time (Kaalam) the personal right/agency to break human dreams.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is part of the 1998 Tamil film 'Uyirodu Uyiraga', directed by Sushma Ahuja and featuring music composed by Vidyasagar. Sung primarily by K. S. Chithra and P. Unnikrishnan, the track stands out for Vairamuthu's deeply contemplative lyrics about resilience and living in the present.
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