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Kaadhal Kiligal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nadhi Karai Orathu

From Kaadhal Kiligal · 1980

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaadhal Kiligal
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
29 Sept 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nadhikarai oraththu nanalgalae
En naayagan pugalai kelungalaen
Kaalaiyil pooththa pushbangalae
Engal kadhalai vaazhththi paadungalaen
Nadhikarai oraththu nanalgalae
En naayagi azhagai parungalaen
Kaalaiyil pooththa pushbangalae
Engal kadhalai vaazhththi paadungalaen
Nadhikarai oraththu nanalgalae
Male :En naayagi azhagai paarungalaen
Tharaiyai thodaatha thendralaipol
Un thamarai padhangal nadappathenna
Female :Kalyaana thaedhiyai kettavudan
En kaalgal tharaiyai thodavillaiyae
Karaiyai thodaatha alaigalaipol
Un karunguzhal kaigalil vizhuvathenna
Female :Kadhalan kaiyinil sugam peravae
En koondhal sarinthu vizhunthathaiyyaa
Nadhikarai oraththu nanalgalae
Female :En naayagan pugalai kelungalaen
Gangaiyin sangamam kadalidaththil
Intha kanniyin sangamam ennidaththil
Female :Semman bhoomiyil neer polae
En sinthai kalanthathu unnidaththil
Udhadugalaalae kadhai ezhuthi
Ullaththai mayakkida naan varavaa
Female :Maalaiyum melamum varum varaikkum
Un manathai adakkavum mudiyaathaa
Nadhikarai oraththu nanalgalae
En naayagi azhagai parungalaen
Female :Kaalaiyil pooththa pushbangalae
Engal kadhalai vaazhththi paadungalaen
O reeds along the riverbank,
Please listen to the praise of my beloved!
O flowers blooming in the morning,
Please sing and bless our love!
O reeds along the riverbank,
Please look at the beauty of my beloved!
O flowers blooming in the morning,
Please sing and bless our love!
O reeds along the riverbank,
Male: Look at the beauty of my beloved!
Like a gentle breeze that never touches the ground,
Why do your lotus feet glide as you walk?
Female: The moment I heard our wedding date,
My feet refused to touch the ground!
Like waves before they reach the shore,
Why does your dark hair fall into my hands?
Female: Just to find sweet comfort in my lover's hands,
My hair tumbled down, my love!
O reeds along the riverbank,
Female: Please listen to the praise of my beloved!
The Ganges joins with the sea,
And this young woman joins with me!
Female: Like rain falling on red soil,
My heart has blended completely with yours!
Writing a story with my lips,
May I come to enchant your heart?
Female: Until the wedding garlands and drums arrive,
Can't you keep your eager heart in check?
O reeds along the riverbank,
Look at the beauty of my beloved!
Female: O flowers blooming in the morning,
Please sing and bless our love!
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nadhikarai Oraththu Nanalgalae is a romantic duet where two lovers express their boundless joy and affection as they anticipate their upcoming wedding. Addressing nature around them—the riverbank reeds and morning flowers—they call upon the elements to bear witness to their union and sing praises of their love. The lyrics alternate between the hero admiring her graceful walk and flowing hair, and the heroine expressing how news of their wedding made her feel weightless with excitement. In the latter verses, the lyrics evoke classic Tamil romantic imagery, comparing the merging of their souls to the sacred confluence of rivers and the age-old Sangam metaphor of rain falling on red earth. The song balances passionate romance with playful teasing about waiting for the official wedding day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sangam Imagery / Simile (Upamai)

“Semman bhoomiyil neer polae / En sinthai kalanthathu unnidaththil”

The phrase 'Semman bhoomiyil neer polae' (Like water falling on red earth) directly references the classic Sangam poetry metaphor from Kuruntokai ('Sembula peyal neer pola'), illustrating two hearts merging seamlessly into one.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Un thamarai padhangal nadappathenna”

'Thamarai padhangal' compares her feet directly to delicate lotus flowers.

Simile (Upamai)

“Tharaiyai thodaatha thendralaipol”

Compares her light, ethereal walking style to a soft wind floating without touching the earth.

Rhyme and Assonance (Etukai / Monai)

“Gangaiyin sangamam kadalidaththil / Intha kanniyin sangamam ennidaththil”

Use of matching internal rhyme and rhythmic balance across paired lines like 'Gangaiyin sangamam' and 'kanniyin sangamam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song's lyricist Muthulingam adapted the famous line 'Semman bhoomiyil neer polae' from Kuruntokai 40, one of the eight anthologies of Classical Tamil Sangam literature, bridging ancient poetic traditions with modern Tamil film music.

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