Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
From Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru · 1981
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. L. Maharajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river with three banks, |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | It is the play of the Supreme Lord. |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three distinct hearts, |
| Paaduvathu oru paadal | Singing the exact same song. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river with three banks, |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | It is the play of the Supreme Lord. |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three distinct hearts, |
| Paaduvathu oru paadal | Singing the exact same song. |
| Male | |
| Kavi ezhuthi paarkkuthammaa | Writing poetry and watching, oh my, |
| Kannaaru kann aaru | Streams of tears and six eyes. |
| Kanniyival azhaginukkae | For the beauty of this young maiden, |
| Kannaeru kannaeru | Ward off the evil eye, ward off the evil eye! |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river with three banks, |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | It is the play of the Supreme Lord. |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three distinct hearts, |
| Paaduvathu oru paadal | Singing the exact same song. |
| Male | |
| Sengumatha pani vaayil | In her red-lotus mouth kissed by dew, |
| Thaen sidharum ponnaruvi | A golden waterfall spills sweet honey. |
| Thendralilae paranthapadi | Flying along with the gentle breeze, |
| Rasikkuthammaa oru kuruvi | A tiny bird delights in the view. |
| Male | |
| Pongi varum kadal nurai pol | Like the surging foam of the ocean, |
| Pooththu nirkkum perazhagi | Stands a great beauty in full bloom. |
| Bodhaiyilae mithakkuthammaa | Floating in deep enchantment, |
| Paavaiyaval perezhuthi | Captivated by the grand beauty of this maiden. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river with three banks, |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | It is the play of the Supreme Lord. |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three distinct hearts, |
| Paaduvathu oru paadal | Singing the exact same song. |
| Male | |
| Koottinilae irunthapadi | Staying inside its humble nest, |
| Kulavuthammaa maadappuraa | A balcony pigeon coos pleasantly. |
| Kaattinilae ulavuthammaa | Rambling in the thick woodland, |
| Kadhalikkum jodi puraa | Is a pair of affectionate lovebirds. |
| Male | |
| Theettuthammaa oviyaththai | Painting a vivid picture, |
| Thedi nirkkum vannappuraa | A colourful dove stands searching. |
| Sevai seiyya parakkuthammaa | Flying around to offer service, |
| Vayal veliyil chinnapuraa | Is a little dove across open fields. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river with three banks, |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | It is the play of the Supreme Lord. |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three distinct hearts, |
| Paaduvathu oru paadal | Singing the exact same song. |
| Male | |
| Paruvam vantha sirukkathaiyai | This short tale of a young girl blooming into womanhood, |
| Yaar ezhuthi mudippaaro | Who will write its conclusion? |
| Paal vadiyum thaamaraiyai | This lotus overflowing with tender milk, |
| Yaar inimel parippaaro | Who will pluck it from now on? |
| Male | |
| Moovarilae evar inimel | Among the three, who from now on, |
| Nadhiyinilae kulippaaro | Will bathe in this flowing river? |
| Mogaththilae mei maranthu | Forgetting themselves in passion, |
| Karaiyinil yaar nirppaaro… | Who will remain standing on the shore? |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river with three banks, |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | It is the play of the Supreme Lord. |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three distinct hearts, |
| Paaduvathu oru paadal | Singing the exact same song. |
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river with three banks,
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Three distinct hearts,
Singing the exact same song.
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river with three banks,
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Three distinct hearts,
Singing the exact same song.
கவி எழுதி பார்க்குதம்மா
கண்ணாறு கண் ஆறு
கன்னியிவள் அழகினுக்கே
கண்ணேறு கண்ணேறு.....
Writing poetry and watching, oh my,
Streams of tears and six eyes.
For the beauty of this young maiden,
Ward off the evil eye, ward off the evil eye!
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river with three banks,
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Three distinct hearts,
Singing the exact same song.
செங்குமத பனி வாயில்
தேன் சிதறும் பொன்னருவி
தென்றலிலே பறந்தபடி
ரசிக்குதம்மா ஒரு குருவி
In her red-lotus mouth kissed by dew,
A golden waterfall spills sweet honey.
Flying along with the gentle breeze,
A tiny bird delights in the view.
பொங்கி வரும் கடல் நுரை போல்
பூத்து நிற்கும் பேரழகி
போதையிலே மிதக்குதம்மா
பாவையவள் பேரெழுதி.....
Like the surging foam of the ocean,
Stands a great beauty in full bloom.
Floating in deep enchantment,
Captivated by the grand beauty of this maiden.
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river with three banks,
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Three distinct hearts,
Singing the exact same song.
கூட்டினிலே இருந்தபடி
குலவுதம்மா மாடப்புறா
காட்டினிலே உலவுதம்மா
காதலிக்கும் ஜோடி புறா
Staying inside its humble nest,
A balcony pigeon coos pleasantly.
Rambling in the thick woodland,
Is a pair of affectionate lovebirds.
தீட்டுதம்மா ஓவியத்தை
தேடி நிற்கும் வண்ணப்புறா
சேவை செய்ய பறக்குதம்மா
வயல் வெளியில் சின்னப்புறா
Painting a vivid picture,
A colourful dove stands searching.
Flying around to offer service,
Is a little dove across open fields.
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river with three banks,
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Three distinct hearts,
Singing the exact same song.
பருவம் வந்த சிறுகதையை
யார் எழுதி முடிப்பாரோ
பால் வடியும் தாமரையை
யார் இனிமேல் பறிப்பாரோ
This short tale of a young girl blooming into womanhood,
Who will write its conclusion?
This lotus overflowing with tender milk,
Who will pluck it from now on?
மூவரிலே எவர் இனிமேல்
நதியினிலே குளிப்பாரோ
மோகத்திலே மெய் மறந்து
கரையினில் யார் நிற்பாரோ....
Among the three, who from now on,
Will bathe in this flowing river?
Forgetting themselves in passion,
Who will remain standing on the shore?
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river with three banks,
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Three distinct hearts,
Singing the exact same song.
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river with three banks,
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three distinct hearts,
Paaduvathu oru paadal
Singing the exact same song.
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river with three banks,
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three distinct hearts,
Paaduvathu oru paadal
Singing the exact same song.
Kavi ezhuthi paarkkuthammaa
Writing poetry and watching, oh my,
Kannaaru kann aaru
Streams of tears and six eyes.
Kanniyival azhaginukkae
For the beauty of this young maiden,
Kannaeru kannaeru
Ward off the evil eye, ward off the evil eye!
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river with three banks,
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three distinct hearts,
Paaduvathu oru paadal
Singing the exact same song.
Sengumatha pani vaayil
In her red-lotus mouth kissed by dew,
Thaen sidharum ponnaruvi
A golden waterfall spills sweet honey.
Thendralilae paranthapadi
Flying along with the gentle breeze,
Rasikkuthammaa oru kuruvi
A tiny bird delights in the view.
Pongi varum kadal nurai pol
Like the surging foam of the ocean,
Pooththu nirkkum perazhagi
Stands a great beauty in full bloom.
Bodhaiyilae mithakkuthammaa
Floating in deep enchantment,
Paavaiyaval perezhuthi
Captivated by the grand beauty of this maiden.
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river with three banks,
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three distinct hearts,
Paaduvathu oru paadal
Singing the exact same song.
Koottinilae irunthapadi
Staying inside its humble nest,
Kulavuthammaa maadappuraa
A balcony pigeon coos pleasantly.
Kaattinilae ulavuthammaa
Rambling in the thick woodland,
Kadhalikkum jodi puraa
Is a pair of affectionate lovebirds.
Theettuthammaa oviyaththai
Painting a vivid picture,
Thedi nirkkum vannappuraa
A colourful dove stands searching.
Sevai seiyya parakkuthammaa
Flying around to offer service,
Vayal veliyil chinnapuraa
Is a little dove across open fields.
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river with three banks,
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three distinct hearts,
Paaduvathu oru paadal
Singing the exact same song.
Paruvam vantha sirukkathaiyai
This short tale of a young girl blooming into womanhood,
Yaar ezhuthi mudippaaro
Who will write its conclusion?
Paal vadiyum thaamaraiyai
This lotus overflowing with tender milk,
Yaar inimel parippaaro
Who will pluck it from now on?
Moovarilae evar inimel
Among the three, who from now on,
Nadhiyinilae kulippaaro
Will bathe in this flowing river?
Mogaththilae mei maranthu
Forgetting themselves in passion,
Karaiyinil yaar nirppaaro…
Who will remain standing on the shore?
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river with three banks,
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
It is the play of the Supreme Lord.
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three distinct hearts,
Paaduvathu oru paadal
Singing the exact same song.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song uses the striking metaphor of a single river bounded by three banks to represent a complex emotional tangle involving three lives intertwined around one central persona or fate. Kannadasan frames this intricate human situation as a divine sport ('Naayaganin Vilaiyaadal') where three hearts share a common destiny and express the same emotional melody. Through rich pastoral imagery featuring doves, flowers, dew, and ocean foam, the lyricist illustrates the grace of youth, romance, and the philosophical query of who among the three will ultimately find fulfillment in this journey of love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvakam)
“Nadhi ondru karai moondru”
Comparing a complex relational conflict to a physical impossibility: a river having three shores ('Nadhi ondru karai moondru').
Moanai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)
“Nadhi ondru karai moondru / Naayaganin vilaiyaadal”
The recurrence of initial consonant 'N' sounds in consecutive lines ('Nadhi' / 'Naayaganin').
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Wordplay)
“Kannaaru kann aaru / Kannaeru kannaeru”
A clever pun and rhyming play between 'Kannaaru' (river of eyes/tears) and 'Kannaeru' (evil eye).
Upama (Simile)
“Pongi varum kadal nurai pol / Pooththu nirkkum perazhagi”
Comparing the girl's blooming beauty to the rising foam of the ocean ('kadal nurai pol').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song title matches the name of the 1981 film 'Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru', directed by P. Madhavan and starring Sujatha, Jaishankar, and Vijayakumar. Lyricist Kannadasan cleverly captured the plot's central multi-cornered relationship by coining the paradoxical image of a three-banked river, set to a melodious score by M. S. Viswanathan.
Keep listening
More from Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru