Nadhi Ondru
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, three banks |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | A game played by the Almighty |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three different hearts |
| Paaduvadhu oru paadal | Are singing a single song |
| Male | |
| Kavi ezhudhi paarkkudhamma | The poet writes and observes |
| Kannaaru kann aaru | Rivers of eyes, six eyes in total |
| Kanniyival azhaginukkae | For the ethereal beauty of this maiden |
| Kannaeru kannaeru | Ward off the evil eye, ward off the evil eye |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river, three banks |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | A game played by the Almighty |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three different hearts |
| Paaduvadhu oru paadal | Are singing a single song |
| Male | |
| Sengumadha pani vaayil | From the dew-filled mouth like a red lily |
| Thaen sidharum ponn aruvi | Honey scatters like a golden waterfall |
| Thendralilae parandhapadi | Flying gently in the breeze |
| Rasikkudhamma oru kuruvi | A little bird enjoys the view |
| Male | |
| Ponghi varum kadal nurai pol | Like the bubbling ocean foam |
| Poothu nirkum paer azhagi | Stands a great beauty in full bloom |
| Bodhaiyilae midhakkudhamma | Floating in pure intoxication |
| Paavaiyaval paer ezhudhi | Writing that maiden's name |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river, three banks |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | A game played by the Almighty |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three different hearts |
| Paaduvadhu oru paadal | Are singing a single song |
| Male | |
| Kootinilae irundhapadi | Staying inside its nest |
| Kulavudhamma maada pura | The house pigeon coos affectionately |
| Kaatinilae ulavudhamma | Wandering in the forest |
| Kaadhalikkum jodi puraa | Is a pair of loving doves |
| Male | |
| Theetudhamma oviyathai | Painting a beautiful picture |
| Thaedi nirkkum vanna puraa | Is a colourful pigeon in search |
| Saevai seiya parakkudhamma | Flying to offer its service |
| Vayal veliyil chinnapuraa | Is a small pigeon in the open fields |
| Male | |
| Paruvam vandha sirukadhaiyai | This short story of coming of age |
| Yaar eludhi mudippaaro | Who will write its ending? |
| Paal vadiyum thamaraiyai | This lotus dripping with milk-like innocence |
| Yaar inimael paripaaroo | Who will pluck it hereafter? |
| Male | |
| Moovarilae evar inimael | Among the three of them, who hereafter |
| Nadhiyinilae kulippaaroo | Will bathe in this river? |
| Mogathilae mei maranthu | Forgetting oneself in infatuation |
| Karaiyinil yaar nirpaaroo | Who will stand on the bank? |
| Male | |
| Nadhi ondru karai moondru | One river, three banks |
| Naayaganin vilaiyaadal | A game played by the Almighty |
| Oru moondru idhayangal | Three different hearts |
| Paaduvadhu oru paadal | Are singing a single song |
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river, three banks
A game played by the Almighty
Three different hearts
Are singing a single song
கவி எழுதி பார்க்குதம்மா
கண்ணாறு கண் ஆறு
கன்னியிவள் அழகினுக்கே
கண்ணேறு கண்ணேறு.....
The poet writes and observes
Rivers of eyes, six eyes in total
For the ethereal beauty of this 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, three banks
A game played by the Almighty
Three different hearts
Are singing a single song
செங்குமத பனி வாயில்
தேன் சிதறும் பொன்னருவி
தென்றலிலே பறந்தபடி
ரசிக்குதம்மா ஒரு குருவி
From the dew-filled mouth like a red lily
Honey scatters like a golden waterfall
Flying gently in the breeze
A little bird enjoys the view
பொங்கி வரும் கடல் நுரை போல்
பூத்து நிற்கும் பேரழகி
போதையிலே மிதக்குதம்மா
பாவையவள் பேரெழுதி.....
Like the bubbling ocean foam
Stands a great beauty in full bloom
Floating in pure intoxication
Writing that maiden's name
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river, three banks
A game played by the Almighty
Three different hearts
Are singing a single song
கூட்டினிலே இருந்தபடி
குலவுதம்மா மாடப்புறா
காட்டினிலே உலவுதம்மா
காதலிக்கும் ஜோடி புறா
Staying inside its nest
The house pigeon coos affectionately
Wandering in the forest
Is a pair of loving doves
தீட்டுதம்மா ஓவியத்தை
தேடி நிற்கும் வண்ணப்புறா
சேவை செய்ய பறக்குதம்மா
வயல் வெளியில் சின்னப்புறா
Painting a beautiful picture
Is a colourful pigeon in search
Flying to offer its service
Is a small pigeon in the open fields
பருவம் வந்த சிறுகதையை
யார் எழுதி முடிப்பாரோ
பால் வடியும் தாமரையை
யார் இனிமேல் பறிப்பாரோ
This short story of coming of age
Who will write its ending?
This lotus dripping with milk-like innocence
Who will pluck it hereafter?
மூவரிலே எவர் இனிமேல்
நதியினிலே குளிப்பாரோ
மோகத்திலே மெய் மறந்து
கரையினில் யார் நிற்பாரோ...
Among the three of them, who hereafter
Will bathe in this river?
Forgetting oneself in infatuation
Who will stand on the bank?
நதி ஒன்று கரை மூன்று
நாயகனின் விளையாடல்
ஒரு மூன்று இதயங்கள்
பாடுவது ஒரு பாடல்
One river, three banks
A game played by the Almighty
Three different hearts
Are singing a single song
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river, three banks
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
A game played by the Almighty
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three different hearts
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Are singing a single song
Kavi ezhudhi paarkkudhamma
The poet writes and observes
Kannaaru kann aaru
Rivers of eyes, six eyes in total
Kanniyival azhaginukkae
For the ethereal beauty of this maiden
Kannaeru kannaeru
Ward off the evil eye, ward off the evil eye
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river, three banks
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
A game played by the Almighty
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three different hearts
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Are singing a single song
Sengumadha pani vaayil
From the dew-filled mouth like a red lily
Thaen sidharum ponn aruvi
Honey scatters like a golden waterfall
Thendralilae parandhapadi
Flying gently in the breeze
Rasikkudhamma oru kuruvi
A little bird enjoys the view
Ponghi varum kadal nurai pol
Like the bubbling ocean foam
Poothu nirkum paer azhagi
Stands a great beauty in full bloom
Bodhaiyilae midhakkudhamma
Floating in pure intoxication
Paavaiyaval paer ezhudhi
Writing that maiden's name
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river, three banks
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
A game played by the Almighty
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three different hearts
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Are singing a single song
Kootinilae irundhapadi
Staying inside its nest
Kulavudhamma maada pura
The house pigeon coos affectionately
Kaatinilae ulavudhamma
Wandering in the forest
Kaadhalikkum jodi puraa
Is a pair of loving doves
Theetudhamma oviyathai
Painting a beautiful picture
Thaedi nirkkum vanna puraa
Is a colourful pigeon in search
Saevai seiya parakkudhamma
Flying to offer its service
Vayal veliyil chinnapuraa
Is a small pigeon in the open fields
Paruvam vandha sirukadhaiyai
This short story of coming of age
Yaar eludhi mudippaaro
Who will write its ending?
Paal vadiyum thamaraiyai
This lotus dripping with milk-like innocence
Yaar inimael paripaaroo
Who will pluck it hereafter?
Moovarilae evar inimael
Among the three of them, who hereafter
Nadhiyinilae kulippaaroo
Will bathe in this river?
Mogathilae mei maranthu
Forgetting oneself in infatuation
Karaiyinil yaar nirpaaroo
Who will stand on the bank?
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
One river, three banks
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
A game played by the Almighty
Oru moondru idhayangal
Three different hearts
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Are singing a single song
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru is an allegorical song from the 1981 Tamil film of the same title. The core metaphor, 'one river, three banks', portrays a central maiden around whom three men's destinies revolve. Kannadasan frames this intricate relationship as a divine game played by God, where three distinct hearts share a single emotional narrative. Through rich nature imagery featuring flowers, birds, streams, and gentle breezes, the song illustrates the maiden's innocence and allure while subtly posing deep questions about love and fate. The lyrics conclude with introspective rhetorical questions wondering who among the three suitors will win her heart and who will be left yearning on the bank, emphasizing the unpredictable play of destiny in love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Nadhi ondru karai moondru”
Compares a single woman to a river (Nadhi) and the three men in her life to three banks (Karai Moondru).
Wordplay / Pun (Siledai)
“Kannaaru kann aaru”
Plays on 'Kann aaru' meaning both 'river of eyes' and 'six eyes' belonging to the three individuals involved.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Ponghi varum kadal nurai pol”
Compares the maiden's blossoming beauty to the rich, rising foam of ocean waves using 'pol'.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Nadhi ondru karai moondru / Naayaganin vilaiyaadal”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Na' across consecutive words in the line.
Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Kootinilae irundhapadi”
Matching second-letter consonant 't' (ட்) across lines ('Kootinilae', 'Kaatinilae', 'Theetudhamma').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song title Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru is also the title of the 1981 movie starring Sujatha, Jaishankar, Vijayakumar, and Sarath Babu. Lyricist Kannadasan cleverly captured the entire plot of the film—a dramatic complex love narrative between one woman and three men—within the opening stanza's metaphor.
Keep listening
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