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Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nadhi Ondru

From Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. L. Maharajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nadhi Ondru Karai Moondru
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
27 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
Oru moondru idhayangal
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Kavi ezhudhi paarkkudhamma
Kannaaru kann aaru
Kanniyival azhaginukkae
Kannaeru kannaeru
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
Oru moondru idhayangal
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Sengumadha pani vaayil
Thaen sidharum ponn aruvi
Thendralilae parandhapadi
Rasikkudhamma oru kuruvi
Ponghi varum kadal nurai pol
Poothu nirkum paer azhagi
Bodhaiyilae midhakkudhamma
Paavaiyaval paer ezhudhi
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
Oru moondru idhayangal
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
Kootinilae irundhapadi
Kulavudhamma maada pura
Kaatinilae ulavudhamma
Kaadhalikkum jodi puraa
Theetudhamma oviyathai
Thaedi nirkkum vanna puraa
Saevai seiya parakkudhamma
Vayal veliyil chinnapuraa
Paruvam vandha sirukadhaiyai
Yaar eludhi mudippaaro
Paal vadiyum thamaraiyai
Yaar inimael paripaaroo
Moovarilae evar inimael
Nadhiyinilae kulippaaroo
Mogathilae mei maranthu
Karaiyinil yaar nirpaaroo
Nadhi ondru karai moondru
Naayaganin vilaiyaadal
Oru moondru idhayangal
Paaduvadhu oru paadal
One river and three banks,
A playful drama of the Lord;
Three different hearts
Sing the very same song.
Writing a poem, they watch her—
Six eyes like flowing streams!
At this young girl's beauty,
May no evil eye strike!
One river and three banks,
A playful drama of the Lord;
Three different hearts
Sing the very same song.
From lips like a dewy red lily,
A golden waterfall scatters sweet nectar;
Flying gently in the breeze,
A little bird watches in delight.
Like the foam surging on the sea,
A great beauty stands in full bloom;
Floating in sweet enchantment,
Writing this lovely girl's name...
One river and three banks,
A playful drama of the Lord;
Three different hearts
Sing the very same song.
Staying inside its cozy nest,
A domestic dove cuddles tenderly;
Wandering through the forest,
A pair of doves share their love;
Painting a picture of her,
A colourful dove waits in search;
Flying out to serve and help,
A little dove glides across the fields.
This short story of blooming youth,
Who will write its final lines?
This tender lotus fresh and pure,
Who will come to pluck it now?
Among the three, who from now on
Will bathe in this river?
And lost in longing, forgetting himself,
Who will be left standing on the shore?
One river and three banks,
A playful drama of the Lord;
Three different hearts
Sing the very same song.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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