Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Thenum Paalum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nadhiyinil Vellam

From Thenum Paalum · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thenum Paalum
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
30 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nadhiyinil vellam karaiyinil neruppu
Irandukkum naduvae iraivanin sirippu
Yaenintha sirippu
Nadhiyinil vellam karaiyinil neruppu
Irandukkum naduvae iraivanin sirippu
Yaenintha sirippu
Oru paathai potta naayagan
Adhai veli pottu moodinaan
Manam velithaandi ponathu
Adhai thaali vanthu kettathu
Oru paathai potta naayagan
Adhai veli pottu moodinaan
Manam velithaandi ponathu
Adhai thaali vanthu kettathu
Thaenukkul vizhunthu thigaiththathu erumbu
Idhayaththin pinaippu iraivanin sirippu
Nadhiyinil vellam karaiyinil neruppu
Irandukkum naduvae iraivanin sirippu
Yaenintha sirippu
Oru needhi koondil nindrathu
Oru needhi saatchi sonnathu
Oru needhi deivam aanathu
Idhil dharmam engu ponathu
Oru needhi koondil nindrathu
Oru needhi saatchi sonnathu
Oru needhi deivam aanathu
Idhil dharmam engu ponathu
Oru pakkam iruttu oru pakkam velicham
Oru pakkam vazhakku iraivanin sirippu
Nadhiyinil vellam karaiyinil neruppu
Irandukkum naduvae iraivanin sirippu
Yaenintha sirippu…..
A flood in the river, a fire on the bank,
and between the two, God's laughter.
Why this laughter...?
A flood in the river, a fire on the bank,
and between the two, God's laughter.
Why this laughter...?
The Lord who paved a path
blocked it with a fence.
The heart leaped over the fence,
and the thaali (sacred marriage thread) came questioning it...
The Lord who paved a path
blocked it with a fence.
The heart leaped over the fence,
and the thaali (sacred marriage thread) came questioning it...
Fallen into honey, the ant is trapped and helpless,
a bond of hearts, and God's laughter...
A flood in the river, a fire on the bank,
and between the two, God's laughter.
Why this laughter...?
One justice stood in the dock,
another justice gave witness,
another justice became a deity,
where did righteousness go in all this?
One justice stood in the dock,
another justice gave witness,
another justice became a deity,
where did righteousness go in all this?
Darkness on one side, light on the other,
a trial on one side, and God's laughter...
A flood in the river, a fire on the bank,
and between the two, God's laughter.
Why this laughter...?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Thenum Paalum' (1971) expresses deep philosophical angst regarding human suffering, social morality, and divine irony. Kannadasan uses contrasting metaphors—such as water overflowing in a river juxtaposed against fire burning on its banks—to represent the dual pressures of internal emotion and external societal conflict. Humans find themselves trapped in complex situations of desire, duty, and marital bonds, while God seemingly watches and laughs at their helplessness. The lyrics also critique human systems of justice, where subjective truths clash in courtrooms while real righteousness gets lost, leaving man stranded in a world split between darkness and light under the enigmatic gaze of the Divine.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

“Nadhiyinil vellam karaiyinil neruppu”

Pitting opposing natural forces like water (vellam) and fire (neruppu), or light (velicham) and dark (iruttu) together to depict existential turmoil.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Thaenukkul vizhunthu thigaiththathu erumbu”

Comparing an individual overwhelmed by sweet desire and societal entanglement to an ant trapped inside honey.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Oru needhi koondil nindrathu”

Repeating 'Oru needhi' at the start of consecutive lines to highlight conflicting interpretations of justice and morality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featuring legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan, 'Thenum Paalum' was directed by P. Madhavan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song serve as a powerful commentary on human helplessness against divine fate, sung with immense emotional depth by T. M. Soundararajan and composed by M. S. Viswanathan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Iravukku Aayiram1963
Kulamagal RadhaiFateContemplative
Indha Padhai2010
Aayirathil Oruvan (2010)ContemplativeFate
Aadhiyum Andhamum Title2014
Aadhiyum Andhamum – (2014)ContemplativeFate
Kadhal Yogi1999
ThaalamSpiritualityHeartbreak
Kadhal Enbathu2006
EContemplativeLonging
Ragam Pudhu Ragam1988
Kan Simittum NeramFateContemplative

From the same album

More songs from Thenum Paalum

View album
Ottu Ketkum Pengale1971
Thenum PaalumPlayful
Oruvanukku Oruthi Endru1971
Thenum PaalumTender
Manjalum Thanthal1971
Thenum PaalumDevotional
Aduthavan Potta Thaalathu1971
Thenum PaalumContemplative

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.