Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nadigar Thilagam

From Vellakkara Durai · 2014

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Krishnamoorthy
Music director
D. Imman
Details
Vellakkara Durai2014

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nadigar thilagam illannuDon't worry that the 'Nadigar Thilagam' is no more
Kavala padaadhaDo not worry
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaaA girl has been born who can act really well
Marandhu vidaadhaDo not forget it
Male
Nee nadigar thilagam illannuDon't worry that you aren't the 'Nadigar Thilagam'
Kavala padaadhaDo not worry
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaaA girl has been born who can act really well
Marandhu vidaadhaDo not forget it
Male
Pora pokkil avalum nadichaaWhen she casually acted on the go
Enakku theriyalaI couldn't understand it
Ava potta vesam sariyaa thavaraaWhether the role she played was right or wrong
Adhuvum puriyalaI didn't understand that either
Avala enni manasukkullaThinking about her inside my heart
Aanen kolaaruI became completely conflicted
Ava nadippa paathu kodukka poromSeeing her acting, we are going to award her
Moonu oscar-uThree Oscars
Innum moonu oscar-uThree more Oscars
Male
Nadigar thilagam illannuDon't worry that the 'Nadigar Thilagam' is no more
Kavala padaadhaDo not worry
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaaA girl has been born who can act really well
Marandhu vidaadhaDo not forget it
Male
Hey paasa malar paathu ennaHey, what is the point of watching 'Pasamalar'?
Paalum pazham paathu ennaWhat is the point of watching 'Paalum Pazhamum'?
Paavi pulla nadaiya paathuLooking at the walk of that sinner girl
Pasi marandhenaeI forgot my hunger
Male
Bandham paasam paathu ennaWhat is the point of watching 'Bandha Pasam'?
Paraa sakthi paathu ennaWhat is the point of watching 'Parasakthi'?
Kanni pulla kurala kettuListening to the voice of that young maiden
Kadhai alandhenaeI got lost in spinning stories
Male
Ava kannaala thaanae naanumJust because of her eyes
Padikkaadha medhai aanenI became an uneducated genius ('Padikkadha Medhai')
Ava pinnaadi anba thediSearching for love behind her
Thiri soolam aagi ponenI turned into 'Thirisoolam' (split into three)
Avaloda thiru vilaiyaadalilIn her divine drama ('Thiruvilaiyadal')
Thevar magan aanenI became 'Thevar Magan'
Thevar magan aanen ippoI became 'Thevar Magan', and now
Theiva magan aanenI became 'Deiva Magan'
Male
Nadigar thilagam illannuDon't worry that the 'Nadigar Thilagam' is no more
Kavala padaadhaDo not worry
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaaA girl has been born who can act really well
Marandhu vidaadhaDo not forget it
Male
O… maadi veettu ezhai polaOh, like 'Maadi Veettu Ezhai'
Manoharaa sogam polaLike the tragedy in 'Manohara'
Anbu vecha manasil ippoIn the heart that showered love, now
Tholainjadhu saanthiPeace is completely lost
Male
Katta bomman veeram polaLike the bravery of 'Kattabomman'
Kai kodutha dheivam polaLike 'Kai Kodutha Deivam'
Vittu puttu avalum sellaAs she left me and walked away
Velangala needhiJustice made no sense to me
Male
Ava illaadhu ponaa vaazhvilWithout her in my life
Vidi velli kooda depamEven the morning star dimmed like a weak lamp
Ava pollaadha pechu kettuHearing her harsh words
Iravaachae neela vaanamThe blue sky turned into dark night
Avalaala vananga mudi naanBecause of her, I who was proud
Koondu kili aanenBecame a caged parrot ('Koondu Kili')
Koondu kili aanen ippoI became a caged parrot, and now
Gnyaana oliyaanenI became 'Gnana Oli'
Male
Nadigar thilagam illannuDon't worry that the 'Nadigar Thilagam' is no more
Kavala padaadhaDo not worry
Male
Pora pokkil avalum nadichaaWhen she casually acted on the go
Enakku theriyalaI couldn't understand it
Ava potta vesam sariyaa thavaraaWhether the role she played was right or wrong
Adhuvum puriyalaI didn't understand that either
Avala enni manasukkullaThinking about her inside my heart
Aanen kolaaruI became completely conflicted
Ava nadippa paathu kodukka poromSeeing her acting, we are going to award her
Moonu oscar-uThree Oscars
Innum moonu oscar-uThree more Oscars

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lighthearted and energetic track from 'Vellakkara Durai' (2014) expresses a lover's exasperation and admiration for his partner's dramatic behavior. He humorously asserts that one shouldn't mourn the absence of Sivaji Ganesan (popularly revered as 'Nadigar Thilagam' or the crown jewel of actors), because a young woman has been born whose everyday emotional performances easily rival cinema legends, deserving multiple Oscar awards.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Cinematic Reference)

Hey paasa malar paathu enna / Paalum pazham paathu enna

The lyricist Yugabharathi seamlessly integrates titles of legendary Sivaji Ganesan films (e.g., Pasamalar, Parasakthi, Thiruvilaiyadal, Thevar Magan, Deiva Magan, Manohara, Koondu Kili, Gnana Oli) into every line to build the narrative.

Hyperbole

Ava nadippa paathu kodukka porom / Moonu oscar-u

Exaggerating the girl's dramatic real-life deception as performance art worthy of winning three Oscars.

Metaphor

Avalaala vananga mudi naan / Koondu kili aanen

Comparing his emotional captivity in love to becoming a caged parrot ('Koondu Kili').

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Hey paasa malar paathu enna / Paalum pazham paathu enna / Paavi pulla nadaiya paathu

Matching second consonants across successive lines to create rhythmic Tamil meter (e.g., 'paaSA', 'paaLU', 'paaVI').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is a massive tribute to legendary Tamil actor Sivaji Ganesan ('Nadigar Thilagam'). Lyricist Yugabharathi set a unique challenge by weaving over 15 iconic film titles starring Sivaji Ganesan into the lyrics of a contemporary folk-pop song composed by D. Imman.

Keep listening

More from Vellakkara Durai