Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vellakkara Durai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nadigar Thilagam

From Vellakkara Durai · 2014

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singer
Krishnamoorthy
Music director
D. Imman
Movie name
Vellakkara Durai
Movie release year
2014
Lyrics added on
17 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nadigar thilagam illannu
Kavala padaadha
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaa
Marandhu vidaadha
Nee nadigar thilagam illannu
Kavala padaadha
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaa
Marandhu vidaadha
Pora pokkil avalum nadichaa
Enakku theriyala
Ava potta vesam sariyaa thavaraa
Adhuvum puriyala
Avala enni manasukkulla
Aanen kolaaru
Ava nadippa paathu kodukka porom
Moonu oscar-u
Innum moonu oscar-u
Nadigar thilagam illannu
Kavala padaadha
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaa
Marandhu vidaadha
Hey paasa malar paathu enna
Paalum pazham paathu enna
Paavi pulla nadaiya paathu
Pasi marandhenae
Bandham paasam paathu enna
Paraa sakthi paathu enna
Kanni pulla kurala kettu
Kadhai alandhenae
Ava kannaala thaanae naanum
Padikkaadha medhai aanen
Ava pinnaadi anba thedi
Thiri soolam aagi ponen
Avaloda thiru vilaiyaadalil
Thevar magan aanen
Thevar magan aanen ippo
Theiva magan aanen
Nadigar thilagam illannu
Kavala padaadha
Nallaa nadikka ponnu porandhirukkaa
Marandhu vidaadha
O… maadi veettu ezhai pola
Manoharaa sogam pola
Anbu vecha manasil ippo
Tholainjadhu saanthi
Katta bomman veeram pola
Kai kodutha dheivam pola
Vittu puttu avalum sella
Velangala needhi
Ava illaadhu ponaa vaazhvil
Vidi velli kooda depam
Ava pollaadha pechu kettu
Iravaachae neela vaanam
Avalaala vananga mudi naan
Koondu kili aanen
Koondu kili aanen ippo
Gnyaana oliyaanen
Nadigar thilagam illannu
Kavala padaadha
Pora pokkil avalum nadichaa
Enakku theriyala
Ava potta vesam sariyaa thavaraa
Adhuvum puriyala
Avala enni manasukkulla
Aanen kolaaru
Ava nadippa paathu kodukka porom
Moonu oscar-u
Innum moonu oscar-u
That Nadigar Thilagam (the greatest actor) is no more,
don't you worry.
A girl is born to act so brilliantly,
don't forget that!
That Nadigar Thilagam is no more,
don't you worry.
A girl is born to act so brilliantly,
don't forget that!
She put on an act so casually in passing,
and I didn't even realize it.
Was the role she played right or wrong?
I didn't understand that either.
Thinking of her inside my heart,
I became a total wreck.
Seeing her acting, we are going to award her
three Oscars!
Three whole Oscars!
That Nadigar Thilagam is no more,
don't you worry.
A girl is born to act so brilliantly,
don't forget that!
What is the point of watching Pasamalar?
What is the point of watching Paalum Pazhamum?
Just watching that wretched girl walk,
I forgot all my hunger!
What is the point of watching Pantham Paasam?
What is the point of watching Parasakthi?
Hearing that young girl's voice,
I spun endless tales!
Just because of her eyes,
I became an uneducated genius!
Chasing after love behind her,
I got torn into three!
In her mischievous game,
I became Thevar's son!
I became Thevar's son, and now
I have become God's own son!
That Nadigar Thilagam is no more,
don't you worry.
A girl is born to act so brilliantly,
don't forget that!
Oh, like a poor man living in a mansion,
like the tragic sorrow of Manohara,
in this heart that loved her,
peace is now completely lost!
Like the bravery of Kattabomman,
like a god who lent a helping hand,
as she abandoned me and walked away,
justice makes no sense at all!
Without her in my life,
even the morning star fades away.
Hearing her cruel words,
the blue sky turned into dark night.
Because of her, I, who never bowed my head,
became a caged parrot!
I became a caged parrot, and now
I have attained the light of wisdom!
That Nadigar Thilagam is no more,
don't you worry.
She put on an act so casually in passing,
and I didn't even realize it.
Was the role she played right or wrong?
I didn't understand that either.
Thinking of her inside my heart,
I became a total wreck.
Seeing her acting, we are going to award her
three Oscars!
Three whole Oscars!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Vellakkara Durai

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.