Naduchamam Poyachu
From Archanai Pookal · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, R. Bhaskar
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Archanai Pookal1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Thadharinanana thadharinanana naa | Thadharinanana thadharinanana naa |
| Male | |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ada chae | Midnight has passed... oh darn |
| Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu… | It is time even dogs go to sleep... |
| Ada nee mattum yen daa muzhichittirukkae | Hey, why are you alone staying awake? |
| Male | |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu | Midnight has passed |
| Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu | It is time even dogs go to sleep |
| Naan mattum thoongaladaa | I haven't slept, my friend |
| Ada nyaayangal thoongaadhadaa | Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend! |
| Keezh jaadhi mel jaadhi pala jaadhi irundhaalum | Though lower caste, upper caste, and many castes exist |
| Ponjaadhi illaiyadaa | There is no wife for me, my friend |
| Enna vittu ponnalae ponaaladaa | Since she left me and went away |
| Male | |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ae… ae…hae | Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae |
| Male | |
| Podaa mada payalae enna kavala | Go away, foolish boy, why worry? |
| Ettu chaanil kattiya veettukkulla | Inside this house built of eight spans |
| Podaa mada payalae enna kavala | Go away, foolish boy, why worry? |
| Ettu chaanil kattiya veettukkulla | Inside this house built of eight spans |
| Male | |
| Nyaana vilakkeduthu vechu koluthu | Take the lamp of wisdom and light it |
| Nenjukkulla kottiya kuppaigala | To burn the trash dumped inside the heart |
| Thottaa thappu vittaa thappu muttaa boomiylae | If you touch it, it is wrong; if you leave it, it is wrong; on this foolish earth |
| Ellaam naadagam thaan | Everything is just a drama |
| Solla ponaa ellaam poodagam thaan | To tell the truth, everything is just an illusion |
| Male | |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ae… ae…hae | Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu | Midnight has passed |
| Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu | It is time even dogs go to sleep |
| Naan mattum thoongaladaa | I haven't slept, my friend |
| Ada niyaayangal thoongaadhadaa | Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend! |
| Male | |
| Aaraari raaro aaraaro unga aathaa illa | Lullaby sounds, your mother isn't here |
| Thoongu paa thoongu daa | Sleep child, sleep man |
| Thoongadaa thambi aaraaro unga aathaa illa | Sleep younger brother, lullaby, your mother isn't here |
| Ippa thoongu apparam muzhichukkalaam | Sleep now, we can wake up later |
| Kanji kanjiyinnu paduthiniyae | You nagged for porridge |
| Badavaa raaskol thoongudaa naa | You rascal, sleep now when I tell you |
| Kanjiya kudichuttum paduthuriyae | You lie down even after drinking porridge |
| Kuduthaennaa badavaa onnukku irundhuduvae | If given, you rascal, you will end up wetting yourself |
| Thoongadaa thambi aaraaro unga aathaa illa | Sleep younger brother, lullaby, your mother isn't here |
| Male | |
| Maasam thavam irundhu madi sumandhu | Observing penance for months, carrying in her womb |
| Manna thinnu petthava pennorutthi | Eating mud and giving birth, that's one woman (mother) |
| Maasam thavam irundhu madi sumandhu | Observing penance for months, carrying in her womb |
| Manna thinnu pethava pennorutthi | Eating mud and giving birth, that's one woman |
| Male | |
| Manja kulichirundhu maiyal virundhu | Bathing in turmeric, offering a feast of passion |
| Unna cholli thandhava innoruthi | The one who taught you life is another woman (wife) |
| Thottil vittu kattil thottu patten paadugala | From cradle to marital bed, I suffered troubles |
| Sonnaa kelungadaa | Listen to what I say, you all |
| Nyaanam ketta sodhaa pasangalaa | You senseless, foolish boys! |
| Male | |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ae… ae…hae | Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu | Midnight has passed |
| Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu | It is time even dogs go to sleep |
| Naan mattum thoongaladaa | I haven't slept, my friend |
| Ada niyaayangal thoongaadhadaa | Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend! |
| Keezh jaadhi mel jaadhi pala jaadhi irundhaalum | Though lower caste, upper caste, and many castes exist |
| Ponjaadhi illaiyadaa | There is no wife for me, my friend |
| Enna vittu ponnalae ponaaladaa | Since she left me and went away |
| Male | |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu… | Midnight has passed... |
| Nadu chaamam poyaachu… | Midnight has passed... |
ஆ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ....ஆ....
ததரினனனா ததரினனணன் னா
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Thadharinanana thadharinanana naa
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு...... அட ச்சே
நாய் தூங்கும் பொழுதாச்சு
அட நீ மட்டும் ஏன்டா முழுச்சிருக்க
Midnight has passed... oh darn
It is time even dogs go to sleep...
Hey, why are you alone staying awake?
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு
நாய் தூங்கும் பொழுதாச்சு
நான் மட்டும் தூங்கலடா
அட ஞானங்கள் தூங்காதடா
கீழ்ஜாதி மேல் ஜாதி பல ஜாதி இருந்தாலும்
பொஞ்சாதி இல்லையடா
என்ன விட்டு போனாளே போனாளடா
Midnight has passed
It is time even dogs go to sleep
I haven't slept, my friend
Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend!
Though lower caste, upper caste, and many castes exist
There is no wife for me, my friend
Since she left me and went away
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு......ஏ.....ஏ....ஹே
Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae
போடா மடப்பயலே என்ன கவல
எட்டு ஜாணில் கட்டிய வீட்டுக்குள்ளே
போடா மடப்பயலே என்ன கவல
எட்டு ஜாணில் கட்டிய வீட்டுக்குள்ளே
Go away, foolish boy, why worry?
Inside this house built of eight spans
Go away, foolish boy, why worry?
Inside this house built of eight spans
ஞான விளக்கெடுத்து வச்சு கொளுத்து
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள கொட்டிய குப்பைகள
தொட்டாத் தப்பு விட்டா தப்பு முட்டா பூமியிலே
எல்லாம் நாடகம்தான்......
சொல்லப்போனா எல்லாம் பூடகம்தான்
Take the lamp of wisdom and light it
To burn the trash dumped inside the heart
If you touch it, it is wrong; if you leave it, it is wrong; on this foolish earth
Everything is just a drama
To tell the truth, everything is just an illusion
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு......ஏ.....ஏ....ஹே
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு
நாய் தூங்கும் பொழுதாச்சு
நான் மட்டும் தூங்கலடா
அட ஞானங்கள் தூங்காதடா
Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae
Midnight has passed
It is time even dogs go to sleep
I haven't slept, my friend
Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend!
ஆராரி ராரோ ஆராரோ உங்க ஆத்தா இல்ல
தூங்கு பா தூங்குடா
தூங்குடா தம்பி ஆராரோ உங்க ஆத்தா இல்ல
இப்ப தூங்கு அப்பறம் முழிச்சுக்கலாம்
கஞ்சி கஞ்சின்னு படுத்தினியே
படவா ராஸ்கல் தூங்குடானா
கஞ்சிய குடிச்சுட்டும் படுத்துறியே
குடுதேன்னா படவா ஒன்னுக்கு இருந்துடுவே
தூங்குடா தம்பி ஆராரோ உங்க ஆத்தா இல்ல
Lullaby sounds, your mother isn't here
Sleep child, sleep man
Sleep younger brother, lullaby, your mother isn't here
Sleep now, we can wake up later
You nagged for porridge
You rascal, sleep now when I tell you
You lie down even after drinking porridge
If given, you rascal, you will end up wetting yourself
Sleep younger brother, lullaby, your mother isn't here
மாசம் தவமிருந்து மடி சுமந்து
மண்ணை தின்னு பெத்தவ பெண்ணொருத்தி
மாசம் தவமிருந்து மடி சுமந்து
மண்ணை தின்னு பெத்தவ பெண்ணொருத்தி
Observing penance for months, carrying in her womb
Eating mud and giving birth, that's one woman (mother)
Observing penance for months, carrying in her womb
Eating mud and giving birth, that's one woman
மஞ்சள் குளிச்சிருந்து மையல் விருந்து
உண்ண சொல்லி தந்தவ இன்னொருத்தி
தொட்டில் விட்டு கட்டில் தொட்டு
பட்டேன் பாடுகளை
சொன்னா கேளுங்கடா ஞானங்கெட்ட
சோதாப் பசங்களா
Bathing in turmeric, offering a feast of passion
The one who taught you life is another woman (wife)
From cradle to marital bed, I suffered troubles
Listen to what I say, you all
You senseless, foolish boys!
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு......ஏ.....ஏ....ஹே
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு
நாய் தூங்கும் பொழுதாச்சு
நான் மட்டும் தூங்கலடா
அட ஞானங்கள் தூங்காதடா
கீழ் ஜாதி மேல் ஜாதி பல ஜாதி இருந்தாலும்
பொஞ்சாதி இல்லையடா
என்ன விட்டு போனாளே போனாளடா
Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae
Midnight has passed
It is time even dogs go to sleep
I haven't slept, my friend
Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend!
Though lower caste, upper caste, and many castes exist
There is no wife for me, my friend
Since she left me and went away
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு......
நடு சாமம் போயாச்சு......
Midnight has passed...
Midnight has passed...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Thadharinanana thadharinanana naa
Thadharinanana thadharinanana naa
Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ada chae
Midnight has passed... oh darn
Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu…
It is time even dogs go to sleep...
Ada nee mattum yen daa muzhichittirukkae
Hey, why are you alone staying awake?
Nadu chaamam poyaachu
Midnight has passed
Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu
It is time even dogs go to sleep
Naan mattum thoongaladaa
I haven't slept, my friend
Ada nyaayangal thoongaadhadaa
Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend!
Keezh jaadhi mel jaadhi pala jaadhi irundhaalum
Though lower caste, upper caste, and many castes exist
Ponjaadhi illaiyadaa
There is no wife for me, my friend
Enna vittu ponnalae ponaaladaa
Since she left me and went away
Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ae… ae…hae
Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae
Podaa mada payalae enna kavala
Go away, foolish boy, why worry?
Ettu chaanil kattiya veettukkulla
Inside this house built of eight spans
Podaa mada payalae enna kavala
Go away, foolish boy, why worry?
Ettu chaanil kattiya veettukkulla
Inside this house built of eight spans
Nyaana vilakkeduthu vechu koluthu
Take the lamp of wisdom and light it
Nenjukkulla kottiya kuppaigala
To burn the trash dumped inside the heart
Thottaa thappu vittaa thappu muttaa boomiylae
If you touch it, it is wrong; if you leave it, it is wrong; on this foolish earth
Ellaam naadagam thaan
Everything is just a drama
Solla ponaa ellaam poodagam thaan
To tell the truth, everything is just an illusion
Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ae… ae…hae
Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae
Nadu chaamam poyaachu
Midnight has passed
Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu
It is time even dogs go to sleep
Naan mattum thoongaladaa
I haven't slept, my friend
Ada niyaayangal thoongaadhadaa
Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend!
Aaraari raaro aaraaro unga aathaa illa
Lullaby sounds, your mother isn't here
Thoongu paa thoongu daa
Sleep child, sleep man
Thoongadaa thambi aaraaro unga aathaa illa
Sleep younger brother, lullaby, your mother isn't here
Ippa thoongu apparam muzhichukkalaam
Sleep now, we can wake up later
Kanji kanjiyinnu paduthiniyae
You nagged for porridge
Badavaa raaskol thoongudaa naa
You rascal, sleep now when I tell you
Kanjiya kudichuttum paduthuriyae
You lie down even after drinking porridge
Kuduthaennaa badavaa onnukku irundhuduvae
If given, you rascal, you will end up wetting yourself
Thoongadaa thambi aaraaro unga aathaa illa
Sleep younger brother, lullaby, your mother isn't here
Maasam thavam irundhu madi sumandhu
Observing penance for months, carrying in her womb
Manna thinnu petthava pennorutthi
Eating mud and giving birth, that's one woman (mother)
Maasam thavam irundhu madi sumandhu
Observing penance for months, carrying in her womb
Manna thinnu pethava pennorutthi
Eating mud and giving birth, that's one woman
Manja kulichirundhu maiyal virundhu
Bathing in turmeric, offering a feast of passion
Unna cholli thandhava innoruthi
The one who taught you life is another woman (wife)
Thottil vittu kattil thottu patten paadugala
From cradle to marital bed, I suffered troubles
Sonnaa kelungadaa
Listen to what I say, you all
Nyaanam ketta sodhaa pasangalaa
You senseless, foolish boys!
Nadu chaamam poyaachu… ae… ae…hae
Midnight has passed... ae… ae…hae
Nadu chaamam poyaachu
Midnight has passed
Naai thoongum pozhudhaachu
It is time even dogs go to sleep
Naan mattum thoongaladaa
I haven't slept, my friend
Ada niyaayangal thoongaadhadaa
Hey, justice never sleeps, my friend!
Keezh jaadhi mel jaadhi pala jaadhi irundhaalum
Though lower caste, upper caste, and many castes exist
Ponjaadhi illaiyadaa
There is no wife for me, my friend
Enna vittu ponnalae ponaaladaa
Since she left me and went away
Nadu chaamam poyaachu…
Midnight has passed...
Nadu chaamam poyaachu…
Midnight has passed...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nadu Chaamam Poyaachu' from Archanai Pookal (1982) is a philosophical, reflective late-night monologue delivered in a folk/conversational style. The singer addresses his restless state past midnight when even animals are asleep, asserting that while he remains awake, 'justice never sleeps.' Through colloquial expressions and wordplay, he muses on life's heartbreaks, caste divisions, and the loss of his wife ('ponjaadhi'). In the second half, the song touches upon spiritual awakening and the dual roles of women in a man's life—the mother who sacrifices her body and health to give birth, and the wife who brings intimacy and life lessons. With a mixture of cynicism, humor, and philosophical wisdom, the protagonist warns senseless youth about the illusions of human existence, concluding that life is ultimately a drama.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Pun / Wordplay (Slesai)
“Keezh jaadhi mel jaadhi pala jaadhi irundhaalum / Ponjaadhi illaiyadaa”
Vaali plays on the word 'jaadhi' (caste/type) by rhyming 'mel jaadhi' (upper caste) and 'keezh jaadhi' (lower caste) with 'ponjaadhi' (colloquial for wife).
Emona / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)
“Thottaa thappu vittaa thappu muttaa boomiylae”
Use of internal rhyming and initial letter matching across consecutive lines like 'Maasam thavam' and 'Manna thinnu', as well as 'Thottaa thappu' and 'vittaa thappu'.
Metaphor
“Nyaana vilakkeduthu vechu koluthu / Nenjukkulla kottiya kuppaigala”
The heart is compared to a place filled with garbage ('nenjukkulla kottiya kuppaigala') that needs to be illuminated and cleansed by the lamp of wisdom ('nyaana vilakku').
Personification
“Ada niyaayangal thoongaadhadaa”
Justice ('niyaayangal') is personified as a entity that never sleeps ('thoongaadhadaa').
Did you know?
Trivia
Archanai Pookal (1982) is a Tamil drama film directed by Gokula Krishnan, starring Chandrasekar and Subhatha. The song features lyrics by Vaali, who was renowned for blending philosophical truths with raw, colloquial street Tamil in late-night, drunk-philosophical song formats.
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