Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nandhavanam Endhamanam

From Kizhakku Karai · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. A. Seeni Muhammed
Music director
Deva
Details
Kizhakku Karai1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nandhavanam indhamanamThis heart is a flower garden,
Nallathai arintha manamA heart that knows goodness,
Yaelaelang kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelang'!
Andru mudhal indru varaiFrom that day until today,
Ullathai purintha manamA heart that understands the inner truth,
Yaelaelamg kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelam'!
Male
Idhai maganae nee arindhaalMy son, if you understand this,
Enakku ingu adhuvae pothumadaaThat alone is enough for me here, my dear.
Sila thavarai naan purinthaalIf I have committed a few mistakes,
Edharkku endru varum naal korumadaThe coming days will explain why, my dear.
Idhai kanna unakkeduthu sonnaalOh dear one, if I explain this to you,
Purinthu kollum paruvangal varavillaiyaeYou haven't reached the age to understand it yet,
En maganaeMy son!
Male
Nandhavanam indhamanamThis heart is a flower garden,
Nallathai arintha manamA heart that knows goodness,
Yaelaelang kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelang'!
Andru mudhal indru varaiFrom that day until today,
Ullathai purintha manamA heart that understands the inner truth,
Yaelaelamg kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelam'!
Male
Aagaayam nilamum koodaEven the sky and the earth,
Appappapaa veppamaachuOh my, have become scorching hot!
Kaarkaala ootdha kaatruThe blowing wind of the monsoon season
Kathiri veyil aachuHas turned into the harsh summer heat.
Kanneera naan thodachuIf I wipe away my tears,
Kai eluthu azhinjidalaamThe handwritten ink may erase;
Thanneera oothinaalumBut even if you pour water,
Thalai eluthu azhinjidumaaWill destiny written on the forehead ever erase?
Male
Enna petha thaaikku kudaEven for the mother who gave birth to me,
En per solla vekkam thaanIt is a shame to utter my name.
Enna seiya paadhai maariWhat can be done? It is the sorrow
Pillai sendra thukkam thaanOf the child straying onto a different path.
Iruppinum endrum ivan manamNevertheless, forever this man's heart
Andha thaayin pakkam thaanIs always on that mother's side.
Male
Annai sollum vaarthaiyai meeriI am one who never strays away
Eppodhum naan selladhavanBeyond the word given by my mother.
Enna solla kaalathin kodumaiWhat can I say? By the cruelty of time,
Ippodhu naan polladhavanNow I am seen as a bad person.
Ada unakkum oru naalAh, one day for you too,
Naan padum paadu enendru puriyumadaaYou will understand the plight I am going through, my dear.
Male
Nandhavanam indhamanamThis heart is a flower garden,
Nallathai arintha manamA heart that knows goodness,
Yaelaelang kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelang'!
Andru mudhal indru varaiFrom that day until today,
Ullathai purintha manamA heart that understands the inner truth,
Yaelaelamg kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelam'!
Male
Selvangalum veedum vaazhvumEven if wealth, a house, and a good life
Vandhaal enna ennoduCome along with me,
Eppodhum en kaalgal sellumMy feet will always walk
Nyayangalin pinnoduBehind justice and righteousness.
Enakkena inga irupadhuAll that exists here for me
Oru kolgai kotpaaduIs a set of principles and ideals.
Male
Ennodu thaan nizhalena vandhaalIf someone came with me like a shadow,
Kannae undhan thaai thaan adaMy dear, it is none other than your mother.
Ponnae engal veerathai neeyumOh precious one, you too are the child
Kondaadidum sei thaan adaWho will celebrate our bravery!
Ada sugamo thuyaro varuvathu varattumAh, whether joy or sorrow comes, let it come,
Ondraaga inaithiruppomWe shall remain united together!
Male
Nandhavanam indhamanamThis heart is a flower garden,
Nallathai arintha manamA heart that knows goodness,
Yaelaelang kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelang'!
Andru mudhal indru varaiFrom that day until today,
Ullathai purintha manamA heart that understands the inner truth,
Yaelaelamg kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelam'!
Male
Idhai maganae nee arindhaalMy son, if you understand this,
Enakku ingu adhuvae pothumadaaThat alone is enough for me here, my dear.
Sila thavarai naan purinthaalIf I have committed a few mistakes,
Edharkku endru varum naal korumadaThe coming days will explain why, my dear.
Idhai kanna unakkeduthu sonnaalOh dear one, if I explain this to you,
Purinthu kollum paruvangal varavillaiyaeYou haven't reached the age to understand it yet,
En maganaeMy son!
Male
Nandhavanam indhamanamThis heart is a flower garden,
Nallathai arintha manamA heart that knows goodness,
Yaelaelang kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelang'!
Andru mudhal indru varaiFrom that day until today,
Ullathai purintha manamA heart that understands the inner truth,
Yaelaelamg kuyilaeOh cuckoo bird singing 'yaelaelam'!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Nandhavanam indhamanam' depicts a deeply emotional address by a father to his young son. He compares his heart to a pure flower garden ('Nandhavanam') that inherently knows goodness, despite being misunderstood by society and even his own mother due to tragic twists of fate. He laments that while handwriting can be wiped away by tears, destiny written on one's forehead ('Thalai eluthu') remains unalterable. Despite the pain of being labeled a wrongdoer by circumstance, the protagonist holds steadfastly to his principles and righteous path. He takes comfort in knowing that as his child grows older, the truth behind his choices and sacrifices will eventually become clear.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Nandhavanam indhamanam

Comparing the human heart/mind ('indhamanam') directly to a lush flower garden ('Nandhavanam').

Antithesis / Contrast

Kaarkaala ootdha kaatru / Kathiri veyil aachu

Contrasting the cool monsoon breeze ('Kaarkaala ootdha kaatru') turning into scorching summer heat ('Kathiri veyil') to illustrate sudden misfortune.

Idiomatic Wordplay

Kai eluthu azhinjidalaam ... Thalai eluthu azhinjidumaa

Juxtaposing 'Kai eluthu' (handwriting/tear-ink) with 'Thalai eluthu' (destiny/fate) to highlight the indelibility of fate.

Refrain / Repetition

Yaelaelang kuyilae

The recurring call to the cuckoo bird ('Yaelaelang kuyilae') acts as a rhythmic folk refrain reinforcing the protagonist's inner monologue.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kizhakku Karai' (1991) was directed by P. Vasu and starred Prabhu and Kushboo. The soundtrack was composed by Deva with lyrics written by the legendary poet Vaali.

Keep listening

More from Kizhakku Karai