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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nandhavanam Poothirukkudhu

From Illam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Illam1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Azhagendra virundhu vaithaalMother Nature served a feast of beauty
Iyarkkai annaiMother Nature herself
Adhai paada padaithu vittaal kavinjan ennaiShe created me, a poet, to sing its praise
Ilagaadha ila manadhai ilaga vaithuMelting even an unyielding young heart
Inbathai ennodu thavazha vaithu…Making joy gently crawl into my heart...
Male
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe gentle breeze has arrived to join, oh dear lady
Sondham endru solli kolla thaanJust to claim its kinship
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe gentle breeze has arrived to join, oh dear lady
Sondham endru solli kolla thaanJust to claim its kinship
Thana thannattha ratthattharaaThana thannattha ratthattharaa
Male
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Male
Poovoda poongaatruAlong with the flower, why doesn't the gentle breeze
Boopaalam paadaadho adhu yaenammaaSing the morning ragam Boopaalam? Why is that, my dear?
Puriyaadho en kaelviDon't you understand my question?
Badhil solla koodaadho nee thaanammaaShouldn't you be the one to give me an answer?
Pachai pasum pulveli muthu mani neer thuliA pearl-like drop of water on the lush green grass
Pachai pasum pulveli muthu mani neer thuliA pearl-like drop of water on the lush green grass
Ondrai ondru koodi kondaadumThey gather together and celebrate each other
Adhu anbukkum vilakkamThat itself is an explanation of love
Otti kondu naalum pan paadumClinging together, singing melodies every day
Uravinil thaan ulagirukkumThe world resides within sweet relationships
Purindhaal adhil enakkoru palan kidaikkumIf you understand this, I will reap a reward
Male
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe gentle breeze has arrived to join, oh dear lady
Sondham endru solli kolla thaanJust to claim its kinship
Thana thannattha ratthattharaaThana thannattha ratthattharaa
Male
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Male
Kan moodi thoongaamalWithout closing my eyes to sleep
Kanvondru kandaenae adhai ennenbaenI saw a dream, what shall I say of it?
Sollaamal puriyaamalWithout speaking, without understanding
Thadumaari nindrenae adhai ennenbaenI stood faltering, what shall I say of it?
Kaakki sattaikkullaeyum aasai manam ulladhuEven inside a khaki uniform, there is a heart full of desires
Kaakki sattaikkullaeyum aasai manam ulladhuEven inside a khaki uniform, there is a heart full of desires
Sollu kollum vaarthai ellaamae mana chiraiyinil irukkaWhile all the words remain trapped inside the mind's prison
Sikki kondu naanum nindrenaeI stood there trapped as well
Thirappu vizhaa nadandhu vittaalIf the grand opening ceremony takes place
Manamo dhinam vaanathil parandhirukkumThe heart will fly freely in the sky every day
Male
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe gentle breeze has arrived to join, oh dear lady
Sondham endru solli kolla thaanJust to claim its kinship
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe gentle breeze has arrived to join, oh dear lady
Sondham endru solli kolla thaanJust to claim its kinship
Thana thannattha ratthattharaaThana thannattha ratthattharaa
Male
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadiThe flower garden has bloomed, oh dear lady
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaanFor the bees to come dance and sing

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Nandhavanam Poothirukkudhu' expresses the joyful awakening of romantic emotions through vivid imagery of nature. The lyricist reflects on how Mother Nature has created a feast of beauty and bestowed a poet's heart upon him to appreciate it. Imagery of blooming gardens, dancing bees, morning breezes, and dew drops on lush grass serve as metaphors for love, togetherness, and emotional fulfillment. In the latter part of the song, the protagonist reveals that beneath a stern exterior (represented by the 'khaki uniform'), there lies a tender heart filled with unexpressed desires. He longingly waits for the day these emotional barriers break so his heart can soar freely in the sky like a bird.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam)

Iyarkkai annai

Mother Nature is personified as a host serving a feast ('Azhagendra virundhu vaithaal / Iyarkkai annai') and the breeze as a relative claiming kinship ('Thendral vandhu... Sondham endru solli kolla thaan').

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Sollu kollum vaarthai ellaamae mana chiraiyinil irukka

Unexpressed thoughts and emotions held back inside the mind are metaphorically described as being trapped in a prison ('mana chiraiyinil irukka').

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Pachai pasum pulveli muthu mani neer thuli

Repetition of the 'Pa' consonant sound across consecutive words ('Pachai pasum pulveli') creates melodic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in the 1988 Tamil drama film 'Illam', directed by Manivannan and starring Sivakumar and Amala. Although lyricist Gangai Amaran penned the lines, the movie's soundtrack was composed by his brother, maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with vocals rendered by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki.

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