Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Illam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nandhavanam Poothirukkudhu

From Illam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Illam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
22 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Azhagendra virundhu vaithaal
Iyarkkai annai
Adhai paada padaithu vittaal kavinjan ennai
Ilagaadha ila manadhai ilaga vaithu
Inbathai ennodu thavazha vaithu…
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Sondham endru solli kolla thaan
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Sondham endru solli kolla thaan
Thana thannattha ratthattharaa
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Poovoda poongaatru
Boopaalam paadaadho adhu yaenammaa
Puriyaadho en kaelvi
Badhil solla koodaadho nee thaanammaa
Pachai pasum pulveli muthu mani neer thuli
Pachai pasum pulveli muthu mani neer thuli
Ondrai ondru koodi kondaadum
Adhu anbukkum vilakkam
Otti kondu naalum pan paadum
Uravinil thaan ulagirukkum
Purindhaal adhil enakkoru palan kidaikkum
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Sondham endru solli kolla thaan
Thana thannattha ratthattharaa
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Kan moodi thoongaamal
Kanvondru kandaenae adhai ennenbaen
Sollaamal puriyaamal
Thadumaari nindrenae adhai ennenbaen
Kaakki sattaikkullaeyum aasai manam ulladhu
Kaakki sattaikkullaeyum aasai manam ulladhu
Sollu kollum vaarthai ellaamae mana chiraiyinil irukka
Sikki kondu naanum nindrenae
Thirappu vizhaa nadandhu vittaal
Manamo dhinam vaanathil parandhirukkum
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Sondham endru solli kolla thaan
Thendral vandhu saerndhirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Sondham endru solli kolla thaan
Thana thannattha ratthattharaa
Nandhavanam poothirukkudhu adi ammaadi
Vandu vandhu aadi paada thaan
When she served a feast of beauty,
Mother Nature
Created me as a poet to sing of it.
Softening a stubborn young heart,
She let sweet joy play gently around me...
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
The gentle breeze has arrived, oh my dear,
To claim this place as its own!
The gentle breeze has arrived, oh my dear,
To claim this place as its own!
Thana thannattha rathattharaa
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
Along with the flowers, won't the gentle breeze
Sing a morning melody? Why is that, my dear?
Don't you understand my question?
Shouldn't you be the one to give me an answer?
The lush green meadow and the pearly dewdrop,
The lush green meadow and the pearly dewdrop,
Come together to celebrate each other.
That is the true meaning of love!
Clinging to each other, singing tunes every day,
The whole world thrives on relationships.
If you realize this, I will find my happiness!
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
The gentle breeze has arrived, oh my dear,
To claim this place as its own!
Thana thannattha rathattharaa
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
Without even closing my eyes in sleep,
I saw a dream—how do I describe it?
Unable to speak or understand,
I stood lost and confused—how do I describe it?
Even under this khaki uniform, there is a longing heart!
Even under this khaki uniform, there is a longing heart!
With all my unspoken words locked inside my heart's prison,
I stood completely trapped.
Once the grand opening takes place,
My heart will soar in the sky every day!
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
The gentle breeze has arrived, oh my dear,
To claim this place as its own!
The gentle breeze has arrived, oh my dear,
To claim this place as its own!
Thana thannattha rathattharaa
The garden is in full bloom, oh my dear,
For the bees to come dance and sing!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Thennamarathula Thendraladikkudhu1979
Lakshmi (1979)LongingBeauty
Aanandha Raagam1981
Panneer PushpangalNatureBeauty
Valarpirai Yenbadhum1987
Thirumathi Oru VegumathiNatureTender
Oru Arai Unathu2020
MaaraLongingTender
Paravaiye Engu Irukkiraai2007
Kattradhu ThamizhNatureLonging
Nadhi Ondru1981
Nadhi Ondru Karai MoondruNatureBeauty

From the same album

More songs from Illam

View album
Puttu Puttu Vaikkattuma1988
IllamCelebratory
Manjal Neeraattu1988
IllamCelebratory
Aadum Paambirukkudhu1988
IllamDefiant

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.