Nathi Vellam
From Thanga Meengal · 2013
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singer
- Rahul Nambiar
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Thanga Meengal2013
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Appaakkalai piriyaa magalgal | Daughters who are never separated from their fathers |
| Adhirshtasaaligal | Are the fortunate ones. |
| Magalgalai piriyaa appaakkal | Fathers who are never separated from their daughters |
| Baakkiyavaangal | Are the blessed ones. |
| Aanaal appadi ellaam thanthu vida | But to grant all of that so easily, |
| Vaazhkai ondrum thozhan illai | Life is not a friend. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi vellam melae | Above the river's floodwaters, |
| En meenae meenae | Oh my fish, my fish, |
| Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal | The golden memories of you swimming |
| Nenjil nizhalaadum | Cast their shadows inside my heart. |
| Male | |
| Mun andhi nilavil | In the early evening moonlight, |
| En maanae maanae | Oh my deer, my deer, |
| Nee odiya men suvadugal | The soft footprints left by your running |
| Meendum unai ketkum | Will ask for you again. |
| Male | |
| Adi en kannin iru karuvizhigal | Oh dear, both the dark pupils of my eyes |
| Un mugathai theduthadi | Are searching for your face. |
| Kanneer thuligal kaatchiyai | Tears fall and cover |
| Maraikkuthadi | My sight completely. |
| En kaattil oru mazhai vanthathu | A rain shower came upon my forest, |
| Magarantha eerangal kaayum munnae | And before the wet pollen could dry, |
| Idiminnal vizhunthu kaadae erinthathadi | Thunderbolts struck, and the whole forest burned. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi vellam melae | Above the river's floodwaters, |
| En meenae meenae | Oh my fish, my fish, |
| Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal | The golden memories of you swimming |
| Nenjil nizhalaadum | Cast their shadows inside my heart. |
| Male | |
| Mun andhi nilavil | In the early evening moonlight, |
| En maanae maanae | Oh my deer, my deer, |
| Nee odiya men suvadugal | The soft footprints left by your running |
| Meendum unai ketkum | Will ask for you again. |
| Male | |
| Alainthidum megam adhai pola | Just like a wandering cloud, |
| Indha vaazhkkaiyae | This life moves along; |
| Kaatrin vazhiyil pogindrom | We travel in the direction of the wind. |
| Kalainthidum kolam endra podhilum | Even though it is a rangoli pattern that will get erased, |
| Adhikalaiyil | In the early dawn, |
| Vaasalil vannam vidhaikkindrom | We sow colors at the doorstep. |
| Male | |
| Uyirae unnai pirinthen | My soul, I separated from you, |
| Udanae naanum irandhen | And instantly, I died too. |
| Udal thaan angu vaazhum | Only my physical body lives there, |
| Nee thaanae … endhan uyirae | For you alone... are my soul. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi vellam melae | Above the river's floodwaters, |
| En meenae meenae | Oh my fish, my fish, |
| Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal | The golden memories of you swimming |
| Nenjil nizhalaadum | Cast their shadows inside my heart. |
| Male | |
| Mun andhi nilavil | In the early evening moonlight, |
| En maanae maanae | Oh my deer, my deer, |
| Nee odiya men suvadugal | The soft footprints left by your running |
| Meendum unai ketkum | Will ask for you again. |
| Male | |
| Malar ondru vizhunthaal | If a flower falls, |
| Adhai yendha palar oduvaar | Many will rush to hold it. |
| Ilaigal vizhunthaal sarugaagum | If leaves fall, they turn into dry rustling leaves. |
| Variyavan vaazhkai | The life of a poor man |
| Ilai pola endra podhilum | May be like a fallen leaf, |
| Sarugugal oru naal uramaagum | Yet dry leaves become fertilizer one day. |
| Male | |
| Uyirae unnai pirinthen | My soul, I separated from you, |
| Udanae naanum irandhen | And instantly, I died too. |
| Udal thaan angu vaazhum | Only my physical body lives there, |
| Nee thaanae … endhan uyirae | For you alone... are my soul. |
| Male | |
| Nadhi vellam melae | Above the river's floodwaters, |
| En meenae meenae | Oh my fish, my fish, |
| Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal | The golden memories of you swimming |
| Nenjil nizhalaadum | Cast their shadows inside my heart. |
| Male | |
| Mun andhi nilavil | In the early evening moonlight, |
| En maanae maanae | Oh my deer, my deer, |
| Nee odiya men suvadugal | The soft footprints left by your running |
| Meendum unai ketkum | Will ask for you again. |
அப்பாக்களை
பிரியா மகள்கள்
அதிர்ஷ்டசாலிகள்
மகள்களை பிரியா
அப்பாக்கள் பாக்கியவான்கள்
ஆனால் அப்படி எல்லாம்
தந்து விட வாழ்க்கை
ஒன்றும் தோழன் இல்லை
Daughters who are never separated from their fathers
Are the fortunate ones.
Fathers who are never separated from their daughters
Are the blessed ones.
But to grant all of that so easily,
Life is not a friend.
நதி வெள்ளம்
மேலே என் மீனே மீனே
நீ நீந்திய பொன் நினைவுகள்
நெஞ்சில் நிழலாடும்
Above the river's floodwaters,
Oh my fish, my fish,
The golden memories of you swimming
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
முன் அந்தி நிலவில்
என் மானே மானே நீ ஓடிய
மென் சுவடுகள் மீண்டும்
உனைக் கேட்கும்
In the early evening moonlight,
Oh my deer, my deer,
The soft footprints left by your running
Will ask for you again.
அடி என் கண்ணின்
இரு கருவிழிகள் உன்
முகத்தை தேடுதடி கண்ணீர்
துளிகள் காட்சியை மறைக்குதடி
என் காட்டில் ஒரு மழை வந்ததும்
மகரந்த ஈரங்கள் காயும் முன்னே
இடி மின்னல் விழுந்து காடே
எறிந்ததடி
Oh dear, both the dark pupils of my eyes
Are searching for your face.
Tears fall and cover
My sight completely.
A rain shower came upon my forest,
And before the wet pollen could dry,
Thunderbolts struck, and the whole forest burned.
நதி வெள்ளம்
மேலே என் மீனே மீனே
நீ நீந்திய பொன் நினைவுகள்
நெஞ்சில் நிழலாடும்
Above the river's floodwaters,
Oh my fish, my fish,
The golden memories of you swimming
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
முன் அந்தி நிலவில்
என் மானே மானே நீ ஓடிய
மென் சுவடுகள் மீண்டும்
உனைக் கேட்கும்
In the early evening moonlight,
Oh my deer, my deer,
The soft footprints left by your running
Will ask for you again.
அலைந்திடும் மேகம்
அதைப் போல இந்த வாழ்க்கையே
காற்றின் வழியில் போகின்றோம்
கலைந்திடும் கோலம் என்ற
போதிலும் அதிகாலையில்
வாசலில் வண்ணம்
விதைக்கின்றோம்
Just like a wandering cloud,
This life moves along;
We travel in the direction of the wind.
Even though it is a rangoli pattern that will get erased,
In the early dawn,
We sow colors at the doorstep.
உயிரே உன்னை
பிரிந்தேன் உடனே நானும்
இறந்தேன் உடல் தான்
அங்கு வாழும் நீதானே
எந்தன் உயிரே
My soul, I separated from you,
And instantly, I died too.
Only my physical body lives there,
For you alone... are my soul.
நதி வெள்ளம்
மேலே என் மீனே மீனே
நீ நீந்திய பொன் நினைவுகள்
நெஞ்சில் நிழலாடும்
Above the river's floodwaters,
Oh my fish, my fish,
The golden memories of you swimming
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
முன் அந்தி நிலவில்
என் மானே மானே நீ ஓடிய
மென் சுவடுகள் மீண்டும்
உனைக் கேட்கும்
In the early evening moonlight,
Oh my deer, my deer,
The soft footprints left by your running
Will ask for you again.
மலர் ஒன்று
விழுந்தால் அதை ஏந்த
பலர் ஓடுவார் இலைகள்
விழுந்தால் சருகாகும்
வரியவன் வாழ்க்கை
இலை போல என்ற
போதிலும் சருகுகள்
ஒரு நாள் உரமாகும்
If a flower falls,
Many will rush to hold it.
If leaves fall, they turn into dry rustling leaves.
The life of a poor man
May be like a fallen leaf,
Yet dry leaves become fertilizer one day.
உயிரே உன்னை
பிரிந்தேன் உடனே நானும்
இறந்தேன் உடல் தான்
அங்கு வாழும் நீதானே
எந்தன் உயிரே
My soul, I separated from you,
And instantly, I died too.
Only my physical body lives there,
For you alone... are my soul.
நதி வெள்ளம்
மேலே என் மீனே மீனே
நீ நீந்திய பொன் நினைவுகள்
நெஞ்சில் நிழலாடும்
Above the river's floodwaters,
Oh my fish, my fish,
The golden memories of you swimming
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
முன் அந்தி நிலவில்
என் மானே மானே நீ ஓடிய
மென் சுவடுகள் மீண்டும்
உனைக் கேட்கும்
In the early evening moonlight,
Oh my deer, my deer,
The soft footprints left by your running
Will ask for you again.
Appaakkalai piriyaa magalgal
Daughters who are never separated from their fathers
Adhirshtasaaligal
Are the fortunate ones.
Magalgalai piriyaa appaakkal
Fathers who are never separated from their daughters
Baakkiyavaangal
Are the blessed ones.
Aanaal appadi ellaam thanthu vida
But to grant all of that so easily,
Vaazhkai ondrum thozhan illai
Life is not a friend.
Nadhi vellam melae
Above the river's floodwaters,
En meenae meenae
Oh my fish, my fish,
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
The golden memories of you swimming
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
Mun andhi nilavil
In the early evening moonlight,
En maanae maanae
Oh my deer, my deer,
Nee odiya men suvadugal
The soft footprints left by your running
Meendum unai ketkum
Will ask for you again.
Adi en kannin iru karuvizhigal
Oh dear, both the dark pupils of my eyes
Un mugathai theduthadi
Are searching for your face.
Kanneer thuligal kaatchiyai
Tears fall and cover
Maraikkuthadi
My sight completely.
En kaattil oru mazhai vanthathu
A rain shower came upon my forest,
Magarantha eerangal kaayum munnae
And before the wet pollen could dry,
Idiminnal vizhunthu kaadae erinthathadi
Thunderbolts struck, and the whole forest burned.
Nadhi vellam melae
Above the river's floodwaters,
En meenae meenae
Oh my fish, my fish,
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
The golden memories of you swimming
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
Mun andhi nilavil
In the early evening moonlight,
En maanae maanae
Oh my deer, my deer,
Nee odiya men suvadugal
The soft footprints left by your running
Meendum unai ketkum
Will ask for you again.
Alainthidum megam adhai pola
Just like a wandering cloud,
Indha vaazhkkaiyae
This life moves along;
Kaatrin vazhiyil pogindrom
We travel in the direction of the wind.
Kalainthidum kolam endra podhilum
Even though it is a rangoli pattern that will get erased,
Adhikalaiyil
In the early dawn,
Vaasalil vannam vidhaikkindrom
We sow colors at the doorstep.
Uyirae unnai pirinthen
My soul, I separated from you,
Udanae naanum irandhen
And instantly, I died too.
Udal thaan angu vaazhum
Only my physical body lives there,
Nee thaanae … endhan uyirae
For you alone... are my soul.
Nadhi vellam melae
Above the river's floodwaters,
En meenae meenae
Oh my fish, my fish,
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
The golden memories of you swimming
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
Mun andhi nilavil
In the early evening moonlight,
En maanae maanae
Oh my deer, my deer,
Nee odiya men suvadugal
The soft footprints left by your running
Meendum unai ketkum
Will ask for you again.
Malar ondru vizhunthaal
If a flower falls,
Adhai yendha palar oduvaar
Many will rush to hold it.
Ilaigal vizhunthaal sarugaagum
If leaves fall, they turn into dry rustling leaves.
Variyavan vaazhkai
The life of a poor man
Ilai pola endra podhilum
May be like a fallen leaf,
Sarugugal oru naal uramaagum
Yet dry leaves become fertilizer one day.
Uyirae unnai pirinthen
My soul, I separated from you,
Udanae naanum irandhen
And instantly, I died too.
Udal thaan angu vaazhum
Only my physical body lives there,
Nee thaanae … endhan uyirae
For you alone... are my soul.
Nadhi vellam melae
Above the river's floodwaters,
En meenae meenae
Oh my fish, my fish,
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
The golden memories of you swimming
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Cast their shadows inside my heart.
Mun andhi nilavil
In the early evening moonlight,
En maanae maanae
Oh my deer, my deer,
Nee odiya men suvadugal
The soft footprints left by your running
Meendum unai ketkum
Will ask for you again.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nadhi Vellam' (from the movie Thanga Meengal) is a deeply emotional song portraying the pain of a loving father separated from his young daughter due to financial hardship. Through evocative nature metaphors, lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar expresses the dad's overwhelming grief, comparing his daughter to a fish navigating turbulent river waters and a gentle deer whose footprints linger in his memory. He reflects on how cruel life can be to the poor, yet maintains a glimmer of resilience and hope.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile (உவமை)
“En meenae meenae / En maanae maanae”
Compares the child affectionately to a fish ('meenae') swimming in memory and a deer ('maanae') running around.
Edhugai (எதுகை - Second letter rhyming)
“Nadhi vellam melae / Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal”
Matching second letter consonantal sounds 'di' in 'Nadhi' and 'Nee'.
Moonaa (மோனை - Alliteration)
“Malar ondru vizhunthaal / Adhai yendha palar oduvaar”
Repetition of initial 'M' sounds across the words ('Malar', 'Palar').
Philosophical Metaphor
“Sarugugal oru naal uramaagum”
Comparing a poor person's life to a fallen leaf ('Ilai') that transforms into natural fertilizer ('Uram'), symbolizing dignity and hope despite hardship.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Thanga Meengal' (2013) features music composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja and lyrics by Na. Muthu Kumar, who won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for his iconic song 'Aanandha Yaazhai' from the same album. The film was directed by Ram, who also played the lead role of the father.
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