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Thanga Meengal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nathi Vellam

From Thanga Meengal · 2013

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Rahul Nambiar
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Thanga Meengal
Movie release year
2013
Lyrics added on
27 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Appaakkalai piriyaa magalgal
Adhirshtasaaligal
Magalgalai piriyaa appaakkal
Baakkiyavaangal
Aanaal appadi ellaam thanthu vida
Vaazhkai ondrum thozhan illai
Nadhi vellam melae
En meenae meenae
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Mun andhi nilavil
En maanae maanae
Nee odiya men suvadugal
Meendum unai ketkum
Adi en kannin iru karuvizhigal
Un mugathai theduthadi
Kanneer thuligal kaatchiyai
Maraikkuthadi
En kaattil oru mazhai vanthathu
Magarantha eerangal kaayum munnae
Idiminnal vizhunthu kaadae erinthathadi
Nadhi vellam melae
En meenae meenae
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Mun andhi nilavil
En maanae maanae
Nee odiya men suvadugal
Meendum unai ketkum
Alainthidum megam adhai pola
Indha vaazhkkaiyae
Kaatrin vazhiyil pogindrom
Kalainthidum kolam endra podhilum
Adhikalaiyil
Vaasalil vannam vidhaikkindrom
Uyirae unnai pirinthen
Udanae naanum irandhen
Udal thaan angu vaazhum
Nee thaanae … endhan uyirae
Nadhi vellam melae
En meenae meenae
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Mun andhi nilavil
En maanae maanae
Nee odiya men suvadugal
Meendum unai ketkum
Malar ondru vizhunthaal
Adhai yendha palar oduvaar
Ilaigal vizhunthaal sarugaagum
Variyavan vaazhkai
Ilai pola endra podhilum
Sarugugal oru naal uramaagum
Uyirae unnai pirinthen
Udanae naanum irandhen
Udal thaan angu vaazhum
Nee thaanae … endhan uyirae
Nadhi vellam melae
En meenae meenae
Nee neendhiya pon ninaivugal
Nenjil nizhalaadum
Mun andhi nilavil
En maanae maanae
Nee odiya men suvadugal
Meendum unai ketkum
Daughters who are never separated from their fathers
are the lucky ones.
Fathers who are never separated from their daughters
are truly blessed.
But to grant all of that,
life is no friend.
Over the flowing river waters,
my little fish, my fish,
the golden memories of you swimming
linger softly in my heart.
In the twilight moonlight,
my gentle deer, my deer,
the soft footprints where you ran
ask for you once again.
Oh, the two pupils of my eyes
keep searching for your face.
Tears welling up
hide the view before me.
A shower of rain fell on my forest;
before the damp pollen could even dry,
lightning struck, and the entire forest burned down.
Over the flowing river waters,
my little fish, my fish,
the golden memories of you swimming
linger softly in my heart.
In the twilight moonlight,
my gentle deer, my deer,
the soft footprints where you ran
ask for you once again.
Just like wandering clouds,
this life goes;
we simply drift in the direction of the wind.
Even knowing the kolam (doorstep pattern) will get erased,
in the early dawn,
we still sow colors at our doorstep.
My life, the moment I was parted from you,
I died right then and there.
Only my body lives on over there,
for you alone... are my very life.
Over the flowing river waters,
my little fish, my fish,
the golden memories of you swimming
linger softly in my heart.
In the twilight moonlight,
my gentle deer, my deer,
the soft footprints where you ran
ask for you once again.
If a flower falls,
many will rush to catch it.
If leaves fall, they turn to dry litter.
Even though a poor man's life
is like a fallen leaf,
dried leaves will one day become rich manure.
My life, the moment I was parted from you,
I died right then and there.
Only my body lives on over there,
for you alone... are my very life.
Over the flowing river waters,
my little fish, my fish,
the golden memories of you swimming
linger softly in my heart.
In the twilight moonlight,
my gentle deer, my deer,
the soft footprints where you ran
ask for you once again.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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