Neeradum Thamaraiye
From Pudhiya Poovithu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singers
- S. Janaki, P. Jayachandran, Sakthi Shanmugam
- Music director
- Kannan Latha
- Details
- Pudhiya Poovithu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Neeraadum thaamaraiye | O lotus bathing in water, |
| Verodu kobamenna | Why this anger towards your roots? |
| Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye | Female: My state will not change, |
| Veroda gnyaayam illai | There is no justice at the root. |
| Male | |
| Nee idhazh moodi kuvindhirundhaal | If you stay closed with your petals folded, |
| Manam veesumoo | Will your fragrance ever spread? |
| Female :Malar meedhu idi vizhundhaal | Female: If thunder strikes upon a tender flower, |
| Idhazh thaangumoo | Can its delicate petals bear the blow? |
| Male | |
| Naam inainjaaa thaaimaiyadi | If we unite, it leads to motherhood, my dear, |
| Ullangaiyil boomiyadi | The entire world will be in the palm of our hands, my dear. |
| Female :Aangal enum inamae | Female: Men, as a species, |
| Poovidhazhil dhinam vazhiyum | Are like bees that drink nectar |
| Thaen kudikkum vandiname | Dripping daily from flower petals. |
| Male | |
| Neeraadum thaamaraiye | O lotus bathing in water, |
| Verodu kobamenna | Why this anger towards your roots? |
| Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye | Female: My state will not change, |
| Veroda gnyaayam illai | There is no justice at the root. |
| Female | |
| Poomaalai ondrai thee vandhu thinna | When fire comes to consume a flower garland, |
| Kaalangal paarthiduthae | Time simply stands by and watches. |
| Male :Deebathai neeyum theeyendru solla | Male: When you call even a peaceful lamp's flame a destructive fire, |
| Kaattrukkum verthiduthae | Even the cool wind begins to sweat. |
| Female | |
| Manam muzhukka thappukanakku | Your entire mind is filled with wrong miscalculations. |
| Male :Ini edhukku vambhu vazhakku | Male: Why continue this argument now? |
| Female :Poo ondru puyalodu | Female: A delicate flower cannot link hands |
| Kaikkorthu vaazhaadhu | And live together with a harsh storm. |
| Poiyaana unnodu en vaazhvu yedhu | What kind of life can I have with someone as false as you? |
| Male | |
| Nee potta manamalai | The wedding garland you tied |
| Sarugaagi pogaadhu | Will not wither away into dry leaves. |
| Podhaadhu yezhezhu jenmangal saeru | Seven lifetimes are not enough, so come unite with me. |
| Male | |
| Neeraadum thaamaraiye | O lotus bathing in water, |
| Verodu kobamenna | Why this anger towards your roots? |
| Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye | Female: My state will not change, |
| Veroda gnyaayam illai | There is no justice at the root. |
| Male | |
| Hae retta mattu vandiyilae | Hey, in a two-bullock cart, |
| Oththa maadu sandi panna | If one bullock turns stubborn and refuses to move, |
| Ooru eppa saera ada pozhudhaagudhu kooda | When will we reach our destination? Time is slipping away. |
| Female | |
| Nee thandha methai kannkattu vithai | The bed you gave me was a trick of illusion, |
| Kanneeraal poo thelithaai | You sprinkled flowers with tears. |
| Male :Porvaikkul unmai | Male: The truth lies hidden beneath the blanket, |
| Kann moodi kola sogathai nee alithaai | By closing your eyes, you caused endless sorrow. |
| Female :Vaanam muzhukka megam kalangum | Female: Clouds get troubled across the entire sky, |
| Male :Boomi kalandha mannu kulirum | Male: The soil mixed with the earth cools down, |
| Female | |
| Nadhi vellam nadai | The rushing river flood walks on its path, |
| Poda aagaayam thedaathu | It does not search for the sky while flowing. |
| Irulodu uravaedhu oli veesum podhu | What relationship can darkness have when bright light shines? |
| Male :Kadalodu nadhi vandhu | Male: A river coming toward the ocean |
| Saeraamal pogaadhu | Will never fail to merge with it. |
| Uyirodu uyiraaga ondraaga maara | To transform into one, soul bound to soul, |
| Male | |
| Neeraadum thaamaraiye | O lotus bathing in water, |
| Verodu kobamenna | Why this anger towards your roots? |
| Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye | Female: My state will not change, |
| Veroda gnyaayam illai | There is no justice at the root. |
| Male | |
| Nee idhazh moodi kuvindhirundhaal | If you stay closed with your petals folded, |
| Manam veesumoo | Will your fragrance ever spread? |
| Female :Malar meedhu idi vizhundhaal | Female: If thunder strikes upon a tender flower, |
| Idhazh thaangumoo | Can its delicate petals bear the blow? |
| Male | |
| Naam inainjaaa thaaimaiyadi | If we unite, it leads to motherhood, my dear, |
| Ullangaiyil boomiyadi | The entire world will be in the palm of our hands, my dear. |
| Female :Aangal enum inamae | Female: Men, as a species, |
| Poovidhazhil dhinam vazhiyum | Are like bees that drink nectar |
| Thaen kudikkum vandiname | Dripping daily from flower petals. |
நீராடும் தாமரையே
வேரோடு கோபமென்ன
மாறாது என் நிலையே
வேரோட ஞாயமில்லை
O lotus bathing in water,
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female: My state will not change,
There is no justice at the root.
நீ இதழ் மூடி குவிந்திருந்தால்
மணம் வீசுமோ
மலர் மீது இடி விழுந்தால்
இதழ் தாங்குமோ
If you stay closed with your petals folded,
Will your fragrance ever spread?
Female: If thunder strikes upon a tender flower,
Can its delicate petals bear the blow?
நாம் இணைஞ்சா தாய்மையடி
உள்ளங்கையில் பூமியடி
ஆண்கள் எனும் இனமே
பூவிதழதில் தினம் வழியும்
தேன் குடிக்கும் வண்டினமே
If we unite, it leads to motherhood, my dear,
The entire world will be in the palm of our hands, my dear.
Female: Men, as a species,
Are like bees that drink nectar
Dripping daily from flower petals.
நீராடும் தாமரையே
வேரோடு கோபமென்ன
மாறாது என் நிலையே
வேரோட ஞாயமில்லை
O lotus bathing in water,
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female: My state will not change,
There is no justice at the root.
பூமாலை ஒன்றை தீ வந்து தின்ன
காலங்கள் பார்த்திடுதே
தீபத்தை நீயும் தீயென்று சொல்ல
காற்றுக்கும் வேர்த்திடுதே
When fire comes to consume a flower garland,
Time simply stands by and watches.
Male: When you call even a peaceful lamp's flame a destructive fire,
Even the cool wind begins to sweat.
மனம் முழுக்க தப்புக் கணக்கு
இனி எதுக்கு வம்பு வழக்கு
பூ ஒன்று புயலோடு
கைக்கோர்த்து வாழாது
பொய்யான உன்னோடு என் வாழ்வு ஏது
Your entire mind is filled with wrong miscalculations.
Male: Why continue this argument now?
Female: A delicate flower cannot link hands
And live together with a harsh storm.
What kind of life can I have with someone as false as you?
நீ போட்ட மணமாலை
சருகாகி போகாது
போதாது ஏழேழு ஜென்மங்கள் சேரு
The wedding garland you tied
Will not wither away into dry leaves.
Seven lifetimes are not enough, so come unite with me.
நீராடும் தாமரையே
வேரோடு கோபமென்ன
மாறாது என் நிலையே
வேரோட ஞாயமில்லை
O lotus bathing in water,
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female: My state will not change,
There is no justice at the root.
ஹே ரெட்ட மாட்டு வண்டியிலே
ஒத்த மாடு சண்டி பண்ண
ஊரு எப்ப சேர அட பொழுதாகுது கூட
Hey, in a two-bullock cart,
If one bullock turns stubborn and refuses to move,
When will we reach our destination? Time is slipping away.
நீ தந்த மெத்தை கண்கட்டு வித்தை
கண்ணீரால் பூ தெளித்தாய்
போர்வைக்குள் உண்மை
கண் மூடிக் கொள்ள சோகத்தை நீ அளித்தாய்
வானம் முழுக்க மேகம் கலங்கும்
பூமி கலந்தா மண்ணு குளிரும்
The bed you gave me was a trick of illusion,
You sprinkled flowers with tears.
Male: The truth lies hidden beneath the blanket,
By closing your eyes, you caused endless sorrow.
Female: Clouds get troubled across the entire sky,
Male: The soil mixed with the earth cools down,
நதி வெள்ளம் நடை
போட ஆகாயம் தேடாது
இருளோடு உறவேது ஒளி வீசும் போது
கடலோடு நதி வந்து
சேராமல் போகாது
உயிரோடு உயிராக ஒன்றாக மாறு
The rushing river flood walks on its path,
It does not search for the sky while flowing.
What relationship can darkness have when bright light shines?
Male: A river coming toward the ocean
Will never fail to merge with it.
To transform into one, soul bound to soul,
நீராடும் தாமரையே
வேரோடு கோபமென்ன
மாறாது என் நிலையே
வேரோட ஞாயமில்லை
O lotus bathing in water,
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female: My state will not change,
There is no justice at the root.
நீ இதழ் மூடி குவிந்திருந்தால்
மணம் வீசுமோ
மலர் மீது இடி விழுந்தால்
இதழ் தாங்குமோ
If you stay closed with your petals folded,
Will your fragrance ever spread?
Female: If thunder strikes upon a tender flower,
Can its delicate petals bear the blow?
நாம் இணைஞ்சா தாய்மையடி
உள்ளங்கையில் பூமியடி
ஆண்கள் எனும் இனமே
பூவிதழதில் தினம் வழியும்
தேன் குடிக்கும் வண்டினமே
If we unite, it leads to motherhood, my dear,
The entire world will be in the palm of our hands, my dear.
Female: Men, as a species,
Are like bees that drink nectar
Dripping daily from flower petals.
Neeraadum thaamaraiye
O lotus bathing in water,
Verodu kobamenna
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye
Female: My state will not change,
Veroda gnyaayam illai
There is no justice at the root.
Nee idhazh moodi kuvindhirundhaal
If you stay closed with your petals folded,
Manam veesumoo
Will your fragrance ever spread?
Female :Malar meedhu idi vizhundhaal
Female: If thunder strikes upon a tender flower,
Idhazh thaangumoo
Can its delicate petals bear the blow?
Naam inainjaaa thaaimaiyadi
If we unite, it leads to motherhood, my dear,
Ullangaiyil boomiyadi
The entire world will be in the palm of our hands, my dear.
Female :Aangal enum inamae
Female: Men, as a species,
Poovidhazhil dhinam vazhiyum
Are like bees that drink nectar
Thaen kudikkum vandiname
Dripping daily from flower petals.
Neeraadum thaamaraiye
O lotus bathing in water,
Verodu kobamenna
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye
Female: My state will not change,
Veroda gnyaayam illai
There is no justice at the root.
Poomaalai ondrai thee vandhu thinna
When fire comes to consume a flower garland,
Kaalangal paarthiduthae
Time simply stands by and watches.
Male :Deebathai neeyum theeyendru solla
Male: When you call even a peaceful lamp's flame a destructive fire,
Kaattrukkum verthiduthae
Even the cool wind begins to sweat.
Manam muzhukka thappukanakku
Your entire mind is filled with wrong miscalculations.
Male :Ini edhukku vambhu vazhakku
Male: Why continue this argument now?
Female :Poo ondru puyalodu
Female: A delicate flower cannot link hands
Kaikkorthu vaazhaadhu
And live together with a harsh storm.
Poiyaana unnodu en vaazhvu yedhu
What kind of life can I have with someone as false as you?
Nee potta manamalai
The wedding garland you tied
Sarugaagi pogaadhu
Will not wither away into dry leaves.
Podhaadhu yezhezhu jenmangal saeru
Seven lifetimes are not enough, so come unite with me.
Neeraadum thaamaraiye
O lotus bathing in water,
Verodu kobamenna
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye
Female: My state will not change,
Veroda gnyaayam illai
There is no justice at the root.
Hae retta mattu vandiyilae
Hey, in a two-bullock cart,
Oththa maadu sandi panna
If one bullock turns stubborn and refuses to move,
Ooru eppa saera ada pozhudhaagudhu kooda
When will we reach our destination? Time is slipping away.
Nee thandha methai kannkattu vithai
The bed you gave me was a trick of illusion,
Kanneeraal poo thelithaai
You sprinkled flowers with tears.
Male :Porvaikkul unmai
Male: The truth lies hidden beneath the blanket,
Kann moodi kola sogathai nee alithaai
By closing your eyes, you caused endless sorrow.
Female :Vaanam muzhukka megam kalangum
Female: Clouds get troubled across the entire sky,
Male :Boomi kalandha mannu kulirum
Male: The soil mixed with the earth cools down,
Nadhi vellam nadai
The rushing river flood walks on its path,
Poda aagaayam thedaathu
It does not search for the sky while flowing.
Irulodu uravaedhu oli veesum podhu
What relationship can darkness have when bright light shines?
Male :Kadalodu nadhi vandhu
Male: A river coming toward the ocean
Saeraamal pogaadhu
Will never fail to merge with it.
Uyirodu uyiraaga ondraaga maara
To transform into one, soul bound to soul,
Neeraadum thaamaraiye
O lotus bathing in water,
Verodu kobamenna
Why this anger towards your roots?
Female :Maaradhu en nilaiye
Female: My state will not change,
Veroda gnyaayam illai
There is no justice at the root.
Nee idhazh moodi kuvindhirundhaal
If you stay closed with your petals folded,
Manam veesumoo
Will your fragrance ever spread?
Female :Malar meedhu idi vizhundhaal
Female: If thunder strikes upon a tender flower,
Idhazh thaangumoo
Can its delicate petals bear the blow?
Naam inainjaaa thaaimaiyadi
If we unite, it leads to motherhood, my dear,
Ullangaiyil boomiyadi
The entire world will be in the palm of our hands, my dear.
Female :Aangal enum inamae
Female: Men, as a species,
Poovidhazhil dhinam vazhiyum
Are like bees that drink nectar
Thaen kudikkum vandiname
Dripping daily from flower petals.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Neeraadum Thaamaraiye' from the 1986 film Pudhiya Poovithu is a emotionally charged duet structured as a dialogue between a husband and wife navigating deep marital discord. The husband uses classical natural metaphors—comparing her to a lotus and himself to its nourishing roots—to ask why she harbors bitterness, pleading with her to open her heart so their love can bloom and bring new life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)
“Neeraadum thaamaraiye / Verodu kobamenna”
The male protagonist compares his wife to a lotus (Thaamarai) in water and himself to its roots (Ver), symbolising their interconnected bond.
Rhetorical Question
“Nee idhazh moodi kuvindhirundhaal / Manam veesumoo”
The line asks whether a flower can emit fragrance if it keeps its petals tightly shut, urging emotional openness.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Poo ondru puyalodu / Kaikkorthu vaazhaadhu”
Juxtaposes a fragile flower (Poo) with a destructive storm (Puyal) to highlight incompatibility and emotional turmoil.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song features lyrics written by renowned lyricist Arivumathi, who frequently incorporates imagery inspired by classical Tamil Sangam literature (such as rivers merging into oceans and flowers interacting with elements) into modern film music.
Keep listening
More from Pudhiya Poovithu
Pudhiya Poovithu
Pudhiya Poovithu
Pudhiya Poovithu