Nethu Varai
From Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| ……………….. | |
| Male | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Nee irunthaalum | you might have been, |
| Kandu kolla maattaenae | I will not mind it at all, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Aa…neththu varai yaaroda | Ah... with whomever until yesterday |
| Nee irunthaalum | you might have been, |
| Kandu kolla maattaenae | I will not mind it at all, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Ippa nee enkooda irukkuraththuthaanae | Right now, you are with me, aren't you? |
| Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae | Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you? |
| Male | |
| Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi | Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Adhu oththu kollu oththukollu | So accept it and agree, |
| Chinna pombalai | oh little girl. |
| Male | |
| Aa…neththu varai yaaroda | Ah... with whomever until yesterday |
| Nee irunthaalum | you might have been, |
| Kandu kolla maattaenae | I will not mind it at all, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Poovaa en maela nee saanjaa | If you lean on me like a gentle flower, |
| Bhoomi thannaala saanjaadum | the earth itself will tilt and sway. |
| Female :Bhoomi ingae adhu needhaanae | Female: You yourself are the earth here, |
| Poovaa pooththaen naan unmaela | I have blossomed like a flower upon you. |
| Male | |
| Vaadi themmaangu nee paadu | Come, sing a folk song, |
| Vaadai kaaththukku nee jodi | you are the ideal companion to the chilly northern wind. |
| Female | |
| Vannamayil kumgumaththil neeraadi | The colorful peacock, bathed in vermilion, |
| Un vaasalukku vanthirukkum en saami | has arrived at your doorstep, my lord. |
| En mannanukku sangathiya sollaatti | If I do not express my heart to my king, |
| Ada yaarukitta povaa un seemaatti | who else will your lady turn to? |
| Male | |
| Anthiyila vaikkum panthi idhu illa | This is not a feast served at dusk, |
| Mundhi atha thanthaa santhanamum illa | and giving it ahead of time yields no sandalwood paste. |
| Sangu chakkara saami chakkara | The divine conch and wheel of the Almighty, |
| Pangu vaikkura rompa akkarai | share everything with deep care. |
| Female | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Naan irunthalun | I might have been, |
| Adhai maranthu ponaen | I have forgotten it completely |
| En machchaan munnaala | in front of my beloved. |
| Male | |
| Ippa nee enkooda irukkuraththuthaanae | Right now, you are with me, aren't you? |
| Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae | Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you? |
| Unmai idhu unmai idhu | This is true, this is true, |
| Chinna machchaanae | my dear young man. |
| Oththukkondaen oththukkondaen | I accept it, I accept it, |
| Karuththa machchaanae | my dark-complexioned beloved. |
| Female | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Naan irunthalun | I might have been, |
| Adhai maranthu ponaen | I have forgotten it completely |
| En machchaan munnaala | in front of my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Keni thanneerum aaththoda | Well water does not flow into the river |
| Thaanaa pogaathu en maamaa | on its own, my dear uncle. |
| Male :Oodai thanneerum oru naalum | Male: Stream water never, on any day, |
| Oruththan nilaththila paayaathu | flows into just one person's field alone. |
| Female | |
| Paaththaa en thaagam theeraathu | Just gazing will not quench my thirst, |
| Kai saerththaa un aasai maaraathu | joining hands will not alter your desire. |
| Male | |
| Paattukku pakka maelam neethaandi | You are the rhythm and accompaniment to my song, |
| En koottukku pen jodi neethaandi | you are the female mate to my nest. |
| Kaattukku kattila kondaadi | Celebrating a bed in the wild woods, |
| Ada veettukku thottilae vendamdi | hey, who needs a cradle in a house? |
| Female | |
| Santhaiyila paarththa santhanaththu thaerae | A sandalwood chariot seen in the marketplace, |
| En singaththukku naanae seeru onnu thaaraen | I myself will present a grand feast for my lion. |
| Sangu chakkara saami chakkara | The divine conch and wheel of the Almighty, |
| Pangu vaikkura rompa akkarai | share everything with deep care. |
| Male | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Nee irunthaalum | you might have been, |
| Kandu kolla maattaenae | I will not mind it at all, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Nee irunthaalum | you might have been, |
| Kandu kolla maattaenae | I will not mind it at all, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Male | |
| Ippa nee enkooda irukkuraththuthaanae | Right now, you are with me, aren't you? |
| Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae | Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you? |
| Male | |
| Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi | Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Adhu oththu kollu oththukollu | So accept it and agree, |
| Chinna pombalai aa…. | oh little girl, ah... |
| Male | |
| Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi | Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true, |
| Kanni pombalai | oh young maiden. |
| Adhu oththu kollu oththukollu | So accept it and agree, |
| Chinna pombalai aah…. | oh little girl, ah... |
| Female | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Naan irunthalun | I might have been, |
| Male :Hae hae | Male: Hey hey! |
| Female :Adhai maranthu ponaen | Female: I have forgotten it completely |
| En machchaan munnaala | in front of my beloved. |
| Male :Thinathakkada | Male: Thinathakkada! |
| Female | |
| Neththu varai yaaroda | With whomever until yesterday |
| Naan irunthalun | I might have been, |
| Male :Hae hae | Male: Hey hey! |
| Female :Adhai maranthu ponaen | Female: I have forgotten it completely |
| En machchaan munnaala | in front of my beloved. |
............................
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நீ இருந்தாலும்
கண்டு கொள்ள மாட்டேனே
கன்னி பொம்பளை
With whomever until yesterday
you might have been,
I will not mind it at all,
oh young maiden.
ஆ....நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நீ இருந்தாலும்
கண்டு கொள்ள மாட்டேனே
கன்னி பொம்பளை
Ah... with whomever until yesterday
you might have been,
I will not mind it at all,
oh young maiden.
இப்ப நீ என் கூட இருக்குறதுதானே
செப்பு குடம் போல சிரிக்குறதுதானே
Right now, you are with me, aren't you?
Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you?
அட உண்மையடி உண்மையடி
கன்னி பொம்பளை
அது ஒத்து கொள்ளு ஒத்து கொள்ளு
சின்ன பொம்பளை
Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true,
oh young maiden.
So accept it and agree,
oh little girl.
அட உண்மையடி உண்மையடி
கன்னி பொம்பளை
அது ஒத்து கொள்ளு ஒத்து கொள்ளு
சின்ன பொம்பளை
Ah... with whomever until yesterday
you might have been,
I will not mind it at all,
oh young maiden.
ஆ....நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நீ இருந்தாலும்
கண்டு கொள்ள மாட்டேனே
கன்னி பொம்பளை
If you lean on me like a gentle flower,
the earth itself will tilt and sway.
Female: You yourself are the earth here,
I have blossomed like a flower upon you.
பூவா என் மேல நீ சாஞ்சா
பூமி தன்னால சாஞ்சாடும்
பூமி இங்கே அது நீதானே
பூவா பூத்தேன் நான் உன்மேல
Come, sing a folk song,
you are the ideal companion to the chilly northern wind.
வாடி தெம்மாங்கு நீ பாடு
வாடை காத்துக்கு நீ ஜோடி
The colorful peacock, bathed in vermilion,
has arrived at your doorstep, my lord.
If I do not express my heart to my king,
who else will your lady turn to?
வண்ணமயில் கும்குமத்தில் நீராடி
உன் வாசலுக்கு வந்திருக்கு என் சாமி
என் மன்னனுக்கு சங்கதிய சொல்லாட்டி
அட யாருகிட்ட போவா உன் சீமாட்டி
This is not a feast served at dusk,
and giving it ahead of time yields no sandalwood paste.
The divine conch and wheel of the Almighty,
share everything with deep care.
அந்தியில வைக்கும் பந்தி இது இல்ல
முந்தி அத தந்தா சந்தனமும் இல்ல
சங்கு சக்கர சாமி சக்கர
பங்கு வைக்குற ரொம்ப அக்கறை
With whomever until yesterday
I might have been,
I have forgotten it completely
in front of my beloved.
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நான் இருந்தாலும்
அதை மறந்து போனேன்
என் மச்சான் முன்னால
Right now, you are with me, aren't you?
Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you?
This is true, this is true,
my dear young man.
I accept it, I accept it,
my dark-complexioned beloved.
இப்ப நீ என் கூட இருக்குறதுதானே
செப்பு குடம் போல சிரிக்குறதுதானே
உண்மை இது உண்மை இது
சின்ன மச்சானே
ஒத்துக்கொண்டேன் ஒத்துக்கொண்டேன்
கருத்த மச்சானே
With whomever until yesterday
I might have been,
I have forgotten it completely
in front of my beloved.
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நான் இருந்தாலும்
அதை மறந்து போனேன்
என் மச்சான் முன்னால
Well water does not flow into the river
on its own, my dear uncle.
Male: Stream water never, on any day,
flows into just one person's field alone.
..........................
Just gazing will not quench my thirst,
joining hands will not alter your desire.
கேணி தண்ணீரும் ஆத்தோட
தானா போகாது என் மாமா
ஓடை தண்ணீரும் ஒரு நாளும்
ஒருத்தன் நிலத்தில பாயாது
You are the rhythm and accompaniment to my song,
you are the female mate to my nest.
Celebrating a bed in the wild woods,
hey, who needs a cradle in a house?
பாத்தா என் தாகம் தீராது
கை சேர்த்தா உன் ஆசை மாறாது
A sandalwood chariot seen in the marketplace,
I myself will present a grand feast for my lion.
The divine conch and wheel of the Almighty,
share everything with deep care.
பாட்டுக்கு பக்க மேளம் நீதான்டி
என் கூட்டுக்கு பெண் ஜோடி நீதான்டி
காட்டுக்கு கட்டில கொண்டாடி
அட வீட்டுக்கு தொட்டிலே வேண்டாம்டி
With whomever until yesterday
you might have been,
I will not mind it at all,
oh young maiden.
சந்தையில பார்த்த சந்தனத்து தேரே
என் சிங்கத்துக்கு நானே சீரு ஒன்னு தாரேன்
சங்கு சக்கர சாமி சக்கர
பங்கு வைக்குற ரொம்ப அக்கறை
With whomever until yesterday
you might have been,
I will not mind it at all,
oh young maiden.
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நீ இருந்தாலும்
ஆஹ் கண்டு கொள்ள மாட்டேனே
கன்னி பொம்பளை
Right now, you are with me, aren't you?
Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you?
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நீ இருந்தாலும்
கண்டு கொள்ள மாட்டேனே
கன்னி பொம்பளை
Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true,
oh young maiden.
So accept it and agree,
oh little girl, ah...
இப்ப நீ என் கூட இருக்குறதுதானே
செப்பு குடம் போல சிரிக்குறதுதானே
Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true,
oh young maiden.
So accept it and agree,
oh little girl, ah...
அட உண்மையடி உண்மையடி
கன்னி பொம்பளை
அது ஒத்து கொள்ளு ஒத்து கொள்ளு
சின்ன பொம்பளை ஆ.....
With whomever until yesterday
I might have been,
Male: Hey hey!
Female: I have forgotten it completely
in front of my beloved.
Male: Thinathakkada!
அட உண்மையடி உண்மையடி
கன்னி பொம்பளை
அது ஒத்து கொள்ளு ஒத்து கொள்ளு
சின்ன பொம்பளை ஆஹ்...
With whomever until yesterday
I might have been,
Male: Hey hey!
Female: I have forgotten it completely
in front of my beloved.
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நான் இருந்தாலும்
ஹே ஹே
அதை மறந்து போனேன்
என் மச்சான் முன்னால
தினக்தக்கட
நேத்து வரை யாரோட
நான் இருந்தாலும்
ஹே ஹே
அதை மறந்து போனேன்
என் மச்சான் முன்னால
………………..
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Nee irunthaalum
you might have been,
Kandu kolla maattaenae
I will not mind it at all,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Aa…neththu varai yaaroda
Ah... with whomever until yesterday
Nee irunthaalum
you might have been,
Kandu kolla maattaenae
I will not mind it at all,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Ippa nee enkooda irukkuraththuthaanae
Right now, you are with me, aren't you?
Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae
Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you?
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi
Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Adhu oththu kollu oththukollu
So accept it and agree,
Chinna pombalai
oh little girl.
Aa…neththu varai yaaroda
Ah... with whomever until yesterday
Nee irunthaalum
you might have been,
Kandu kolla maattaenae
I will not mind it at all,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Poovaa en maela nee saanjaa
If you lean on me like a gentle flower,
Bhoomi thannaala saanjaadum
the earth itself will tilt and sway.
Female :Bhoomi ingae adhu needhaanae
Female: You yourself are the earth here,
Poovaa pooththaen naan unmaela
I have blossomed like a flower upon you.
Vaadi themmaangu nee paadu
Come, sing a folk song,
Vaadai kaaththukku nee jodi
you are the ideal companion to the chilly northern wind.
Vannamayil kumgumaththil neeraadi
The colorful peacock, bathed in vermilion,
Un vaasalukku vanthirukkum en saami
has arrived at your doorstep, my lord.
En mannanukku sangathiya sollaatti
If I do not express my heart to my king,
Ada yaarukitta povaa un seemaatti
who else will your lady turn to?
Anthiyila vaikkum panthi idhu illa
This is not a feast served at dusk,
Mundhi atha thanthaa santhanamum illa
and giving it ahead of time yields no sandalwood paste.
Sangu chakkara saami chakkara
The divine conch and wheel of the Almighty,
Pangu vaikkura rompa akkarai
share everything with deep care.
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Naan irunthalun
I might have been,
Adhai maranthu ponaen
I have forgotten it completely
En machchaan munnaala
in front of my beloved.
Ippa nee enkooda irukkuraththuthaanae
Right now, you are with me, aren't you?
Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae
Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you?
Unmai idhu unmai idhu
This is true, this is true,
Chinna machchaanae
my dear young man.
Oththukkondaen oththukkondaen
I accept it, I accept it,
Karuththa machchaanae
my dark-complexioned beloved.
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Naan irunthalun
I might have been,
Adhai maranthu ponaen
I have forgotten it completely
En machchaan munnaala
in front of my beloved.
Keni thanneerum aaththoda
Well water does not flow into the river
Thaanaa pogaathu en maamaa
on its own, my dear uncle.
Male :Oodai thanneerum oru naalum
Male: Stream water never, on any day,
Oruththan nilaththila paayaathu
flows into just one person's field alone.
Paaththaa en thaagam theeraathu
Just gazing will not quench my thirst,
Kai saerththaa un aasai maaraathu
joining hands will not alter your desire.
Paattukku pakka maelam neethaandi
You are the rhythm and accompaniment to my song,
En koottukku pen jodi neethaandi
you are the female mate to my nest.
Kaattukku kattila kondaadi
Celebrating a bed in the wild woods,
Ada veettukku thottilae vendamdi
hey, who needs a cradle in a house?
Santhaiyila paarththa santhanaththu thaerae
A sandalwood chariot seen in the marketplace,
En singaththukku naanae seeru onnu thaaraen
I myself will present a grand feast for my lion.
Sangu chakkara saami chakkara
The divine conch and wheel of the Almighty,
Pangu vaikkura rompa akkarai
share everything with deep care.
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Nee irunthaalum
you might have been,
Kandu kolla maattaenae
I will not mind it at all,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Nee irunthaalum
you might have been,
Kandu kolla maattaenae
I will not mind it at all,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Ippa nee enkooda irukkuraththuthaanae
Right now, you are with me, aren't you?
Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae
Smiling brightly like a polished copper pot, aren't you?
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi
Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Adhu oththu kollu oththukollu
So accept it and agree,
Chinna pombalai aa….
oh little girl, ah...
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi
Ah, it is true, my girl, it is true,
Kanni pombalai
oh young maiden.
Adhu oththu kollu oththukollu
So accept it and agree,
Chinna pombalai aah….
oh little girl, ah...
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Naan irunthalun
I might have been,
Male :Hae hae
Male: Hey hey!
Female :Adhai maranthu ponaen
Female: I have forgotten it completely
En machchaan munnaala
in front of my beloved.
Male :Thinathakkada
Male: Thinathakkada!
Neththu varai yaaroda
With whomever until yesterday
Naan irunthalun
I might have been,
Male :Hae hae
Male: Hey hey!
Female :Adhai maranthu ponaen
Female: I have forgotten it completely
En machchaan munnaala
in front of my beloved.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a lively and affectionate rural folk duet between two lovers expressing their unconditional acceptance and mutual devotion. The male lead begins by reassuring his lover that her past does not matter to him—what matters is that she is with him now, radiating joy like a gleaming copper vessel. In response, the female lead affirms that standing before her beloved makes her forget everything from the past, describing her deep adoration for him. The couple exchanges playful, flirtatious verses filled with traditional Tamil rural imagery, comparing their bond to flowers blooming on the earth, streams feeding fields, and musical instruments providing accompaniment. Written with folk rhythms and colloquial warmth by Gangai Amaran, the song highlights forgiving love, romantic banter, and the joy of shared companionship.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai Ani)
“Cheppu kudam pola sirikkurathuthaanae”
Compares the heroine's bright, shining smile directly to a polished copper pot (cheppu kudam).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vannamayil kumgumaththil neeraadi”
Metaphorically addresses the female lover as a colorful peacock that has bathed in auspicious vermilion (kumkum).
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Poovaa en maela nee saanjaa / Bhoomi thannaala saanjaadum”
The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines to create a melodious rhythmic flow.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Sangu chakkara saami chakkara / Pangu vaikkura rompa akkarai”
The repetition of initial consonant sounds ('S', 'Ch') builds a rhythmic beat characteristic of Tamil folk poetry.
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Trivia
'Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal' (1985) is a Tamil film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Balu Mahendra, starring Rajinikanth and Sripriya. The film's soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. This specific track showcases Ilaiyaraaja's mastery of blending authentic Tamil folk melodies (Themmaangu) with playful, rhythmic orchestration.
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