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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Netru Vandhu

From Neengatha Ninaivu · 1963

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Neengatha Ninaivu
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
3 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Varuvadhu pol varum vandhu vandhu pogum
Sugam iruppadhu pol irukkum
Illaiyendru aagum illaiyendru aagum
Naetru vandhu indririndhu naalai pogum
Ingae nadanthathellaam mudindhu pona nadagam aagum
Naetru vandhu indririndhu naalai pogum
Ingae nadanthathellaam mudindhu pona nadagam aagum
Aada vandha naadagathai aadugindren
Naan paada vandha paadalaiyae paadugindren
Aada vandha naadagathai aadugindren
Naan paada vandha paadalaiyae paadugindren
Kooda vandha koottathilae paadhiyillaiyae
Kooda vandha koottathilae paadhiyillaiyae
Vaazhvai kooti kazhithu paarkaiyilae
Meedhiyillaiyae meedhiyillaiyae
Naetru vandhu indririndhu naalai pogum
Ingae nadanthathellaam mudindhu pona nadagam aagum
Vilakkilladha paadhaiyil vizhithu vizhithu paarkaiyil
Kizhakku maerku therivadhundo
Kaal nadakka therivadhundo
Vilakkilladha paadhaiyil vizhithu vizhithu paarkaiyil
Kizhakku maerku therivadhundo
Kaal nadakka therivadhundo
Thelivilladha mayakkathil
Ulaga vaazhkai medaiyil
Thelivilladha mayakkathil
Ulaga vaazhkai medaiyil
Manidhan aadum nadagathil
Mudhalum engae mudivum engae
Naetru vandhu indririndhu naalai pogum
Ingae nadanthathellaam mudindhu pona nadagam aagum
Naetru vandhu indririndhu naalai pogum
Ingae nadanthathellaam mudindhu pona nadagam aagum
It feels like it is coming, yet it only comes and goes,
happiness seems to be there,
only to turn into nothing, only to turn into nothing.
Arriving yesterday, staying today, and gone tomorrow,
all that happened here is just a play that has ended.
Arriving yesterday, staying today, and gone tomorrow,
all that happened here is just a play that has ended.
I act the drama I was meant to perform,
I sing the song I was meant to sing.
I act the drama I was meant to perform,
I sing the song I was meant to sing.
From the crowd that walked with me, half are gone,
From the crowd that walked with me, half are gone,
when calculating the sum of this life,
nothing remains, nothing remains.
Arriving yesterday, staying today, and gone tomorrow,
all that happened here is just a play that has ended.
On a dark path with no lamp, as I strain my eyes to see,
can east and west be told apart?
Do my feet know how to walk?
On a dark path with no lamp, as I strain my eyes to see,
can east and west be told apart?
Do my feet know how to walk?
Lost in this daze of confusion,
upon the stage of worldly life,
Lost in this daze of confusion,
upon the stage of worldly life,
in the play that man performs,
where is the beginning, and where is the end?
Arriving yesterday, staying today, and gone tomorrow,
all that happened here is just a play that has ended.
Arriving yesterday, staying today, and gone tomorrow,
all that happened here is just a play that has ended.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deep, existential meditation on the transient and illusory nature of human existence. It portrays life as a grand theatrical play where each person enters, performs their predestined role, and departs. Transient joy and human relationships fade over time; when a person reflects upon their life journey ('adding and subtracting'), they find no lasting material or emotional gain left behind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம் - Uruvagam)

“Ulaga vaazhkai medaiyil / Ingae nadanthathellaam mudindhu pona nadagam aagum”

Life is explicitly conceptualized as a theatrical stage ('medai') and human experiences as a finished play ('nadagam').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Aada vandha naadagathai / Naan paada vandha paadalaiyae”

The second consonant sound 'da' matches in 'Aada' and 'paada', creating a rhythmic flow in Tamil verse.

Repetition / Adukku Thodar (அடுக்குத் தொடர்)

“vandhu vandhu pogum / vizhithu vizhithu paarkaiyil”

Words like 'vandhu' and 'vizhithu' are repeated sequentially to emphasize duration, continuous action, and intensity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan, this song showcases lyricist Vaali's mastery over philosophical Tamil lyrics during the 1960s, heavily echoing classical Shakespearean 'all the world's a stage' themes tailored to South Indian cultural sensibilities.

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