Nizhal Thedi Vandhen
From Pournami Alaigal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Pournami Alaigal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae | Even a withered flower bloomed afresh. |
| Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa | Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain! |
| Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa | Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot! |
| Male | |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae | Even a withered flower bloomed afresh. |
| Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa | Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain! |
| Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa | Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot! |
| Female | |
| Iru manam vaeraai | When two hearts remain distant, |
| Irukkindra vaelai | At such a time, |
| Thirumana vaazhkkai sirai vaasamae | Married life becomes a prison sentence. |
| Iru manam vaeraai irukkindra vaelai | When two hearts remain distant at such a time, |
| Thirumana vaazhkkai sirai vaasamae | Married life becomes a prison sentence. |
| Male | |
| Paalaiyil gangaiyaa solaiyil kaanalaa | Is it the Ganges in a desert or a mirage in a garden? |
| Paalaiyil gangaiyaa solaiyil kaanalaa | Is it the Ganges in a desert or a mirage in a garden? |
| Female | |
| Vaeridam maaralaam | We can move to another place, |
| Oridam saeralaam | We can unite in one place. |
| Vaeridam maaralaam | We can move to another place, |
| Oridam saeralaam | We can unite in one place. |
| Male | |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae | Even a withered flower bloomed afresh. |
| Female | |
| Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa | Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain! |
| Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa | Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot! |
| Male | |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Female | |
| Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae | Even a withered flower bloomed afresh. |
| Male | |
| Ilakkanam paarthaal ialakkiyam illai | If you strictly follow grammar, literature cannot exist; |
| Sagunangal paarthaal payanam illai | If you only watch for omens, there is no journey. |
| Ilakkanam paarthaal ialakkiyam illai | If you strictly follow grammar, literature cannot exist; |
| Sagunangal paarthaal payanam illai | If you only watch for omens, there is no journey. |
| Female | |
| Soozhnilai kaidhiyaai | Remaining as a prisoner of circumstances, |
| Vaazhvadhae needhiyaa | Is living like that true justice? |
| Soozhnilai kaidhiyaai | Remaining as a prisoner of circumstances, |
| Vaazhvadhae needhiyaa | Is living like that true justice? |
| Male | |
| Kaavalai meeruvom | We will defy the restrictions, |
| Kaadhalai paaduvom | We will sing of love. |
| Kaavalai meeruvom | We will defy the restrictions, |
| Kaadhalai paaduvom | We will sing of love. |
| Female | |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae | Even a withered flower bloomed afresh. |
| Male | |
| Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa | Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain! |
| Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa | Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot! |
| Female | |
| Nizhal thaedi vandhen | I came seeking a shadow, |
| Nijam ondru kanden | I discovered a truth. |
| Male | |
| Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae | Even a withered flower bloomed afresh. |
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
சருகான பூவும் மலரானது
மேகமே வா தேன் மழை தா
தென்றல் காற்றே தேர் கொண்டு வா
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
சருகான பூவும் மலரானது
மேகமே வா தேன் மழை தா
தென்றல் காற்றே தேர் கொண்டு வா
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
இரு மனம் வேறாய் இருக்கின்ற வேளை
திருமண வாழ்க்கை சிறை வாசமே
இரு மனம் வேறாய் இருக்கின்ற வேளை
திருமண வாழ்க்கை சிறை வாசமே
When two hearts remain distant,
At such a time,
Married life becomes a prison sentence.
When two hearts remain distant at such a time,
Married life becomes a prison sentence.
பாலையில் கங்கையா சோலையில் கானலா
பாலையில் கங்கையா சோலையில் கானலா
Is it the Ganges in a desert or a mirage in a garden?
Is it the Ganges in a desert or a mirage in a garden?
வேறிடம் மாறலாம் ஓரிடம் சேரலாம்
வேறிடம் மாறலாம் ஓரிடம் சேரலாம்
We can move to another place,
We can unite in one place.
We can move to another place,
We can unite in one place.
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
சருகான பூவும் மலரானது
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
மேகமே வா தேன் மழை தா
தென்றல் காற்றே தேர் கொண்டு வா
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
சருகான பூவும் மலரானது
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
இலக்கணம் பார்த்தால் இலக்கியம் இல்லை
சகுனங்கள் பார்த்தால் பயணம் இல்லை
இலக்கணம் பார்த்தால் இலக்கியம் இல்லை
சகுனங்கள் பார்த்தால் பயணம் இல்லை
If you strictly follow grammar, literature cannot exist;
If you only watch for omens, there is no journey.
If you strictly follow grammar, literature cannot exist;
If you only watch for omens, there is no journey.
சூழ்நிலைக் கைதியாய் வாழ்வதே நீதியா
சூழ்நிலைக் கைதியாய் வாழ்வதே நீதியா
Remaining as a prisoner of circumstances,
Is living like that true justice?
Remaining as a prisoner of circumstances,
Is living like that true justice?
காவலை மீறுவோம் காதலைப் பாடுவோம்
காவலை மீறுவோம் காதலைப் பாடுவோம்
We will defy the restrictions,
We will sing of love.
We will defy the restrictions,
We will sing of love.
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
சருகான பூவும் மலரானது
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
மேகமே வா தேன் மழை தா
தென்றல் காற்றே தேர் கொண்டு வா
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
நிழல் தேடி வந்தேன் நிஜம் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
I came seeking a shadow,
I discovered a truth.
சருகான பூவும் மலரானது...
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
Iru manam vaeraai
When two hearts remain distant,
Irukkindra vaelai
At such a time,
Thirumana vaazhkkai sirai vaasamae
Married life becomes a prison sentence.
Iru manam vaeraai irukkindra vaelai
When two hearts remain distant at such a time,
Thirumana vaazhkkai sirai vaasamae
Married life becomes a prison sentence.
Paalaiyil gangaiyaa solaiyil kaanalaa
Is it the Ganges in a desert or a mirage in a garden?
Paalaiyil gangaiyaa solaiyil kaanalaa
Is it the Ganges in a desert or a mirage in a garden?
Vaeridam maaralaam
We can move to another place,
Oridam saeralaam
We can unite in one place.
Vaeridam maaralaam
We can move to another place,
Oridam saeralaam
We can unite in one place.
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Ilakkanam paarthaal ialakkiyam illai
If you strictly follow grammar, literature cannot exist;
Sagunangal paarthaal payanam illai
If you only watch for omens, there is no journey.
Ilakkanam paarthaal ialakkiyam illai
If you strictly follow grammar, literature cannot exist;
Sagunangal paarthaal payanam illai
If you only watch for omens, there is no journey.
Soozhnilai kaidhiyaai
Remaining as a prisoner of circumstances,
Vaazhvadhae needhiyaa
Is living like that true justice?
Soozhnilai kaidhiyaai
Remaining as a prisoner of circumstances,
Vaazhvadhae needhiyaa
Is living like that true justice?
Kaavalai meeruvom
We will defy the restrictions,
Kaadhalai paaduvom
We will sing of love.
Kaavalai meeruvom
We will defy the restrictions,
Kaadhalai paaduvom
We will sing of love.
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Megamae vaa thaen mazhai thaa
Oh cloud, come and shower honeyed rain!
Thendral kaatrae thaer kondu vaa
Oh gentle breeze, bring along a chariot!
Nizhal thaedi vandhen
I came seeking a shadow,
Nijam ondru kanden
I discovered a truth.
Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae
Even a withered flower bloomed afresh.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nizhal Thaedi Vandhen expresses the profound emotional revival brought about by true love. The narrator describes setting out in search of temporary comfort or an illusion (shadow), only to discover a genuine, transformative reality (truth). This unexpected awakening is poetically portrayed as a withered flower springing back into full bloom.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nizhal thaedi vandhen / Nijam ondru kanden”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ni' in 'Nizhal' and 'Nijam'.
Metaphor
“Sarugaana poovum malaraanadhae”
Compares a broken, lifeless heart to a dried leaf or withered flower that miraculously blooms again.
Contrast / Paradox
“Paalaiyil gangaiyaa solaiyil kaanalaa”
Juxtaposes the unlikely abundance of river Ganges in a desert against a mirage in a fertile grove.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Kaavalai meeruvom / Kaadhalai paaduvom”
Matching ending rhymes ('meeruvom' and 'paaduvom') creating rhythmic musical harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song lyrics were written by Pulamaipithan for the 1985 movie Pournami Alaigal. Pulamaipithan was renowned for infusing philosophical commentary and classical literary analogies into Tamil film songs.
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