Nizhal Thedi Vantha Idam
From Avalum Penthane · 1974
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Avalum Penthane1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu | The place sought for shade has turned into fire |
| Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu | The place sought for shade has turned into fire |
| Nee neer endru kudiththathingu nanjaanathu | What you drank thinking it was water has turned into poison here |
| Male | |
| Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu | The place sought for shade has turned into fire |
| Nee neer endru kudiththathingu nanjaanathu | What you drank thinking it was water has turned into poison here |
| Nanjaanathu…… | It has turned into poison... |
| Male | |
| Thaai endru ninaiththa manam peyaanathu | The heart that was thought to be a mother turned out to be a demon |
| Thaai endru ninaiththa manam peyaanathu | The heart that was thought to be a mother turned out to be a demon |
| Un penmaikku pennaethaan pagaiyaanathu | For your womanhood, another woman has become the enemy |
| Male | |
| Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu | The place sought for shade has turned into fire |
| Male | |
| Thanninamthaan thindru nee vaazhathu | One does not survive by preying on one's own kind |
| Antha thannalam sila perkku yaen vanthathu | Why did such selfishness arise in a few people? |
| Thanninamthaan thindru nee vaazhathu | One does not survive by preying on one's own kind |
| Antha thannalam sila perkku yaen vanthathu | Why did such selfishness arise in a few people? |
| Male | |
| Ponnaendrum poovendrum | Called gold, called a flower, |
| Annaiyin inam endrum | Called the gender of mothers, |
| Ponnaendrum poovendrum | Called gold, called a flower, |
| Annaiyin inam endrum | Called the gender of mothers, |
| Penninam per pettru ennaananthu | What became of womankind despite earning a great name? |
| Indru paavigal kai pattu punnaanathu | Today, touched by the hands of sinners, it has become wounded |
| Paavigal kai pattu punnaanathu | Touched by the hands of sinners, it has become wounded |
| Male | |
| Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu | The place sought for shade has turned into fire |
| Male | |
| Pennena piranthaalae perumpaavama | Is being born a woman such a great sin? |
| Idhu kanniyam illaatha samuthaayamaa | Is this a society devoid of dignity? |
| Pennena piranthaalae perumpaavama | Is being born a woman such a great sin? |
| Idhu kanniyam illaatha samuthaayamaa | Is this a society devoid of dignity? |
| Male | |
| Santhaiyil vilai pogum | Like the condition of livestock |
| Manthaiyin nilai polae | Being priced and sold at a market, |
| Santhaiyil vilai pogum | Like the condition of livestock |
| Manthaiyin nilai polae | Being priced and sold at a market, |
| Mangaiyai edai podum parithaabamaa | Is it tragic how a woman is weighed and evaluated? |
| Idhai maattridum edhirkaalam uruvaagumaa….. | Will a future arise that transforms this?... |
நிழல் தேடி வந்த இடம் நெருப்பானது
நிழல் தேடி வந்த இடம் நெருப்பானது
நீ நீர் என்று குடித்ததிங்கு நஞ்சானது
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
What you drank thinking it was water has turned into poison here
நிழல் தேடி வந்த இடம் நெருப்பானது
நீ நீர் என்று குடித்ததிங்கு நஞ்சானது
நஞ்சானது.....
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
What you drank thinking it was water has turned into poison here
It has turned into poison...
தாய் என்று நினைத்த மனம் பேயானது
தாய் என்று நினைத்த மனம் பேயானது
உன் பெண்மைக்கு பெண்ணேதான் பகையானது
பகையானது.....
The heart that was thought to be a mother turned out to be a demon
The heart that was thought to be a mother turned out to be a demon
For your womanhood, another woman has become the enemy
நிழல் தேடி வந்த இடம் நெருப்பானது
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
தன்னினம் தான் தின்று நீ வாழ்வது
அந்த தன்னலம் சில பேர்க்கு ஏன் வந்தது
தன்னினம் தான் தின்று நீ வாழ்வது
அந்த தன்னலம் சில பேர்க்கு ஏன் வந்தது
One does not survive by preying on one's own kind
Why did such selfishness arise in a few people?
One does not survive by preying on one's own kind
Why did such selfishness arise in a few people?
பொன்னென்றும் பூவென்றும்
அன்னையின் இனம் என்றும்
பொன்னென்றும் பூவென்றும்
அன்னையின் இனம் என்றும்
பெண்ணினம் பேர் பெற்று என்னானது
இன்று பாவிகள் கைப் பட்டு புண்ணானது
பாவிகள் கைப் பட்டு புண்ணானது
Called gold, called a flower,
Called the gender of mothers,
Called gold, called a flower,
Called the gender of mothers,
What became of womankind despite earning a great name?
Today, touched by the hands of sinners, it has become wounded
Touched by the hands of sinners, it has become wounded
நிழல் தேடி வந்த இடம் நெருப்பானது
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
பெண்ணென பிறந்தாலே பெரும் பாவமா
இது கண்ணியம் இல்லாத சமுதாயமா
பெண்ணென பிறந்தாலே பெரும் பாவமா
இது கண்ணியம் இல்லாத சமுதாயமா
Is being born a woman such a great sin?
Is this a society devoid of dignity?
Is being born a woman such a great sin?
Is this a society devoid of dignity?
சந்தையில் விலை போகும்
மந்தையின் நிலை போலே
சந்தையில் விலை போகும்
மந்தையின் நிலை போலே
மங்கையை எடை போடும் பரிதாபமா
இதை மாற்றிடும் எதிர்காலம் உருவாகுமா.......
Like the condition of livestock
Being priced and sold at a market,
Like the condition of livestock
Being priced and sold at a market,
Is it tragic how a woman is weighed and evaluated?
Will a future arise that transforms this?...
Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
Nee neer endru kudiththathingu nanjaanathu
What you drank thinking it was water has turned into poison here
Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
Nee neer endru kudiththathingu nanjaanathu
What you drank thinking it was water has turned into poison here
Nanjaanathu……
It has turned into poison...
Thaai endru ninaiththa manam peyaanathu
The heart that was thought to be a mother turned out to be a demon
Thaai endru ninaiththa manam peyaanathu
The heart that was thought to be a mother turned out to be a demon
Un penmaikku pennaethaan pagaiyaanathu
For your womanhood, another woman has become the enemy
Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
Thanninamthaan thindru nee vaazhathu
One does not survive by preying on one's own kind
Antha thannalam sila perkku yaen vanthathu
Why did such selfishness arise in a few people?
Thanninamthaan thindru nee vaazhathu
One does not survive by preying on one's own kind
Antha thannalam sila perkku yaen vanthathu
Why did such selfishness arise in a few people?
Ponnaendrum poovendrum
Called gold, called a flower,
Annaiyin inam endrum
Called the gender of mothers,
Ponnaendrum poovendrum
Called gold, called a flower,
Annaiyin inam endrum
Called the gender of mothers,
Penninam per pettru ennaananthu
What became of womankind despite earning a great name?
Indru paavigal kai pattu punnaanathu
Today, touched by the hands of sinners, it has become wounded
Paavigal kai pattu punnaanathu
Touched by the hands of sinners, it has become wounded
Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu
The place sought for shade has turned into fire
Pennena piranthaalae perumpaavama
Is being born a woman such a great sin?
Idhu kanniyam illaatha samuthaayamaa
Is this a society devoid of dignity?
Pennena piranthaalae perumpaavama
Is being born a woman such a great sin?
Idhu kanniyam illaatha samuthaayamaa
Is this a society devoid of dignity?
Santhaiyil vilai pogum
Like the condition of livestock
Manthaiyin nilai polae
Being priced and sold at a market,
Santhaiyil vilai pogum
Like the condition of livestock
Manthaiyin nilai polae
Being priced and sold at a market,
Mangaiyai edai podum parithaabamaa
Is it tragic how a woman is weighed and evaluated?
Idhai maattridum edhirkaalam uruvaagumaa…..
Will a future arise that transforms this?...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nizhal Thedi Vantha Idam' from the 1974 film 'Avalum Penthane' is a poignant philosophical lament on the suffering, betrayal, and social injustice faced by women. Sung with profound sorrow by P. B. Sreenivas, the song expresses the tragedy of a vulnerable woman seeking refuge and comfort (shade), only to find destruction (fire), betrayal, and toxic exploitation (poison). Lyricist Vaali exposes the hypocrisy of a society that reveres women poetically as flowers, gold, and mothers, yet subjects them to heartless commercialization and abuse. The song critiques the lack of empathy and dignity in human interactions and questions whether a compassionate future will ever emerge to deliver justice to women.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nizhal thedi vantha idam nerupaanathu”
Compares a place of safety or comfort (shade) turning into danger or destruction (fire).
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ponnaendrum / Annaiyin / Penninam”
The second letter 'n' (ன/ண்) rhymes across consecutive lines, providing metrical rhythm.
Simile (Upamai)
“Santhaiyil vilai pogum manthaiyin nilai polae”
Explicitly compares the commodification and degradation of women to cattle being priced and traded in a public market.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Pennena piranthaalae perumpaavama”
The initial 'P' sound repeats across 'Pennena', 'piranthaalae', and 'perumpaavama'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Avalum Penthane' (1974) is a Tamil social drama film directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar. The soundtrack was composed by V. Kumar, who was known for his melodious compositions in the 1960s and 1970s. Legendary playback singer P. B. Sreenivas delivered this emotionally charged song written by Vaali, reflecting the movie's core theme surrounding the plight and resilience of women in contemporary Indian society.
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