Nizhalo Nijamo
From Paadum Paravaigal · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Paadum Paravaigal1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ahahaa… ahahaa… | Ahahaa… ahahaa… |
| Aha haahaa haahaa | Aha haahaa haahaa |
| Female | |
| Nizhalo nijamo | Is it a shadow or reality? |
| Endru poraattamo | Such a constant struggle! |
| Nizhalo nijamo | Is it a shadow or reality? |
| Endru poraattamo | Such a constant struggle! |
| Dhisai illai vazhi illai | There is no direction, there is no way |
| Idhil thaerottamo | In this, is there a chariot procession? |
| Nizhalo nijamo | Is it a shadow or reality? |
| Endru poraattamo | Such a constant struggle! |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Female | |
| Dhisaiyai thaedi thavikkindren | I am struggling, searching for direction |
| Siragai thaedi parakkindren | I am searching for wings to fly |
| Kanneeril neeraadinen | I bathed in tears |
| Dhisaiyai thaedi thavikkindren | I am struggling, searching for direction |
| Siragai thaedi parakkindren | I am searching for wings to fly |
| Kanneeril neeraadinen | I bathed in tears |
| Female | |
| Poovil potta manjam angae | Over there lies a bed made of flowers |
| Mullil seidha paadhai ingae | Here lies a path made of thorns |
| Dharmam ingu tholvi kandaal | If righteousness suffers defeat here |
| Kelvi ketka dheivam engae | Where is God to question it? |
| Vaadai kaatru vandhaalum | Even if the chilly north wind blows |
| Manadhil bayamae ezhumae | Only fear arises in the heart |
| Female | |
| Nizhalo nijamo | Is it a shadow or reality? |
| Endru poraattamo | Such a constant struggle! |
| Haaaa…..aaa………. | Haaaa…..aaa.......... |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………… | |
| Male | |
| Sarigama garigaa | Sarigama garigaa |
| Female :Haaa….. | Female: Haaa….. |
| Male :Garisani sarigaa | Male: Garisani sarigaa |
| Female :Haa….. | Female: Haa….. |
| Male :Garisani sarigari | Male: Garisani sarigari |
| Gamagari gamapadha pamagari | Gamagari gamapadha pamagari |
| Gamagari gamapadha pamagari | Gamagari gamapadha pamagari |
| Sasasaa sasasasaa sasasaa sasasasaa | Sasasaa sasasasaa sasasaa sasasasaa |
| Female | |
| Maranathin vaadai adikkindradhae | The stench of death is blowing |
| Mangaiyin nenjam thudikkindradhae | The young woman's heart is beating in distress |
| Boogambam undaanadhae | An earthquake has occurred |
| Maranathin vaadai adikkindradhae | The stench of death is blowing |
| Mangaiyin nenjam thudikkindradhae | The young woman's heart is beating in distress |
| Boogambam undaanadhae | An earthquake has occurred |
| Female | |
| Vaazhvai thaedi vandhom ingae | We came here searching for life |
| Saavu nammai thaedum ingae | Here death comes searching for us |
| Kanni maanai kaattil paarthu | Seeing a innocent deer in the forest |
| Kanni vaitha vedan engae | Where is the hunter who set the trap? |
| Endha neram ennaagum | What will happen at any moment? |
| Dhinamae kalangum manamae | The mind grieves every single day |
| Female | |
| NizhaloChorus :Haa….aaa… | Shadow... Chorus: Haa....aaa... |
| Female :NijamoChorus :Haaa…..aaa… | Female: Reality... Chorus: Haaa.....aaa... |
| Female :Endru poraattamo | Female: Such a constant struggle! |
| Chorus :Haaa…..aaa….aaa….aa…. | Chorus: Haaa…..aaa….aaa….aa…. |
| Female :Dhisai illai vazhi illai | Female: There is no direction, there is no way |
| Idhil thaerottamo | In this, is there a chariot procession? |
| Female | |
| NizhaloChorus :Haa….aaa… | Shadow... Chorus: Haa....aaa... |
| Female :NijamoChorus :Haaa…..aaa… | Female: Reality... Chorus: Haaa.....aaa... |
| Female :Endru poraattamo | Female: Such a constant struggle! |
| Haa…aaa….aaa………………………. | Haa…aaa….aaa………………………. |
ஆஹாஹா....அஹாஹா......
ஆஹா ஹாஹா ஹாஹா
Ahahaa… ahahaa…
Aha haahaa haahaa
நிழலோ நிஜமோ
என்று போராட்டமோ
நிழலோ நிஜமோ
என்று போராட்டமோ
திசையில்லை வழியில்லை
இதில் தேரோட்டமோ
நிழலோ நிஜமோ
என்று போராட்டமோ.....
Is it a shadow or reality?
Such a constant struggle!
Is it a shadow or reality?
Such a constant struggle!
There is no direction, there is no way
In this, is there a chariot procession?
Is it a shadow or reality?
Such a constant struggle!
..............................................
திசையை தேடி தவிக்கின்றேன்
சிறகை தேடி பறக்கின்றேன்
கண்ணீரில் நீராடினேன்
திசையை தேடி தவிக்கின்றேன்
சிறகை தேடி பறக்கின்றேன்
கண்ணீரில் நீராடினேன்
I am struggling, searching for direction
I am searching for wings to fly
I bathed in tears
I am struggling, searching for direction
I am searching for wings to fly
I bathed in tears
பூவில் போட்ட மஞ்சம் அங்கே
முள்ளில் செய்த பாதை இங்கே
தர்மம் இங்கு தோல்வி கண்டால்
கேள்வி கேட்க தெய்வம் எங்கே
வாடை காற்று வந்தாலும்
மனதில் பயமே எழுமே
Over there lies a bed made of flowers
Here lies a path made of thorns
If righteousness suffers defeat here
Where is God to question it?
Even if the chilly north wind blows
Only fear arises in the heart
நிழலோ நிஜமோ
என்று போராட்டமோ
ஹா......ஆஅ.....
Is it a shadow or reality?
Such a constant struggle!
Haaaa…..aaa..........
..............................
ஸரிகமகரிக
ஹா.......
கரிஸநி சரிகம
ஹா.....
கரிஸநி சரிகரி
கமகரி கமபத பமகரி
கமகரி கமபத பமகரி
ஸஸஸா ஸஸஸஸா ஸஸஸா ஸஸஸஸா
Sarigama garigaa
Female: Haaa…..
Male: Garisani sarigaa
Female: Haa…..
Male: Garisani sarigari
Gamagari gamapadha pamagari
Gamagari gamapadha pamagari
Sasasaa sasasasaa sasasaa sasasasaa
மரணத்தின் வாடை அடிக்கின்றதே
மங்கையின் நெஞ்சம் துடிக்கின்றதே
பூகம்பம் உண்டானதே......
மரணத்தின் வாடை அடிக்கின்றதே
மங்கையின் நெஞ்சம் துடிக்கின்றதே
பூகம்பம் உண்டானதே......
The stench of death is blowing
The young woman's heart is beating in distress
An earthquake has occurred
The stench of death is blowing
The young woman's heart is beating in distress
An earthquake has occurred
வாழ்வை தேடி வந்தோம் இங்கே
சாவு நம்மை தேடும் இங்கே
கன்னி மானைக் காட்டில் பார்த்து
கண்ணி வைத்த வேடன் எங்கே
இந்த நேரம் என்னாகும்
தினமே கலங்கும் மனமே
We came here searching for life
Here death comes searching for us
Seeing a innocent deer in the forest
Where is the hunter who set the trap?
What will happen at any moment?
The mind grieves every single day
நிழலோ
குழு :
ஹா....ஆஅ.....
நிஜமோ
குழு :
ஹா....ஆஅ.....
என்று போராட்டமோ
குழு :
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆ....
திசையில்லை வழியில்லை
இதில் தேரோட்டமோ
Shadow... Chorus: Haa....aaa...
Female: Reality... Chorus: Haaa.....aaa...
Female: Such a constant struggle!
Chorus: Haaa…..aaa….aaa….aa….
Female: There is no direction, there is no way
In this, is there a chariot procession?
நிழலோ
குழு :
ஹா....ஆஅ.....
நிஜமோ
குழு :
ஹா....ஆஅ.....
என்று போராட்டமோ
ஹா....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆ....
Shadow... Chorus: Haa....aaa...
Female: Reality... Chorus: Haaa.....aaa...
Female: Such a constant struggle!
Haa…aaa….aaa……………………….
Ahahaa… ahahaa…
Ahahaa… ahahaa…
Aha haahaa haahaa
Aha haahaa haahaa
Nizhalo nijamo
Is it a shadow or reality?
Endru poraattamo
Such a constant struggle!
Nizhalo nijamo
Is it a shadow or reality?
Endru poraattamo
Such a constant struggle!
Dhisai illai vazhi illai
There is no direction, there is no way
Idhil thaerottamo
In this, is there a chariot procession?
Nizhalo nijamo
Is it a shadow or reality?
Endru poraattamo
Such a constant struggle!
………………………..
Dhisaiyai thaedi thavikkindren
I am struggling, searching for direction
Siragai thaedi parakkindren
I am searching for wings to fly
Kanneeril neeraadinen
I bathed in tears
Dhisaiyai thaedi thavikkindren
I am struggling, searching for direction
Siragai thaedi parakkindren
I am searching for wings to fly
Kanneeril neeraadinen
I bathed in tears
Poovil potta manjam angae
Over there lies a bed made of flowers
Mullil seidha paadhai ingae
Here lies a path made of thorns
Dharmam ingu tholvi kandaal
If righteousness suffers defeat here
Kelvi ketka dheivam engae
Where is God to question it?
Vaadai kaatru vandhaalum
Even if the chilly north wind blows
Manadhil bayamae ezhumae
Only fear arises in the heart
Nizhalo nijamo
Is it a shadow or reality?
Endru poraattamo
Such a constant struggle!
Haaaa…..aaa……….
Haaaa…..aaa..........
………………………
Sarigama garigaa
Sarigama garigaa
Female :Haaa…..
Female: Haaa…..
Male :Garisani sarigaa
Male: Garisani sarigaa
Female :Haa…..
Female: Haa…..
Male :Garisani sarigari
Male: Garisani sarigari
Gamagari gamapadha pamagari
Gamagari gamapadha pamagari
Gamagari gamapadha pamagari
Gamagari gamapadha pamagari
Sasasaa sasasasaa sasasaa sasasasaa
Sasasaa sasasasaa sasasaa sasasasaa
Maranathin vaadai adikkindradhae
The stench of death is blowing
Mangaiyin nenjam thudikkindradhae
The young woman's heart is beating in distress
Boogambam undaanadhae
An earthquake has occurred
Maranathin vaadai adikkindradhae
The stench of death is blowing
Mangaiyin nenjam thudikkindradhae
The young woman's heart is beating in distress
Boogambam undaanadhae
An earthquake has occurred
Vaazhvai thaedi vandhom ingae
We came here searching for life
Saavu nammai thaedum ingae
Here death comes searching for us
Kanni maanai kaattil paarthu
Seeing a innocent deer in the forest
Kanni vaitha vedan engae
Where is the hunter who set the trap?
Endha neram ennaagum
What will happen at any moment?
Dhinamae kalangum manamae
The mind grieves every single day
NizhaloChorus :Haa….aaa…
Shadow... Chorus: Haa....aaa...
Female :NijamoChorus :Haaa…..aaa…
Female: Reality... Chorus: Haaa.....aaa...
Female :Endru poraattamo
Female: Such a constant struggle!
Chorus :Haaa…..aaa….aaa….aa….
Chorus: Haaa…..aaa….aaa….aa….
Female :Dhisai illai vazhi illai
Female: There is no direction, there is no way
Idhil thaerottamo
In this, is there a chariot procession?
NizhaloChorus :Haa….aaa…
Shadow... Chorus: Haa....aaa...
Female :NijamoChorus :Haaa…..aaa…
Female: Reality... Chorus: Haaa.....aaa...
Female :Endru poraattamo
Female: Such a constant struggle!
Haa…aaa….aaa……………………….
Haa…aaa….aaa……………………….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nizhalo Nijamo from the 1985 movie Paadum Paravaigal is a poignant and emotionally intense track exploring themes of angst, uncertainty, and existential fear. The song captures the internal conflict of the protagonist who is trapped between illusion and reality, unable to find direction or solace in life. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses powerful metaphors to depict deep emotional pain, questioning divine justice in the face of suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nizhalo nijamo”
Repetition of the initial consonant-vowel sound 'Ni' in 'Nizhalo' and 'nijamo'.
Muran (Contrast / Antithesis)
“Poovil potta manjam angae / Mullil seidha paadhai ingae”
Striking contrast drawn between a comfortable flower bed over there ('Poovil potta manjam') and a painful path of thorns here ('Mullil seidha paadhai').
Metaphor
“Maranathin vaadai adikkindradhae”
Death is metaphorically described as blowing like a wind carrying a distinct scent or aura.
Did you know?
Trivia
Paadum Paravaigal (1985) features lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song vividly uses classical swara improvisations to elevate the tragic and tense mood of the situation portrayed on screen.
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