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Lyrics & meaning

Thaai Padinal Andru Naan

From Uthama Purushan · 1989

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Uthama Purushan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenMy mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaen aariro aariroToday I shall sing: lullaby, lullaby.
Vaan thoongalaam meen thoongalaamThe sky may sleep, the stars may sleep,
Unmai thoongaathae yae….But the truth never sleeps, hey...
Male
Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenMy mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaen aariro aariroToday I shall sing: lullaby, lullaby.
Vaan thoongalaam meen thoongalaamThe sky may sleep, the stars may sleep,
Unmai thoongaathae yae….But the truth never sleeps, hey...
Male
Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenMy mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaen aariro aariroToday I shall sing: lullaby, lullaby.
Male
Poomaalai tholil kondu en vaasal thediCarrying a flower garland on your shoulders, seeking my doorstep,
Neen vantha kolam endrum maaraathu podiThe graceful way you arrived will never change, go along girl.
Female :Pen paarththa pothu mann paarththa en vizhiFemale: When you came to see me as a bride, my shy eyes looked at the earth,
Thoongaamal thedum naal thorum un vazhiNow sleepless, they search for your path every single day.
Male :Un kannil yaenadi kanneerin kaaviriMale: Why is there a Kaveri river of tears in your eyes, my dear?
Female
Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenMy mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaen aariro aariroToday I shall sing: lullaby, lullaby.
Male :Vaan thoongalaam meen thoongalaamMale: The sky may sleep, the stars may sleep,
Unmai thoongaathae yae….Unmai thoongaathae yae...
Female :Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenFemale: My mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaenToday I shall sing...
Male :Aariro aariroMale: Lullaby, lullaby.
Male
Poiyaana saedhi ellaam meiyaaga thondrumFalse news and lies may appear as truth for a while,
Meiyaana saatchi vanthu aagaayam koorumBut the sky itself will come to bear true witness.
Female :Megangal mothi saayaathu sooriyanFemale: The sun will not tilt or fall even if clouds collide with it,
En vaanil neeyo thaeyaatha chandhiranIn my sky, you are the moon that never wanes.
Male :Koodaatha kaigalum orr naalil koodalaamMale: Hands that couldn't join today may come together one day.
Male
Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenMy mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaen aariro aariroToday I shall sing: lullaby, lullaby.
Female :Vaan thoongalaam meen thoongalaamFemale: The sky may sleep, the stars may sleep,
Unmai thoongaathae yae….Unmai thoongaathae yae...
Male :Thaai paadinaal andru naan thoonginaenMale: My mother sang back then, and I slept,
Indru naan paaduvaenToday I shall sing...
Female :Aariro aariroFemale: Lullaby, lullaby.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thaai Paadinaal from the 1989 film Uthama Purushan is a poignant track framed around the motif of a traditional Tamil lullaby ('aariro'). The song explores themes of maternal comfort, righteous truth, enduring romantic devotion, and hope amidst sorrow. The lead characters reflect on past memories—such as the innocence of childhood lullabies and the nostalgia of their initial meeting—while reassuring each other that falsehoods will fade and the absolute truth will ultimately triumph.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Vaan thoongalaam meen thoongalaam / Unmai thoongaathae

Attributes the human capability of sleeping to an abstract concept (truth - 'unmai') and natural elements (sky - 'vaan').

Metaphor

Un kannil yaenadi kanneerin kaaviri

Compares an overwhelming stream of tears to the mighty Kaveri river ('kanneerin kaaviri').

Metaphor

En vaanil neeyo thaeyaatha chandhiran

Compares the beloved husband to a moon that never shrinks or wanes ('thaeyaatha chandhiran').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Megangal mothi saayaathu sooriyan / En vaanil neeyo thaeyaatha chandhiran

Use of matching end sounds like 'sooriyan' and 'chandhiran' to create rhythmic poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the musical duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this track blends a tender lullaby motif with deep narrative dialogue. It is sung by the legendary playback duo S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra for the film Uthama Purushan (1989).

Keep listening

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