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Thaai Naadu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thaalam Thatti Paada

From Thaai Naadu · 1989

Lyricist
Aabavanan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Movie name
Thaai Naadu
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
19 Jan 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaalam thatti paada vanthaen
Devan unnai theda vanthaen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Thaalam thatti paada vanthaen
Devan unnai theda vanthaen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Anbu konda nenjin ullae
Avanai paarkkiraen
Thaalam thatti paada vanthaen
Devan unnai theda vanthaen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Anbu konda nenjin ullae
Avanai paarkkiraen
………………
Karuvaraiyil vaazhntha pothum ondruthaanadaa
Kallaraiyil thoongumpothum ondruthaanadaa
Nadu vazhiyil neeyum naanum veru verudaa
Idai vazhiyil vantha sontham maayai thaanadaa
Idhai arintha konda manithan kooda deivamthaanadaa
Thaalam thatti paada vanthaen
Devan unnai theda vanthaen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Anbu konda nenjin ullae
Avanai paarkkiraen
Pirantha pothu thaayin vazhiyae paaloottinaar
Valarntha pothu thanthai vazhiyae arivoottinaar
Uyarntha pothu suttram vazhiyae paaraattinaar
Oor sumantha pothu saeyin vazhiyae thee moottinaar
Idhu keedhai vazhi sollaththaanae thaerottinaar
Thaalam thatti paada vanthaen
Devan unnai theda vanthaen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Thedi vantha deivam engae naan ketkiraen
Anbu konda nenjin ullae
Avanai paarkkiraen
Anbu konda nenjin ullae
Avanai paarkkiraen
I came to clap the beat and sing,
I came searching for you, O Lord.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
I came to clap the beat and sing,
I came searching for you, O Lord.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Inside a loving heart,
I see Him.
I came to clap the beat and sing,
I came searching for you, O Lord.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Inside a loving heart,
I see Him.
...
When we lived in the womb, we were all the same, my friend.
When we sleep in the grave, we are all the same, my friend.
Only on the path in between are you and I different.
Relationships formed along the way are just an illusion.
Even a human being who understands this is God Himself!
I came to clap the beat and sing,
I came searching for you, O Lord.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Inside a loving heart,
I see Him.
When we were born, He fed us milk through a mother.
As we grew, He gave us wisdom through a father.
When we rose high, He praised us through our kin.
When the town carried our body, He lit the funeral pyre through a child.
Wasn't it to teach this message of the Gita (sacred Hindu scripture) that He drove the chariot?
I came to clap the beat and sing,
I came searching for you, O Lord.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Where is the God I came looking for? I ask.
Inside a loving heart,
I see Him.
Inside a loving heart,
I see Him.
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Thaalam thatti paada vanthaen' from the film Thaai Naadu is a philosophical Tamil song about the quest for God and the true nature of human life. The speaker begins by seeking God outwardly through music and devotion, only to realize that the divine spirit resides within any loving heart. The lyrics highlight the cyclical journey of life: all humans are equal in the womb before birth and in the grave after death, while social differences and worldly relationships in between are mere temporary illusions. Understanding this truth elevates a human to divinity. Furthermore, the song traces the stages of life—from a mother's nourishment and father's guidance to relative's praise and the final rites performed by one's child—linking these life truths to the philosophical teachings of the Bhagavad Gita as imparted by Lord Krishna.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran)

“Karuvaraiyil vaazhntha pothum ondruthaanadaa / Kallaraiyil thoongumpothum ondruthaanadaa”

Contrast between 'Karuvarai' (womb) and 'Kallarai' (tomb/grave) to illustrate the equalizing nature of birth and death.

Edhugai (Second-letter Assonance)

“Pirantha pothu thaayin vazhiyae paaloottinaar / Valarntha pothu thanthai vazhiyae arivoottinaar”

Rhyming pattern created through similar consonant sounds in the second character across lines ('paaloottinaar', 'arivoottinaar', 'paaraattinaar', 'thee moottinaar').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Karuvaraiyil vaazhntha pothum ondruthaanadaa / Kallaraiyil thoongumpothum ondruthaanadaa”

Repetition of ending suffixes '-adaa' across lines in the stanza to maintain lyrical rhythm and casual philosophical address.

Did you know?

Trivia

sung by legendary playback singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) in his later career phase, with lyrics and direction by Aabavanan and music composed by Manoj–Gyan.

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