Thane Sathiradum Malai
From Thai Pongal · 1980
- Lyricist
- M. G. Vallaban
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thai Pongal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Thaanae sathiraadum maalai veyil velai | The evening sunlight dances on its own, |
| Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum solai kuyil polae | Why does the river sing like a cuckoo in the grove? |
| Female :Vaanor valamo ooraar peravo | Is it wealth for the heavenly beings or for the townsfolk to receive? |
| Female :Paadum kaviyaaga odum thaniyaaga | Flowing alone like a singing poem, |
| Female | |
| Odum swaram yaezhum | All the seven musical notes flow, |
| Female :Naalum nadhiyae | Every day, oh river, |
| Female :Thuthi paadum isai vaazha | May the music that sings praises live long, |
| Female :Raagam sugamae | The melody is pure bliss! |
| Female | |
| Thaanae sathiraadum | Dancing on its own, |
| Female :Maalai veyil velai | In the evening sunlight time, |
| Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum | Why does the river sing, |
| Female :Solai kuyil polae | Like a cuckoo in the grove? |
| Female | |
| Senthaazham paadum | The fragrant screwpine sings, |
| Pudhu senthaen vandaadum | Bees dance over fresh sweet honey, |
| Adhu vanthaarai nindraaruthae sontham kondu | It comforts those who come, embracing them as kin, |
| Vanthorai kondaaduthae | It celebrates those who arrive! |
| Female | |
| Senthaazham paadum | The fragrant screwpine sings, |
| Pudhu senthaen vandaadum | Bees dance over fresh sweet honey, |
| Adhu vanthaarai nindraaruthae sontham kondu | It comforts those who come, embracing them as kin, |
| Vanthorai kondaaduthae | It celebrates those who arrive! |
| Female | |
| Vannamaalai varum | A colorful garland approaches, |
| Thennam solai vazhiThendral ennai naadi sellumae | The breeze through the coconut grove seeks me out, |
| Female | |
| Naalum nadhiyae aadum kalaiyae | Every day, oh river, the art that dances, |
| Yaenintha penmai kalaiyae hoi | Why this artistic grace of womanhood, hoi! |
| Female | |
| Thaanae sathiraadum | Dancing on its own, |
| Female :Maalai veyil velai | In the evening sunlight time, |
| Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum | Why does the river sing, |
| Female :Solai kuyil polae | Like a cuckoo in the grove? |
| Female | |
| ……………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Vinnodu aadum mugil | The cloud dancing with the sky, |
| Pennodu paadum ezhil | The beauty singing alongside the maiden, |
| Ponmaeni neeraaduthae | The golden body bathes, |
| Munnum pinnum kannaalae panpaaduthae | Eyes sing melodies front and back, |
| Female | |
| Unnai polae kodi | Like you, a tender creeper, |
| Mullai thaalamidum | Jasmine keeps the rhythm, |
| Kanni unnai paada solluthae | Asking the young maiden to sing, |
| Female | |
| Naalum nadhiyae kaanum kalaiyae | Every day, oh river, an art to behold, |
| Yaenintha penmai kalaiyae hoi | Why this artistic grace of womanhood, hoi! |
| Female | |
| Thaanae sathiraadum | Dancing on its own, |
| Female :Maalai veyil velai | In the evening sunlight time, |
| Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum | Why does the river sing, |
| Female :Solai kuyil polae | Like a cuckoo in the grove? |
| Female :Vaanor valamo ooraar peravo | Is it wealth for the heavenly beings or for the townsfolk to receive? |
| Paadum kaviyaaga odum thaniyaaga | Flowing alone like a singing poem, |
| Female | |
| Odum swaram yaezhum | All the seven musical notes flow, |
| Female :Naalum nadhiyae | Every day, oh river, |
| Female :Thuthi paadum isai vaazha | May the music that sings praises live long, |
| Female :Raagam sugamae | The melody is pure bliss! |
| Female | |
| Thaanae sathiraadum | Dancing on its own, |
| Female :Maalai veyil velai | In the evening sunlight time, |
| Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum | Why does the river sing, |
| Female :Solai kuyil polae | Like a cuckoo in the grove? |
..................
...
தானே சதிராடும் மாலை வெயில் வேளை
ஏனோ நதி பாடும் சோலை குயில் போலே
வானோர் வளமோ ஊரார் பெறவோ
பாடும் கவியாக ஓடும் தனியாக
The evening sunlight dances on its own,
Why does the river sing like a cuckoo in the grove?
Is it wealth for the heavenly beings or for the townsfolk to receive?
Flowing alone like a singing poem,
ஓடும் ஸ்வரம் ஏழும்
நாளும் நதியே
துதி பாடும் இசை வாழ
ராகம் சுகமே
All the seven musical notes flow,
Every day, oh river,
May the music that sings praises live long,
The melody is pure bliss!
தானே சதிராடும்
மாலை வெயில் வேளை
ஏனோ நதி பாடும்
சோலை குயில் போலே
Dancing on its own,
In the evening sunlight time,
Why does the river sing,
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
செந்தாழம் பாடும்
புது செந்தேன் வண்டாடும்
அது வந்தாரை நின்றாடுதே சொந்தம் கொண்டு
வந்தோரை கொண்டாடுதே
The fragrant screwpine sings,
Bees dance over fresh sweet honey,
It comforts those who come, embracing them as kin,
It celebrates those who arrive!
செந்தாழம் பாடும்
புது செந்தேன் வண்டாடும்
அது வந்தாரை நின்றாடுதே சொந்தம் கொண்டு
வந்தோரை கொண்டாடுதே
The fragrant screwpine sings,
Bees dance over fresh sweet honey,
It comforts those who come, embracing them as kin,
It celebrates those who arrive!
வண்ணமாலை வரும்
தென்னம் சோலை வழி
தென்றல் என்னை நாடி செல்லுமே
A colorful garland approaches,
The breeze through the coconut grove seeks me out,
நாளும் நதியே ஆடும் கலையே
ஏனிந்த பெண்மைக் கலையே ஹோய்...
Every day, oh river, the art that dances,
Why this artistic grace of womanhood, hoi!
தானே சதிராடும்
மாலை வெயில் வேளை
ஏனோ நதி பாடும்
சோலை குயில் போலே
Dancing on its own,
In the evening sunlight time,
Why does the river sing,
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
னனனன னனனனா....ஆ...ஆ...
னனனன னனனனா....ஆ...ஆ...
லாலாலால்லா.......னனனன னனனனா.....
...
விண்ணோடு ஆடும் முகில்
பெண்ணோடு பாடும் எழில்
பொன்மேனி நீராடுதே
முன்னும் பின்னும் கண்ணாலே பண்பாடுதே
The cloud dancing with the sky,
The beauty singing alongside the maiden,
The golden body bathes,
Eyes sing melodies front and back,
விண்ணோடு ஆடும் முகில்
பெண்ணோடு பாடும் எழில்
பொன்மேனி நீராடுதே
முன்னும் பின்னும் கண்ணாலே பண்பாடுதே
Like you, a tender creeper,
Jasmine keeps the rhythm,
Asking the young maiden to sing,
உன்னை போலே கொடி
முல்லை தாளமிடும்
கன்னி உன்னை பாடச் சொல்லுதே
Every day, oh river, an art to behold,
Why this artistic grace of womanhood, hoi!
நாளும் நதியே காணும் கலையே
ஏனிந்த பெண்மைக் கலையே ஹோய்...
Dancing on its own,
In the evening sunlight time,
Why does the river sing,
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
Is it wealth for the heavenly beings or for the townsfolk to receive?
Flowing alone like a singing poem,
தானே சதிராடும்
மாலை வெயில் வேளை
ஏனோ நதி பாடும்
சோலை குயில் போலே
வானோர் வளமோ ஊரார் பெறவோ
பாடும் கவியாக ஓடும் தனியாக
All the seven musical notes flow,
Every day, oh river,
May the music that sings praises live long,
The melody is pure bliss!
ஓடும் ஸ்வரம் ஏழும்
நாளும் நதியே
துதி பாடும் இசை வாழ
ராகம் சுகமே
Dancing on its own,
In the evening sunlight time,
Why does the river sing,
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
தானே சதிராடும்
மாலை வெயில் வேளை
ஏனோ நதி பாடும்
சோலை குயில் போலே
…………..
...
Thaanae sathiraadum maalai veyil velai
The evening sunlight dances on its own,
Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum solai kuyil polae
Why does the river sing like a cuckoo in the grove?
Female :Vaanor valamo ooraar peravo
Is it wealth for the heavenly beings or for the townsfolk to receive?
Female :Paadum kaviyaaga odum thaniyaaga
Flowing alone like a singing poem,
Odum swaram yaezhum
All the seven musical notes flow,
Female :Naalum nadhiyae
Every day, oh river,
Female :Thuthi paadum isai vaazha
May the music that sings praises live long,
Female :Raagam sugamae
The melody is pure bliss!
Thaanae sathiraadum
Dancing on its own,
Female :Maalai veyil velai
In the evening sunlight time,
Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum
Why does the river sing,
Female :Solai kuyil polae
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
Senthaazham paadum
The fragrant screwpine sings,
Pudhu senthaen vandaadum
Bees dance over fresh sweet honey,
Adhu vanthaarai nindraaruthae sontham kondu
It comforts those who come, embracing them as kin,
Vanthorai kondaaduthae
It celebrates those who arrive!
Senthaazham paadum
The fragrant screwpine sings,
Pudhu senthaen vandaadum
Bees dance over fresh sweet honey,
Adhu vanthaarai nindraaruthae sontham kondu
It comforts those who come, embracing them as kin,
Vanthorai kondaaduthae
It celebrates those who arrive!
Vannamaalai varum
A colorful garland approaches,
Thennam solai vazhiThendral ennai naadi sellumae
The breeze through the coconut grove seeks me out,
Naalum nadhiyae aadum kalaiyae
Every day, oh river, the art that dances,
Yaenintha penmai kalaiyae hoi
Why this artistic grace of womanhood, hoi!
Thaanae sathiraadum
Dancing on its own,
Female :Maalai veyil velai
In the evening sunlight time,
Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum
Why does the river sing,
Female :Solai kuyil polae
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
………………..
...
Vinnodu aadum mugil
The cloud dancing with the sky,
Pennodu paadum ezhil
The beauty singing alongside the maiden,
Ponmaeni neeraaduthae
The golden body bathes,
Munnum pinnum kannaalae panpaaduthae
Eyes sing melodies front and back,
Unnai polae kodi
Like you, a tender creeper,
Mullai thaalamidum
Jasmine keeps the rhythm,
Kanni unnai paada solluthae
Asking the young maiden to sing,
Naalum nadhiyae kaanum kalaiyae
Every day, oh river, an art to behold,
Yaenintha penmai kalaiyae hoi
Why this artistic grace of womanhood, hoi!
Thaanae sathiraadum
Dancing on its own,
Female :Maalai veyil velai
In the evening sunlight time,
Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum
Why does the river sing,
Female :Solai kuyil polae
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
Female :Vaanor valamo ooraar peravo
Is it wealth for the heavenly beings or for the townsfolk to receive?
Paadum kaviyaaga odum thaniyaaga
Flowing alone like a singing poem,
Odum swaram yaezhum
All the seven musical notes flow,
Female :Naalum nadhiyae
Every day, oh river,
Female :Thuthi paadum isai vaazha
May the music that sings praises live long,
Female :Raagam sugamae
The melody is pure bliss!
Thaanae sathiraadum
Dancing on its own,
Female :Maalai veyil velai
In the evening sunlight time,
Female :Yaeno nadhi paadum
Why does the river sing,
Female :Solai kuyil polae
Like a cuckoo in the grove?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from Thai Pongal (1980), composed by Ilaiyaraaja and rendered by S. Janaki, celebrates the idyllic harmony between female grace and nature. Set during a peaceful evening, the lyrics compare a flowing river to a singing cuckoo and a dancing maiden, expressing awe at how nature selflessly nurtures everyone it touches like a warm relative. The song blends classical musical sensibilities with pastoral poetic imagery, capturing the quiet joy, melodic beauty, and spiritual bliss of rural Tamil Nadu.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Yaeno nadhi paadum solai kuyil polae”
Compares the sound of the river to a cuckoo singing in a grove using 'polae'.
Personification
“Adhu vanthaarai nindraaruthae sontham kondu”
Attributes human traits like singing and comforting guests to nature (river, screwpine flower, breeze).
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Senthaazham paadum / Pudhu senthaen vandaadum”
Rhyming of the second letter 'n' across consecutive lines (Senthaazham / Pudhu senthaen).
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by lyricist M.G. Vallaban, this song showcases Maestro Ilaiyaraaja's signature blend of Carnatic-infused melodies and lush orchestral acoustic arrangements. Sung flawlessly by S. Janaki, the track remains one of the iconic rural melodies of 1980s Tamil cinema.
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