Tharaiyil Nadakkuthu
From Selva · 1996
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
- Music director
- Sirpy
- Details
- Selva1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Male | |
| Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani | The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground, |
| Female | |
| Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli | The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it. |
| Male | |
| Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu | When you give me what I like, |
| Unakkum pasi adangum | Your hunger too will be satiated. |
| Female | |
| Unakku pidiththathu naan tharumpothu | When I give you what you like, |
| Enakkum pasi adangum | My hunger too will be satiated. |
| Chorus | |
| Konjam neram konjam vanthu | Come for a little while, |
| Konjalaamaa | Shall we cozy up? |
| Male | |
| Haei tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani | Hey, the river Thamirabarani walks on the ground, |
| Female | |
| Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli | The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it. |
| Male | |
| Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu | When you give me what I like, |
| Unakkum pasi adangum | Your hunger too will be satiated. |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| Unaiyae naan eduththu | Taking you, |
| Dhina udaiyaai uduththukiraen | I wear you as my daily outfit. |
| Male | |
| Yaei enai nee anaippathu pol | Hey, imagining that you are embracing me, |
| Enni iravai kadaththukiraen | I pass the nights. |
| Female | |
| Ingu thaniyae naan nadanthaalae | Here, if I walk alone, |
| Nizhal tharaiyil vizhuvathilai | No shadow falls on the ground. |
| Male | |
| Enthan nizhalae nee enum seithi | The truth that my shadow itself is you, |
| Entha nilamum arinthathillai | No land has ever known. |
| Female | |
| Enthan uyirmoochche unnai agandraalae | My breath of life, if it strays away from you, |
| Nuraiyeeralgal iranthuvidum | My lungs will perish. |
| Chorus | |
| Konjam kannai moodi kondaal | If I close my eyes for a moment, |
| Thoongakkoodum | Sleep might finally come. |
| Male | |
| Haei tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani | Hey, the river Thamirabarani walks on the ground, |
| Female | |
| Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli | The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it. |
| Male | |
| Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu | When you give me what I like, |
| Unakkum pasi adangum | Your hunger too will be satiated. |
| Female | |
| Unakku pidiththathu naan tharumpothu | When I give you what you like, |
| Enakkum pasi adangum | My hunger too will be satiated. |
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Chorus | |
| ………………. | |
| Male | |
| Ho unakkun saerththallavaa | Oh, isn't it for your sake as well, |
| Dhinam unavai unnugiren | That I eat food every day? |
| Female | |
| Enakkor mugavariyaai | As an identity/address for myself, |
| Ingu unnaiyae ennugiraen | I consider only you here. |
| Male | |
| Kottu mazhaiyil nee nanainthaalae | If you get drenched in pouring rain, |
| Jalathosham enakku varum | I contract a cold. |
| Female | |
| Vetta veliyil nee thirinthaalae | If you wander out under the open sun, |
| Ingu enakku verththuvidum | I break into a sweat here. |
| Male | |
| Unthan vizhiyoram thuli neer vanthaalum | Even if a single drop of tear comes to the corner of your eyes, |
| Ingu kannukkul thee pidikkum | A fire catches inside my eyes here. |
| Chorus | |
| Kadhal theethaan pattrikkollum | The fire of love itself ignites. |
| Ammammaa ho | Oh my goodness, ho! |
| Male | |
| Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani | The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground, |
| Female | |
| Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli | The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it. |
| Male | |
| Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu | When you give me what I like, |
| Unakkum pasi adangum | Your hunger too will be satiated. |
| Female | |
| Unakku pidiththathu naan tharumpothu | When I give you what you like, |
| Enakkum pasi adangum | My hunger too will be satiated. |
| Chorus | |
| Konjam neram konjam vanthu konjalaamaa | Come for a little while, shall we cozy up? |
| Male | |
| Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani | The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground, |
| Female | |
| Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli | The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it. |
| Male | |
| Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu | When you give me what I like, |
| Unakkum pasi adangum | Your hunger too will be satiated. |
............................
தரையில் நடக்குது தாமிரபரணி
The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
தழுவ துடிக்குது திருநெல்வேலி
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
எனக்கு பிடித்தது நீ தரும்போது
உனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
When you give me what I like,
Your hunger too will be satiated.
உனக்கு பிடித்தது நான் தரும்போது
எனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
When I give you what you like,
My hunger too will be satiated.
கொஞ்சம் நேரம் கொஞ்சம் வந்து
கொஞ்சலாமா
Come for a little while,
Shall we cozy up?
ஹேய் தரையில் நடக்குது தாமிரபரணி
Hey, the river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
தழுவ துடிக்குது திருநெல்வேலி
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
எனக்கு பிடித்தது நீ தரும்போது
உனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
When you give me what I like,
Your hunger too will be satiated.
............................
உனையே நான் எடுத்து
தினம் உடையாய் உடுத்துகிறேன்
Taking you,
I wear you as my daily outfit.
ஏய் எனை நீ அணைப்பது போல்
எண்ணி இரவை கடத்துகிறேன்
Hey, imagining that you are embracing me,
I pass the nights.
இங்கு தனியே நான் நடந்தாலே
நிழல் தரையில் விழுவதில்லை
Here, if I walk alone,
No shadow falls on the ground.
எந்தன் நிழலே நீ எனும் செய்தி
எந்த நிலமும் அறிந்ததில்லை
The truth that my shadow itself is you,
No land has ever known.
எந்தன் உயிர்மூச்சே உன்னை அகன்றாலே
நுரையீரல்கள் இறந்துவிடும்
My breath of life, if it strays away from you,
My lungs will perish.
கொஞ்சம் கண்ணை மூடிக்கொண்டால்
தூங்கக்கூடும்
If I close my eyes for a moment,
Sleep might finally come.
ஹேய் தரையில் நடக்குது தாமிரபரணி
Hey, the river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
தழுவ துடிக்குது திருநெல்வேலி
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
எனக்கு பிடித்தது நீ தரும் போது
உனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
When you give me what I like,
Your hunger too will be satiated.
...................................
When I give you what you like,
My hunger too will be satiated.
.....................................
ஹோ உனக்குன் சேர்த்தல்லவா
தினம் உணவை உண்ணுகிறேன்
எனக்கோர் முகவரியாய்
இங்கு உன்னையே எண்ணுகிறேன்
Oh, isn't it for your sake as well,
That I eat food every day?
கொட்டும் மழையில் நீ நனைந்தாலே
ஜலதோஷம் எனக்கு வரும்
As an identity/address for myself,
I consider only you here.
வெட்டவெளியில் நீ திறிந்தாலே
இங்கு எனக்கு வேர்த்துவிடும்
If you get drenched in pouring rain,
I contract a cold.
உந்தன் விழியோரம் துளி நீர் வந்தாலும்
இங்கு கண்ணுக்குள் தீ பிடிக்கும்
If you wander out under the open sun,
I break into a sweat here.
காதல் தீதான் பற்றிக்கொள்ளும்
அம்மம்மா ஹோ
Even if a single drop of tear comes to the corner of your eyes,
A fire catches inside my eyes here.
தரையில் நடக்குது தாமிரபரணி
The fire of love itself ignites.
Oh my goodness, ho!
தழுவ துடிக்குது திருநெல்வேலி
The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
எனக்கு பிடித்தது நீ தரும் போது
உனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
உனக்கு பிடித்தது நான் தரும்போது
எனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
When you give me what I like,
Your hunger too will be satiated.
கொஞ்சம் நேரம் கொஞ்சம் வந்து
கொஞ்சலாமா
When I give you what you like,
My hunger too will be satiated.
தரையில் நடக்குது தாமிரபரணி
Come for a little while, shall we cozy up?
தழுவ துடிக்குது திருநெல்வேலி
The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
எனக்கு பிடித்தது நீ தரும் போது
உனக்கும் பசி அடங்கும்
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
When you give me what I like,
Your hunger too will be satiated.
……………….
Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani
The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu
When you give me what I like,
Unakkum pasi adangum
Your hunger too will be satiated.
Unakku pidiththathu naan tharumpothu
When I give you what you like,
Enakkum pasi adangum
My hunger too will be satiated.
Konjam neram konjam vanthu
Come for a little while,
Konjalaamaa
Shall we cozy up?
Haei tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani
Hey, the river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu
When you give me what I like,
Unakkum pasi adangum
Your hunger too will be satiated.
…………………….
Unaiyae naan eduththu
Taking you,
Dhina udaiyaai uduththukiraen
I wear you as my daily outfit.
Yaei enai nee anaippathu pol
Hey, imagining that you are embracing me,
Enni iravai kadaththukiraen
I pass the nights.
Ingu thaniyae naan nadanthaalae
Here, if I walk alone,
Nizhal tharaiyil vizhuvathilai
No shadow falls on the ground.
Enthan nizhalae nee enum seithi
The truth that my shadow itself is you,
Entha nilamum arinthathillai
No land has ever known.
Enthan uyirmoochche unnai agandraalae
My breath of life, if it strays away from you,
Nuraiyeeralgal iranthuvidum
My lungs will perish.
Konjam kannai moodi kondaal
If I close my eyes for a moment,
Thoongakkoodum
Sleep might finally come.
Haei tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani
Hey, the river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu
When you give me what I like,
Unakkum pasi adangum
Your hunger too will be satiated.
Unakku pidiththathu naan tharumpothu
When I give you what you like,
Enakkum pasi adangum
My hunger too will be satiated.
…………………….
……………….
Ho unakkun saerththallavaa
Oh, isn't it for your sake as well,
Dhinam unavai unnugiren
That I eat food every day?
Enakkor mugavariyaai
As an identity/address for myself,
Ingu unnaiyae ennugiraen
I consider only you here.
Kottu mazhaiyil nee nanainthaalae
If you get drenched in pouring rain,
Jalathosham enakku varum
I contract a cold.
Vetta veliyil nee thirinthaalae
If you wander out under the open sun,
Ingu enakku verththuvidum
I break into a sweat here.
Unthan vizhiyoram thuli neer vanthaalum
Even if a single drop of tear comes to the corner of your eyes,
Ingu kannukkul thee pidikkum
A fire catches inside my eyes here.
Kadhal theethaan pattrikkollum
The fire of love itself ignites.
Ammammaa ho
Oh my goodness, ho!
Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani
The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu
When you give me what I like,
Unakkum pasi adangum
Your hunger too will be satiated.
Unakku pidiththathu naan tharumpothu
When I give you what you like,
Enakkum pasi adangum
My hunger too will be satiated.
Konjam neram konjam vanthu konjalaamaa
Come for a little while, shall we cozy up?
Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani
The river Thamirabarani walks on the ground,
Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli
The city of Tirunelveli yearns to embrace it.
Enakku pidiththathu nee tharumpothu
When you give me what I like,
Unakkum pasi adangum
Your hunger too will be satiated.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the 1996 film 'Selva' is a romantic duet expressing deep romantic devotion, intimacy, and profound interconnectedness between two lovers. By comparing themselves to the river Thamirabarani and the city of Tirunelveli, the lovers illustrate how inseparable and mutually fulfilling their bond is. They exchange metaphors of physical sensation, where one person's experience (getting wet in the rain or walking in the sun) immediately triggers a physical response in the other (catching a cold or sweating). The lyrics penned by Vaali describe love as a unifying force where individual identity disappears—one lover becomes the other's shadow, breath, and purpose. Through hyperbolic and expressive Tamil poetry, the song captures the intense warmth, emotional hunger, and physical longing shared by the couple.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagam)
“Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani / Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli”
The river Thamirabarani is personified as walking on the ground, while the city of Tirunelveli is depicted as yearning to embrace it.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Tharaiyil nadakkuthu thaamirabharani / Thazhuva thudikkuthu tirunelveli”
Matching starting letters ('Tha' - Tharaiyil / Thazhuva) creating a rhythmic cadence across lines.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Kottu mazhaiyil nee nanainthaalae / Jalathosham enakku varum”
Exaggeration of empathetic connection where getting wet in the rain causes the partner to catch a cold across a distance.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Unaiyae naan eduththu / Dhina udaiyaai uduththukiraen”
Comparing the lover to daily clothing worn on the body and identifying the lover as one's shadow.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Tharaiyil Nadakkuthu Thaamirabharani' features music composed by Sirpy for the Vijay-starrer 'Selva' (1996). Sirpy was known for creating catchy melodious tracks in the mid-1990s, and this duet sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Swarnalatha was one of the major hits of the album. The lyricist Vaali cleverly incorporated regional geography (Thamirabarani river and Tirunelveli city) to symbolize inseparable affection.
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