Theertha Karaithanile (Happy)
From Thai Pongal · 1980
- Lyricist
- M. G. Vallaban
- Singer
- Jency
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thai Pongal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| …………. | Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water |
| Female | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | On the maternal uncle's shoulders |
| Thaai maman thol meedhu | Looking forward to the day of leaning and swaying together |
| Saainthaadum naal paarththu | Sing the melodies of life |
| Paadungal jeeva gaanangal | Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water |
| Female | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | In the sky of bashful clouds, as you and I unite |
| Female | |
| Naana mega vaanilae naanum neeyum koodiyae | Singing a tune of passion, playing out a drama of sorrow |
| Moga raagam paadiyae podum soga naadagam | Along the banks of Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved |
| Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali | Madhavi with flower-like eyes, who sang in love |
| Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya | Seeking the pleasure of the coastal songs |
| Kaanal vari sugam thedidum | Oh hearts... come to caress |
| Nenjangalae…..konjavaa | Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water |
| Female | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | Monday fasts and the magic of the God of Love |
| Female | |
| Somavaara nonbugal kaamadeva jaalangal | Midnight prayers and millions of desires to witness |
| Paadhi jaama poojaigal kaana kodi aasaigal | Along the banks of Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved |
| Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali | Madhavi with flower-like eyes, who sang in love |
| Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya | Seeking the pleasure of the coastal songs |
| Kaanal vari sugam thedidum | Oh hearts... come to caress |
| Nenjangalae…..konjavaa | Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water |
| Female | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | On the maternal uncle's shoulders |
| Thaai maman thol meedhu | Looking forward to the day of leaning and swaying together |
| Saainthaadum naal paarththu | Sing the melodies of life |
| Paadungal jeeva gaanangal | Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water |
| Female | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | |
.......................
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே
தாய் மாமன் தோள் மீது
சாய்ந்தாடும் நாள் பார்த்து
பாடுங்கள் ஜீவ கானங்கள்
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
On the maternal uncle's shoulders
Looking forward to the day of leaning and swaying together
Sing the melodies of life
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
In the sky of bashful clouds, as you and I unite
நாண மேக வானிலே நானும் நீயும் கூடியே
மோக ராகம் பாடியே போடும் சோக நாடகம்
காவிரி ஓரமாய் கோவலன் காதலி
பூவிழி மாதவி காதலில் பாடிய
கானல் வரி சுகம் தேடிடும்
நெஞ்சங்களே........கொஞ்சவா.......
Singing a tune of passion, playing out a drama of sorrow
Along the banks of Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, who sang in love
Seeking the pleasure of the coastal songs
Oh hearts... come to caress
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
Monday fasts and the magic of the God of Love
சோமவார நோன்புகள் காமதேவ ஜாலங்கள்
பாதி ஜாம பூஜைகள் காண கோடி ஆசைகள்
காவிரி ஓரமாய் கோவலன் காதலி
பூவிழி மாதவி காதலில் பாடிய
கானல் வரி சுகம் தேடிடும்
நெஞ்சங்களே........கொஞ்சவா.....
Midnight prayers and millions of desires to witness
Along the banks of Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, who sang in love
Seeking the pleasure of the coastal songs
Oh hearts... come to caress
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
தாய் மாமன் தோள் மீது
சாய்ந்தாடும் நாள் பார்த்து
பாடுங்கள் ஜீவ கானங்கள்
On the maternal uncle's shoulders
Looking forward to the day of leaning and swaying together
Sing the melodies of life
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
………….
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
On the maternal uncle's shoulders
Thaai maman thol meedhu
Looking forward to the day of leaning and swaying together
Saainthaadum naal paarththu
Sing the melodies of life
Paadungal jeeva gaanangal
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
In the sky of bashful clouds, as you and I unite
Naana mega vaanilae naanum neeyum koodiyae
Singing a tune of passion, playing out a drama of sorrow
Moga raagam paadiyae podum soga naadagam
Along the banks of Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved
Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, who sang in love
Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya
Seeking the pleasure of the coastal songs
Kaanal vari sugam thedidum
Oh hearts... come to caress
Nenjangalae…..konjavaa
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
Monday fasts and the magic of the God of Love
Somavaara nonbugal kaamadeva jaalangal
Midnight prayers and millions of desires to witness
Paadhi jaama poojaigal kaana kodi aasaigal
Along the banks of Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved
Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, who sang in love
Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya
Seeking the pleasure of the coastal songs
Kaanal vari sugam thedidum
Oh hearts... come to caress
Nenjangalae…..konjavaa
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
On the maternal uncle's shoulders
Thaai maman thol meedhu
Looking forward to the day of leaning and swaying together
Saainthaadum naal paarththu
Sing the melodies of life
Paadungal jeeva gaanangal
Oh Shenbagam flowers on the banks of the sacred water
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Theerththa karaithanilae' from the movie Thai Pongal (1980) expresses a heroine's deep yearning and romantic devotion. Set against the serene backdrop of sacred riverbanks lined with fragrant Shenbagam blossoms, she envisions a life of love and togetherness, looking forward to resting on her beloved's shoulder and celebrating life's music. The lyricist M.G. Vallaban enriches the song with classical literary references, drawing parallels to the epic Silappatikaram through Kovalan, Madhavi, and her famous 'Kaanal Vari' songs by the Kaveri. The lyrics blend sweet romantic anticipation with a subtle undertone of sorrow, reflecting the complexities of love, devotion, and destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ilakkiya Kurippu (Classical Allusion)
“Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya Kaanal vari sugam thedidum”
References Madhavi and Kovalan from the classical Tamil epic Silappatikaram and their famous beach songs known as Kaanal Vari.
Moonaal / Monnai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naana mega vaanilae naanum neeyum koodiyae”
Repetition of the 'Na' sound across words in the line for melodic rhythm.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Moga raagam paadiyae podum soga naadagam”
Compares romantic desire and life's emotional ups and downs to a 'soga naadagam' (tragedy/drama) and 'moga raagam' (melody of passion).
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Somavaara nonbugal kaamadeva jaalangal / Paadhi jaama poojaigal kaana kodi aasaigal”
Matching of the second consonant sounds across lines (Somavaara / Paadhi).
Did you know?
Trivia
This song is a iconic collaboration between composer Ilaiyaraaja and singer Jency Anthony, known for their string of lush melodic hits in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Lyricist M.G. Vallaban penned the song incorporating traditional rituals like Somavaara Nonbu (Monday fasting dedicated to Lord Shiva) along with references to Sangam literature.
Keep listening
More from Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal
Thai Pongal