Theertha Karaithanile (Sad)
From Thai Pongal · 1980
- Lyricist
- M. G. Vallaban
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thai Pongal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank! |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank! |
| Naan podum thaalangal | The rhythms I beat out |
| Vizhi neerin kolangal | Are ornamental patterns made of my tears. |
| Paadungal jeeva raagangal | Sing, O soul-stirring melodies! |
| Male | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank! |
| Male | |
| Naana mega vaanilae naanum neeyum koodiyae | In the shy, cloud-filled sky, as you and I united, |
| Moga raagam paadiyae podum soga naadagam | Singing a melody of passion, playing out a sorrowful drama. |
| Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali | On the banks of River Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved, |
| Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya | Madhavi with flower-like eyes, sang in deep love, |
| Kaanal vari sugam thedidum | Seeking the bliss of the 'Kaanal Vari' verses, |
| Nenjangalae…..konjavaa | O yearning hearts... come, let me caress you. |
| Male | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank! |
| Male | |
| Ramanaama nonbugal kaamadeva jaalangal | Fasts dedicated to Lord Rama, magical spells of Kamadeva, |
| Paadhi jaama poojaigal kaana kodi aasaigal | Midnight worships, ten million desires to behold... |
| Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali | On the banks of River Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved, |
| Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya | Madhavi with flower-like eyes, sang in deep love, |
| Kaanal vari sugam thedidum | Seeking the bliss of the 'Kaanal Vari' verses, |
| Nenjangalae…..konjavaa | O yearning hearts... come, let me caress you. |
| Male | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank! |
| Thaai maman thol meedhu | Upon the shoulders of the maternal uncle, |
| Saainthaadum naal paarththu | Awaiting the day to sway together in love, |
| Paadungal jeeva gaanangal | Sing, O life-affirming songs! |
| Male | |
| Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae | O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank! |
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே
நான் போடும் தாளங்கள்
விழி நீரின் கோலங்கள்
பாடுங்கள் ஜீவ ராகங்கள்
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
The rhythms I beat out
Are ornamental patterns made of my tears.
Sing, O soul-stirring melodies!
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
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.......
In the shy, cloud-filled sky, as you and I united,
Singing a melody of passion, playing out a sorrowful drama.
On the banks of River Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved,
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, sang in deep love,
Seeking the bliss of the 'Kaanal Vari' verses,
O yearning hearts... come, let me caress you.
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
ராமநாம நோன்புகள் காமதேவ ஜாலங்கள்
பாதி ஜாம பூஜைகள் காண கோடி ஆசைகள்
காவிரி ஓரமாய் கோவலன் காதலி
பூவிழி மாதவி காதலில் பாடிய
கானல் வரி சுகம் தேடிடும்
நெஞ்சங்களே........கொஞ்சவா.......
Fasts dedicated to Lord Rama, magical spells of Kamadeva,
Midnight worships, ten million desires to behold...
On the banks of River Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved,
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, sang in deep love,
Seeking the bliss of the 'Kaanal Vari' verses,
O yearning hearts... come, let me caress you.
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே
நான் போடும் தாளங்கள்
விழி நீரின் கோலங்கள்
பாடுங்கள் ஜீவ ராகங்கள்
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Upon the shoulders of the maternal uncle,
Awaiting the day to sway together in love,
Sing, O life-affirming songs!
தீர்த்தக் கரைதனிலே செண்பக புஷ்பங்களே....
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Naan podum thaalangal
The rhythms I beat out
Vizhi neerin kolangal
Are ornamental patterns made of my tears.
Paadungal jeeva raagangal
Sing, O soul-stirring melodies!
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Naana mega vaanilae naanum neeyum koodiyae
In the shy, cloud-filled sky, as you and I united,
Moga raagam paadiyae podum soga naadagam
Singing a melody of passion, playing out a sorrowful drama.
Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali
On the banks of River Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved,
Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, sang in deep love,
Kaanal vari sugam thedidum
Seeking the bliss of the 'Kaanal Vari' verses,
Nenjangalae…..konjavaa
O yearning hearts... come, let me caress you.
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Ramanaama nonbugal kaamadeva jaalangal
Fasts dedicated to Lord Rama, magical spells of Kamadeva,
Paadhi jaama poojaigal kaana kodi aasaigal
Midnight worships, ten million desires to behold...
Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali
On the banks of River Kaveri, Kovalan's beloved,
Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya
Madhavi with flower-like eyes, sang in deep love,
Kaanal vari sugam thedidum
Seeking the bliss of the 'Kaanal Vari' verses,
Nenjangalae…..konjavaa
O yearning hearts... come, let me caress you.
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Thaai maman thol meedhu
Upon the shoulders of the maternal uncle,
Saainthaadum naal paarththu
Awaiting the day to sway together in love,
Paadungal jeeva gaanangal
Sing, O life-affirming songs!
Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae
O Shenbagam flowers on the sacred riverbank!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Thai Pongal' (1980) expresses intense romantic longing, pain, and emotional reflection. Addressing the 'Shenbagam' flowers lining a sacred riverbank, the protagonist compares his sorrowful tears to rhythmic art patterns. The lyrics invoke rich Tamil classical heritage by drawing parallels to Madhavi singing the melancholic 'Kaanal Vari' to Kovalan along the banks of the Kaveri River, symbolizing passion intertwined with inevitable heartbreak. Through imagery of midnight prayers, devotion, and divine romantic illusions, the song captures the sweet agony of love and the yearning for emotional union. Set to Ilaiyaraaja's evocative classical composition and sung with deep sentiment by K. J. Yesudas, the track beautifully bridges literary classical motifs with emotional cinematic storytelling.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe
“Theerththa karaithanilae senbaga pushbangalae”
Directly addressing the inanimate 'Shenbagam' flowers on the riverbank as confidants of the speaker's emotional state.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Vizhi neerin kolangal”
Comparing fallen tears ('vizhi neer') to traditional decorative patterns ('kolangal').
Literary Allusion
“Kaaviri oramaai kovalan kadhali Poovizhi maadhavi kadhalil paadiya Kaanal vari”
Direct reference to 'Silappatikaram', where Kovalan's lover Madhavi sings 'Kaanal Vari' songs by the Kaveri riverbank.
Rhyme / Eybhar (Iyaibu)
“Naan podum thaalangal / Vizhi neerin kolangal / Paadungal jeeva raagangal”
End-rhyming scheme utilizing rhythmic sound patterns ('thaalangal', 'kolangal', 'raagangal').
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyric 'Kaanal Vari' directly refers to one of the most famous musical cantos of the ancient Tamil epic 'Silappatikaram' composed by Ilango Adigal. In the epic, Madhavi and Kovalan sing 'Kaanal Vari' verses to each other on the beach of Poompuhar, but Kovalan misinterprets the lyrics, leading to their tragic separation.
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