Theerthakkarai
From Theertha Karaiyinile · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Theertha Karaiyinile1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hoo hoo ooo oo hooo oo | [Vocalizing] |
| Haa… aaa… haa aaaa | [Vocalizing] |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkarai orathilae | By the bank of the sacred holy water |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Theerthakkarai orathilae | By the bank of the sacred holy water |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Paadum mozhi unadhu | The singing voice is yours |
| Thaedum vizhi yenadhu | The searching eyes are mine |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkarai orathilae | By the bank of the sacred holy water |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Male | |
| Paalaivana paadhaiyilae | On the desert path |
| Paal nilavai naanum kanden | I saw the milky moon |
| Paalaivana paadhaiyilae | On the desert path |
| Paal nilavai naanum kanden | I saw the milky moon |
| Male | |
| Thaeniraitha paal nilavu | Why did the honey-filled milky moon |
| Thee iraithu povadhenna | Scatter fire and depart? |
| Kaadhal vari paadal ellaam | Why did all the romantic songs |
| Kaanal vari aanadhenna | Turn into lines of mirage? |
| En jeevan nee indri ennaalum vaazhaadhu | My life will never live without you |
| En kangal un kolam kaanaamal thoongaadhammaa | My eyes will not sleep without seeing your form, my beloved |
| Aa… aaa… aaaa… aaa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkarai orathilae | By the bank of the sacred holy water |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Male | |
| Otrai vazhi paadhaiyilae | On the single-track path |
| Unnai mattum naan ninaithaen | I thought only of you |
| Otrai vazhi paadhaiyilae | On the single-track path |
| Unnai mattum naan ninaithaen | I thought only of you |
| Male | |
| Netri mudhal paadham varai | From forehead down to feet |
| Mutham itta soppanangal | The dreams that kissed me |
| Otri konda thottu konda | The gentle touches and embraces |
| Athanaiyum karpanaigal | All of them were mere imaginations |
| Male | |
| Neraaga un paarvai | Directly, your gaze |
| En meedhu vaaraadhu | Does not fall upon me |
| Nee indri inbangal ennodu seraadhammaa | Without you, happiness will not reach me, my beloved |
| Aa… aaa… aaaa… aaa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkarai orathilae | By the bank of the sacred holy water |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Paadum mozhi unadhu | The singing voice is yours |
| Thaedum vizhi yenadhu | The searching eyes are mine |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkarai orathilae | By the bank of the sacred holy water |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills |
ஹோ ஹோ ஓஒ ஓ ஹோ ஓ
ஹா.....ஆஅ....ஹா ஆஅ
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
தீர்த்தக்கரை ஓரத்திலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
தீர்த்தக்கரை ஓரத்திலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
பாடும் மொழி உனது
தேடும் விழி எனது
By the bank of the sacred holy water
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
By the bank of the sacred holy water
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
The singing voice is yours
The searching eyes are mine
தீர்த்தக் கரை ஓரத்திலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
By the bank of the sacred holy water
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
பாலைவனப் பாதையிலே
பால் நிலவை நானும் கண்டேன்
பாலைவனப் பாதையிலே
பால் நிலவை நானும் கண்டேன்
On the desert path
I saw the milky moon
On the desert path
I saw the milky moon
தேனிரைத்த பால் நிலவு
தீ இரைத்து போவதென்ன
காதல் வரி பாடல் எல்லாம்
கானல் வரி ஆனதென்ன
என் ஜீவன் நீ இன்றி எந்நாளும் வாழாது
என் கண்கள் உன் கோலம் காணாமல் தூங்காதம்மா
ஆ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ......ஆஅ......
Why did the honey-filled milky moon
Scatter fire and depart?
Why did all the romantic songs
Turn into lines of mirage?
My life will never live without you
My eyes will not sleep without seeing your form, my beloved
[Vocalizing]
தீர்த்தக் கரை ஓரத்திலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
By the bank of the sacred holy water
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
ஒற்றை வழி பாதையிலே
உன்னை மட்டும் நான் நினைத்தேன்
ஒற்றை வழி பாதையிலே
உன்னை மட்டும் நான் நினைத்தேன்
On the single-track path
I thought only of you
On the single-track path
I thought only of you
நெற்றி முதல் பாதம் வரை
முத்தம் இட்ட சொப்பனங்கள்
ஒற்றிக் கொண்ட தொட்டுக் கொண்ட
அத்தனையும் கற்பனைகள்
From forehead down to feet
The dreams that kissed me
The gentle touches and embraces
All of them were mere imaginations
நேராக உன் பார்வை
என் மீது வாராது
நீ இன்றி இன்பங்கள் என்னோடு சேராதம்மா
ஆ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ......ஆஅ......
Directly, your gaze
Does not fall upon me
Without you, happiness will not reach me, my beloved
[Vocalizing]
தீர்த்தக்கரை ஓரத்திலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
பாடும் மொழி உனது
தேடும் விழி எனது
By the bank of the sacred holy water
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
The singing voice is yours
The searching eyes are mine
தீர்த்தக் கரை ஓரத்திலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
By the bank of the sacred holy water
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Hoo hoo ooo oo hooo oo
[Vocalizing]
Haa… aaa… haa aaaa
[Vocalizing]
Theerthakkarai orathilae
By the bank of the sacred holy water
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Theerthakkarai orathilae
By the bank of the sacred holy water
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Paadum mozhi unadhu
The singing voice is yours
Thaedum vizhi yenadhu
The searching eyes are mine
Theerthakkarai orathilae
By the bank of the sacred holy water
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Paalaivana paadhaiyilae
On the desert path
Paal nilavai naanum kanden
I saw the milky moon
Paalaivana paadhaiyilae
On the desert path
Paal nilavai naanum kanden
I saw the milky moon
Thaeniraitha paal nilavu
Why did the honey-filled milky moon
Thee iraithu povadhenna
Scatter fire and depart?
Kaadhal vari paadal ellaam
Why did all the romantic songs
Kaanal vari aanadhenna
Turn into lines of mirage?
En jeevan nee indri ennaalum vaazhaadhu
My life will never live without you
En kangal un kolam kaanaamal thoongaadhammaa
My eyes will not sleep without seeing your form, my beloved
Aa… aaa… aaaa… aaa…
[Vocalizing]
Theerthakkarai orathilae
By the bank of the sacred holy water
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Otrai vazhi paadhaiyilae
On the single-track path
Unnai mattum naan ninaithaen
I thought only of you
Otrai vazhi paadhaiyilae
On the single-track path
Unnai mattum naan ninaithaen
I thought only of you
Netri mudhal paadham varai
From forehead down to feet
Mutham itta soppanangal
The dreams that kissed me
Otri konda thottu konda
The gentle touches and embraces
Athanaiyum karpanaigal
All of them were mere imaginations
Neraaga un paarvai
Directly, your gaze
En meedhu vaaraadhu
Does not fall upon me
Nee indri inbangal ennodu seraadhammaa
Without you, happiness will not reach me, my beloved
Aa… aaa… aaaa… aaa…
[Vocalizing]
Theerthakkarai orathilae
By the bank of the sacred holy water
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Paadum mozhi unadhu
The singing voice is yours
Thaedum vizhi yenadhu
The searching eyes are mine
Theerthakkarai orathilae
By the bank of the sacred holy water
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the breeze of the southern Podhigai hills
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Theertha Karaiyinile is a deeply emotional Tamil song expressing romantic yearning, sorrow, and nostalgia. Set against the peaceful backdrop of sacred riverbanks and the gentle southern breeze of the Podhigai mountains, the singer reflects on the agony of separation from their beloved. What once felt like a cool milky moon bringing relief in a desolate desert path has turned into burning fire, transforming all songs of love into cruel mirages. The lyrics contrast intimate memories and vivid dreams of physical closeness with the painful current reality that those moments were merely sweet illusions. Deeply devoted, the protagonist laments that life has no purpose, sleep, or joy without the presence and loving gaze of their partner.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Theerthakkarai orathilae / Thenpodhigai saarathilae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Th' in consecutive lines creating a rhythmic, melodic flow.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Paadum mozhi unadhu / Thaedum vizhi yenadhu”
Matching ending sounds 'mozhi unadhu' and 'vizhi yenadhu' producing internal musicality.
Metaphor & Imagery (Uvamaani)
“Paalaivana paadhaiyilae / Paal nilavai naanum kanden”
Contrasting 'Paalaivana paadhai' (desert path) with 'Paal nilavu' (milky moon) to symbolize finding solace in hardship.
Paradox / Oxymoron
“Thaeniraitha paal nilavu / Thee iraithu povadhenna”
Contrasting 'Thaeniraitha paal nilavu' (sweet honeyed moon) with 'Thee iraithu' (scattering fire) to illustrate how sweet memories cause burning pain.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1987 Tamil film 'Theertha Karaiyinile', starring Mohan and Rupini, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran. The reference to 'Thenpodhigai' evokes classical Sangam Tamil literature, where the Podhigai mountains are celebrated as the birthplace of the Tamil language and the cool southern wind (Thendral).
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