Theerthakkaraiyinile
From Theertha Karaiyinile · 1987
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Theertha Karaiyinile1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Theerthakkaraiyinilae | On the banks of the sacred river |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Paadum mozhi unadhu | The singing voice is yours |
| En kannammaa | My dear Kannamma |
| Thaedum vizhi yenadhu | The searching eyes are mine |
| En ponnammaa | My precious golden one |
| Paadum mozhi unadhu | The singing voice is yours |
| En kannammaa | My dear Kannamma |
| Thaedum vizhi yenadhu | The searching eyes are mine |
| En ponnammaa | My precious golden one |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkaraiyinilae | On the banks of the sacred river |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Male | |
| Ottrai vazhi paadhaiyilae…ae | On the narrow single-lane path... |
| Adi unnai mattum naan ninaithaen | Oh dear, I thought only of you |
| Ottrai vazhi paadhaiyilae…ae | On the narrow single-lane path... |
| Unnai mattum naan ninaithaen | I thought only of you |
| Male | |
| Netri mudhal paadham varai | From your forehead down to your feet |
| Mutham ida kaathirunthen | I waited to shower you with kisses |
| Netri mudhal paadham varai | From your forehead down to your feet |
| Mutham ida kaathirunthen | I waited to shower you with kisses |
| Male | |
| Kattikolla nee sammadhithaal | If you consent to embrace me |
| Aththanaiyum inbamadi | Everything will be pure bliss, my dear |
| Kattikolla nee maruthaal | If you refuse to embrace me |
| Aththanaiyum thunbamadi | Everything will be utter sorrow, my dear |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkaraiyinilae | On the banks of the sacred river |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Paadum mozhi unadhu | The singing voice is yours |
| En kannammaa | My dear Kannamma |
| Thaedum vizhi yenadhu | The searching eyes are mine |
| En ponnammaa | My precious golden one |
| Male | |
| Theerthakkaraiyinilae | On the banks of the sacred river |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills |
| Theerthakkaraiyinilae | On the banks of the sacred river |
| Thenpodhigai saarathilae | In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills |
தீர்த்தக்கரையினிலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
பாடும் மொழி உனது
என் கண்ணம்மா
தேடும் விழி எனது
பாடும் மொழி உனது
என் கண்ணம்மா
தேடும் விழி எனது
என் பொன்னம்மா
On the banks of the sacred river
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
The singing voice is yours
My dear Kannamma
The searching eyes are mine
My precious golden one
The singing voice is yours
My dear Kannamma
The searching eyes are mine
My precious golden one
தீர்த்தக்கரையினிலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
On the banks of the sacred river
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
ஒற்றை வழி பாதையிலே.....ஏ.....
அடி உன்னை மட்டும் நான் நினைத்தேன்
ஒற்றை வழி பாதையிலே.....ஏ.....
உன்னை மட்டும் நான் நினைத்தேன்
On the narrow single-lane path...
Oh dear, I thought only of you
On the narrow single-lane path...
I thought only of you
நெற்றி முதல் பாதம் வரை
முத்தம் இட காத்திருந்தேன்
நெற்றி முதல் பாதம் வரை
முத்தம் இட காத்திருந்தேன்
From your forehead down to your feet
I waited to shower you with kisses
From your forehead down to your feet
I waited to shower you with kisses
கட்டிக்கொள்ள நீ சம்மதித்தால்
அத்தனையும் இன்பமடி
கட்டிக்கொள்ள நீ மறுத்தால்
அத்தனையும் துன்பம்மடி
If you consent to embrace me
Everything will be pure bliss, my dear
If you refuse to embrace me
Everything will be utter sorrow, my dear
நேராக உன் பார்வை
என் மீது வாராது
நீ இன்றி இன்பங்கள் என்னோடு சேராதம்மா
ஆ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ......ஆஅ......
On the banks of the sacred river
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
The singing voice is yours
My dear Kannamma
The searching eyes are mine
My precious golden one
தீர்த்தக்கரையினிலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
பாடும் மொழி உனது
என் கண்ணம்மா
தேடும் விழி எனது
என் பொன்னம்மா
On the banks of the sacred river
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
On the banks of the sacred river
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
தீர்த்தக்கரையினிலே
தென்பொதிகை சாரத்திலே
Theerthakkaraiyinilae
On the banks of the sacred river
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
Paadum mozhi unadhu
The singing voice is yours
En kannammaa
My dear Kannamma
Thaedum vizhi yenadhu
The searching eyes are mine
En ponnammaa
My precious golden one
Paadum mozhi unadhu
The singing voice is yours
En kannammaa
My dear Kannamma
Thaedum vizhi yenadhu
The searching eyes are mine
En ponnammaa
My precious golden one
Theerthakkaraiyinilae
On the banks of the sacred river
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
Ottrai vazhi paadhaiyilae…ae
On the narrow single-lane path...
Adi unnai mattum naan ninaithaen
Oh dear, I thought only of you
Ottrai vazhi paadhaiyilae…ae
On the narrow single-lane path...
Unnai mattum naan ninaithaen
I thought only of you
Netri mudhal paadham varai
From your forehead down to your feet
Mutham ida kaathirunthen
I waited to shower you with kisses
Netri mudhal paadham varai
From your forehead down to your feet
Mutham ida kaathirunthen
I waited to shower you with kisses
Kattikolla nee sammadhithaal
If you consent to embrace me
Aththanaiyum inbamadi
Everything will be pure bliss, my dear
Kattikolla nee maruthaal
If you refuse to embrace me
Aththanaiyum thunbamadi
Everything will be utter sorrow, my dear
Theerthakkaraiyinilae
On the banks of the sacred river
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
Paadum mozhi unadhu
The singing voice is yours
En kannammaa
My dear Kannamma
Thaedum vizhi yenadhu
The searching eyes are mine
En ponnammaa
My precious golden one
Theerthakkaraiyinilae
On the banks of the sacred river
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
Theerthakkaraiyinilae
On the banks of the sacred river
Thenpodhigai saarathilae
In the drizzle of the southern Podhigai hills
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a passionate romantic ode set against a picturesque natural landscape—the sacred riverbanks and drizzling Podhigai hills. The protagonist tenderly addresses his beloved (Kannamma/Ponnamma), contrasting her sweet, song-like speech with his own longing, searching eyes. He reminisces about walking alone on a single path, consumed entirely by thoughts of her and longing to express his love deeply from head to toe. In the second stanza, he presents a stark emotional dichotomy: her acceptance of his love brings absolute bliss, whereas her rejection leads to complete heartbreak and sorrow. The lyrics blend classical poetic tropes of Tamil literature with relatable romantic yearning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Muran)
“Kattikolla nee sammadhithaal / Aththanaiyum inbamadi ... maruthaal ... thunbamadi”
Contrasting two opposing conditions ('sammadhithaal' / 'inbam' vs 'maruthaal' / 'thunbam') to emphasize emotional extremes.
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“En kannammaa / En ponnammaa”
Rhyming line endings using tender terms of endearment ('kannammaa' and 'ponnammaa').
Assonance / Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Paadum mozhi unadhu / Thaedum vizhi yenadhu”
Matching secondary consonants in paired lines ('Paadum' and 'Thaedum').
Cultural Epithet (Allusion)
“En kannammaa”
The name 'Kannamma' invokes the iconic poetic tradition popularized by Subramania Bharati.
Did you know?
Trivia
The phrase 'Theertha Karaiyinile' pays homage to Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous poem of the same name. In this 1987 film version directed and written by Gangai Amaran (starring Mic Mohan), the imagery of Podhigai hills—traditionally associated with the origin of the Tamil language and Sage Agastya—is used to underscore the timeless nature of love.
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