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Puthumai Pithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Then Madhuvai

From Puthumai Pithan · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Puthumai Pithan
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
20 Aug 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaen madhuvai vandinam thedi varum
Inbamaai vaan mathiyai
Vanna mugil naadi varum
Haaa..aaa
Thaen madhuvai vandinam thedi varum
Inbamaai vaan mathiyai
Vanna mugil naadi varum
Hoo oo oo hoo oo oo
Kaanatha inbam kandaale thunbam
Vaazhnaalum indrodum veenavadha
Kaanatha inbam kandaale thunbam
Vaazhnaalum indrodum veenavadha
Maanargal vizhiyaale mayangaadhae neeyae
Maanargal vizhiyaale mayangaadhae neeyae
Madhiyaalae vidhi maalum thayangaadhae neeyae
Madhiyaalae vidhi maalum thayangaadhae neeyae
Thaen madhuvai vandinam thedi varum
Inbamaai vaan mathiyai
Vanna mugil naadi varum
Haaa..aaa
Thaen madhuvai …
Hoo oo oo hoo oo oo
Neerazhi polae nilaiyaanadhale
Neerazhi polae nilaiyaanadhale
Aaraaindhu paaramal peraasaiyalae
Aaraaindhu paaramal peraasaiyalae
Maaradha veen mogam thaalamal neeyae
Maaradha veen mogam thaalamal neeyae
Theeradha sathiyaalae veezhadhe raaja
Theeradha sathiyaalae veezhadhe raaja
Thaen madhuvai vandinam thedi varum
Inbamaai vaan mathiyai
Vanna mugil naadi varum
Haaa..aaa
Thaen madhuvai
Swarms of bees come seeking sweet nectar,
and joyfully, towards the moon in the sky,
colorful clouds come drifting.
Ha... aaa
Swarms of bees come seeking sweet nectar,
and joyfully, towards the moon in the sky,
colorful clouds come drifting.
Hoo oo oo, hoo oo oo
Chasing unseen pleasures brings only sorrow;
should your entire life go to waste today?
Chasing unseen pleasures brings only sorrow;
should your entire life go to waste today?
Do not be charmed by the eyes of doe-eyed women;
Do not be charmed by the eyes of doe-eyed women;
With wisdom, fate can be overcome; do not hesitate!
With wisdom, fate can be overcome; do not hesitate!
Swarms of bees come seeking sweet nectar,
and joyfully, towards the moon in the sky,
colorful clouds come drifting.
Ha... aaa
Sweet nectar...
Hoo oo oo, hoo oo oo
Assuming life is lasting like the deep ocean,
Assuming life is lasting like the deep ocean,
without thinking clearly, driven by blind greed,
without thinking clearly, driven by blind greed,
unable to resist this futile, stubborn passion,
unable to resist this futile, stubborn passion,
do not fall to an endless trap, O King!
do not fall to an endless trap, O King!
Swarms of bees come seeking sweet nectar,
and joyfully, towards the moon in the sky,
colorful clouds come drifting.
Ha... aaa
Sweet nectar...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Thaen Madhuvai is a classic dance song from the 1957 film Puthumai Pithan. Opening with poetic metaphors comparing attraction to bees seeking honey and clouds seeking the moon, the song serves as a philosophical warning disguised as a mesmerizing performance. It advises the listener—specifically addressing a king—to guard against succumbing to sensory allure and deceitful charms. The lyrics emphasize that worldly pleasures and infatuations are as short-lived as bubbles on water ('Neerazhi'). It encourages reliance on intellect ('madhi') over blind submission to fate ('vidhi'), warning that falling prey to uncontrolled lust, greed, and deception will lead to the downfall of a ruler.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Neerazhi polae nilaiyaanadhale”

Compares transient life and pleasures to a short-lived water bubble ('Neerazhi polae').

Second-letter Rhyme (Ethukai)

“Madhiyaalae vidhi maalum thayangaadhae neeyae”

The second consonant 'dh' matches across 'Madhiyaalae' and 'Vidhi', creating a rhythmic flow.

Nature Imagery

“Thaen madhuvai vandinam thedi varum”

Uses vivid nature imagery of bees seeking honey and clouds embracing the moon to symbolize natural desire and attraction.

Wordplay / Anthesis

“Madhiyaalae vidhi maalum thayangaadhae neeyae”

Juxtaposes intellect ('Madhi') with fate ('Vidhi') to convey that human wisdom can conquer destiny.

Did you know?

Trivia

Puthumai Pithan (1957) was a fantasy-adventure film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and T. R. Rajakumari, directed by T. R. Sundaram. The soundtrack was composed by G. Ramanathan, with lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. This song stands out for combining seductive dance melody with deep philosophical advice typical of classical Tamil court poetry.

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