Then Madurai Vaigai Nadhi (Sad)
From Dharmathin Thalaivan · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Dharmathin Thalaivan1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu } (2) | Sings a Tamil song every single day |
| Theigindradhu… | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Theiygindradhu pon maalai nila | Sings a Tamil song every single day |
| Theiyaadhadhu nam aasai nila | It diminishes... |
| Idhu vaanam polae vaazhum paasam | The golden evening moon wanes |
| Male | |
| Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | But the moon of our desires never wanes |
| Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu | This affection lives forever like the vast sky |
| Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Male | |
| Pillai pola ennai ingae | Sings a Tamil song every single day |
| Kaiyil yendhum dheivam engae | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Annan nalla thandhai neeyae | Holding me here like a small child |
| Ennai kaathu nee sendraayae | Where is the divine being who cradled me in his hands? |
| Male | |
| Gangai pola kanneer kondu | Elder brother, you are a good father to me |
| Mangai neeyum nindraai ingae | Did you leave after protecting and guiding me? |
| Annai pola unnai paarthen | Bearing tears as vast as the river Ganges |
| Anni undhan kanneer theerpen | O woman, you stood here in sorrow |
| Male | |
| Annan vazhi nam paadhai | I looked upon you like my own mother |
| Annan mozhi nam geethai | Sister-in-law, I will wipe away all your tears |
| Annan uyir nammodu | Our elder brother's path is our direction |
| Endrum varum pinnodu | Our elder brother's word is our sacred hymn |
| Namm nesam paasam | Our elder brother's spirit is right here with us |
| Naalum vaazhga | It will always follow behind us forever |
| Male | |
| Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | May our love and affection |
| Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu | Flourish with each passing day |
| Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Female | |
| {Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | Sings a Tamil song every single day |
| Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu} (2) | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Theiygindradhu pon maalai nila | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
| Theiyaadhadhu nam aasai nila | Sings a Tamil song every single day |
| Idhu vaanam polae vaazhum paasam | The golden evening moon wanes |
| Female | |
| Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | But the moon of our desires never wanes |
| Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu | This affection lives forever like the vast sky |
| Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi | The Vaigai river of South Madurai |
{ தென்மதுரை
வைகை நதி தினம்
பாடும் தமிழ் பாட்டு } (2)
தேய்கின்றது தேய்கின்றது
பொன் மாலை நிலா
தேயாதது நம் ஆசை நிலா
இது வானம் போலே
வாழும் பாசம்
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Sings a Tamil song every single day
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Sings a Tamil song every single day
It diminishes...
The golden evening moon wanes
தென்மதுரை
வைகை நதி தினம்
பாடும் தமிழ் பாட்டு
தென்மதுரை வைகை
நதி
But the moon of our desires never wanes
This affection lives forever like the vast sky
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
பிள்ளை போல
என்னை இங்கே கையில்
ஏந்தும் தெய்வம் எங்கே
அண்ணன் நல்ல தந்தை
நீயே என்னை காத்து நீ
சென்றாயே
Sings a Tamil song every single day
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Holding me here like a small child
Where is the divine being who cradled me in his hands?
கங்கை போல
கண்ணீர் கொண்டு
மங்கை நீயும் நின்றாய்
இங்கே அன்னை போல
உன்னை பார்த்தேன்
அண்ணி உந்தன் கண்ணீர்
தீர்ப்பேன்
Elder brother, you are a good father to me
Did you leave after protecting and guiding me?
Bearing tears as vast as the river Ganges
O woman, you stood here in sorrow
அண்ணன் வழி
நம் பாதை அண்ணன்
மொழி நம் கீதை அண்ணன்
உயிர் நம்மோடு என்றும்
வரும் பின்னோடு நம்
நேசம் பாசம் நாளும்
வாழ்க
I looked upon you like my own mother
Sister-in-law, I will wipe away all your tears
Our elder brother's path is our direction
Our elder brother's word is our sacred hymn
Our elder brother's spirit is right here with us
It will always follow behind us forever
தென்மதுரை
வைகை நதி தினம்
பாடும் தமிழ் பாட்டு
தென்மதுரை வைகை
நதி
May our love and affection
Flourish with each passing day
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
{ தென்மதுரை
வைகை நதி தினம்
பாடும் தமிழ் பாட்டு } (2)
தேய்கின்றது
பொன் மாலை நிலா
தேயாதது நம் ஆசை நிலா
இது வானம் போலே
வாழும் பாசம்
Sings a Tamil song every single day
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Sings a Tamil song every single day
The golden evening moon wanes
தென்மதுரை
வைகை நதி தினம்
பாடும் தமிழ் பாட்டு
தென்மதுரை வைகை
நதி
But the moon of our desires never wanes
This affection lives forever like the vast sky
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
{Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu } (2)
Sings a Tamil song every single day
Theigindradhu…
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Theiygindradhu pon maalai nila
Sings a Tamil song every single day
Theiyaadhadhu nam aasai nila
It diminishes...
Idhu vaanam polae vaazhum paasam
The golden evening moon wanes
Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
But the moon of our desires never wanes
Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu
This affection lives forever like the vast sky
Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Pillai pola ennai ingae
Sings a Tamil song every single day
Kaiyil yendhum dheivam engae
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Annan nalla thandhai neeyae
Holding me here like a small child
Ennai kaathu nee sendraayae
Where is the divine being who cradled me in his hands?
Gangai pola kanneer kondu
Elder brother, you are a good father to me
Mangai neeyum nindraai ingae
Did you leave after protecting and guiding me?
Annai pola unnai paarthen
Bearing tears as vast as the river Ganges
Anni undhan kanneer theerpen
O woman, you stood here in sorrow
Annan vazhi nam paadhai
I looked upon you like my own mother
Annan mozhi nam geethai
Sister-in-law, I will wipe away all your tears
Annan uyir nammodu
Our elder brother's path is our direction
Endrum varum pinnodu
Our elder brother's word is our sacred hymn
Namm nesam paasam
Our elder brother's spirit is right here with us
Naalum vaazhga
It will always follow behind us forever
Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
May our love and affection
Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu
Flourish with each passing day
Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
{Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
Sings a Tamil song every single day
Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu} (2)
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Theiygindradhu pon maalai nila
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Theiyaadhadhu nam aasai nila
Sings a Tamil song every single day
Idhu vaanam polae vaazhum paasam
The golden evening moon wanes
Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
But the moon of our desires never wanes
Dhinam paadum thamizh paattu
This affection lives forever like the vast sky
Thenmadurai vaigai nadhi
The Vaigai river of South Madurai
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thenmadurai Vaigai Nadhi is a profoundly emotional song from Dharmathin Thalaivan celebrating deep fraternal bond, sacrifice, and family loyalty. The lyrics draw parallels between timeless elements of nature—such as the Vaigai river, the Tamil language, and the vast sky—and the enduring love shared among family members. The younger brother pays homage to his elder brother, viewing him not just as a sibling but as a paternal guardian whose righteous path and words serve as a guiding gospel. In times of sorrow, the younger brother reassures his sister-in-law, promising to wipe away her tears and fulfill the duties left behind by his brother. The core motif contrasts the physical moon, which wanes every night, with the family's eternal affection that remains immortal and unwavering through life's trials.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Idhu vaanam polae vaazhum paasam”
Compares the vastness of fraternal love to the sky using 'polae' (pol).
Antithesis / Imagery
“Theiygindradhu pon maalai nila / Theiyaadhadhu nam aasai nila”
Contrasts the fading evening moon with the unyielding, non-fading moon of affection.
Simile (Upamai)
“Gangai pola kanneer kondu”
Compares the abundance of tears to the holy river Ganges using 'pola'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Annan mozhi nam geethai”
Directly equates the elder brother's spoken words to a holy scripture/song (Geethai).
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Annan vazhi nam paadhai / Annan mozhi nam geethai”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Annan' across consecutive lines for rhythmic emphasis.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, Dharmathin Thalaivan (1988) was a Tamil remake of the 1978 Hindi film Kasme Vaade. The song visually highlights the deep bond between Rajinikanth and Prabhu's characters and remains one of Tamil cinema's quintessential anthems on brotherly affection.
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