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Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thendral Kaatrum

From Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate · 1983

Lyricist
M. G. Vallaban
Singer
B. S. Sasirekha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
16 Nov 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mm….mm….mm…
Thendral kaattrum anbu paattum
Mangai vaazhvil yaedhu
Kangal oram pongum eeram
Naalum kaanum maadhu
Sudu neruppin meedhu malar vizhunthathu
Ini vasantham yaedhu manam thavikkuthu….
Thendral kaattrum anbu paattum
Mangai vaazhvil yaedhu
Poovai enthan ullam devan vaazhum illam
Poovai enthan ullam devan vaazhum illam
Kaattrilae megam pol enthan aasai thaeinthathae
Vaaraayo…..kelaayo….
Ezhil muzhumathi thaeiirathae
Thendral kaattrum anbu paattum
Mangai vaazhvil yaedhu
Kangal oram pongum eeram
Naalum kaanum maadhu
Sudu neruppin meedhu malar vizhunthathu
Velli vanna aadai nenjil konda paavai
Velli vanna aadai nenjil konda paavai
Minnalai thaediyae thaazhampoovum yaengguthae
Paaraaro…..kelaayo….
Iru manam alai modhiduthae….
Thendral kaattrum anbu paattum
Mangai vaazhvil yaedhu
Kangal oram pongum eeram
Naalum kaanum maadhu
Sudu neruppin meedhu malar vizhunthathu
Ini vasantham yaedhu manam thavikkuthu….
Thendral kaattrum anbu paattum
Mangai vaazhvil yaedhu…..mmmm….mm…mm…..
Mm... mm... mm...
A gentle breeze and a song of love—
where are they in this woman's life?
Tears constantly welling in her eyes,
this is all this woman sees each day.
A tender flower has fallen onto a burning fire.
What spring is left now? My heart aches in pain...
A gentle breeze and a song of love—
where are they in this woman's life?
This woman's heart is a home where God dwells,
This woman's heart is a home where God dwells,
yet like clouds in the wind, my desires have faded away.
Won't you come? Won't you listen?
The beautiful full moon is waning away...
A gentle breeze and a song of love—
where are they in this woman's life?
Tears constantly welling in her eyes,
this is all this woman sees each day.
A tender flower has fallen onto a burning fire.
Dressed in silver-colored robes, this woman,
Dressed in silver-colored robes, this woman,
longs for the flash of lightning like a screw-pine flower.
Won't you look? Won't you listen?
Two hearts are tossed like restless waves...
A gentle breeze and a song of love—
where are they in this woman's life?
Tears constantly welling in her eyes,
this is all this woman sees each day.
A tender flower has fallen onto a burning fire.
What spring is left now? My heart aches in pain...
A gentle breeze and a song of love—
where are they in this woman's life? Mmm... mm... mm...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song expresses deep distress and melancholy from the perspective of a woman whose life lacks affection and joy. She compares her fragile existence to a tender flower falling into a burning fire, signifying how her innocence and peace are consumed by tragedy. Her tears are a daily presence, and her desires disperse helplessly like clouds blown by the wind. Through poetic imagery of a fading full moon and restless ocean waves, the lyrics emphasize an intense emotional conflict and a desperate search for comfort that never arrives.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Kaattrilae megam pol enthan aasai thaeinthathae

Compares her fading desires to clouds scattered away by the wind ('Kaattrilae megam pol enthan aasai thaeinthathae').

Metaphor

Sudu neruppin meedhu malar vizhunthathu

Compares a tender life caught in severe suffering to a flower falling onto burning fire ('Sudu neruppin meedhu malar vizhunthathu').

Metaphor

Poovai enthan ullam devan vaazhum illam

Equates her pure heart to a flower and an abode where God resides ('Poovai enthan ullam devan vaazhum illam').

Iyaibu (Rhyming)

Vaaraayo…..kelaayo….

Rhyming line endings creates a mournful rhythm ('Vaaraayo.....kelaayo....').

Did you know?

Trivia

Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate is a 1983 Tamil drama film directed by O. S. Sivakumar. Although often listed with unknown music credits in secondary sources, the film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by M. G. Vallaban.

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