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Lyrics & meaning

Thendral Vandhu Veesaadho

From Sivagangai Seemai · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Varalakshmi, T. S. Bagavathi
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Sivagangai Seemai1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Selva magan kangalilaeIn the eyes of the precious son,
Nindru vilaiyaadaadhoWon't it stay and play?
Sindhu kavi paadaadhoWon't it sing a Sindhu poem?
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Sethupathy bhoomiyilaeIn the land of Sethupathy,
Sivagangai seemayilaeIn the region of Sivagangai,
Sethupathy bhoomiyilaeIn the land of Sethupathy,
Sivagangai seemayilaeIn the region of Sivagangai,
Devar magan seer valarthaNurtured by the glory of Devar's son,
Then paandi naatinilaeIn the southern Pandiya kingdom,
Devar magan seer valarthaNurtured by the glory of Devar's son,
Then paandi naatinilaeIn the southern Pandiya kingdom,
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Selva magan kangalilaeIn the eyes of the precious son,
Nindru vilaiyaadaadhoWon't it stay and play?
Sindhu kavi paadaadhoWon't it sing a Sindhu poem?
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Velliyilae thaer pootiYoking a chariot made of silver,
Megam pola maadu kattiHarnessing bulls like dark clouds,
Velliyilae thaer pootiYoking a chariot made of silver,
Megam pola maadu kattiHarnessing bulls like dark clouds,
Alli alli padi alakkumGenerously measuring out grains in abundance,
Aangu nilam vaaduvadhoIs that fertile land now wilting away?
Alli alli padi alakkumGenerously measuring out grains in abundance,
Aangu nilam vaaduvadhoIs that fertile land now wilting away?
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Thavalai ellam kulavai idumThe frogs make joyful ululations,
Thaamaraiyaam poo malarumThe lotus flower blooms gracefully,
Kuvalai ellaam kavi isaikkumThe water lilies compose poetic music,
Kula magal pol sirithirukkumSmiling gently like a noble daughter,
Female
Vandu vandhu koodumBees gather together,
Vanna ezhil yaavumBringing forth all colorful beauty,
Andi varum por puyalilIn the approaching storm of war,
Adindhu pada sammadhamoIs it acceptable for all this to be destroyed?
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Aathaal aruginilaeBeside the mother,
Amma madidhanilaeIn the lap of the mother,
Aathaal aruginilaeBeside the mother,
Amma madidhanilaeIn the lap of the mother,
Kaathirukkum baalaganumThe waiting young child,
Thanmaana mangaiyarumAnd the self-respecting women,
Kaathirukkum baalaganumThe waiting young child,
Thanmaana mangaiyarumAnd the self-respecting women,
Female
Por maevi purapaduvaarWill set forth embracing the war,
Pon naatin pugazh valarpaarTo elevate the glory of this golden land,
Por maevi purapaduvaarWill set forth embracing the war,
Pon naatin pugazh valarpaarTo elevate the glory of this golden land,
Female
Yaar varuvaarWho will return?
Yaar madivaarWho will perish?
Yaar varuvaarWho will return?
Yaar madivaarWho will perish?
Yaar arivaarWho really knows?
KanmaniyaeOh my precious darling!
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Selva magan kangalilaeIn the eyes of the precious son,
Nindru vilaiyaadaadhoWon't it stay and play?
Sindhu kavi paadaadhoWon't it sing a Sindhu poem?
Female
Thendral vandhu veesadhoWon't the southern breeze blow?
Thempaangu paadaadhoWon't it sing a sweet folk song?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant lullaby from the film 'Sivagangai Seemai' expresses deep tenderness alongside a haunting dread of impending war. The lyrics invoke the gentle southern breeze, peaceful folk songs, and the fertile beauty of the Sivagangai kingdom ruled by valiant heroes. It contrasts the natural abundance of the land—blooming lotus flowers, singing lilies, and rich harvests—with the looming tragedy of violent conflict.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaik (Initial Alliteration)

Thendral vandhu veesadho / Thempaangu paadaadho

Repetition of the initial 'Th' sound across consecutive lines creates melodic rhythm.

Upamai (Simile)

Megam pola maadu katti

Compares the dark, powerful bulls to rain-bearing clouds ('Megam pola').

Personification / Upamai

Kula magal pol sirithirukkum

Personifies blooming flowers smiling with the dignity of a noble daughter of the house.

Uruvakam (Metaphor)

Andi varum por puyalil

Metaphorically describes war as a devastating storm ('Por puyal').

Anaphora / Rhetorical Questioning

Yaar varuvaar / Yaar madivaar / Yaar arivaar

Repetition of 'Yaar' (Who) builds dramatic tension about the uncertain outcomes of battle.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sivagangai Seemai (1959) was written and produced by the legendary poet Kannadasan. The soundtrack was composed by the iconic duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The song serves as a lullaby that subtly instills patriotism and awareness of historical sacrifice during the resistance against British rule.

Keep listening

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