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Sivagangai Seemai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thendral Vandhu Veesaadho

From Sivagangai Seemai · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Varalakshmi, T. S. Bagavathi
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Sivagangai Seemai
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
5 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Selva magan kangalilae
Nindru vilaiyaadaadho
Sindhu kavi paadaadho
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Sethupathy bhoomiyilae
Sivagangai seemayilae
Sethupathy bhoomiyilae
Sivagangai seemayilae
Devar magan seer valartha
Then paandi naatinilae
Devar magan seer valartha
Then paandi naatinilae
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Selva magan kangalilae
Nindru vilaiyaadaadho
Sindhu kavi paadaadho
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Velliyilae thaer pooti
Megam pola maadu katti
Velliyilae thaer pooti
Megam pola maadu katti
Alli alli padi alakkum
Aangu nilam vaaduvadho
Alli alli padi alakkum
Aangu nilam vaaduvadho
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Thavalai ellam kulavai idum
Thaamaraiyaam poo malarum
Kuvalai ellaam kavi isaikkum
Kula magal pol sirithirukkum
Vandu vandhu koodum
Vanna ezhil yaavum
Andi varum por puyalil
Adindhu pada sammadhamo
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Aathaal aruginilae
Amma madidhanilae
Aathaal aruginilae
Amma madidhanilae
Kaathirukkum baalaganum
Thanmaana mangaiyarum
Kaathirukkum baalaganum
Thanmaana mangaiyarum
Por maevi purapaduvaar
Pon naatin pugazh valarpaar
Por maevi purapaduvaar
Pon naatin pugazh valarpaar
Yaar varuvaar
Yaar madivaar
Yaar varuvaar
Yaar madivaar
Yaar arivaar
Kanmaniyae
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Selva magan kangalilae
Nindru vilaiyaadaadho
Sindhu kavi paadaadho
Thendral vandhu veesadho
Thempaangu paadaadho
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
In the eyes of our precious son,
won't it dance and play?
Won't it sing a soothing melody?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
In the land of the Sethupathis,
in the realm of Sivagangai,
In the land of the Sethupathis,
in the realm of Sivagangai,
Where noble sons fostered prosperity,
in the southern Pandya country,
Where noble sons fostered prosperity,
in the southern Pandya country,
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
In the eyes of our precious son,
won't it dance and play?
Won't it sing a soothing melody?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
Harnessing silver chariots,
yoking sturdy bulls like drifting clouds,
Harnessing silver chariots,
yoking sturdy bulls like drifting clouds,
Generously giving bountiful harvests,
is that fertile land now withering?
Generously giving bountiful harvests,
is that fertile land now withering?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
Where frogs call out joyful tunes,
and lotus flowers bloom wide,
Where water lilies sing like poetry,
smiling like gentle, modest daughters,
Where bees gather in joy,
should all this colorful beauty
be surrendered to the storm of war
and crushed to the ground?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
Close beside their mother,
in their mother's lap,
Close beside their mother,
in their mother's lap,
The waiting young child
and the proud, dignified woman,
The waiting young child
and the proud, dignified woman,
Will march out to the battlefield
to raise the glory of this golden land!
Will march out to the battlefield
to raise the glory of this golden land!
Who will return?
Who will fall?
Who will return?
Who will fall?
Who really knows,
my precious darling?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
In the eyes of our precious son,
won't it dance and play?
Won't it sing a soothing melody?
Won't the gentle breeze blow?
Won't it sing a sweet folk song?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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