Thendral Vanthu Theendumbothu
From Avatharam · 1995
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| …………………………….. | ... |
| Male | |
| ………………………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Thendral vanthu | When the gentle breeze comes |
| Theendum pothu | and touches, |
| Enna vannamo manasula | what colors arise in the heart? |
| Thingal vanthu | When the moon comes |
| Kaayum pothu | and shines down, |
| Enna vannamo nenapula | what colors arise in thoughts? |
| Male | |
| Vanthu vanthu poguthamma | They come and go, my dear, |
| Ennamellam vannam amma | all thoughts are colorful, my dear. |
| Ennagalukku yethapadi | According to our thoughts, |
| Vannamellam maarumamma | all colors change, my dear. |
| Unmaiyamma ullatha naanum sonnen | I spoke the truth as it is, my precious, |
| Ponnamma chinna kanne | my golden one, my little darling. |
| Male | |
| Thendral vanthu | When the gentle breeze comes |
| Theendum pothu | and touches, |
| Enna vannamo manasula | what colors arise in the heart? |
| Thingal vanthu | When the moon comes |
| Kaayum pothu | and shines down, |
| Enna vannamo nenapula | what colors arise in thoughts? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Evarum sollaamalae | Without anyone telling them, |
| Pookkalum vaasam veesuthu | the flowers spread their fragrance. |
| Uravum illaamalea | Without any formal relationship, |
| Iru manam yetho pesuthu | two hearts speak of something. |
| Male | |
| Evarum sollaamalae | Without anyone telling them, |
| Kuyil ellaam thaena paaduthu | all the cuckoos sing like sweet honey. |
| Ethuvum illaamalae | Without anything in particular, |
| Manasellaam inippaa inikkuthu | the entire heart feels sweetly sweet. |
| Female | |
| Oda neeroda | Like a flowing stream, |
| Intha ulagam athu pola | this world flows along. |
| Male | |
| Odam athu odum | Like a boat that sails, |
| Intha kaalam athu pola | this time moves away. |
| Female | |
| Nilaiyaa nillaathu | They do not stay permanent, |
| Ninaivil varum nirangalae | the colors that appear in memory! |
| Male | |
| Thendral vanthu | When the gentle breeze comes |
| Theendum pothu | and touches, |
| Enna vannamo manasula | what colors arise in the heart? |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Eeram vizhunthaalae | When moisture falls, |
| Nilathilae ellaam thulirkuthu | everything sprouts on the ground. |
| Nesam poranthaalae | When affection is born, |
| Udambellaam yeno silirkuthu | why does the whole body thrill with goosebumps? |
| Female | |
| Aalam vizhuthaaga | Like the prop roots of a banyan tree, |
| Aasaigal oonjal aadudhu | desires swing back and forth. |
| Alaiyum ala polae | Like the rolling waves, |
| Azhagellaam kolam poduthu | all beauty creates colorful patterns. |
| Male | |
| Kuyilae kuyilinamae | Oh cuckoo, oh species of cuckoos, |
| Antha isaiya koovuthamma | it sings that music! |
| Female | |
| Kiliyae kiliyinamae | Oh parrot, oh species of parrots, |
| Atha kathaiyai pesuthamma | it speaks of that story! |
| Male | |
| Kathaiya vidukathaiyaai | Is love something that becomes a story |
| Aavathillaiyae anbu thaan | or a riddle? Never, love is pure truth! |
| Female | |
| Thendral vanthu | When the gentle breeze comes |
| Theendum pothu | and touches, |
| Enna vannamo manasula | what colors arise in the heart? |
| Male :Thingal vanthu | Male: When the moon comes |
| Kaayum pothu | and shines down, |
| Enna vannamo nenapula | what colors arise in thoughts? |
| Female | |
| Vanthu vanthu poguthamma | They come and go, my dear, |
| Ennamellam vannam amma | all thoughts are colorful, my dear. |
| Male :Ennagalukku yethapadi | Male: According to our thoughts, |
| Vannamellam maarumamma | all colors change, my dear. |
| Female :Unmaiyilae ullatha | Female: Is it truly what is inside? |
| Enna enna | What are they, what are they, |
| Vannangal enna enna | what are all these colors? |
| Male | |
| Thendral vanthu | When the gentle breeze comes |
| Theendum pothu | and touches, |
| Enna vannamo manasula | what colors arise in the heart? |
| Thingal vanthu | When the moon comes |
| Kaayum pothu | and shines down, |
| Enna vannamo nenapula | what colors arise in thoughts? |
..................................
...
...............................
...
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ நினைப்புல
When the gentle breeze comes
and touches,
what colors arise in the heart?
When the moon comes
and shines down,
what colors arise in thoughts?
வந்து வந்து போகுதம்மா
எண்ணமெல்லாம் வண்ணமம்மா
எண்ணங்களுக்கேற்றபடி
வண்ணமெல்லாம் மாறுமம்மா
உண்மையம்மா உள்ளதை
நானும் சொன்னேன்
பொன்னம்மா சின்னக் கண்ணம்மா
They come and go, my dear,
all thoughts are colorful, my dear.
According to our thoughts,
all colors change, my dear.
I spoke the truth as it is, my precious,
my golden one, my little darling.
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ நினைப்புல
When the gentle breeze comes
and touches,
what colors arise in the heart?
When the moon comes
and shines down,
what colors arise in thoughts?
....................................
...
விவரம் இல்லாமலே
பூக்களும் வாசம் வீசுது
உறவும் இல்லாமலே
இருமனம் ஏதோ பேசுது
Without anyone telling them,
the flowers spread their fragrance.
Without any formal relationship,
two hearts speak of something.
எவரும் சொல்லாமலே
குயிலெல்லாம் தேனா பாடுது
எதுவும் இல்லாமலே
மனசெல்லாம் இனிப்பா இனிக்குது
Without anyone telling them,
all the cuckoos sing like sweet honey.
Without anything in particular,
the entire heart feels sweetly sweet.
ஓடை நீரோடை
இந்த உலகம் அது போல
Like a flowing stream,
this world flows along.
ஓடும் அது ஓடும்
இந்தக் காலம் அது போல
Like a boat that sails,
this time moves away.
நிலையா நில்லாது
நினைவில் வரும் நிறங்களே
They do not stay permanent,
the colors that appear in memory!
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல
When the gentle breeze comes
and touches,
what colors arise in the heart?
ஈரம் விழுந்தாலே
நிலத்திலே எல்லாம் துளிர்க்குது
நேசம் பிறந்தாலே
உடம்பெல்லாம் ஏதோ சிலிர்க்குது
...
ஆலம் விழுதாக
ஆசைகள் ஊஞ்சல் ஆடுது
அலையும் அலை போலே
அழகெல்லாம் கோலம் போடுது
When moisture falls,
everything sprouts on the ground.
When affection is born,
why does the whole body thrill with goosebumps?
குயிலே குயிலினமே
அந்த இசையா கூவுதம்மா
Like the prop roots of a banyan tree,
desires swing back and forth.
Like the rolling waves,
all beauty creates colorful patterns.
கிளியே கிளியினமே
அதைக் கதையாப் பேசுதம்மா
Oh cuckoo, oh species of cuckoos,
it sings that music!
கதையாய் விடுகதையாய்
ஆவதில்லையே அன்புதான்
Oh parrot, oh species of parrots,
it speaks of that story!
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ நினைப்புல
Is love something that becomes a story
or a riddle? Never, love is pure truth!
வந்து வந்து போகுதம்மா
எண்ணமெல்லாம் வண்ணமம்மா
எண்ணங்களுக்கேற்றபடி
வண்ணமெல்லாம் மாறுமம்மா
உண்மையிலே உள்ளது
என்ன என்ன..
வண்ணங்கள் என்ன என்ன...
When the gentle breeze comes
and touches,
what colors arise in the heart?
Male: When the moon comes
and shines down,
what colors arise in thoughts?
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ மனசுல
திங்கள் வந்து காயும் போது
என்ன வண்ணமோ நினைப்புல
They come and go, my dear,
all thoughts are colorful, my dear.
Male: According to our thoughts,
all colors change, my dear.
Female: Is it truly what is inside?
What are they, what are they,
what are all these colors?
When the gentle breeze comes
and touches,
what colors arise in the heart?
When the moon comes
and shines down,
what colors arise in thoughts?
……………………………..
...
…………………………………
...
Thendral vanthu
When the gentle breeze comes
Theendum pothu
and touches,
Enna vannamo manasula
what colors arise in the heart?
Thingal vanthu
When the moon comes
Kaayum pothu
and shines down,
Enna vannamo nenapula
what colors arise in thoughts?
Vanthu vanthu poguthamma
They come and go, my dear,
Ennamellam vannam amma
all thoughts are colorful, my dear.
Ennagalukku yethapadi
According to our thoughts,
Vannamellam maarumamma
all colors change, my dear.
Unmaiyamma ullatha naanum sonnen
I spoke the truth as it is, my precious,
Ponnamma chinna kanne
my golden one, my little darling.
Thendral vanthu
When the gentle breeze comes
Theendum pothu
and touches,
Enna vannamo manasula
what colors arise in the heart?
Thingal vanthu
When the moon comes
Kaayum pothu
and shines down,
Enna vannamo nenapula
what colors arise in thoughts?
………………………………..
...
Evarum sollaamalae
Without anyone telling them,
Pookkalum vaasam veesuthu
the flowers spread their fragrance.
Uravum illaamalea
Without any formal relationship,
Iru manam yetho pesuthu
two hearts speak of something.
Evarum sollaamalae
Without anyone telling them,
Kuyil ellaam thaena paaduthu
all the cuckoos sing like sweet honey.
Ethuvum illaamalae
Without anything in particular,
Manasellaam inippaa inikkuthu
the entire heart feels sweetly sweet.
Oda neeroda
Like a flowing stream,
Intha ulagam athu pola
this world flows along.
Odam athu odum
Like a boat that sails,
Intha kaalam athu pola
this time moves away.
Nilaiyaa nillaathu
They do not stay permanent,
Ninaivil varum nirangalae
the colors that appear in memory!
Thendral vanthu
When the gentle breeze comes
Theendum pothu
and touches,
Enna vannamo manasula
what colors arise in the heart?
……………………………….
...
Eeram vizhunthaalae
When moisture falls,
Nilathilae ellaam thulirkuthu
everything sprouts on the ground.
Nesam poranthaalae
When affection is born,
Udambellaam yeno silirkuthu
why does the whole body thrill with goosebumps?
Aalam vizhuthaaga
Like the prop roots of a banyan tree,
Aasaigal oonjal aadudhu
desires swing back and forth.
Alaiyum ala polae
Like the rolling waves,
Azhagellaam kolam poduthu
all beauty creates colorful patterns.
Kuyilae kuyilinamae
Oh cuckoo, oh species of cuckoos,
Antha isaiya koovuthamma
it sings that music!
Kiliyae kiliyinamae
Oh parrot, oh species of parrots,
Atha kathaiyai pesuthamma
it speaks of that story!
Kathaiya vidukathaiyaai
Is love something that becomes a story
Aavathillaiyae anbu thaan
or a riddle? Never, love is pure truth!
Thendral vanthu
When the gentle breeze comes
Theendum pothu
and touches,
Enna vannamo manasula
what colors arise in the heart?
Male :Thingal vanthu
Male: When the moon comes
Kaayum pothu
and shines down,
Enna vannamo nenapula
what colors arise in thoughts?
Vanthu vanthu poguthamma
They come and go, my dear,
Ennamellam vannam amma
all thoughts are colorful, my dear.
Male :Ennagalukku yethapadi
Male: According to our thoughts,
Vannamellam maarumamma
all colors change, my dear.
Female :Unmaiyilae ullatha
Female: Is it truly what is inside?
Enna enna
What are they, what are they,
Vannangal enna enna
what are all these colors?
Thendral vanthu
When the gentle breeze comes
Theendum pothu
and touches,
Enna vannamo manasula
what colors arise in the heart?
Thingal vanthu
When the moon comes
Kaayum pothu
and shines down,
Enna vannamo nenapula
what colors arise in thoughts?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic song 'Thendral Vanthu Theendum Pothu' from Avatharam meditates on how nature and human emotions are intricately linked. The gentle breeze and moonlight serve as quiet triggers that evoke a kaleidoscope of shifting feelings and memories inside the human mind. The lyrics portray how nature creates magic effortlessly—flowers fragrance the air without prompt, birds sing sweetly, and affection naturally stirs goosebumps and deep desires. Through poetic similes comparing life to a flowing stream and time to a sailing boat, the song emphasizes the transience of moments and feelings. Love is described as an enduring, non-riddling truth that breathes life into everything, changing internal 'colors' as seamlessly as nature transitions through its seasons.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thendral vanthu / Theendum pothu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds within a line or across adjacent lines.
Ethirayi (Second-Letter Rhyme)
“Thendral vanthu / Thingal vanthu”
Matching second consonants across lines, creating natural rhythm in Tamil poetry.
Upamai (Simile)
“Oda neeroda / Intha ulagam athu pola”
Comparing the passage of world and time to flowing streams and moving boats using 'pola'.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Ennamellam vannam amma”
Directly identifying thoughts with colors without explicit comparison words.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and sung by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja alongside S. Janaki for Nassar's directorial debut 'Avatharam' (1995), starring Nassar and Revathi. The song is composed in the classical ragam Punnagavarali, masterfully blending folk melodic structures with rich orchestral arrangements.
Keep listening
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