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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thendral Varum Vazhiyai

From Friends · 2001

Lyricist
Pazhani Bharathi
Singers
Hariharan, Bhavatharani
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Friends2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thendral varum vazhiyai pookal ariyaadhaaDon't the flowers know the path from which the gentle breeze arrives?
Thendraluku malarin nenjam puriyaadhaaDoesn't the gentle breeze understand the delicate heart of the flower?
Alli koduthen manadhaiI gave away my heart generously to you
Ezhudhi vaithen mudhal kavidhaiI wrote my very first poem of love
Kannil valarthen kanavaiI nurtured a sweet dream in my eyes
Katti pidithen thalaiyanaiyaiI hugged my pillow tightly in romantic anticipation
Gundu malli kodiyae kollai adikadhae neeO round jasmine vine, do not rob me of my peace
Female
Thendral varum vazhiyaiThe path where the gentle breeze arrives
Nana nana naaanaaVocalization (Nana nana naaanaa)
Male
Lala lala lala lala laaVocalization (Lala lala lala lala laa)
Female
Thendraluku malarinFor the gentle breeze, of the flower
Nana nana naanaaVocalization (Nana nana naanaa)
Male
Lala lala lala lala laaVocalization (Lala lala lala lala laa)
Male
Neeyaa ada naanaa nenjai mudhal mudhalIs it you or is it me, who lost their heart first
Izhandhadhu yaarAmong the two of us?
Female
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Male
Kaadhal enum aatril ingu mudhal mudhalIn this river called love, who was the very first
Kudhithadhu yaarTo jump right in?
Female
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Female
Yennil unnai kanden nammai irandenaI saw you within myself, as two entities
Piripadhu yaarWho is there to separate us now?
Male
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Female
Dhegam adhil jeevan ondru pirindhidaWhen a single life force resides within a body
Irupadhu yaarWho is there to divide it?
Male
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Male
Thunbam nee kodukum thunbam kooda inbamSorrow, even the pain caused by you feels like pure joy
Yengum nenjil yekkam endrum thodara vendumMay the longing in this yearning heart continue forever
Female
Gundu malli kodiyae kollai adikadhae-ae…O round jasmine vine, do not rob me of my peace
Male
Aaaa aaa aaa aaaVocalization (Aaaa aaa aaa aaa)
Female
Vennilavu magalin ullam parikadhae-ae…O daughter of the moonlit night, do not snatch my heart
Male
Aaa aaa aaaa aaaaVocalization (Aaa aaa aaaa aaaa)
Male
Thendral varum vazhiyai pookal ariyaadhaaDon't the flowers know the path from which the gentle breeze arrives?
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Thendraluku malarin nenjam puriyaadhaaDoesn't the gentle breeze understand the delicate heart of the flower?
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Female
Thendral varum vazhiyai nana nana naanaaThe path where the gentle breeze arrives (Nana nana naanaa)
Male
Lala lala lala lala laaVocalization (Lala lala lala lala laa)
Female
Thendralukku malarin nana nana naanaaFor the gentle breeze, of the flower (Nana nana naanaa)
Male
Lala lala lala lala laaVocalization (Lala lala lala lala laa)
Female
Naanana naana nana naanana naana nanaVocalization (Naanana naana nana naanana naana nana)
Naanana naana nana naanana naana nanaVocalization (Naanana naana nana naanana naana nana)
Male
Kaadhal un kaadhalLove, your love
Adhu mazhaiyena varugiradhaeIt comes pouring down like torrential rain
Female
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Male
Nenjam en nenjamHeart, my heart
Adhil suda chuda nanaigiradhaeIt gets comfortably soaked in that warm rain
Female
Nana nana nana nanaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana)
Female
Vaanam en vaanamSky, my sky
Oru vaanavil varugiradhaeA rainbow is appearing across it
Male
Nana nana nana nana naaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana naa)
Female
Mounam en mounamSilence, my silence
Oru vaarthaiku alaigiradhaeIs wandering in search of a single word
Male
Nana nana nana nanaVocalization (Nana nana nana nana)
Male
Paarthen kaadhal payirin vidhaigalI saw the seeds of the crop of love
undhan kannilShining inside your eyes
Valarthen mutham pookum sediyaiI nurtured a plant that blossoms kisses
Endhan nenjilDeep inside my heart
Female
Gundu malli kodiyae kollai adikadhae-ae…O round jasmine vine, do not rob me of my peace
Male
Aaaa aaa aaa aaaVocalization (Aaaa aaa aaa aaa)
Female
Vennilavu magalin ullam parikadhae-ae…O daughter of the moonlit night, do not snatch my heart
Male
Aaa aaa aaaa aaaaVocalization (Aaa aaa aaaa aaaa)
Female
Thendral varum vazhiyaiThe path where the gentle breeze arrives
Nana nana naanaaVocalization (Nana nana naanaa)
Male
Lala lala lala lala laaVocalization (Lala lala lala lala laa)
Female
Thendraluku malarinFor the gentle breeze, of the flower
Nana nana naanaaVocalization (Nana nana naanaa)
Male
Lala lala lala lala laaVocalization (Lala lala lala lala laa)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Thendral Varum Vazhiyai' from the movie Friends (2001) expresses the tender and innocent feelings of nascent love. Using gentle natural motifs like breezes, flowers, rain, and rainbows, the lyrics depict two lovers realizing their deep romantic bond. The speaker muses about who fell in love first and compares their union to two souls merging into one entity, where even the sweet agony of separation feels joyful. In the second half, the imagery deepens with metaphors of love raining down upon a longing heart and the seeds of romance sprouting within the eyes and soul. Written by Pazhani Bharathi, the lyrics capture the quiet longing, playful confusion, and emotional fulfillment that accompany finding one's soulmate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Kaadhal enum aatril ingu mudhal mudhal

Comparing love directly to a river ('Kaadhal enum aatril') and to rain ('mazhaiyena varugiradhae').

Personification

Thendraluku malarin nenjam puriyaadhaa

Attributing human actions and emotions to nature, such as flowers knowing the path of the breeze and the breeze understanding the heart of a flower.

Rhyme / Monorhyme (Edhukai)

Alli koduthen manadhai / Ezhudhi vaithen mudhal kavidhai

Matching second letter rhyming patterns across lines ('Alli', 'Ezhudhi', 'Kannil', 'Katti').

Oxymoron

Thunbam nee kodukum thunbam kooda inbam

Juxtaposing two contrasting concepts: sorrow ('Thunbam') feeling like joy ('Inbam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Hariharan and Bhavatharini, 'Thendral Varum Vazhiyai' is one of the most celebrated melodies from the 2001 blockbuster film 'Friends', starring Vijay, Suriya, and Devayani. The melody is known for its lush orchestrations, soothing acoustic guitar passages, and serene nature-inspired lyricism by Pazhani Bharathi.

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