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Lyrics & meaning

Thenpandi Cheemayile

From Nayagan · 1987

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nayagan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thenpaandi cheemayilaeIn the southern Pandyan land,
Therodum veedhiyilaeIn the streets where temple chariots roll,
Maan pola vandhavanaeO one who came like a gentle deer,
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Male
Valarum piraiyae theyaathaeO growing crescent moon, do not diminish,
Iniyum azhudhu thembaathaeDo not weep and sob any longer,
Azhudha manasu thaangaathaeMy weeping heart cannot endure it,
Azhudha manasu thaangaathaeMy weeping heart cannot endure it.
Male
Thenpaandi cheemayilaeIn the southern Pandyan land,
Therodum veedhiyilaeIn the streets where temple chariots roll,
Maan pola vandhavanaeO one who came like a gentle deer,
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Male
{Thenpaandi cheemayilaeIn the southern Pandyan land,
Therodum veedhiyilaeIn the streets where temple chariots roll,
Maan pola vandhavanaeO one who came like a gentle deer,
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Male
Valarum piraiyae theyaathaeO growing crescent moon, do not diminish,
Iniyum azhudhu thembaathaeDo not weep and sob any longer,
Azhudha manasu thaangaathaeMy weeping heart cannot endure it,
Azhudha manasu thaangaathaeMy weeping heart cannot endure it.
Male
Thenpaandi cheemayilaeIn the southern Pandyan land,
Therodum veedhiyilaeIn the streets where temple chariots roll,
Maan pola vandhavanaeO one who came like a gentle deer,
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaroWho has struck you?
Yaar adithaaro} (2)Who has struck you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Thenpaandi Cheemayilae is an iconic, deeply emotional lullaby and lament from Mani Ratnam's film Nayagan (1987). Written by Pulamaipithan and composed by Ilaiyaraaja, the song captures profound empathy, sorrow, and protective love towards an innocent soul who has suffered at the hands of a cruel world. Through gentle metaphors of a deer and a waxing crescent moon, the narrator expresses heartbreak over the protagonist's hardship, repeatedly questioning who could bring harm to such innocence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Maan pola vandhavanae

Compares the gentle and harmless protagonist to a deer ('Maan pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Valarum piraiyae theyaathae

Refers to the developing child as a growing crescent moon ('Valarum pirai').

Anaphora / Repetition

Yaar adithaaro

The phrase 'Yaar adithaaro' is repeated to highlight intense grief, questioning, and sorrow over the suffering.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thenpaandi cheemayilae / Therodum veedhiyilae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in 'Thenpaandi' and 'Therodum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung jointly by Ilaiyaraaja and Kamal Haasan, this song forms the thematic and emotional backbone of Nayagan (1987), recurring throughout the film to highlight Velu Naicker's inner innocence amidst a life of crime.

Keep listening

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