Therodum Veedhiyile
From Gumasthavin Magal · 1974
- Lyricist
- Ulunthur Pettai Shanmugam
- Music director
- Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan
- Details
- Gumasthavin Magal1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen | I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls |
| Thaer vanthu saernthaalum | Even though the chariot arrived |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Female | |
| Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen | I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls |
| Thaer vanthu saernthaalum | Even though the chariot arrived |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Female | |
| Neerodum nadhiyinilae neeraada sendrirunthaen | I went to bathe in the flowing river |
| Neerodum nadhiyinilae neeraada sendrirunthaen | I went to bathe in the flowing river |
| Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa | At the time when water flowed, it boiled like fire, oh mother |
| Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa | At the time when water flowed, it boiled like fire, oh mother |
| Amma…..nerupaaga kothithathammaa | Oh mother... it boiled like fire, oh mother |
| Female | |
| Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen | I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls |
| Thaer vanthu saernthaalum | Even though the chariot arrived |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Female | |
| Oomaiyinai pesa vaiththu | After making a mute person speak |
| Ulagaththai kaatti vittu | And showing them the world |
| Oomaiyinai pesa vaiththu | After making a mute person speak |
| Ulagaththai kaatti vittu | And showing them the world |
| Female | |
| Oomaiyaai po endraal | If told to go back to being mute |
| Ullam enna aagumammaa | What will happen to the heart, oh mother? |
| Oomaiyaai po endraal | If told to go back to being mute |
| Ullam enna aagumammaa | What will happen to the heart, oh mother? |
| Ullam enna aagumammaa | What will happen to the heart, oh mother? |
| Female | |
| Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen | I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls |
| Thaer vanthu saernthaalum | Even though the chariot arrived |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Female | |
| Karpanaigal aayiram kanavaagi maranthathammaa | A thousand imaginations faded away as mere dreams, oh mother |
| Karpanaigal aayiram kanavaagi maranthathammaa | A thousand imaginations faded away as mere dreams, oh mother |
| Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum | And the artwork that was thought to be indelible |
| Kanneeril karainthathammaa | Dissolved in tears, oh mother |
| Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum | And the artwork that was thought to be indelible |
| Kanneeril karainthathammaa | Dissolved in tears, oh mother |
| Kanneeril karainthathammaa | Dissolved in tears, oh mother |
| Female | |
| Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen | I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls |
| Thaer vanthu saernthaalum | Even though the chariot arrived |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
| Deivam angu illaiyammaa | The deity was not there, oh mother |
தேரோடும் வீதியிலே தரிசிக்க காத்திருந்தேன்
தேர் வந்து சேர்ந்தாலும்
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Even though the chariot arrived
The deity was not there, oh mother
தேரோடும் வீதியிலே தரிசிக்க காத்திருந்தேன்
தேர் வந்து சேர்ந்தாலும்
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Even though the chariot arrived
The deity was not there, oh mother
The deity was not there, oh mother
நீரோடும் நதியினிலே நீராட சென்றிருந்தேன்
நீரோடும் நதியினிலே நீராட சென்றிருந்தேன்
நீராடும் வேளையிலே நெருப்பாக கொதித்ததம்மா
நீராடும் வேளையிலே நெருப்பாக கொதித்ததம்மா
அம்மா........ நெருப்பாக கொதித்ததம்மா
I went to bathe in the flowing river
I went to bathe in the flowing river
At the time when water flowed, it boiled like fire, oh mother
At the time when water flowed, it boiled like fire, oh mother
Oh mother... it boiled like fire, oh mother
தேரோடும் வீதியிலே தரிசிக்க காத்திருந்தேன்
தேர் வந்து சேர்ந்தாலும்
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Even though the chariot arrived
The deity was not there, oh mother
The deity was not there, oh mother
ஊமையினை பேச வைத்து
உலகத்தை காட்டி விட்டு
ஊமையினை பேச வைத்து
உலகத்தை காட்டி விட்டு
After making a mute person speak
And showing them the world
After making a mute person speak
And showing them the world
ஊமையாய் போ என்றால்
உள்ளம் என்ன ஆகுமம்மா
ஊமையாய் போ என்றால்
உள்ளம் என்ன ஆகுமம்மா
உள்ளம் என்ன ஆகுமம்மா
If told to go back to being mute
What will happen to the heart, oh mother?
If told to go back to being mute
What will happen to the heart, oh mother?
What will happen to the heart, oh mother?
தேரோடும் வீதியிலே தரிசிக்க காத்திருந்தேன்
தேர் வந்து சேர்ந்தாலும்
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Even though the chariot arrived
The deity was not there, oh mother
The deity was not there, oh mother
கற்பனைகள் ஆயிரம் கனவாகி மறைந்ததம்மா
கற்பனைகள் ஆயிரம் கனவாகி மறைந்ததம்மா
கலையாத ஓவியமும்
கண்ணீரில் கரைந்ததம்மா
கலையாத ஓவியமும்
கண்ணீரில் கரைந்ததம்மா
கண்ணீரில் கரைந்ததம்மா
A thousand imaginations faded away as mere dreams, oh mother
A thousand imaginations faded away as mere dreams, oh mother
And the artwork that was thought to be indelible
Dissolved in tears, oh mother
And the artwork that was thought to be indelible
Dissolved in tears, oh mother
Dissolved in tears, oh mother
தேரோடும் வீதியிலே தரிசிக்க காத்திருந்தேன்
தேர் வந்து சேர்ந்தாலும்
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
தெய்வம் அங்கு இல்லையம்மா
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Even though the chariot arrived
The deity was not there, oh mother
The deity was not there, oh mother
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Even though the chariot arrived
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Even though the chariot arrived
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Neerodum nadhiyinilae neeraada sendrirunthaen
I went to bathe in the flowing river
Neerodum nadhiyinilae neeraada sendrirunthaen
I went to bathe in the flowing river
Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa
At the time when water flowed, it boiled like fire, oh mother
Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa
At the time when water flowed, it boiled like fire, oh mother
Amma…..nerupaaga kothithathammaa
Oh mother... it boiled like fire, oh mother
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Even though the chariot arrived
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Oomaiyinai pesa vaiththu
After making a mute person speak
Ulagaththai kaatti vittu
And showing them the world
Oomaiyinai pesa vaiththu
After making a mute person speak
Ulagaththai kaatti vittu
And showing them the world
Oomaiyaai po endraal
If told to go back to being mute
Ullam enna aagumammaa
What will happen to the heart, oh mother?
Oomaiyaai po endraal
If told to go back to being mute
Ullam enna aagumammaa
What will happen to the heart, oh mother?
Ullam enna aagumammaa
What will happen to the heart, oh mother?
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Even though the chariot arrived
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Karpanaigal aayiram kanavaagi maranthathammaa
A thousand imaginations faded away as mere dreams, oh mother
Karpanaigal aayiram kanavaagi maranthathammaa
A thousand imaginations faded away as mere dreams, oh mother
Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum
And the artwork that was thought to be indelible
Kanneeril karainthathammaa
Dissolved in tears, oh mother
Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum
And the artwork that was thought to be indelible
Kanneeril karainthathammaa
Dissolved in tears, oh mother
Kanneeril karainthathammaa
Dissolved in tears, oh mother
Thaerodum vedhiyilae tharisikka kaaththirunthaen
I waited to seek blessings in the street where the temple chariot rolls
Thaer vanthu saernthaalum
Even though the chariot arrived
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Deivam angu illaiyammaa
The deity was not there, oh mother
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song expresses deep sorrow, disappointment, and existential angst over shattered expectations and lost hope. The protagonist uses powerful imagery to portray emotional betrayal: arriving for worship only to find the god missing from the chariot, entering a refreshing river only to feel it scalding like fire, and gaining a voice only to be silenced again. The emotional arc culminates in grieving over dreams that crumbled and an indelible image dissolving away in a flood of tears. Written with profound poetic pathos by Ulunthur Pettai Shanmugam, the song captures the pain of life turning unexpectedly cruel despite doing everything right. Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan's composition and Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi's soulful singing elevate the grief to a poignant artistic expression.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox / Imagery
“Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa”
Comparing cooling river water to scalding fire ('Neerodum velaiyilae nerupaaga kothithathammaa') highlights intense internal trauma where comforting things feel painful.
Metaphor
“Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum Kanneeril karainthathammaa”
Comparing cherished, permanent memories or relationships to an indelible painting that dissolves in tears ('Kalaiyaatha ooviyamum Kanneeril karainthathammaa').
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Thaerodum vedhiyilae / Neerodum nadhiyinilae”
Rhyming of second letters across corresponding lines such as 'Thaerodum' and 'Neerodum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Gumasthavin Magal' (1974) was directed by veteran filmmaker A. P. Nagarajan, based on a novel by K. T. Thirunavukkarasu. Musician Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan composed the soundtrack, giving Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi a rare solo classic outside her famous devotional repertoire.
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