Vadakka Thekka
From Aval Peyar Tamilarasi · 2010
- Lyricist
- Ekadasi
- Singer
- Vineeth Sreenivasan
- Music director
- Vijay Antony
- Details
- Aval Peyar Tamilarasi2010
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hmmm…mm…mm… | Hmmm…mm…mm… |
| Hmmm…mm..mmm…. | Hmmm…mm..mmm…. |
| Hmmm…mm…mm… | Hmmm…mm…mm… |
| Hmmm…mm..mmm…. | Hmmm…mm..mmm…. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Irai thedi pona paravai nee | You are like a bird that flew away searching for food, |
| Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae | Why haven't you returned to your nest yet? |
| Irai thedi pona paravai nee | You are like a bird that flew away searching for food, |
| Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae | Why haven't you returned to your nest yet? |
| En iruvizhigal karaiyudhadi | Both my eyes are melting away in tears, |
| Sonnaalum ketkalaiyae | They refuse to listen even when I reason with them. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Ohooo…hooo…ooooo | Ohooo…hooo…ooooo |
| Male | |
| Nee mugam paarkum kannaadiyil | In the mirror where you used to look at your face, |
| Un neththipottu irukku | Your bindi is still stuck. |
| Nee kulicha idathulathaan | In the place where you took a bath, |
| Manjathundu kedakku | A piece of turmeric lies left behind. |
| Male | |
| Nee vittathula sorugi vacha | Tucked into the roof where you left it, |
| Kozhirekkai irukkudhadi | There lies a chicken feather. |
| Nee sikkeduthu potta mudi | The strands of hair you removed while combing, |
| Kaala suththi kedakkudhadi | Lie tangled around my feet. |
| Male | |
| Ennai suthi ellaamae | Everything around me, |
| Un perathaan solla | Keeps whispering your name. |
| Enna othaiyila vittupputta | You left me all alone, |
| Naan enga sella | Where am I supposed to go? |
| Naan enga sella | Where am I supposed to go? |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Nee viral neetti kojam pesaiyila | When you gesture with your fingers and talk, |
| Adi vaanavillum udhikkum | Even a rainbow blooms. |
| Nee nadandha thadathil thaan | Along the path where you walked, |
| Sorga vaasal thirakkum | The gates of heaven open. |
| Male | |
| Nee annam endru theriyaama | Without realizing you were a swan, |
| Ambu kondu yenjiputten | I aimed an arrow at you. |
| Intha paavam theerthida thaan | To wash away this sin, |
| Entha aathil kulikka poven | In which holy river should I take a bath? |
| Male | |
| Naan vidum kaneerula | In the tears that I shed, |
| Arakkani nanaijidumae | Half an acre of land would get soaked. |
| Adhula uluthu vedhachaalum | If someone plows and sows seeds in it, |
| Oru bogam velanchidumae | A whole season's crop would yield a harvest. |
| Adhula oru bogam velanchidumae | A whole season's crop would yield a harvest. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
| Male | |
| Irai thedi pona paravai nee | You are like a bird that flew away searching for food, |
| Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae | Why haven't you returned to your nest yet? |
| Irai thedi pona paravai nee | You are like a bird that flew away searching for food, |
| Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae | Why haven't you returned to your nest yet? |
| En iruvizhigal karaiyudhadi | Both my eyes are melting away in tears, |
| Sonnaalum ketkalaiyae | They refuse to listen even when I reason with them. |
| Male | |
| Vadakkaa therka | Did you go North or South? |
| Kezhakkaa merkkaa | East or West? |
| Endha dhisai ponappulla | Which direction did you go, girl? |
| En nenjukoodu thaangavilla | My heart cannot bear this pain. |
ஹ்ம்ம்..ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்....(4)
Hmmm…mm…mm…
Hmmm…mm..mmm….
Hmmm…mm…mm…
Hmmm…mm..mmm….
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
இறைதேடிப் போனப்பறவை நீ
இன்னும் கூடுவந்து சேரலையே
இறைதேடிப் போனப்பறவை நீ
இன்னும் கூடுவந்து சேரலையே
என் இருவிழிகள் கரையுதடி
சொன்னாலும் கேட்கலையே
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
Both my eyes are melting away in tears,
They refuse to listen even when I reason with them.
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
ஓஹோ...ஹோ...ஓஹ.....
Ohooo…hooo…ooooo
நீ மொகம் பார்க்கும் கண்ணாடியில
உன் நெத்திப்பொட்டு இருக்கு
நீ குளிச்ச இடத்துலத்தான்
மஞ்சத்துண்டு கெடக்கு
In the mirror where you used to look at your face,
Your bindi is still stuck.
In the place where you took a bath,
A piece of turmeric lies left behind.
நீ விட்டத்துல சொருகி வச்ச
கோழி இரெக்கை இருக்குதடி
நீ சிக்கெடுத்துப் போட்ட முடி
கால சுத்திக்கெடக்குதடி
Tucked into the roof where you left it,
There lies a chicken feather.
The strands of hair you removed while combing,
Lie tangled around my feet.
என்னை சுத்தி எல்லாமே
உன்பேரத்தான் சொல்ல
என்னை ஒத்தையில விட்டுப்புட்டா
நான் எங்க செல்ல
நான் எங்க செல்ல
Everything around me,
Keeps whispering your name.
You left me all alone,
Where am I supposed to go?
Where am I supposed to go?
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
நீ விரல் நீட்டி கொஞ்சம் பேசையில
அடி வானவில்லும் உதிக்கும்
நீ நடந்த தடத்தில் தான்
சொர்க்கவாசல் திறக்கும்
When you gesture with your fingers and talk,
Even a rainbow blooms.
Along the path where you walked,
The gates of heaven open.
நீ அன்னம் என்று தெரியாம
அம்பு கொண்டு எஞ்சிப்புட்டேன்
இந்தப்பாவம் தீர்த்திடத்தான்
எந்த ஆத்தில் குளிக்கப்போவேன்
Without realizing you were a swan,
I aimed an arrow at you.
To wash away this sin,
In which holy river should I take a bath?
நான் விடும் கண்ணீருல
அரக்கானி நெனைஞ்சிடுமே
அதுல உழுது வெதைச்சாலும்
ஒரு போகம் வெளைஞ்சிடுமே
அதுல ஒரு போகம் வெளைஞ்சிடுமே
In the tears that I shed,
Half an acre of land would get soaked.
If someone plows and sows seeds in it,
A whole season's crop would yield a harvest.
A whole season's crop would yield a harvest.
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
இறைதேடிப் போனப்பறவை நீ
இன்னும் கூடுவந்து சேரலையே
இறைதேடிப் போனப்பறவை நீ
இன்னும் கூடுவந்து சேரலையே
என் இருவிழிகள் கரையுதடி
சொன்னாலும் கேட்கலையே
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
Both my eyes are melting away in tears,
They refuse to listen even when I reason with them.
வடக்கா தெற்கா
கெழக்கா மேற்கா
எந்த திசைப்போனப்புள்ள
என் நெஞ்சுக்கூடுத் தாங்கவில்லை
Did you go North or South?
East or West?
Which direction did you go, girl?
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Hmmm…mm…mm…
Hmmm…mm…mm…
Hmmm…mm..mmm….
Hmmm…mm..mmm….
Hmmm…mm…mm…
Hmmm…mm…mm…
Hmmm…mm..mmm….
Hmmm…mm..mmm….
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Irai thedi pona paravai nee
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
Irai thedi pona paravai nee
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
En iruvizhigal karaiyudhadi
Both my eyes are melting away in tears,
Sonnaalum ketkalaiyae
They refuse to listen even when I reason with them.
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Ohooo…hooo…ooooo
Ohooo…hooo…ooooo
Nee mugam paarkum kannaadiyil
In the mirror where you used to look at your face,
Un neththipottu irukku
Your bindi is still stuck.
Nee kulicha idathulathaan
In the place where you took a bath,
Manjathundu kedakku
A piece of turmeric lies left behind.
Nee vittathula sorugi vacha
Tucked into the roof where you left it,
Kozhirekkai irukkudhadi
There lies a chicken feather.
Nee sikkeduthu potta mudi
The strands of hair you removed while combing,
Kaala suththi kedakkudhadi
Lie tangled around my feet.
Ennai suthi ellaamae
Everything around me,
Un perathaan solla
Keeps whispering your name.
Enna othaiyila vittupputta
You left me all alone,
Naan enga sella
Where am I supposed to go?
Naan enga sella
Where am I supposed to go?
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Nee viral neetti kojam pesaiyila
When you gesture with your fingers and talk,
Adi vaanavillum udhikkum
Even a rainbow blooms.
Nee nadandha thadathil thaan
Along the path where you walked,
Sorga vaasal thirakkum
The gates of heaven open.
Nee annam endru theriyaama
Without realizing you were a swan,
Ambu kondu yenjiputten
I aimed an arrow at you.
Intha paavam theerthida thaan
To wash away this sin,
Entha aathil kulikka poven
In which holy river should I take a bath?
Naan vidum kaneerula
In the tears that I shed,
Arakkani nanaijidumae
Half an acre of land would get soaked.
Adhula uluthu vedhachaalum
If someone plows and sows seeds in it,
Oru bogam velanchidumae
A whole season's crop would yield a harvest.
Adhula oru bogam velanchidumae
A whole season's crop would yield a harvest.
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Irai thedi pona paravai nee
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
Irai thedi pona paravai nee
You are like a bird that flew away searching for food,
Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae
Why haven't you returned to your nest yet?
En iruvizhigal karaiyudhadi
Both my eyes are melting away in tears,
Sonnaalum ketkalaiyae
They refuse to listen even when I reason with them.
Vadakkaa therka
Did you go North or South?
Kezhakkaa merkkaa
East or West?
Endha dhisai ponappulla
Which direction did you go, girl?
En nenjukoodu thaangavilla
My heart cannot bear this pain.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant folk-style ballad expresses the immense grief and regret of a lover whose beloved has abruptly left without revealing where she went. The protagonist wanders aimlessly, questioning all four cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) to find where she could have vanished. Left behind in a quiet house, he is tormented by visceral everyday reminders of her presence—her bindi on the mirror, turmeric in the bathing area, a feather tucked in the roof, and strands of her hair on the floor. His house has transformed into a space haunted by her memory. In his anguish, he reflects on his own foolishness, regretting having hurt her unknowingly—comparing it to shooting an arrow at a graceful swan without recognizing its purity. He feels a deep sense of guilt and wonders how to cleanse his sins. The song highlights rural imagery and hyperbole, comparing his continuous stream of tears to water sufficient to irrigate fields for an entire crop season, showcasing the unbearable weight of separation and longing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Irai thedi pona paravai nee / Innum kooduvandhu seralaiyae”
Compares the departed beloved to a bird that went out in search of food and hasn't returned to its nest.
Antithesis / Contrast (Ethirsol)
“Vadakkaa therka / Kezhakkaa merkkaa”
Uses opposing cardinal directions (North/South, East/West) to emphasize loss of direction and complete despair.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Aani)
“Naan vidum kaneerula / Arakkani nanaijidumae”
Exaggerates the protagonist's grief by stating his tears are voluminous enough to irrigate half an acre and yield a full harvest.
Imagery (Katchi Inbam)
“Nee mugam paarkum kannaadiyil / Un neththipottu irukku”
Paints vivid, tactile rural pictures using intimate everyday objects left behind by the lover.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Vadakkaa Therka' from the movie 'Aval Peyar Tamilarasi' (2010) features music composed by Vijay Antony. The lyrics, written by Ekadasi, were widely praised for their authentic Tamil folk flavor, emotional depth, and realistic imagery capturing rural life.
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