The movie Rhythm has themed songs on the various elements of nature. This one is on water. The lyrics draw a comparisons between the qualities of women and and of water.
**Dheemthananaa Dheemthananaa
Dheemthananaa Dheemthananaa
Dheemthananaa Dheemthananaa Dhiranaa
Dheemthananaa Dheemthananaa
Dheemthananaa Dheemthananaa
Dheemthananaa Dheemthananaa Dhiranaa**
**Nadhiyae Nadhiyae Kaadhal Nadhiyae
Neeyum Pendhaanae
Adi Neeyum Pendhaanae
Onraa Irandaa Kaaranam Nooru,
Kaettaal Solvaenae
Nee Kaettaal Solvaenae
(Dheemthananaa)
**
River, river, river of love
You are a woman too
You are a woman too
One or two, the reasons are a hundred
If asked I will tell
If you ask, I will tell
**Nadandhaal Aaru
Ezhundhaal Aruvi
Ninraal Kadalalloa
Samaindhaal Kumari
Manandhaal Manaivi
Petraal Thaayalloa**
When walking, she’s a river,
When rising, a waterfall,
When standing still, the ocean
When she grows, a young woman,
When she weds, a wife,
When she gives birth, a mother
**Siru Nadhigalae
Nadhiyidum Karaigalae
Karaithodum Nuraigalae
Nuraigalil Ival Mugamae**
Little rivers
The rivers’ banks
The foam that touches the banks,
Her face in the bubbles
**Dhinam Moadhum Karai Thoarum
Ada Aarum Isai Paadum
Jil Jil Jil Enra Sruthiyilae
Gangai Varum Yamunai Varum
Vaigai Varum Porunai Varum
Jal Jal Jal Enra Nadaiyilae**
The music of the brushing of a river
Along the lengths of it’s banks all day
This happy, happy tone
The Ganga/Ganges will come, Yamuna will,
Vaigai and Ponni too
With this rhythmic rhythmic walking
**Kaadhali Arumai Pirivil
Manaiviyin Arumai Maraivil
Neerin Arumai Arivaay Koadaiyilae
Vetkam Vandhaal Uraiyum
Viralgal Thottaal Urugum
Neerum Pennum Onru Vaadaiyilae**
A lover’s wonder, on separation,
A wife’s importance, on death
Water’s importance, you’ll realise during summer
Colours will rise when she’s shy
On contact, fingers will melt
Water and women share their scent
**Thanneer Kudaththil Pirakkiroam Oho
Thanneer Karaiyil Mudikkiroam Oho
Thanneer Kudaththil Pirakkiroam Oho
Thanneer Karaiyil Mudikkiroam Oho
**
In a pot of water we are born (womb)
On the banks of water our existences finish (ashes)
**
(Dheemthananaa)
Vanna Vanna Pennae
Vattamidum Nadhiyae
Valaivugal Azhagu
Ungal Valaivugal Azhagu
Ho! Mellisaigal Padiththal
Maedu Pallam Maraiththal
Nadhigalin Gunamae
Adhu Nangaiyin Gunamae**
Colourful woman
The meandering river
Curves are beautiful
Your curves are beautiful
Ho! The gentleness of the way your lay
And hide the rough contours of the land
Are the qualities of a river
Are the qualities of a woman
**(Siru Nadhigalae)
(Dheemthananaa)
Thaenkaniyil Saaraagi
Pookkalilae Thaenaagi
Pasuvinilae Paalaagum Neerae
Thaayarugae Saeyaagi
Thalaivanidam Paayaagi
Saeyarugae Thaayaagum Pennae**
Water; In a honey of a fruit, in the nectar in a flower,
And in the milk in a gentle cow
Girl; The infant with her mother, the lover of her man,
And the mother with an infant
**Poonguyilae Poonguyilae
Pennum Aarum Vadivam Maarakkoodum
Neer Ninaiththaal
Pen Ninaiththaal
Karaigal* Yaavum Karaindhu Poagak Koodum**
Dear singing bird,
A woman and a river change forms
If the water wishes it
If a woman wishes it
Any bank* can be broken and dissolved
Any stain* can be washed clean
**(Nadhiyae Nadhiyae)
(Dheemthananaa)**
(^) in Hindu custom, the ashes are scattered in a river
- wordplay on the word ‘karai’ which means bank of a river and stain