Ambalathu Nadaraja Un
From Kann Malar · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. Janaki, Dr. Balamuralikrishna
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kann Malar1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ambalathu nadaraja | O Nataraja of the sacred cosmic hall, |
| Un balathai kaatutharku | To demonstrate your divine power, |
| En kulathai therntheduthathenaiyyaa | Why did you choose my family, Lord? |
| Male | |
| Un pathame gathiyendru | Believing that your feet were our sole refuge, |
| Nambiyavar veettile | In the home of those who trusted you, |
| Kan maraikkum vilaiyattu | Why play this game of blinding our eyes, |
| Yenaiyyaa | O Lord? |
| Female | |
| Pamalai avar padikka | While he recited verse-garlands, |
| Poomalai naan thodukka | And I wove flower-garlands, |
| Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa | Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| Indru poomalaiyodu | Today, along with a flower-garland, |
| Oru pamalaiyum padikka | To recite a verse-garland as well, |
| Nanaga nirpathenna | Why stand I here alone, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| Pamalai avar padikka | While he recited verse-garlands, |
| Poomalai naan thodukka | And I wove flower-garlands, |
| Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa | Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| Indru poomalaiyodu | Today, along with a flower-garland, |
| Oru pamalaiyum padikka | To recite a verse-garland as well, |
| Nanaga nirpathenna | Why stand I here alone, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| Pamalai avar padikka | While he recited verse-garlands, |
| Poomalai naan thodukka | And I wove flower-garlands, |
| Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa | Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| {Paalodu sangeduthu | Holding the shell filled with milk, |
| Thaayutta varumbothu | When the mother arrived to feed, |
| Paalum murinthathenna | Why did the milk curdle, |
| Nadarja} (2) | Nataraja? |
| Female | |
| Paathai therinthathendru | Believing that the path was clear, |
| Paavai varumbothu | When the maiden approached, |
| Deepam anainthathenna | Why did the lamp extinguish, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja? |
| Female | |
| Pamalai avar padikka | While he recited verse-garlands, |
| Poomalai naan thodukka | And I wove flower-garlands, |
| Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa | Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| {Un sevai seivatharku | To perform service unto you, |
| Than sevaiyaithan maranthu | Forgetting his own self-care, |
| Uyirai parithathenna | Why did you snatch his life away, |
| Nadaraja} (2) | Nataraja? |
| Female | |
| Thanthai panneer koduthatharku | In return for the rose-water offered by the father, |
| Bathilaga neeyenakku | Instead, to me, |
| Kanneer koduthathenna | Why did you offer tears, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja? |
| Female | |
| Pamalai avar padikka | While he recited verse-garlands, |
| Poomalai naan thodukka | And I wove flower-garlands, |
| Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa | Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| Indru poomalaiyodu | Today, along with a flower-garland, |
| Oru pamalaiyum padikka | To recite a verse-garland as well, |
| Nanaga nirpathenna | Why stand I here alone, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
| Female | |
| Pamalai avar padikka | While he recited verse-garlands, |
| Poomalai naan thodukka | And I wove flower-garlands, |
| Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa | Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord, |
| Nadaraja | Nataraja! |
அம்பலத்து நடராஜா
உன் பலத்தை காட்டுதற்கு
என் குலத்தை தேர்ந்தெடுத்ததேனைய்யா
உன் பதமே கதியென்று
நம்பியவர் வீட்டிலே
கண் மறைக்கும் விளையாட்டு ஏனைய்யா..!
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
இன்று பூமாலையோடு ஒரு பாமாலையும் படிக்க
நானாக நிற்பதென்ன நடராஜா.......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
இன்று பூமாலையோடு ஒரு பாமாலையும் படிக்க
நானாக நிற்பதென்ன நடராஜா.......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
{பாலோடு சங்கெடுத்து தாயூட்ட வரும்போது
பாலும் முறிந்ததென்ன நடராஜா} (2)
பாதை தெரிந்ததென்று பாவை வரும்போது
தீபம் அணைந்ததென்ன நடராஜா......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
{உன் சேவை செய்வதற்கு தன் சேயைத்தான் மறந்து
உயிரைப் பறித்ததென்ன நடராஜா} (2)
தந்தை பன்னீர் கொடுத்ததற்குப் பதிலாக
நீயெனக்கு கண்ணீர் கொடுத்ததென்ன நடராஜா..........
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
இன்று பூமாலையோடு ஒரு பாமாலையும் படிக்க
நானாக நிற்பதென்ன நடராஜா.......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
அம்பலத்து நடராஜா
உன் பலத்தை காட்டுதற்கு
என் குலத்தை தேர்ந்தெடுத்ததேனைய்யா
உன் பதமே கதியென்று
நம்பியவர் வீட்டிலே
கண் மறைக்கும் விளையாட்டு ஏனைய்யா..!
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
இன்று பூமாலையோடு ஒரு பாமாலையும் படிக்க
நானாக நிற்பதென்ன நடராஜா.......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
இன்று பூமாலையோடு ஒரு பாமாலையும் படிக்க
நானாக நிற்பதென்ன நடராஜா.......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
{பாலோடு சங்கெடுத்து தாயூட்ட வரும்போது
பாலும் முறிந்ததென்ன நடராஜா} (2)
பாதை தெரிந்ததென்று பாவை வரும்போது
தீபம் அணைந்ததென்ன நடராஜா......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
{உன் சேவை செய்வதற்கு தன் சேயைத்தான் மறந்து
உயிரைப் பறித்ததென்ன நடராஜா} (2)
தந்தை பன்னீர் கொடுத்ததற்குப் பதிலாக
நீயெனக்கு கண்ணீர் கொடுத்ததென்ன நடராஜா..........
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
இன்று பூமாலையோடு ஒரு பாமாலையும் படிக்க
நானாக நிற்பதென்ன நடராஜா.......
பாமாலை அவர் படிக்க பூமாலை நான் தொடுக்க
வாழ்நாள் நடந்ததய்யா நடராஜா
O Nataraja of the sacred cosmic hall,
To demonstrate your divine power,
Why did you choose my family, Lord?
Believing that your feet were our sole refuge,
In the home of those who trusted you,
Why play this game of blinding our eyes,
O Lord?
While he recited verse-garlands,
And I wove flower-garlands,
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nataraja!
Today, along with a flower-garland,
To recite a verse-garland as well,
Why stand I here alone,
Nataraja!
While he recited verse-garlands,
And I wove flower-garlands,
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nataraja!
Today, along with a flower-garland,
To recite a verse-garland as well,
Why stand I here alone,
Nataraja!
While he recited verse-garlands,
And I wove flower-garlands,
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nataraja!
Holding the shell filled with milk,
When the mother arrived to feed,
Why did the milk curdle,
Nataraja?
Believing that the path was clear,
When the maiden approached,
Why did the lamp extinguish,
Nataraja?
While he recited verse-garlands,
And I wove flower-garlands,
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nataraja!
To perform service unto you,
Forgetting his own self-care,
Why did you snatch his life away,
Nataraja?
In return for the rose-water offered by the father,
Instead, to me,
Why did you offer tears,
Nataraja?
While he recited verse-garlands,
And I wove flower-garlands,
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nataraja!
Today, along with a flower-garland,
To recite a verse-garland as well,
Why stand I here alone,
Nataraja!
While he recited verse-garlands,
And I wove flower-garlands,
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nataraja!
Ambalathu nadaraja
O Nataraja of the sacred cosmic hall,
Un balathai kaatutharku
To demonstrate your divine power,
En kulathai therntheduthathenaiyyaa
Why did you choose my family, Lord?
Un pathame gathiyendru
Believing that your feet were our sole refuge,
Nambiyavar veettile
In the home of those who trusted you,
Kan maraikkum vilaiyattu
Why play this game of blinding our eyes,
Yenaiyyaa
O Lord?
Pamalai avar padikka
While he recited verse-garlands,
Poomalai naan thodukka
And I wove flower-garlands,
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Indru poomalaiyodu
Today, along with a flower-garland,
Oru pamalaiyum padikka
To recite a verse-garland as well,
Nanaga nirpathenna
Why stand I here alone,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Pamalai avar padikka
While he recited verse-garlands,
Poomalai naan thodukka
And I wove flower-garlands,
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Indru poomalaiyodu
Today, along with a flower-garland,
Oru pamalaiyum padikka
To recite a verse-garland as well,
Nanaga nirpathenna
Why stand I here alone,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Pamalai avar padikka
While he recited verse-garlands,
Poomalai naan thodukka
And I wove flower-garlands,
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
{Paalodu sangeduthu
Holding the shell filled with milk,
Thaayutta varumbothu
When the mother arrived to feed,
Paalum murinthathenna
Why did the milk curdle,
Nadarja} (2)
Nataraja?
Paathai therinthathendru
Believing that the path was clear,
Paavai varumbothu
When the maiden approached,
Deepam anainthathenna
Why did the lamp extinguish,
Nadaraja
Nataraja?
Pamalai avar padikka
While he recited verse-garlands,
Poomalai naan thodukka
And I wove flower-garlands,
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
{Un sevai seivatharku
To perform service unto you,
Than sevaiyaithan maranthu
Forgetting his own self-care,
Uyirai parithathenna
Why did you snatch his life away,
Nadaraja} (2)
Nataraja?
Thanthai panneer koduthatharku
In return for the rose-water offered by the father,
Bathilaga neeyenakku
Instead, to me,
Kanneer koduthathenna
Why did you offer tears,
Nadaraja
Nataraja?
Pamalai avar padikka
While he recited verse-garlands,
Poomalai naan thodukka
And I wove flower-garlands,
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Indru poomalaiyodu
Today, along with a flower-garland,
Oru pamalaiyum padikka
To recite a verse-garland as well,
Nanaga nirpathenna
Why stand I here alone,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Pamalai avar padikka
While he recited verse-garlands,
Poomalai naan thodukka
And I wove flower-garlands,
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Our entire life passed harmoniously, Lord,
Nadaraja
Nataraja!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Ambalathu Nadaraja from the movie Kan Malar (1970) is a poignant devotional song framed as Nindastuthi—a classical form of poetic complaint where the devotee reverently reproaches God for unmerited suffering. The grieving protagonist addresses Lord Nataraja, asking why her humble and pious family was chosen to bear such tragic sorrow. She recalls how seamlessly their life unfolded when her husband sang garlands of verses (Paamalai) while she crafted garlands of fresh flowers (Poomalai). Now left alone to offer both song and flowers, she questions the divine will through heartbreaking imagery: milk curdling right as a mother attempts to feed her child, a guiding lamp extinguishing just as a maiden steps onto her path, and receiving a cup of tears in return for holy rose-water.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast
“Pamalai avar padikka / Poomalai naan thodukka”
Juxtaposes 'Pamalai' (garland of verses) with 'Poomalai' (garland of flowers), as well as 'Panneer' (rose water) with 'Kanneer' (tears) to highlight loss and emotional agony.
Nindastuthi (Devotional Reproach)
“Un balathai kaatutharku / En kulathai therntheduthathenaiyyaa”
A traditional literary device in Bhakti poetry where the devotee censures the deity out of deep intimacy and despair rather than disrespect.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thanthai panneer koduthatharku / Bathilaga neeyenakku / Kanneer koduthathenna”
The second letter consonant harmony between key contrast words such as Panneer and Kanneer.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Paathai therinthathendru / Paavai varumbothu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across paired phrases ('Paathai', 'Paavai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Kan Malar (1970), directed by P. Madhavan, features music composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. The track is renowned for S. Janaki's soul-stirring vocal performance capturing grief and devotion. The poetic construction heavily draws on classic Tamil Saivite hymnography formats.
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