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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ambalathu Nadaraja Un

From Kann Malar · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, Dr. Balamuralikrishna
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kann Malar
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
2 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ambalathu nadaraja
Un balathai kaatutharku
En kulathai therntheduthathenaiyyaa
Un pathame gathiyendru
Nambiyavar veettile
Kan maraikkum vilaiyattu
Yenaiyyaa
Pamalai avar padikka
Poomalai naan thodukka
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Nadaraja
Indru poomalaiyodu
Oru pamalaiyum padikka
Nanaga nirpathenna
Nadaraja
Pamalai avar padikka
Poomalai naan thodukka
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Nadaraja
Indru poomalaiyodu
Oru pamalaiyum padikka
Nanaga nirpathenna
Nadaraja
Pamalai avar padikka
Poomalai naan thodukka
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Nadaraja
{Paalodu sangeduthu
Thaayutta varumbothu
Paalum murinthathenna
Nadarja} (2)
Paathai therinthathendru
Paavai varumbothu
Deepam anainthathenna
Nadaraja
Pamalai avar padikka
Poomalai naan thodukka
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Nadaraja
{Un sevai seivatharku
Than sevaiyaithan maranthu
Uyirai parithathenna
Nadaraja} (2)
Thanthai panneer koduthatharku
Bathilaga neeyenakku
Kanneer koduthathenna
Nadaraja
Pamalai avar padikka
Poomalai naan thodukka
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Nadaraja
Indru poomalaiyodu
Oru pamalaiyum padikka
Nanaga nirpathenna
Nadaraja
Pamalai avar padikka
Poomalai naan thodukka
Vaazhnal nadanthathayyaa
Nadaraja
O Lord Nataraja of the sacred court,
To show your supreme power,
why did you choose my family, my Lord?
Believing your feet were our only refuge,
in the home of those who trusted you,
why play this cruel, blinding game,
why, my Lord?
While he sang garlands of songs,
and I wove garlands of flowers,
our life went peacefully on,
O Nataraja!
Today, along with flower garlands,
to sing a garland of songs as well,
why am I left standing all alone,
O Nataraja?
While he sang garlands of songs,
and I wove garlands of flowers,
our life went peacefully on,
O Nataraja!
Today, along with flower garlands,
to sing a garland of songs as well,
why am I left standing all alone,
O Nataraja?
While he sang garlands of songs,
and I wove garlands of flowers,
our life went peacefully on,
O Nataraja!
{Taking a conch shell filled with milk,
when a mother comes to feed her child,
why did the milk curdle and spoil,
O Nataraja?} (2)
Thinking the path was clear ahead,
when this woman walked forward,
why did the guiding lamp go out,
O Nataraja?
While he sang garlands of songs,
and I wove garlands of flowers,
our life went peacefully on,
O Nataraja!
{While doing your holy service,
he completely forgot his own well-being;
so why did you take his life away,
O Nataraja?} (2)
For the fragrant rosewater my father offered you,
in return, to me,
why did you give only tears,
O Nataraja?
While he sang garlands of songs,
and I wove garlands of flowers,
our life went peacefully on,
O Nataraja!
Today, along with flower garlands,
to sing a garland of songs as well,
why am I left standing all alone,
O Nataraja?
While he sang garlands of songs,
and I wove garlands of flowers,
our life went peacefully on,
O Nataraja!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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