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Thiru Neelakandar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ambalavananai Nambiya

From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
C. N. Pandurangan
Movie name
Thiru Neelakandar
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
5 Jun 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa…aa…aa…aah….aa….
Ambalavaananai nambiya pergalum
Anantha nadamaaduvaar
Male : Aa….aa…aa…aah….aa….
Ambalavaananai nambiya pergalum
Anantha nadamaaduvaar
Ambalavaananai nambiya pergalum
Anantha nadamaaduvaar
Thanpalam theriyaamal sabaiyaeri vilaiyaadum
Thanpalam theriyaamal sabaiyaeri vilaiyaadum
Salangai kaalum mayangum kannum
Orumurai aganthaiyil vizhunthapin
Avanidam arul perum
Ambalavaananai nambiya pergalum
Anantha nadamaaduvaar
Yaezhisai kadazhezhu puviyaezhu naal yaezhu
Yaezhisai kadazhezhu puviyaezhu naal yaezhu
Navarasam navagunam navamani
Naattiya naayagan koottiya kalaiyandro
Naattiya naayagan koottiya kalaiyandro
Naan yaar nee yaar naam yaar
Iraivanin sabaithanil nee yaar
Kalaigalil avanidam naam yaar
Naan yaar nee yaar…..
Ambalavaananai nambiya pergalum
Anantha nadamaaduvaar…..
Kattukkuzhal suttri suzhalavum
Nettri siru muththu sitharavum
Ottrai siru kaalil nadanamum
Mattrai siru kaalil buvanamum
Pattri tharum naathan avanathu arul vendum
Idamo illai valamo
Edhilae avan palamo
Idamo illai valamo
Edhilae avan palamo
Irandum illai enil thiranda bhoomi idhu
Entha neramathil vizhumo
Pinbu ezhumo avanai thozhumo…..
Maanudan aadidum naayagan paarvaiyil
Maanidan kavi paada
Mazhuvudan aadidum mannavan sabauyil
Valuvudan nadamaada thirumugam nadamaada
Maanudan aadidum naayagan paarvaiyil
Maanidan kavi paada
Mazhuvudan aadidum mannavan sabauyil
Valuvudan nadamaada thirumugam nadamaada
Thanthom thanthom tharuvomena tharuvaan arulaaga…..
Ambalavaananai nambiya pergalum
Anantha nadamaaduvaar…….
Aa... aa... aa... aah... aa...
Those who place their trust in the Lord of the Cosmic Stage,
will dance in pure joy.
Male: Aa... aa... aa... aah... aa...
Those who place their trust in the Lord of the Cosmic Stage,
will dance in pure joy.
Those who place their trust in the Lord of the Cosmic Stage,
will dance in pure joy.
Stepping onto the stage to perform without knowing one's own limits,
stepping onto the stage to perform without knowing one's own limits,
anklet-wearing feet and bewitching eyes,
once fallen into arrogance,
will ultimately seek and receive His grace.
Those who place their trust in the Lord of the Cosmic Stage,
will dance in pure joy.
The seven notes of music, the seven oceans, the seven worlds, the seven days,
the seven notes of music, the seven oceans, the seven worlds, the seven days,
the nine emotions, the nine human traits, the nine precious gems,
are they not the arts woven together by the Lord of Dance?
Are they not the arts woven together by the Lord of Dance?
Who am I? Who are you? Who are we?
Who are you in the divine court of God?
Who are we before Him in the realm of art?
Who am I? Who are you?...
Those who place their trust in the Lord of the Cosmic Stage,
will dance in pure joy...
With tied matted hair whirling all around,
with tiny pearls of sweat scattering from the forehead,
dancing upon a single foot,
while sustaining the whole universe with the other,
He is the Lord who holds everything together; we need His grace!
Is it on the left, or is it on the right?
In which one does His true power lie?
Is it on the left, or is it on the right?
In which one does His true power lie?
If neither held it up, this gathered earth,
at what moment would it fall?
Could it ever rise again without worshipping Him?...
As mortals dance under the Master's watchful eyes,
as humans sing poetic songs,
in the court of the King who dances holding the axe,
to dance with strength as His divine face shines and dances,
As mortals dance under the Master's watchful eyes,
as humans sing poetic songs,
in the court of the King who dances holding the axe,
to dance with strength as His divine face shines and dances,
saying 'I give, I have given, I shall give', He will bestow His grace...
Those who place their trust in the Lord of the Cosmic Stage,
will dance in pure joy...
Male
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Male
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Male
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song from the film 'Thiru Neelakandar' (1972) praises Lord Shiva as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer residing in the hall of consciousness (Ambalam). The lyrics highlight the spiritual philosophy that true contentment and eternal joy (Anantha) come from surrendering one's ego to the Divine. Kannadasan reflects on human vulnerability and pride, reminding us that mortals who step onto the stage of life boasting of their own strength will eventually realize their insignificance compared to the Lord of Dance. The song beautifully weaves the structure of the cosmos—the seven notes, seven seas, seven worlds, and nine emotions—as creations orchestrated by Shiva's dance. Through poetic inquiries ('Naan yaar, nee yaar'), it calls for introspection, emphasizing that all arts, power, and earthly existence exist purely by His divine grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kattukkuzhal suttri suzhalavum / Nettri siru muththu sitharavum”

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, creating musical harmony ('tt' sound).

Rhetorical Questioning

“Naan yaar nee yaar naam yaar”

Philosophical questioning used to dispel ego and highlight the smallness of human pride before God.

Visual Imagery & Metaphor

“Nettri siru muththu sitharavum”

Comparing forehead sweat drops to scattered pearls ('muththu') produced during intense cosmic dance.

Anaphora / Numerical Repetition

“Yaezhisai kadazhezhu puviyaezhu naal yaezhu”

Rhythmic repetition of the sacred number seven ('yaezhu') symbolizing universality across music, nature, and space.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features the iconic high-pitched classical vocal rendition by T. R. Mahalingam, who also portrayed the lead saint-poet Tiruneelakanta Nayanar in this 1972 biographical film. Music director C. N. Pandurangan composed the soundtrack based heavily on Carnatic ragas to suit the classical setting of the movie.

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