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Lyrics & meaning

Anthanaal Nyabagam

From Uyarndha Manithan · 1968

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Uyarndha Manithan1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Andha naal{ That day
Nyabagam nenjilaeMemory in the heart
Vandhadhae nanbanaeHas returned, oh friend
Nanbanae nanbanae } (3)Oh friend, oh friend } (3)
Male
Indha naalThis day
Andru pol inbamaiIs not joyful like that day
Illaiyae adhu yenWhy is it not so?
Yen yen nanbanaeWhy, oh why, my friend?
Male
Andha naalThat day
Nyabagam nenjilaeMemory in the heart
Vandhadhae nanbanaeHas returned, oh friend
Nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, oh friend
Male
Indha naalThis day
Andru pol inbamaiIs not joyful like that day
Illaiyae adhu yenWhy is it not so?
Yen nanbanaeWhy, my friend?
Male
PaadamLessons
Padipu aatam paatamStudies, playing, and singing
Idhai thavira veru edhai kandomBesides these, what else did we know?
Male
{ Puthagam{ Book
Paiyilae buthiyo paatilae } (2)In the bag, while our mind was in songs } (2)
Male
PalliyaiThe school
PaarthadhumUpon seeing
Odhunguvom mazhaiyilaeWe would take shelter claiming rain
Male
{ Nithamum{ Every day
Naadagam } (2)A drama } (2)
Ninaivellam kaaviyamAll memories are like an epic
Male
NithamumEvery day
Naadagam ninaivellamA drama, all memories
Kaaviyam uyarndhavanAre an epic; high status
Thaazhndhavan illaiyae nammidamOr low status did not exist among us
Male
PalliyaiThe school
Vitadhum paadhaigalOnce we left, our paths
Maarinom kadamaiyumDiverged, and responsibility
Vandhadhu kavalaiyum vandhadhuArrived, and worry arrived too
Male
{ Paasamendrum{ What is called affection
Nesamendrum veeduWhat is called love, house
Endrum manaivi endrum } (2)And what is called wife } (2)
Male
{ Nooru{ A hundred
Sondham vandhaRelationships came
Pinbum thedugindraYet after that, searching for
Amaidhi engae } (2)Where is peace? } (2)
Amaidhi engaeWhere is peace?
Male
Andha naalThat day
Nyabagam nenjilaeMemory in the heart
Vandhadhae nanbanaeHas returned, oh friend
Nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, oh friend
Male
Indha naalThis day
Andru pol inbamaiIs not joyful like that day
Illaiyae adhu yenWhy is it not so?
Yen nanbanaeWhy, my friend?
Male
AvanavanEvery individual
Nenjilae aayiramIn their heart has a thousand
Aasaigal azhuvadhumDesires; weeping
Siripadhum aasaiyin vilaivugalAnd laughing are the results of desire
Male
PeriyavanThe great man
Siriyavan nallavanThe small man, the good man
Kettavan ullavanThe bad man, the wealthy man
Ponavan ulagilae paarkiromAnd the departed, we see in this world
Male
{ Ennamae{ Thoughts
Sumaigalai idhayamaeAre burdens, and the heart
Baaramaai } (2)Is heavy } (2)
Male
ThavarugalMistakes
Seidhavan evanumaeWhoever has committed
Thavikiraan azhugiraanSuffers and cries
Male
ThavarugalMistakes
Seidhavan evanumaeWhoever has committed
Azhugiraan evanumaeCries, everyone
AzhugiraanCries
Male
Andha naalThat day
Nyabagam nenjilaeMemory in the heart
Vandhadhae nanbanaeHas returned, oh friend
Nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, oh friend
Male
Indha naalThis day
Andru pol inbamaiIs not joyful like that day
Illaiyae adhu yenWhy is it not so?
Yen nanbanaeWhy, my friend?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Andha Naal Nyabagam is a quintessential nostalgic Tamil song from the film Uyarndha Manithan (1968), composed by M. S. Viswanathan, penned by Vaali, and sung by T. M. Soundararajan. The protagonist reminisces about his carefree school days with his close friend, contrasting that innocent past with the heavy burdens, responsibilities, and emotional turmoils of adult life. The lyrics capture how childhood friendship knew no social or economic divisions, whereas adulthood brings complex relationships, desires, errors, and an elusive search for peace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Contrast)

Kaaviyam uyarndhavan / Thaazhndhavan illaiyae nammidam

Contrasts status ('uyarndhavan' vs 'thaazhndhavan') and human character traits ('periyavan, siriyavan, nallavan, kettavan').

Alliteration (Monaai)

Padipu aatam paatam

Repetition of the 'Pa' sound in initial syllables creates rhythmic melody.

Epanalepsis / Repetition

Nanbanae nanbanae

Emphasizes intense longing and questioning through repeated refrain 'Nanbanae' and 'Amaidhi engae'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Uyarndha Manithan (1968) was Sivaji Ganesan's 125th film and a massive box office hit. The song 'Andha Naal Nyabagam' is widely regarded as one of Tamil cinema's greatest anthems on nostalgic friendship. Set to music by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, Sivaji Ganesan's iconic performance in this sequence remains celebrated for its emotional depth.

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