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Uyarndha Manithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Anthanaal Nyabagam

From Uyarndha Manithan · 1968

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Uyarndha Manithan
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
18 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Andha naal
Nyabagam nenjilae
Vandhadhae nanbanae
Nanbanae nanbanae } (3)
Indha naal
Andru pol inbamai
Illaiyae adhu yen
Yen yen nanbanae
Andha naal
Nyabagam nenjilae
Vandhadhae nanbanae
Nanbanae nanbanae
Indha naal
Andru pol inbamai
Illaiyae adhu yen
Yen nanbanae
Paadam
Padipu aatam paatam
Idhai thavira veru edhai kandom
{ Puthagam
Paiyilae buthiyo paatilae } (2)
Palliyai
Paarthadhum
Odhunguvom mazhaiyilae
{ Nithamum
Naadagam } (2)
Ninaivellam kaaviyam
Nithamum
Naadagam ninaivellam
Kaaviyam uyarndhavan
Thaazhndhavan illaiyae nammidam
Palliyai
Vitadhum paadhaigal
Maarinom kadamaiyum
Vandhadhu kavalaiyum vandhadhu
{ Paasamendrum
Nesamendrum veedu
Endrum manaivi endrum } (2)
{ Nooru
Sondham vandha
Pinbum thedugindra
Amaidhi engae } (2)
Amaidhi engae
Andha naal
Nyabagam nenjilae
Vandhadhae nanbanae
Nanbanae nanbanae
Indha naal
Andru pol inbamai
Illaiyae adhu yen
Yen nanbanae
Avanavan
Nenjilae aayiram
Aasaigal azhuvadhum
Siripadhum aasaiyin vilaivugal
Periyavan
Siriyavan nallavan
Kettavan ullavan
Ponavan ulagilae paarkirom
{ Ennamae
Sumaigalai idhayamae
Baaramaai } (2)
Thavarugal
Seidhavan evanumae
Thavikiraan azhugiraan
Thavarugal
Seidhavan evanumae
Azhugiraan evanumae
Azhugiraan
Andha naal
Nyabagam nenjilae
Vandhadhae nanbanae
Nanbanae nanbanae
Indha naal
Andru pol inbamai
Illaiyae adhu yen
Yen nanbanae
The memory of those days
comes back to my heart,
my friend,
oh friend, my friend!
Today
is not as joyful as back then,
why is that?
Why, oh why, my friend?
The memory of those days
comes back to my heart,
my friend,
oh friend, my friend!
Today
is not as joyful as back then,
why is that?
Why, my friend?
Lessons,
studies, playing, and singing—
what else did we ever know besides these?
Books were
in our bags, but our minds were on songs!
Seeing
the school,
we would duck away in the rain!
Every day was
a play,
and every thought was like poetry!
Every day was
a play, and every thought
was like poetry; the high
and the low did not exist between us.
Once we left
school, our paths
parted; duty
arrived, and worry came along too.
In the name of affection,
in the name of love, with a home
and a wife—
even after a hundred
relationships entered our lives,
where is the peace
that we still search for?
Where is that peace?
The memory of those days
comes back to my heart,
my friend,
oh friend, my friend!
Today
is not as joyful as back then,
why is that?
Why, my friend?
In each person's
heart are a thousand
desires; crying
and laughing are only the results of desire.
The great,
the small, the good,
the bad, those who have,
and those who have lost—we see them all in this world.
With thoughts
becoming a burden and the heart
weighed down,
anyone who has made
mistakes
struggles and weeps.
Anyone who has made
mistakes
weeps... anyone at all
weeps!
The memory of those days
comes back to my heart,
my friend,
oh friend, my friend!
Today
is not as joyful as back then,
why is that?
Why, my friend?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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