Ellam Nadaga
From Pasamum Nesamum · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- S. Vedhachalam
- Details
- Pasamum Nesamum1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Uruvam therivadhu pola | Just as their physical form is visible |
| Avar ullam therivadhu illai | Their inner heart is not visible |
| Male | |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Uruvam therivadhu pola | Just as their physical form is visible |
| Avar ullam therivadhu illai | Their inner heart is not visible |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Male | |
| Parppadhai ariyaen paarkka vaithaaiyae | I did not know how to look, but you made me see |
| Paal pol manadhai keduthaval neeyae | You are the one who ruined a heart as pure as milk |
| Paaduvadhariyaen paada vaithaaiyae | I did not know how to sing, but you made me sing |
| Paadalai paadhiyil nee mudithaaiyae | Yet you ended the song halfway through |
| Male | |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Uruvam therivadhu pola | Just as their physical form is visible |
| Avar ullam therivadhu illai | Their inner heart is not visible |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Male | |
| Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam | The world of the rich is full of amusement |
| Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam | The world of the rich is full of amusement |
| Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam | The heart of the poor is a world of pain |
| Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam | The heart of the poor is a world of pain |
| Theriya nilaiyil thozhiyum raani | When identity is unknown, even a friend seems like a queen |
| Theriya nilaiyil thozhiyum raani | When identity is unknown, even a friend seems like a queen |
| Therindhu vittaal aval raaniyin thozhi | Once the truth is revealed, she is merely the queen's handmaiden |
| Male | |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Uruvam therivadhu pola | Just as their physical form is visible |
| Avar ullam therivadhu illai | Their inner heart is not visible |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Male | |
| Unmaiyil oru naal poimaiyil pala naal | One day in truth, but many days in falsehood |
| Vovvoru naalum ungalin thirunaal | Every single day is a celebration day for you |
| Engalin idhayam siriyadhu thaaye | Our heart is small, oh mother/lady |
| Idhaiyum yeno udaithu vittaayae | Why did you break even this small heart? |
| Male | |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Uruvam therivadhu pola | Just as their physical form is visible |
| Avar ullam therivadhu illai | Their inner heart is not visible |
| Ellam nadaga medai | Everything is a drama stage |
| Idhil engum nadigar kottam | In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors |
| Male | |
| Puriya manidhan edhaiyoo sonnaan | An uncomprehended man said something |
| Puriya manidhan edhaiyoo sonnaan | An uncomprehended man said something |
| Porutharulvaaiyae pogiren thaaye | Forgive me and bestow grace, I am leaving, oh lady |
| Porutharulvaaiyae pogiren thaaye | Forgive me and bestow grace, I am leaving, oh lady |
| Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae | Please forget everything that happened |
| Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae | Please forget everything that happened |
| Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae | Please forget everything that happened |
| Maaligai silaiyae vaazhiya neeyae | Oh statue in the palace, may you prosper and live long! |
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
உருவம் தெரிவது போல
அவர் உள்ளம் தெரிவது இல்லை
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Just as their physical form is visible
Their inner heart is not visible
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
உருவம் தெரிவது போல
அவர் உள்ளம் தெரிவது இல்லை
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Just as their physical form is visible
Their inner heart is not visible
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
பார்ப்பதை அறியேன் பார்க்க வைத்தாயே
பால் போல் மனதை கெடுத்தவள் நீயே
பாடுவதறியேன் பாட வைத்தாயே
பாடலை பாதியில் நீ முடித்தாயே
I did not know how to look, but you made me see
You are the one who ruined a heart as pure as milk
I did not know how to sing, but you made me sing
Yet you ended the song halfway through
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
உருவம் தெரிவது போல
அவர் உள்ளம் தெரிவது இல்லை
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Just as their physical form is visible
Their inner heart is not visible
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
வேடிக்கை உலகம் செல்வர்கள் இல்லம்
வேடிக்கை உலகம் செல்வர்கள் இல்லம்
வேதனை உலகம் ஏழைகள் உள்ளம்
வேதனை உலகம் ஏழைகள் உள்ளம்
தெரியா நிலையில் தோழியும் ராணி
தெரியா நிலையில் தோழியும் ராணி
தெரிந்து விட்டால் அவள் ராணியின் தோழி
The world of the rich is full of amusement
The world of the rich is full of amusement
The heart of the poor is a world of pain
The heart of the poor is a world of pain
When identity is unknown, even a friend seems like a queen
When identity is unknown, even a friend seems like a queen
Once the truth is revealed, she is merely the queen's handmaiden
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
உருவம் தெரிவது போல
அவர் உள்ளம் தெரிவது இல்லை
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Just as their physical form is visible
Their inner heart is not visible
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
உண்மையில் ஒருநாள் பொய்மையில் பலநாள்
ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் உங்களின் திருநாள்
எங்களின் இதயம் சிறியது தாயே
இதையும் ஏனோ உடைத்து விட்டாயே
One day in truth, but many days in falsehood
Every single day is a celebration day for you
Our heart is small, oh mother/lady
Why did you break even this small heart?
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
உருவம் தெரிவது போல
அவர் உள்ளம் தெரிவது இல்லை
எல்லாம் நாடக மேடை
இதில் எங்கும் நடிகர் கூட்டம்
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Just as their physical form is visible
Their inner heart is not visible
Everything is a drama stage
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
புரியா மனிதன் எதையோ சொன்னான்
புரியா மனிதன் எதையோ சொன்னான்
பொறுத்தருள்வாயே போகிறேன் தாயே
பொறுத்தருள்வாயே போகிறேன் தாயே
நடந்ததையெல்லாம் மறந்திடுவாயே
நடந்ததையெல்லாம் மறந்திடுவாயே
மாளிகை சிலையே வாழிய நீயே
An uncomprehended man said something
An uncomprehended man said something
Forgive me and bestow grace, I am leaving, oh lady
Forgive me and bestow grace, I am leaving, oh lady
Please forget everything that happened
Please forget everything that happened
Please forget everything that happened
Oh statue in the palace, may you prosper and live long!
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Just as their physical form is visible
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Their inner heart is not visible
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Just as their physical form is visible
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Their inner heart is not visible
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Parppadhai ariyaen paarkka vaithaaiyae
I did not know how to look, but you made me see
Paal pol manadhai keduthaval neeyae
You are the one who ruined a heart as pure as milk
Paaduvadhariyaen paada vaithaaiyae
I did not know how to sing, but you made me sing
Paadalai paadhiyil nee mudithaaiyae
Yet you ended the song halfway through
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Just as their physical form is visible
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Their inner heart is not visible
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam
The world of the rich is full of amusement
Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam
The world of the rich is full of amusement
Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam
The heart of the poor is a world of pain
Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam
The heart of the poor is a world of pain
Theriya nilaiyil thozhiyum raani
When identity is unknown, even a friend seems like a queen
Theriya nilaiyil thozhiyum raani
When identity is unknown, even a friend seems like a queen
Therindhu vittaal aval raaniyin thozhi
Once the truth is revealed, she is merely the queen's handmaiden
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Just as their physical form is visible
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Their inner heart is not visible
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Unmaiyil oru naal poimaiyil pala naal
One day in truth, but many days in falsehood
Vovvoru naalum ungalin thirunaal
Every single day is a celebration day for you
Engalin idhayam siriyadhu thaaye
Our heart is small, oh mother/lady
Idhaiyum yeno udaithu vittaayae
Why did you break even this small heart?
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Just as their physical form is visible
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Their inner heart is not visible
Ellam nadaga medai
Everything is a drama stage
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
In this, everywhere is a crowd of actors
Puriya manidhan edhaiyoo sonnaan
An uncomprehended man said something
Puriya manidhan edhaiyoo sonnaan
An uncomprehended man said something
Porutharulvaaiyae pogiren thaaye
Forgive me and bestow grace, I am leaving, oh lady
Porutharulvaaiyae pogiren thaaye
Forgive me and bestow grace, I am leaving, oh lady
Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae
Please forget everything that happened
Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae
Please forget everything that happened
Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae
Please forget everything that happened
Maaligai silaiyae vaazhiya neeyae
Oh statue in the palace, may you prosper and live long!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Ellam Nadaga Medai' reflects on the philosophical idea that the world is a theatrical stage where people conceal their true feelings behind external facades. The speaker laments how his innocent and pure heart was broken halfway through life's journey by a beloved who manipulated his emotions and exposed the harsh realities of class disparity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ellam nadaga medai”
Compares the world to a theater stage ('nadaga medai') and people to actors ('nadigar kottam') hiding their true hearts.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Paal pol manadhai keduthaval neeyae”
Compares the pure, innocent human heart to milk ('paal pol manadhai').
Antithesis (Muran)
“Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam / Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam”
Contrasts the fun-filled world of the wealthy with the agony-filled world of the poor ('selvargal illam' vs 'ezhaigal ullam').
Alliteration (Monai)
“Parppadhai ariyaen paarkka vaithaaiyae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'P' across consecutive words in the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Kannadasan drew inspiration from Shakespeare's famous monologue 'All the world's a stage' from 'As You Like It' and expertly adapted the concept into a deeply soulful, emotional Tamil song reflecting on deception and existential philosophy.
Keep listening
More from Pasamum Nesamum
Pasamum Nesamum
Pasamum Nesamum
Pasamum Nesamum
Pasamum Nesamum
Pasamum Nesamum
Pasamum Nesamum