Kannai Nambathey
From Ninaithadhai Mudippavan · 1974
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Ninaithadhai Mudippavan1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannai nambaadhae | Do not trust your eyes, |
| { Unnai yemaatrum } (2) | It will deceive you. |
| Nee kaanum thotram | The appearance that you see, |
| Unmai illaadhadhu | Is devoid of truth. |
| Male | |
| Arivai nee nambu | Trust your intellect, |
| Ullam thelivaagum | Your mind will become clear. |
| Adaiyaalam kaatum | It will show you the true identity, |
| Poiyae sollaadhadhu | As it never speaks a lie. |
| Male | |
| Kannai nambaadhae | Do not trust your eyes, |
| Unnai yemaatrum | It will deceive you. |
| Nee kaanum thotram | The appearance that you see, |
| Unmai illaadhadhu | Is devoid of truth. |
| Male | |
| Arivai nee nambu | Trust your intellect, |
| Ullam thelivaagum | Your mind will become clear. |
| Adaiyaalam kaatum | It will show you the true identity, |
| Poiyae sollaadhadhu | As it never speaks a lie. |
| Male | |
| { Kavalarae vesamitaal | If guards wear masks of pretense, |
| Kalvargalum vettruruvil | And thieves appear in noble attire, |
| Kanmunnae thonuvadhu | Manifesting right before your eyes, |
| Saathiyamae } (2) | That is very much possible. |
| Male | |
| Kaathirundhu kalvaruku | Waiting patiently for the thieves, |
| Kai vilangu pootividum | It puts on the handcuffs, |
| Kannuku thonaadha | Invisible to the physical eyes, |
| Sathiyamae | The ultimate truth will! |
| Male | |
| { Podum poi thirayai | The false curtain that has been put up, |
| Kilithuvidum kaalam | Time will tear it apart, |
| Puriyum appodhu | Only then will it be understood, |
| Meiyaana kolam } (2) | The true form and reality! |
| Male | |
| Kannai nambaadhae | Do not trust your eyes, |
| Unnai yemaatrum | It will deceive you. |
| Nee kaanum thotram | The appearance that you see, |
| { Unmai illaadhadhu } (2) | Is devoid of truth. |
| Male | |
| Om muruga endru solli | Chanting 'Om Muruga', |
| Ucharikum saamigalae | Oh pseudo godmen who recite it, |
| Rudhraacha poonaigalaai | Like cats wearing Rudraksha beads, |
| Vaazhurenga | You are living your lives! |
| Male | |
| Seemaangal porvaiyilae | Under the cloak of rich lords, |
| Saamanya makkalaiyae | The common innocent people, |
| Yemaatri kondaatam | By cheating them, a celebration, |
| Podureenga | You are throwing! |
| Male | |
| Poimai eppodhum | Falsehood never |
| Onguvadhum illai | Prevails or grows, |
| Unmai eppodhum | Truth never |
| Thoonkuvadhum illai | Slumbers or sleeps! |
| Male | |
| Kannai nambaadhae | Do not trust your eyes, |
| Male | |
| { Pon porulai kandavudan | As soon as they see gold and riches, |
| Vandhavali marandhuvitu | Forgetting the path through which they came, |
| Kanmoodi pogiravar | Those who walk away with eyes closed, |
| Pogatumae } (2) | Let them go! |
| Male | |
| En manathai naan ariven | I know my own mind, |
| En uravai naan maraven | I will never forget my roots and bonds, |
| Edhuvana podhilum | Whatever may come, |
| Aagatumae | Let it happen! |
| Male | |
| Nandri maravaadha | A good heart that never forgets gratitude, |
| Nalla manam podhum | That alone is sufficient, |
| Endrum adhuvae en | Forever that shall remain my |
| Moolathanam aagum | Core capital and true wealth! |
| Male | |
| Kannai nambaadhae | Do not trust your eyes, |
| { Unnai yemaatrum } (2) | It will deceive you. |
| Nee kaanum thotram | The appearance that you see, |
| Unmai illaadhadhu | Is devoid of truth. |
| Male | |
| Arivai nee nambu | Trust your intellect, |
| Ullam thelivaagum | Your mind will become clear. |
| Adaiyaalam kaatum | It will show you the true identity, |
| Poiyae sollaadhadhu | As it never speaks a lie. |
கண்ணை நம்பாதே
{ உன்னை ஏமாற்றும் } (2)
நீ காணும் தோற்றம்
உண்மை இல்லாதது
Do not trust your eyes,
It will deceive you.
The appearance that you see,
Is devoid of truth.
அறிவை நீ நம்பு
உள்ளம் தெளிவாகும்
அடையாளம் காட்டும்
பொய்யே சொல்லாதது
Trust your intellect,
Your mind will become clear.
It will show you the true identity,
As it never speaks a lie.
கண்ணை நம்பாதே
உன்னை ஏமாற்றும்
நீ காணும் தோற்றம்
உண்மை இல்லாதது
Do not trust your eyes,
It will deceive you.
The appearance that you see,
Is devoid of truth.
அறிவை நீ நம்பு
உள்ளம் தெளிவாகும்
அடையாளம் காட்டும்
பொய்யே சொல்லாதது
Trust your intellect,
Your mind will become clear.
It will show you the true identity,
As it never speaks a lie.
{ காவலரே
வேஷமிட்டால் கள்வர்களும்
வேற்றுருவில் கண்முன்னே
தோணுவது சாத்தியமே } (2)
If guards wear masks of pretense,
And thieves appear in noble attire,
Manifesting right before your eyes,
That is very much possible.
காத்திருந்து
கள்வர்க்கு கை விலங்கு
பூட்டி விடும் கண்ணுக்கு
தோணாத சத்தியமே
Waiting patiently for the thieves,
It puts on the handcuffs,
Invisible to the physical eyes,
The ultimate truth will!
{ போடும் பொய்
திரையை கிழித்து விடும்
காலம் புரியும் அப்போது
மெய்யான கோலம் } (2)
The false curtain that has been put up,
Time will tear it apart,
Only then will it be understood,
The true form and reality!
கண்ணை நம்பாதே
உன்னை ஏமாற்றும்
நீ காணும் தோற்றம்
உண்மை இல்லாதது
உண்மை இல்லாதது
Do not trust your eyes,
It will deceive you.
The appearance that you see,
Is devoid of truth.
ஓம் முருகா
என்று சொல்லி
உச்சரிக்கும் சாமிகளே
ருத்ராச்ச பூனைகளாய்
வாழுறீங்க
Chanting 'Om Muruga',
Oh pseudo godmen who recite it,
Like cats wearing Rudraksha beads,
You are living your lives!
சீமான்கள்
போர்வையிலே
சாமான்ய மக்களையே
ஏமாற்றி கொண்டாட்டம்
போடுறீங்க
Under the cloak of rich lords,
The common innocent people,
By cheating them, a celebration,
You are throwing!
பொய்மை
எப்போதும் ஓங்குவதும்
இல்லை உண்மை
எப்போதும் தூங்குவதும்
இல்லை
Falsehood never
Prevails or grows,
Truth never
Slumbers or sleeps!
கண்ணை நம்பாதே
Do not trust your eyes,
{ பொன்
பொருளை கண்டவுடன்
வந்த வழி மறந்து விட்டு
கண்மூடி போகிறவர்
போகட்டுமே } (2)
As soon as they see gold and riches,
Forgetting the path through which they came,
Those who walk away with eyes closed,
Let them go!
என் மனதை
நான் அறிவேன் என்
உறவை நான் மறவேன்
எதுவான போதிலும்
ஆகட்டுமே
I know my own mind,
I will never forget my roots and bonds,
Whatever may come,
Let it happen!
நன்றி மறவாத
நல்ல மனம் போதும்
என்றும் அதுவே என்
மூலதனம் ஆகும்
A good heart that never forgets gratitude,
That alone is sufficient,
Forever that shall remain my
Core capital and true wealth!
கண்ணை நம்பாதே
{ உன்னை ஏமாற்றும் } (2)
நீ காணும் தோற்றம்
உண்மை இல்லாதது
Do not trust your eyes,
It will deceive you.
The appearance that you see,
Is devoid of truth.
அறிவை நீ நம்பு
உள்ளம் தெளிவாகும்
அடையாளம் காட்டும்
பொய்யே சொல்லாதது
Trust your intellect,
Your mind will become clear.
It will show you the true identity,
As it never speaks a lie.
Kannai nambaadhae
Do not trust your eyes,
{ Unnai yemaatrum } (2)
It will deceive you.
Nee kaanum thotram
The appearance that you see,
Unmai illaadhadhu
Is devoid of truth.
Arivai nee nambu
Trust your intellect,
Ullam thelivaagum
Your mind will become clear.
Adaiyaalam kaatum
It will show you the true identity,
Poiyae sollaadhadhu
As it never speaks a lie.
Kannai nambaadhae
Do not trust your eyes,
Unnai yemaatrum
It will deceive you.
Nee kaanum thotram
The appearance that you see,
Unmai illaadhadhu
Is devoid of truth.
Arivai nee nambu
Trust your intellect,
Ullam thelivaagum
Your mind will become clear.
Adaiyaalam kaatum
It will show you the true identity,
Poiyae sollaadhadhu
As it never speaks a lie.
{ Kavalarae vesamitaal
If guards wear masks of pretense,
Kalvargalum vettruruvil
And thieves appear in noble attire,
Kanmunnae thonuvadhu
Manifesting right before your eyes,
Saathiyamae } (2)
That is very much possible.
Kaathirundhu kalvaruku
Waiting patiently for the thieves,
Kai vilangu pootividum
It puts on the handcuffs,
Kannuku thonaadha
Invisible to the physical eyes,
Sathiyamae
The ultimate truth will!
{ Podum poi thirayai
The false curtain that has been put up,
Kilithuvidum kaalam
Time will tear it apart,
Puriyum appodhu
Only then will it be understood,
Meiyaana kolam } (2)
The true form and reality!
Kannai nambaadhae
Do not trust your eyes,
Unnai yemaatrum
It will deceive you.
Nee kaanum thotram
The appearance that you see,
{ Unmai illaadhadhu } (2)
Is devoid of truth.
Om muruga endru solli
Chanting 'Om Muruga',
Ucharikum saamigalae
Oh pseudo godmen who recite it,
Rudhraacha poonaigalaai
Like cats wearing Rudraksha beads,
Vaazhurenga
You are living your lives!
Seemaangal porvaiyilae
Under the cloak of rich lords,
Saamanya makkalaiyae
The common innocent people,
Yemaatri kondaatam
By cheating them, a celebration,
Podureenga
You are throwing!
Poimai eppodhum
Falsehood never
Onguvadhum illai
Prevails or grows,
Unmai eppodhum
Truth never
Thoonkuvadhum illai
Slumbers or sleeps!
Kannai nambaadhae
Do not trust your eyes,
{ Pon porulai kandavudan
As soon as they see gold and riches,
Vandhavali marandhuvitu
Forgetting the path through which they came,
Kanmoodi pogiravar
Those who walk away with eyes closed,
Pogatumae } (2)
Let them go!
En manathai naan ariven
I know my own mind,
En uravai naan maraven
I will never forget my roots and bonds,
Edhuvana podhilum
Whatever may come,
Aagatumae
Let it happen!
Nandri maravaadha
A good heart that never forgets gratitude,
Nalla manam podhum
That alone is sufficient,
Endrum adhuvae en
Forever that shall remain my
Moolathanam aagum
Core capital and true wealth!
Kannai nambaadhae
Do not trust your eyes,
{ Unnai yemaatrum } (2)
It will deceive you.
Nee kaanum thotram
The appearance that you see,
Unmai illaadhadhu
Is devoid of truth.
Arivai nee nambu
Trust your intellect,
Ullam thelivaagum
Your mind will become clear.
Adaiyaalam kaatum
It will show you the true identity,
Poiyae sollaadhadhu
As it never speaks a lie.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kannai Nambaadhae' serves as a philosophical critique of deceptive appearances and hypocrisy in society. Written by Pulamaipithan and sung famously by M. S. Viswanathan / T. M. Soundararajan for M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), the lyrics advise the listener not to rely solely on sensory perceptions (eyes), as outward appearances can easily mislead. Instead, one must cultivate wisdom, logic, and inner intellect to discern the truth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kannai nambaadhae / Unnai yemaatrum”
The second consonant 'n' (ன்/ண்) rhymes across consecutive lines (Kannai / Unnai).
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Podum poi thirayai”
The initial letter 'P' sound repeats across adjacent words (Podum / Poi).
Metaphor
“Rudhraacha poonaigalaai”
Comparing hypocritical religious charlatans to 'cats wearing Rudraksha beads' (Rudhraacha poonaigalaai).
Antithesis / Contrast
“Poimai eppodhum / Onguvadhum illai / Unmai eppodhum / Thoonkuvadhum illai”
Contrasting falsehood ('Poimai') with truth ('Unmai') to emphasize moral integrity.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from 'Ninaithadhai Mudippavan' (1974) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and the song was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. The song is widely celebrated for its socio-political message, which aligned with MGR's screen image as a champion of moral truth and protector of the common man.
Keep listening
More from Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan
Ninaithadhai Mudippavan