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Lyrics & meaning

Kathirvel Nayagane

From Nangooram · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Nangooram
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
12 Sept 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadhirvel naayaganae
Unnaiyae vendugiren
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaai
Naalellam kaathiruppen
Kadhirvel naayaganae
Unnaiyae vendugiren
Gopuram naangu veithaai
Koyilo ondru veithaai
Ondrilae kalasam veithaai
Moondrilae mayakkam veithaai
Ennaiyae serthu veithaai
Endrum nee thunai irupaai
Kadhirvel naayaganae
Unnaiyae vendugiren
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaai
Naalellam kaathiruppen
Or pillai kulavilakku
Or magal thiruvilakku
Thangaiyoo theru vilakku
Thambhiyo thani vilakku
Naangumae saran unakku
Nalguvaai pudhu kanakku
Kadhirvel naayaganae
Unnaiyae vendugiren
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaai
Naalellam kaathiruppen
Enna thaan nee nadathu
Endrum naan unai maraven
Naalaikku thunai varuvaai
Nambhithaan vaazhgiren
Thunbikkai thambhi aiyaa
Nambikkai vaiyum aiyaa
Vaasamalarai kaaval purindhu nillaiyaa
Pogum vazhiyil nalla vazhigal sollaiyaa
Naalu malarum vaazhndhu nalla gunangal serthu
Thaayin perumai kaathu nirkkum
Velaiyya kandhaiyaa kadhirkaama velaiyaa
Kadhirvel naayaganae
Unnaiyae vendugiren
Nanmaiyae nee tharuvaai
Naalellam kaathiruppen
O Lord of the radiant spear,
I pray only to you.
You will surely bring good,
And I will wait for you all day long...
O Lord of the radiant spear,
I pray only to you.
You gave us four towers,
Yet made only one temple.
On one, you placed a sacred finial,
On the other three, you cast confusion.
You tied my life together with them,
May you always stand by my side...
O Lord of the radiant spear,
I pray only to you.
You will surely bring good,
And I will wait for you all day long...
One son is the guiding light of the family,
One daughter is an auspicious light,
The younger sister is a street lamp,
And the younger brother is a troubled case of his own.
All four surrender at your feet,
Please grant them a fresh start in life...
O Lord of the radiant spear,
I pray only to you.
You will surely bring good,
And I will wait for you all day long...
Whatever you choose to put me through,
I will never forget you.
You will stand by me in the days ahead;
Trusting in that alone, I live.
O Lord, brother of the elephant-faced Ganesha,
Please place your trust in us, my Lord!
Stand guard over these fragrant flowers, won't you?
Guide us on the right path as we go, won't you?
May all four flowers thrive with noble virtues,
And stand tall, protecting their mother's honor...
O Lord of the spear, O Kandha, Muruga of Kathirkamam...
O Lord of the radiant spear,
I pray only to you.
You will surely bring good,
And I will wait for you all day long...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful devotional song from 'Nangooram' (1979) is a mother's earnest prayer to Lord Murugan (Kadhirvelan). She places her entire family and life at the feet of the deity, trusting His divine will completely. Through poignant allegories, she compares her four children to different lamps and fragrant blossoms, seeking Lord Murugan's protection and guidance so that her children grow with noble values and uphold her dignity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Or pillai kulavilakku / Or magal thiruvilakku / Thangaiyoo theru vilakku / Thambhiyo thani vilakku

Repetition of ending sounds across consecutive lines creating a rhythmic pattern.

Uruvagamb (Metaphor)

Or pillai kulavilakku ... Naalu malarum vaazhndhu

Comparing children directly to different types of lamps and blossoms.

Edugai (Second Letter Assonance)

Thunbikkai thambhi aiyaa / Nambikkai vaiyum aiyaa

Matching second consonants across lines.

Alliteration (Moonae)

Velaiyya kandhaiyaa kadhirkaama velaiyaa

Matching initial consonant sounds across words in a line.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by legendary poet Kannadasan, this song stands out for using everyday Tamil household metaphors (different types of lamps like Kulavilakku, Thiruvilakku, Theruvilakku) to represent family structure and dynamics in a devotional context.

Keep listening

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