Meesakaara Nanba
From Natpukkaga · 1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Meesakaara nanba | Oh mustached friend, |
| Unaku rosam adhigam da } (2) | You have high self-respect, my friend! |
| Rosam adhigam da | Your self-respect is high, |
| Adhavida paasam adhigam da | But the affection you hold is even higher. |
| Male | |
| Namma palaginadha marakalayae | I haven't forgotten our shared bond, |
| Andha paruvam ippo kedaikalayae | Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now. |
| Andha kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae | Those visual memories have not grown grey with age, |
| Innum kanna vituthaan marayalayae | They haven't faded away from my eyes yet. |
| Male | |
| Meesakaara nanba …aa | Oh mustached friend... |
| Unaku rosam adhigam da | You have high self-respect, my friend! |
| Male | |
| ………………………………….. | ... |
| Male | |
| Andha aathankaraya ketu paaru | Go ask that riverbank, |
| Meen pudicha kadha adhu sollum | It will tell the story of us catching fish. |
| Male | |
| Andha panna metta ketu paaru | Go ask that farm mound, |
| Paal karandha kadha adhu sollum … oi | It will tell the story of us milking cows... |
| Male | |
| Andha sola kaata ketu paaru | Go ask that cornfield, |
| Kodi pudicha kadha adhu sollum | It will tell the story of us catching flags/butterflies. |
| Male | |
| Andha toorin taaxisa ketu paaru | Go ask that touring talkies cinema, |
| Padam paartha kadha adhu sollum | It will tell the story of us watching movies. |
| Male | |
| Karnam potu kenathula | Flipping somersaults into the well, |
| Kudhicha ninaivugal | Those jumping memories |
| Malarudhu manasukul kulirudhu | Blossom and bring a cool comfort within the heart. |
| Male | |
| Kambankoolu kudichidathaanae | Just to drink the pearl millet porridge, |
| Udhadugal thudikudhu | My lips tremble, |
| Meesayum thadukudhu | And my mustache gets in the way. |
| Male | |
| Palaginadha marakalayae | I haven't forgotten our old bond, |
| Andha paruvam ippo kedaikalayae | Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now. |
| Kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae | Those memories have not grown grey with age, |
| Innum kanna vituthaan marayalayae | They haven't faded away from my eyes yet. |
| Male | |
| Meesakaara nanba …aa | Oh mustached friend... |
| Unaku rosam adhigam da | You have high self-respect, my friend! |
| Dai dai dai | Hey, hey, hey! |
| Male | |
| …………………………………………………… | ... |
| Male | |
| Petha appana polae akara vachi | Showing care just like a birth father, |
| Senja sevaikellam vilaiyillayae | The service you rendered is beyond price. |
| Male | |
| Andha anbu neranja pulla paasam | That love-filled, innocent child-like affection, |
| Ada unnapolae thaan enakillayae ..… | Oh, even I do not possess it like you do... |
| Male | |
| Indha veedhi muluka thoranam katti | Decorating this entire street with festoons, |
| Kannu mulichathellam yedhukaaga | Why did you stay awake all night? |
| Male | |
| Naan petha ponnuthaan vaazha vendi nee | So that the daughter I birthed may live happily, |
| Ulachadhellam enakaaga | You worked tirelessly for my sake. |
| Male | |
| Karnan polae kadamaya madhichu | Honoring duty like the legendary Karna, |
| Dhinam dhinam ulachavan | You worked hard day after day, |
| Vervaya vadichavan | Shedding your sweat. |
| Male | |
| Paatukaaran bharathi sonna | Just like poet Bharathiyar described |
| Kannana polavae enakingu porandhavan | Lord Krishna as a loyal friend, you were born here for me. |
| Male | |
| Kannu renduthaan kalangudhaiyaa | Both my eyes are welling up with tears, sir. |
| Enna punniyam senjen unnai adaiya | What good deeds did I do to earn you? |
| Male | |
| Nandri kadan theerka enna kodupen | To repay this debt of gratitude, what can I give? |
| Un velakaaranaaga vandhu porapen | I will be reborn as your humble servant! |
| Male | |
| { Meesakaara nanba | Oh mustached friend, |
| Unaku rosam adhigam da } (2) dai | You have high self-respect, my friend! |
| Rosam adhigam da | Your self-respect is high, |
| Adhavida paasam adhigam da | But the affection you hold is even higher. |
| Male | |
| Namma palaginadha marakalayae | I haven't forgotten our shared bond, |
| Andha paruvam ippo kedaikalayae | Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now. |
| Andha kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae | Those visual memories have not grown grey with age, |
| Innum kanna vituthaan marayalayae | They haven't faded away from my eyes yet. |
| Male | |
| Meesakaara nanba …aa | Oh mustached friend... |
| Unaku rosam adhigam da | You have high self-respect, my friend! |
{ மீசக்கார நண்பா
உனக்கு ரோஷம்
அதிகம் டா } (2)
ரோஷம் அதிகம் டா
அத விட பாசம்
அதிகம் டா
Oh mustached friend,
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Your self-respect is high,
But the affection you hold is even higher.
நம்ம பழகினத
மறக்கலயே அந்த பருவம்
இப்போ கிடைக்கலையே
அந்த காட்சிகளுக்கு
நரையில்லயே இன்னும்
கண்ண விட்டுத்தான்
மறையலயே
I haven't forgotten our shared bond,
Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now.
Those visual memories have not grown grey with age,
They haven't faded away from my eyes yet.
மீசக்கார நண்பா...
உனக்கு ரோஷம் அதிகம்
டா
Oh mustached friend...
You have high self-respect, my friend!
...........................
...
அந்த ஆத்தங்கரைய
கேட்டு பாரு மீன் புடிச்ச கத
அது சொல்லும்
Go ask that riverbank,
It will tell the story of us catching fish.
அந்த பண்ண
மேட்ட கேட்டு பாரு பால்
கறந்த கத அது சொல்லும்
ஓய்
Go ask that farm mound,
It will tell the story of us milking cows...
அந்த சோள காட்ட
கேட்டு பாரு கொடி புடிச்ச
கத அது சொல்லும்
Go ask that cornfield,
It will tell the story of us catching flags/butterflies.
அந்த டூரின் டாக்ஸிச
கேட்டு பாரு படம் பார்த்த கத
அது சொல்லும்
Go ask that touring talkies cinema,
It will tell the story of us watching movies.
கர்ணம் போட்டு
கிணத்துல குதிச்ச
நினைவுகள் மலருது
மனசுக்குள் குளிருது
Flipping somersaults into the well,
Those jumping memories
Blossom and bring a cool comfort within the heart.
கம்பங்கூழு
குடிச்சிடத்தானே
உதடுகள் துடிக்குது
மீசையும் தடுக்குது
Just to drink the pearl millet porridge,
My lips tremble,
And my mustache gets in the way.
பழகினத மறக்கலயே
அந்த பருவம் இப்போ
கிடைக்கலையே அந்த
காட்சிகளுக்கு நரையில்லயே
இன்னும் கண்ண விட்டுத்தான்
மறையலயே
I haven't forgotten our old bond,
Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now.
Those memories have not grown grey with age,
They haven't faded away from my eyes yet.
மீசக்கார நண்பா...
உனக்கு ரோஷம் அதிகம்
டா டேய் டேய் டேய்
Oh mustached friend...
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Hey, hey, hey!
..............................
...
பெத்த அப்பன
போலே அக்கறை வச்சி
செஞ்ச சேவைக்கெல்லாம்
விலையில்லயே
Showing care just like a birth father,
The service you rendered is beyond price.
அந்த அன்பு
நெறைஞ்ச புள்ள பாசம்
அட உன்ன போல தான்
எனக்கில்லையே
That love-filled, innocent child-like affection,
Oh, even I do not possess it like you do...
இந்த விதி முழுக்க
தோரணம் கட்டி கண்ணு
முழிச்சதெல்லாம் எதுக்காக
Decorating this entire street with festoons,
Why did you stay awake all night?
நான் பெத்த
பொண்ணுதான் வாழ
வேண்டி நீ உழைச்சதெல்லாம்
எனக்காக
So that the daughter I birthed may live happily,
You worked tirelessly for my sake.
கர்ணன் போலே
கடமைய மதிச்சு தினம்
தினம் உழைச்சவன்
வேர்வைய வடிச்சவன்
Honoring duty like the legendary Karna,
You worked hard day after day,
Shedding your sweat.
பாட்டுக்காரன்
பாரதி சொன்ன கண்ணண
போலவே எனக்கிங்கு
பொறந்தவன்
Just like poet Bharathiyar described
Lord Krishna as a loyal friend, you were born here for me.
கண்ணு ரெண்டுதான்
கலங்குதய்யா என்ன
புண்ணியம் செஞ்சேன்
உன்னை அடைய
Both my eyes are welling up with tears, sir.
What good deeds did I do to earn you?
நன்றி கடன்
தீர்க்க என்ன கொடுப்பேன்
உன் வேலைக்காரனாக
வந்து பொறப்பேன்
To repay this debt of gratitude, what can I give?
I will be reborn as your humble servant!
{ மீசக்கார நண்பா
உனக்கு ரோஷம்
அதிகம் டா } (2) டேய்
ரோஷம் அதிகம் டா
அத விட பாசம் அதிகம்
டா
Oh mustached friend,
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Your self-respect is high,
But the affection you hold is even higher.
நம்ம பழகினத
மறக்கலயே அந்த பருவம்
இப்போ கிடைக்கலையே
அந்த காட்சிகளுக்கு
நரையில்லயே இன்னும்
கண்ண விட்டுத்தான்
மறையலயே
I haven't forgotten our shared bond,
Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now.
Those visual memories have not grown grey with age,
They haven't faded away from my eyes yet.
மீசக்கார நண்பா...
உனக்கு ரோஷம்
அதிகம் டா
Oh mustached friend...
You have high self-respect, my friend!
{ Meesakaara nanba
Oh mustached friend,
Unaku rosam adhigam da } (2)
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Rosam adhigam da
Your self-respect is high,
Adhavida paasam adhigam da
But the affection you hold is even higher.
Namma palaginadha marakalayae
I haven't forgotten our shared bond,
Andha paruvam ippo kedaikalayae
Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now.
Andha kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae
Those visual memories have not grown grey with age,
Innum kanna vituthaan marayalayae
They haven't faded away from my eyes yet.
Meesakaara nanba …aa
Oh mustached friend...
Unaku rosam adhigam da
You have high self-respect, my friend!
…………………………………..
...
Andha aathankaraya ketu paaru
Go ask that riverbank,
Meen pudicha kadha adhu sollum
It will tell the story of us catching fish.
Andha panna metta ketu paaru
Go ask that farm mound,
Paal karandha kadha adhu sollum … oi
It will tell the story of us milking cows...
Andha sola kaata ketu paaru
Go ask that cornfield,
Kodi pudicha kadha adhu sollum
It will tell the story of us catching flags/butterflies.
Andha toorin taaxisa ketu paaru
Go ask that touring talkies cinema,
Padam paartha kadha adhu sollum
It will tell the story of us watching movies.
Karnam potu kenathula
Flipping somersaults into the well,
Kudhicha ninaivugal
Those jumping memories
Malarudhu manasukul kulirudhu
Blossom and bring a cool comfort within the heart.
Kambankoolu kudichidathaanae
Just to drink the pearl millet porridge,
Udhadugal thudikudhu
My lips tremble,
Meesayum thadukudhu
And my mustache gets in the way.
Palaginadha marakalayae
I haven't forgotten our old bond,
Andha paruvam ippo kedaikalayae
Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now.
Kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae
Those memories have not grown grey with age,
Innum kanna vituthaan marayalayae
They haven't faded away from my eyes yet.
Meesakaara nanba …aa
Oh mustached friend...
Unaku rosam adhigam da
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Dai dai dai
Hey, hey, hey!
……………………………………………………
...
Petha appana polae akara vachi
Showing care just like a birth father,
Senja sevaikellam vilaiyillayae
The service you rendered is beyond price.
Andha anbu neranja pulla paasam
That love-filled, innocent child-like affection,
Ada unnapolae thaan enakillayae ..…
Oh, even I do not possess it like you do...
Indha veedhi muluka thoranam katti
Decorating this entire street with festoons,
Kannu mulichathellam yedhukaaga
Why did you stay awake all night?
Naan petha ponnuthaan vaazha vendi nee
So that the daughter I birthed may live happily,
Ulachadhellam enakaaga
You worked tirelessly for my sake.
Karnan polae kadamaya madhichu
Honoring duty like the legendary Karna,
Dhinam dhinam ulachavan
You worked hard day after day,
Vervaya vadichavan
Shedding your sweat.
Paatukaaran bharathi sonna
Just like poet Bharathiyar described
Kannana polavae enakingu porandhavan
Lord Krishna as a loyal friend, you were born here for me.
Kannu renduthaan kalangudhaiyaa
Both my eyes are welling up with tears, sir.
Enna punniyam senjen unnai adaiya
What good deeds did I do to earn you?
Nandri kadan theerka enna kodupen
To repay this debt of gratitude, what can I give?
Un velakaaranaaga vandhu porapen
I will be reborn as your humble servant!
{ Meesakaara nanba
Oh mustached friend,
Unaku rosam adhigam da } (2) dai
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Rosam adhigam da
Your self-respect is high,
Adhavida paasam adhigam da
But the affection you hold is even higher.
Namma palaginadha marakalayae
I haven't forgotten our shared bond,
Andha paruvam ippo kedaikalayae
Yet that golden age cannot be retrieved now.
Andha kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae
Those visual memories have not grown grey with age,
Innum kanna vituthaan marayalayae
They haven't faded away from my eyes yet.
Meesakaara nanba …aa
Oh mustached friend...
Unaku rosam adhigam da
You have high self-respect, my friend!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Meesakaara Nanba' from Natpukkaga (1998) is a poignant ode to deep-rooted brotherhood and selfless friendship. The speaker reminisces about their rural childhood—jumping into deep wells, fishing at riverbanks, drinking pearl millet porridge (kambankool), and watching movies at local touring talkies. Though time has moved on, these vibrant memories remain fresh and timeless in his heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification / Metaphor
“Andha kaatchigaluku naraiyillayae”
Memories are metaphorically given human traits of aging; 'naraiyillaye' implies that the memories have not grown grey hair or aged over time.
Anaphora (Repetitive Rhetorical Structure)
“Andha aathankaraya ketu paaru”
The phrase 'Andha ... ketu paaru' (Go ask that ...) is repeated across multiple stanzas to evoke nostalgic rural places as witnesses to their friendship.
Mythological Allusion & Simile
“Karnan polae kadamaya madhichu / Paatukaaran bharathi sonna Kannana polavae”
Compares the friend's sense of sacrifice and unwavering devotion to Karna's generosity and Bharathiyar's depiction of Lord Krishna as an ideal companion ('Kannan').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Deva with lyrics by Kalidasan, 'Natpukkaga' starred Sarathkumar in a iconic double role exploring lifelong friendship. The film was a massive blockbuster and won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film, while Deva won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director.
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