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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Naagareegama Idhu Naagareegama

From Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari · 1954

Lyricist: K. D. Santhanam
Singer: T. V. Rathnam
Music director: T. G. Lingappa
Movie name: Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari
Movie release year: 1954
Lyrics added on: 12 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Poga poga verum poli azhagaiyae

Poga poga verum poli azhagaiyae

Pudhumaiyaaga ennum mathiyillaatha seyal

Naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Ulla thooimaiyodu nalla pengalaai

Ozhukkaththai valarppathu naagareegamaa verum

Udaigalinaalae udalai minukkiyae

Udaigalinaalae udalai minukkiyae

Oorai suttruvathu naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Mangalakaramaai manjalai poosi

Kungumam anivathu naagareegamaa adhu naagareegamaa

Mangalakaramaai manjalai poosi

Kungumam anivathu naagareegamaa

Maida maavai pola face powderai mugaththil

Maida maavai pola face powderai mugaththil

Poosik kolvathu naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Paadupattu panam thedum kanavanukku

Panividai seivathu naagareegamaa athu naagareegamaa

Paadupattu panam thedum kanavanukku

Panividai seivathu naagareegamaa athu naagareegamaa

Avar veedu thedi varum maalai velaiyil

Ulaava povathu naagareegamaa

Avar veedu thedi varum maalai velaiyil

Ulaava povathu naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Thaan pettra kuzhanthaiyai thaalaatti paalootti

Thaanae valarppathu naagareegamaa

Thaan pettra kuzhanthaiyai thaalaatti paalootti

Thaanae valarppathu naagareegamaa

Adhu thaanae valarppathu naagareegamaa

Adhai thaayattra pillai pol aayaalidaththilae

Adhai thaayattra pillai pol aayaalidaththilae

Thaarai vaarppathu nagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Achcham naanam madam payirppu

Amaintha thanmai naagareegamaa

Achcham naanam madam payirppu

Amaintha thanmai naagareegamaa

Aringayargal pirantha naattil pengal

Azhagai pottrinaal naagareegamaa

Aringayargal pirantha naattil pengal

Azhagai pottrinaal naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Idhu naagareegamaa

Kanni tamilnaattin panpai ennaalum

Kann pol kaappathu naagareegamaa

Verum kannmoodithanamaai menaattu muraiyai

Kannmoodithanamaai menaattu muraiyai

Copy adippathu naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa

Is this being modern? Is this true culture?

Is this being modern? Is this true culture?

As days go by, taking mere fake beauty

As days go by, taking mere fake beauty

to be something novel—is this senseless act

truly modern? Is this true culture?

With purity of heart, as good women,

is nurturing good character true culture, or

merely dressing up to show off the body,

merely dressing up to show off the body,

and roaming around town—is that being modern? Is this true culture?

Applying auspicious turmeric,

and wearing kumkum (red dot)—is that true culture, is that being modern?

Applying auspicious turmeric,

and wearing kumkum (red dot)—is that true culture?

Like fine flour, smearing face powder

like fine flour, smearing face powder

all over the face—is that being modern? Is this true culture?

For a husband who works hard to earn a living,

is caring for him true culture, is that being modern?

For a husband who works hard to earn a living,

is caring for him true culture, is that being modern?

When he comes home in the evening,

going out on a stroll—is that being modern?

When he comes home in the evening,

going out on a stroll—is that being modern? Is this true culture?

Singing lullabies and nursing one's own child,

is raising it oneself true culture?

Singing lullabies and nursing one's own child,

is raising it oneself true culture?

Is raising it oneself true culture?

Or like a motherless child, leaving it with a maid,

like a motherless child, leaving it with a maid,

giving it away—is that being modern? Is this true culture?

Modesty, reserve, innocence, and delicacy—

having these virtues, is that true culture?

Modesty, reserve, innocence, and delicacy—

having these virtues, is that true culture?

In a land where wise scholars were born,

if women prize only fake glamour, is that true culture?

In a land where wise scholars were born,

if women prize only fake glamour, is that being modern? Is this true culture?

Is this true culture?

Protecting the heritage of our Tamil land

like one's own eyes—is that true culture?

Or blindly copying Western ways,

blindly copying Western ways,

just imitating them—is that being modern? Is this true culture?

Is this being modern? Is this true culture?

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Male

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa' from the 1954 film Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari is a humorous and satirical critique of modern Westernized lifestyles adopted by contemporary women. Lyricist K. D. Santhanam contrasts core Tamil cultural values with modern vanity by asking rhetorical questions about what truly constitutes 'civilization' (Naagareegam). The singer argues that true civilization lies in inner purity, moral conduct, traditional adornments like turmeric and kumkum, loving care for one's working husband, personally nurturing one's children, and preserving Tamil cultural identity. Conversely, superficial practices such as excessive makeup, strolling out when the husband returns home tired, leaving children to nannies, and blindly copying Western mannerisms are questioned as mere mindless imitation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Maida maavai pola face powderai mugaththil”

Compares face powder to 'maida' flour using the comparative marker 'pola' to highlight heavy makeup humorously.

Rhetorical Question

“Naagareegamaa idhu naagareegamaa”

Repeated use of 'Naagareegamaa' (Is this civilization?) throughout the song to challenge modern trends.

Enumeration / Cultural Allusion

“Achcham naanam madam payirppu”

Lists the four classical Tamil virtues attributed to women: Achcham (fear/shyness), Naanam (modesty), Madam (simplicity), and Payirppu (delicacy).

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Paadupattu panam thedum kanavanukku”

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sound 'Pa' across consecutive words.

Did you know?

Trivia

This satirical track from 'Kalyanam Panniyum Brahmachari' (1954) features English words like 'face powder' and 'copy' seamlessly integrated into Tamil lyrics to highlight early post-independence social debates on Westernization. Played alongside comic interactions in the movie, it was rendered by legendary playback singer T. V. Rathnam under the music direction of T. G. Lingappa.

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