Naalai Mudhal Kudikka
From Needhi · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Needhi1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Laalaa… laalaalaa laa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Laalaalaa… laa… laalaalaa… laa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Male | |
| Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen | I will not drink starting tomorrow, |
| Sathiyamadi thangam | I swear it to you, my darling. |
| Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum | Tonight I need to get some sleep, |
| Ootthikkiren konjam | So I will pour myself just a little. |
| Male | |
| Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen | I will not drink starting tomorrow, |
| Sathiyamadi thangam | I swear it to you, my darling. |
| Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum | Tonight I need to get some sleep, |
| Ootthikkiren konjam | So I will pour myself just a little. |
| Male | |
| Aadu maadu kooda konjam | Even goats and cattle express |
| Sondham kollumae… | A sense of affection and kin... |
| Male | |
| Aadu maadu kooda konjam | Even goats and cattle express |
| Sondham kollumae | A sense of affection and kin. |
| Naam aasaiyodu paarkkum paarvai | The loving glance we share |
| Paesavillaiyae | Did not speak to me. |
| Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae | When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent; |
| Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae | When wisdom arrived, friends were absent. |
| Male | |
| Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen | I will not drink starting tomorrow, |
| Sathiyamadi thangam | I swear it to you, my darling. |
| Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum | Tonight I need to get some sleep, |
| Ootthikkiren konjam | So I will pour myself just a little. |
| Male | |
| Mudhal vaazhvu vaazha oru vedu | One home to live the first life, |
| Maru vaazhvu vaazha maru veedu | Another home to live the second life; |
| Idai kaala paadhai manal maedu | The path in between is a mound of sand, |
| Yaedhu vandha podhum avalodu | Whatever comes, it is with her. |
| Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae | When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent; |
| Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae | When wisdom arrived, friends were absent. |
| Male | |
| Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen | I will not drink starting tomorrow, |
| Sathiyamadi thangam | I swear it to you, my darling. |
| Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum | Tonight I need to get some sleep, |
| Ootthikkiren konjam | So I will pour myself just a little. |
| Male | |
| Aahaa… laalaalaa laa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Aahaa… laalaalaa laa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Laalaalaa… laa… laalaalaa… laa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Male | |
| Kadavul yen vaazhvil kadankaaran | God is a debtor in my life; |
| Kavalaigal theerthaal kadan theerum | If my worries end, the debt is settled. |
| Ezhaighal vaazhvil vilaiyaadum | O God who plays with the lives of the poor, |
| Iraivaa nee kooda kudigaaran | You too are nothing but a drunkard! |
| Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae | When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent; |
| Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae | When wisdom arrived, friends were absent. |
| Male | |
| Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen | I will not drink starting tomorrow, |
| Sathiyamadi thangam | I swear it to you, my darling. |
| Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum | Tonight I need to get some sleep, |
| Ootthikkiren konjam | So I will pour myself just a little. |
| Ootthikkiren konjam | So I will pour myself just a little. |
| Ootthikkiren konjam… | So I will pour myself just a little... |
லாலா.....லலாலா லா....
லாலாலா....லா....லலாலா.....லா....
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
நாளை முதல் குடிக்க மாட்டேன்
சத்தியமடி தங்கம்
இன்னைக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு தூங்க வேண்டும்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
I swear it to you, my darling.
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
So I will pour myself just a little.
நாளை முதல் குடிக்க மாட்டேன்
சத்தியமடி தங்கம்
இன்னைக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு தூங்க வேண்டும்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
I swear it to you, my darling.
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
So I will pour myself just a little.
ஆடு மாடு கூட கொஞ்சம்
சொந்தம் கொள்ளுமே
Even goats and cattle express
A sense of affection and kin...
ஆடு மாடு கூட கொஞ்சம்
சொந்தம் கொள்ளுமே
நாம் ஆசையோடு பார்க்கும் பார்வை
பேசவில்லையே
போதை வந்தபோது புத்தியில்லையே
புத்தி வந்தபோது நண்பரில்லையே
Even goats and cattle express
A sense of affection and kin.
The loving glance we share
Did not speak to me.
When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent;
When wisdom arrived, friends were absent.
நாளை முதல் குடிக்க மாட்டேன்
சத்தியமடி தங்கம்
இன்னைக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு தூங்க வேண்டும்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
I swear it to you, my darling.
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
So I will pour myself just a little.
முதல் வாழ்வு வாழ ஒரு வீடு
மறு வாழ்வு வாழ மறு வீடு
இடைக்கால பாதை மணல் வீடு
எது வந்த போதும் அளவோடு
போதை வந்தபோது புத்தியில்லையே
புத்தி வந்தபோது நண்பரில்லையே
One home to live the first life,
Another home to live the second life;
The path in between is a mound of sand,
Whatever comes, it is with her.
When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent;
When wisdom arrived, friends were absent.
நாளை முதல் குடிக்க மாட்டேன்
சத்தியமடி தங்கம்
இன்னைக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு தூங்க வேண்டும்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
I swear it to you, my darling.
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
So I will pour myself just a little.
ஆஹா.....லாலாலா லா....
ஆஹா.....லாலாலா லா....
லாலாலா லா....லாலாலா லா....
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
கடவுள் என் வாழ்வில் கடன்காரன்
கவலைகள் தீர்ந்தால் கடன்தீரும்
ஏழைகள் வாழ்வில் விளையாடும்
இறைவன் நீ கூட குடிகாரன்
போதை வந்தபோது புத்தியில்லையே
புத்தி வந்தபோது நண்பரில்லையே
God is a debtor in my life;
If my worries end, the debt is settled.
O God who plays with the lives of the poor,
You too are nothing but a drunkard!
When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent;
When wisdom arrived, friends were absent.
நாளை முதல் குடிக்க மாட்டேன்
சத்தியமடி தங்கம்
இன்னைக்கு ராத்திரிக்கு தூங்க வேண்டும்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்
ஊத்திக்கிறேன் கொஞ்சம்.....
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
I swear it to you, my darling.
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
So I will pour myself just a little.
So I will pour myself just a little.
So I will pour myself just a little...
Laalaa… laalaalaa laa…
[Vocalizing]
Laalaalaa… laa… laalaalaa… laa…
[Vocalizing]
Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
Sathiyamadi thangam
I swear it to you, my darling.
Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
Ootthikkiren konjam
So I will pour myself just a little.
Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
Sathiyamadi thangam
I swear it to you, my darling.
Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
Ootthikkiren konjam
So I will pour myself just a little.
Aadu maadu kooda konjam
Even goats and cattle express
Sondham kollumae…
A sense of affection and kin...
Aadu maadu kooda konjam
Even goats and cattle express
Sondham kollumae
A sense of affection and kin.
Naam aasaiyodu paarkkum paarvai
The loving glance we share
Paesavillaiyae
Did not speak to me.
Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae
When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent;
Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae
When wisdom arrived, friends were absent.
Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
Sathiyamadi thangam
I swear it to you, my darling.
Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
Ootthikkiren konjam
So I will pour myself just a little.
Mudhal vaazhvu vaazha oru vedu
One home to live the first life,
Maru vaazhvu vaazha maru veedu
Another home to live the second life;
Idai kaala paadhai manal maedu
The path in between is a mound of sand,
Yaedhu vandha podhum avalodu
Whatever comes, it is with her.
Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae
When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent;
Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae
When wisdom arrived, friends were absent.
Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
Sathiyamadi thangam
I swear it to you, my darling.
Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
Ootthikkiren konjam
So I will pour myself just a little.
Aahaa… laalaalaa laa…
[Vocalizing]
Aahaa… laalaalaa laa…
[Vocalizing]
Laalaalaa… laa… laalaalaa… laa…
[Vocalizing]
Kadavul yen vaazhvil kadankaaran
God is a debtor in my life;
Kavalaigal theerthaal kadan theerum
If my worries end, the debt is settled.
Ezhaighal vaazhvil vilaiyaadum
O God who plays with the lives of the poor,
Iraivaa nee kooda kudigaaran
You too are nothing but a drunkard!
Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae
When intoxication arrived, wisdom was absent;
Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae
When wisdom arrived, friends were absent.
Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen
I will not drink starting tomorrow,
Sathiyamadi thangam
I swear it to you, my darling.
Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum
Tonight I need to get some sleep,
Ootthikkiren konjam
So I will pour myself just a little.
Ootthikkiren konjam
So I will pour myself just a little.
Ootthikkiren konjam…
So I will pour myself just a little...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Naalai Mudhal Kudikka Maattaen' from the 1972 movie 'Needhi' is a deeply poignant, philosophical exploration of addiction, regret, and human vulnerability. Sung from the perspective of a man trapped in alcoholism, he repeatedly promises his loved one that he will quit tomorrow, yet offers the tragic excuse of needing 'just a little' tonight to get to sleep. The song highlights the loneliness of addiction, noting how cattle show more affection than distant humans, and how fake friends disappear once true wisdom dawns. In typical Kannadasan fashion, the lyrics escalate from personal addiction to a broader existential critique. The protagonist addresses God, accusing Him of playing recklessly with the lives of the poor, calling God himself a 'drunkard' for creating such an unjust world. Through melancholic rhythm and sharp lyricism, the song captures the classic human trap of procrastinating change while reflecting on lost relationships and life's harsh realities.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony
“Naalai mudhal kudikka maattaen ... Innikki raathirikku thoonga vaenum Ootthikkiren konjam”
The protagonist promises to quit drinking 'starting tomorrow' while simultaneously pouring another drink for tonight, capturing the tragic delusion of addiction.
Antimetabole / Antithesis
“Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae / Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae”
Inversion of words and concepts ('Bodhai'/Intoxication vs 'Buthi'/Wisdom) to highlight the tragedy of losing wisdom while drunk and losing companions once sober.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Mudhal vaazhvu vaazha oru vedu / Maru vaazhvu vaazha maru veedu”
Rhyming of the second letter ('d' in Mudhal / Maru / Idai) to create rhythm in describing life's stages.
Metaphor / Blasphemous Personification
“Iraivaa nee kooda kudigaaran”
Comparing God to a drunkard who plays frivolously with the fate of poor people.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) with lyrics by Kannadasan, this iconic track was sung by T. M. Soundararajan for Sivaji Ganesan in the film 'Needhi' (1972). Kannadasan's couplet 'Bodhai vandha podhu buthi illaiyae / Buthi vandha podhu nanbar illaiyae' remains one of the most quoted philosophical quotes in Tamil popular culture regarding alcoholism and fake friendships.
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