Naalu Perukku
From Sange Muzhangu · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sange Muzhangu1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ullathil iruppadhellaam | There are no words to express everything in my heart... |
| Solla oru vaarthaiyillai… | I was not born mute... |
| Naan oomaiyaai pirakkavillai… | Nor have my feelings faded away... |
| Unarchiyo maraiyavillai… | My precious one, to carry your body |
| En thangamae unadhu maeni | And bear it on my shoulders as I go... |
| Thaangi naan sumandhu sella… | I do not possess the familial bond... |
| Enakkoru bandhamillai… | God gave that right to someone else... |
| Evarukko iraivan thandhaan… | Gratitude to those four people... |
| Male | |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri… | Gratitude to four people |
| Male | |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to four people |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | For all motherless orphans |
| Thaai illaadha anaadhaikkellaam | Who lend their shoulders to carry them away |
| Thol koduthu thookki chellum | Gratitude to four people |
| Male | |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...oo...oo...oo..oo...oo.. |
| Chorus | |
| Oo…ooo…ooo…ooo…oo…oo…oo..oo…oo.. | What we call relationships and affection |
| Male | |
| Uravu endrum paasam endrum | Are shackles locked by God |
| Iraivan poottiya vilangu | For both those who weep and those who laugh |
| Azhudhavarkkum sirippadharkkum | A single heart was created |
| Amaitha ullam ondru | The river's flood flows on its own |
| Male | |
| Aattru vellam thaanae odum | The flood of desire searches for kin |
| Aasai vellam sondham thaedum | The river's flood flows on its own |
| Aattru vellam thaanae odum | The flood of desire searches for kin |
| Aasai vellam sondham thaedum | If there are no relatives at all |
| Sondham yedhum illai endraal | At that moment, four people are needed |
| Andha neram naalvar vendum | Gratitude to four people |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to four people |
| Male | |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | For all motherless orphans |
| Thaai illaadha anaadhaikkellaam | Who lend their shoulders to carry them away |
| Thol koduthu thookki chellum | Gratitude to four people |
| Male | |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | When sharing happiness |
| Male | |
| Inbathaiyae pangu vaithaal | A smile expresses gratitude |
| Punnagai solvadhu nandri | When standing by during sorrow |
| Thunbathilae thunaiyirundhaal | Tears express gratitude |
| Kanneer sovadhu nadri | To everyone who comes while we are living |
| Male | |
| Vaazhum podhu varuvorkkellaam | Let us express gratitude with words |
| Vaarthaiyaalae nadri solvom | To everyone who comes while we are living |
| Vaazhum podhu varuvorkkellaam | Let us express gratitude with words |
| Vaarthaiyaalae nadri solvom | When departing without words |
| Vaarthai indri pogum podhu | Let us express gratitude through silence |
| Maunathaalae nandri solvom | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to four people |
| Male | |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | For all motherless orphans |
| Thaai illaadha anaadhaikkellaam | Who lend their shoulders to carry them away |
| Thol koduthu thookki chellum | Gratitude to four people |
| Male | |
| Naalu perukku nandri | Gratitude to those four people |
| Andha naalu perukku nandri | Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...oo...oo...oo..oo...oo.. |
| Chorus | |
| Oo…ooo…ooo…ooo…oo…oo…oo..oo…oo.. | |
உள்ளத்தில் இருப்பதெல்லாம்
சொல்ல ஓர் வார்த்தையில்லை
நான் ஊமையாய் பிறக்கவில்லை
உணர்ச்சியோ மறையவில்லை......
என் தங்கமே உனது மேனி
தாங்கி நான் சுமந்து செல்ல.....
எனக்கொரு பந்தமில்லை
எவருக்கோ இறைவன் தந்தான்
There are no words to express everything in my heart...
I was not born mute...
Nor have my feelings faded away...
My precious one, to carry your body
And bear it on my shoulders as I go...
I do not possess the familial bond...
God gave that right to someone else...
Gratitude to those four people...
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
Gratitude to four people
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
தாய் இல்லாத அனாதைக்கெல்லாம்
தோள் கொடுத்து தூக்கி செல்லும்
Gratitude to those four people
Gratitude to four people
Gratitude to those four people
For all motherless orphans
Who lend their shoulders to carry them away
Gratitude to four people
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
Gratitude to those four people
Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...oo...oo...oo..oo...oo..
ஓ....ஓஓ......ஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஒ.....ஓ......
What we call relationships and affection
உறவு என்றும் பாசம் என்றும்
இறைவன் பூட்டிய விலங்கு
அழுவதற்கும் சிரிப்பதற்கும்
அமைத்த உள்ளம் ஒன்று
Are shackles locked by God
For both those who weep and those who laugh
A single heart was created
The river's flood flows on its own
ஆற்று வெள்ளம் தானே ஓடும்
ஆசை வெள்ளம் சொந்தம் தேடும்
ஆற்று வெள்ளம் தானே ஓடும்
ஆசை வெள்ளம் சொந்தம் தேடும்
சொந்தம் ஏதும் இல்லை என்றால்
அந்த நேரம் நால்வர் வேண்டும்
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
The flood of desire searches for kin
The river's flood flows on its own
The flood of desire searches for kin
If there are no relatives at all
At that moment, four people are needed
Gratitude to four people
Gratitude to four people
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
தாய் இல்லாத அனாதைக்கெல்லாம்
தோள் கொடுத்து தூக்கி செல்லும்
Gratitude to those four people
For all motherless orphans
Who lend their shoulders to carry them away
Gratitude to four people
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
Gratitude to those four people
When sharing happiness
இன்பத்தையே பங்கு வைத்தால்
புன்னகை சொல்வது நன்றி
துன்பத்திலே துணை வந்தால்
கண்ணீர் சொல்வது நன்றி
A smile expresses gratitude
When standing by during sorrow
Tears express gratitude
To everyone who comes while we are living
வாழும் போது வருவோர்கெல்லாம்
வார்த்தையாலே நன்றி சொல்வோம்
வாழும் போது வருவோர்கெல்லாம்
வார்த்தையாலே நன்றி சொல்வோம்
வார்த்தை இன்றி போகும் போது
மௌனத்தாலே நன்றி சொல்வோம்
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
Let us express gratitude with words
To everyone who comes while we are living
Let us express gratitude with words
When departing without words
Let us express gratitude through silence
Gratitude to those four people
Gratitude to four people
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
தாய் இல்லாத அனாதைக்கெல்லாம்
தோள் கொடுத்து தூக்கி செல்லும்
Gratitude to those four people
For all motherless orphans
Who lend their shoulders to carry them away
Gratitude to four people
நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
அந்த நாலு பேருக்கு நன்றி
Gratitude to those four people
Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...oo...oo...oo..oo...oo..
ஓ....ஓஓ......ஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ.....ஓஒ....ஒ.....ஓ......
Ullathil iruppadhellaam
There are no words to express everything in my heart...
Solla oru vaarthaiyillai…
I was not born mute...
Naan oomaiyaai pirakkavillai…
Nor have my feelings faded away...
Unarchiyo maraiyavillai…
My precious one, to carry your body
En thangamae unadhu maeni
And bear it on my shoulders as I go...
Thaangi naan sumandhu sella…
I do not possess the familial bond...
Enakkoru bandhamillai…
God gave that right to someone else...
Evarukko iraivan thandhaan…
Gratitude to those four people...
Andha naalu perukku nandri…
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
For all motherless orphans
Thaai illaadha anaadhaikkellaam
Who lend their shoulders to carry them away
Thol koduthu thookki chellum
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...oo...oo...oo..oo...oo..
Oo…ooo…ooo…ooo…oo…oo…oo..oo…oo..
What we call relationships and affection
Uravu endrum paasam endrum
Are shackles locked by God
Iraivan poottiya vilangu
For both those who weep and those who laugh
Azhudhavarkkum sirippadharkkum
A single heart was created
Amaitha ullam ondru
The river's flood flows on its own
Aattru vellam thaanae odum
The flood of desire searches for kin
Aasai vellam sondham thaedum
The river's flood flows on its own
Aattru vellam thaanae odum
The flood of desire searches for kin
Aasai vellam sondham thaedum
If there are no relatives at all
Sondham yedhum illai endraal
At that moment, four people are needed
Andha neram naalvar vendum
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
For all motherless orphans
Thaai illaadha anaadhaikkellaam
Who lend their shoulders to carry them away
Thol koduthu thookki chellum
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
When sharing happiness
Inbathaiyae pangu vaithaal
A smile expresses gratitude
Punnagai solvadhu nandri
When standing by during sorrow
Thunbathilae thunaiyirundhaal
Tears express gratitude
Kanneer sovadhu nadri
To everyone who comes while we are living
Vaazhum podhu varuvorkkellaam
Let us express gratitude with words
Vaarthaiyaalae nadri solvom
To everyone who comes while we are living
Vaazhum podhu varuvorkkellaam
Let us express gratitude with words
Vaarthaiyaalae nadri solvom
When departing without words
Vaarthai indri pogum podhu
Let us express gratitude through silence
Maunathaalae nandri solvom
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
For all motherless orphans
Thaai illaadha anaadhaikkellaam
Who lend their shoulders to carry them away
Thol koduthu thookki chellum
Gratitude to four people
Naalu perukku nandri
Gratitude to those four people
Andha naalu perukku nandri
Oo...ooo...ooo...ooo...oo...oo...oo..oo...oo..
Oo…ooo…ooo…ooo…oo…oo…oo..oo…oo..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song by Kannadasan reflects on mortality, human bonds, and the finality of death. The central motif of 'naalu per' (four people) refers to the four pallbearers who carry a deceased person's bier to the funeral pyre. The speaker expresses deep sorrow over losing a loved one without having the formal familial right to carry their body, realizing that ultimate human dignity in death relies on the kindness of four bearers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Uravu endrum paasam endrum Iraivan poottiya vilangu”
Compares emotional ties and affection to shackles forged by God ('Iraivan poottiya vilangu').
Parallelism / Imagery
“Aattru vellam thaanae odum Aasai vellam sondham thaedum”
Contrasts natural flow of river waters with human desires searching for emotional kinship.
Emonymic Symbolism / Cultural Synecdoche
“Andha naalu perukku nandri”
'Naalu per' (four people) serves as a traditional Tamil idiom for society at large as well as the four pallbearers needed at a funeral.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet laureate Kannadasan for the 1972 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) film 'Sange Muzhangu', the music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan. The song is famed in Tamil culture for popularizing the phrase 'naalu per' to emphasize social duty and human mortality.
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