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Lyrics & meaning

Naalvarin Kazhuthile Naanitta

From Jagathalaprathaban – 1961 Film · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Movie name
Jagathalaprathaban – 1961 Film
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
22 Jan 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naalvarin kaluthilae
Naanitta maalaiyaal
Naalvaren thunaiviyanaar
Naduvilae nirpavar
Yaarendra podhilum
Ezhai en annaiandro
Pillaiyai sodhikka
Manaivi pol maarinaal
Penmaikku muraimaiyaamoo
Ammaiyae deivamae
Annaiyae sattru nee
Appuram nagaralaamo
Selvamae vaazhkendru
Annai un kaigalaal
Ennai nee vaazhthalaamo..
Ha..aaaa…aa..haaa.aaa..aaa..
Kannukku oruvaraai
Kaatchi thandhaalum neer
Pen makkal naalvarandro
Ammaiyaam paarvathi
Pillaikku parisaaga
Alithavar neeveerandro..00
Penmaiyin karppodum
Pathini panpodum
Pirandhadhae unmaiyaanaal
Penmaiyin karppodum
Pathini panpodum
Pirandhadhae unmaiyaanaal
Unmaiyaam vadivathai
Kanavanin edhirilae
Ulagukku kaattuveeroo…oooo
Haa..aaa…haa..aaa..haa..aa….
Around the necks of four,
With the garlands I placed,
Four became my wives.
Yet the one standing in the middle,
No matter who she appears to be,
Is she not my own mother?
Just to test her son,
She disguised herself as a wife;
Is this proper for motherhood?
O Mother, my goddess,
Mother, would you please
Step aside a little?
Saying, "May you live long, my child,"
With your own motherly hands,
Will you bless me?
Ha... aaa... ah... ha... aaa...
Though to my eyes
You appear as just one person,
Aren't you four separate women?
Mother Goddess Parvati,
As a gift to her child,
Blessed me with you, did she not?
With womanly virtue
And the fidelity of a devoted wife,
If it is true that you were born,
With womanly virtue
And the fidelity of a devoted wife,
If it is true that you were born,
Will you reveal your true form
Here in front of your husband,
Before the whole world?
Ha... aaa... ha... aaa... ha... aaa...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this mythological dramatic song from Jagathalaprathaban (1961), the protagonist addresses four divine ladies, discovering that Mother Goddess Parvathi has disguised herself to test her devotee and son. He expresses awe, respect, and slight grief over the confusing nature of this divine trial, asking how a mother could take a bride-like role to test her offspring. He appeals to her maternal affection, asking her to step aside from the bridal lineup, bestow her motherly blessings upon him, and reveal her true virtuous form to the world in front of her divine husband.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Assonance/Alliteration)

Naalvarin kaluthilae / Naanitta maalaiyaal

The repetition of the 'Na' sound across consecutive lines ('Naalvarin', 'Naanitta', 'Naalvaren') creates rhythmic cohesion.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

Penmaikku muraimaiyaamoo

The protagonist uses rhetorical questioning to challenge the divine illusion and question the fairness of a mother testing her son as a wife.

Anaphora / Repetition

Penmaiyin karppodum / Pathini panpodum / Pirandhadhae unmaiyaanaal

Repetition of full lines emphasizing 'karppu' (chastity) and 'panpu' (virtue) to stress the sacred nature of womanhood and truth.

Did you know?

Trivia

Jagathalaprathaban (1961) was a mythological film starring PU Chinnappa in earlier retellings, while this 1961 version featured music by Pendyala Nageswara Rao with grand renditions by TM Soundararajan and lyrics by Kannadasan.

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