Naan Kalaignan
From Neelagiri Express · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- T. K. Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Neelagiri Express1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Haa..aaa..aa… | Haa..aaa..aa… |
| Male | |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka | I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue, |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka | I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse, |
| Mannan alla mani mudi sootta | I am not a king to adorn you with a crown of jewels, |
| Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren oo oo oo ohoo oo | Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty... |
| Male | |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka | I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue, |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka | I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse, |
| Mannan alla mani mudi sootta | I am not a king to adorn you with a crown of jewels, |
| Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren oo oo oo ohoo oo | Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty... |
| Female | |
| Haa..aaa..aa… | Haa..aaa..aa… |
| Male :Sithiarai nilavai therndheduthu | Male: Choosing the pristine moon of the spring month Chithirai, |
| Thaenaatril adhai oora vaithu | Soaking it in a flowing river of honey, |
| Female :Haa..aaa..aa… | Female: Haa..aaa..aa… |
| Male :Sithiarai nilavai theerndheduthu | Male: Choosing the pristine moon of the spring month Chithirai, |
| Thaenaatril adhai oora vaithu | Soaking it in a flowing river of honey, |
| Patharai maatrinaal merugumittu | Refining and polishing it like pure gold, |
| Paruvathil unnai kaana veithaan..kaana veithaan | God brought you into youth for us to behold... |
| Male | |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka | I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue, |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka | I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse, |
| Mannan alla mani mudi sootta | I am not a king to crown you with jewels, |
| Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren oo oo oo ohoo oo | Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty... |
| Male | |
| Aadvar ulagai pazhi theerkka | To exact vengeance upon the world of men, |
| Azhagae unnai avan thoodhu vittaan | Oh embodiment of beauty, He sent you as His messenger! |
| Female :Haa..aaa..aa… | Female: Haa..aaa..aa… |
| Male :Aadvar ulagai pazhi theerkka | Male: To exact vengeance upon the world of men, |
| Azhagae unnai avan thoodhu vittaan | Oh embodiment of beauty, He sent you as His messenger! |
| Nadaga nattiyam aada vittaan | He made you perform this dance of drama, |
| Naanadiyoo ingu vaadugiren..vaadugiren | And I, your humble servant, languish here in fascination... |
| Male | |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka | I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue, |
| Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka | I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse, |
| Mannan alla mani mudi sootta | I am not a king to crown you with jewels, |
| Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren | Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty... |
| Female | |
| Ooo oo oo ohoo oo..(4) | Ooo oo oo ohoo oo... |
ஹா..ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
Haa..aaa..aa…
நான் கலைஞன் அல்ல உன்னைச் சிலையாக்க
நான் கவிஞன் அல்ல உன்னைத் தமிழாக்க
மன்னன் அல்ல மணிமுடி சூட்ட வெறும்
மனிதன் ஆனதால் மயங்குகிறேன்..ஓஓஓ..
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
I am not a king to adorn you with a crown of jewels,
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
நான் கலைஞன் அல்ல உன்னைச் சிலையாக்க
நான் கவிஞன் அல்ல உன்னைத் தமிழாக்க
மன்னன் அல்ல மணிமுடி சூட்ட வெறும்
மனிதன் ஆனதால் மயங்குகிறேன்..ஓஓஓ.
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
I am not a king to adorn you with a crown of jewels,
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
ஹா..ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
சித்திரை நிலவைச் சேர்த்தெடுத்துத்
தேனாற்றில் அதை ஊற வைத்து
ஹா..ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
சித்திரை நிலவைச் சேர்த்தெடுத்துத்
தேனாற்றில் அதை ஊற வைத்துப்
பத்தரை மாற்றினால் மெருகுமிட்டு
பருவத்தில் உன்னைக் காண வைத்தேன்
Haa..aaa..aa…
Male: Choosing the pristine moon of the spring month Chithirai,
Soaking it in a flowing river of honey,
Female: Haa..aaa..aa…
Male: Choosing the pristine moon of the spring month Chithirai,
Soaking it in a flowing river of honey,
Refining and polishing it like pure gold,
God brought you into youth for us to behold...
நான் கலைஞன் அல்ல உன்னைச் சிலையாக்க
நான் கவிஞன் அல்ல உன்னைத் தமிழாக்க
மன்னன் அல்ல மணிமுடி சூட்ட வெறும்
மனிதன் ஆனதால் மயங்குகிறேன்..ஓஓஓ.
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
I am not a king to crown you with jewels,
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
ஆடவர் உலகைப் பழித் தீர்க்க
அழகே உன்னை அவன் தூது விட்டான்
ஹா..ஆஅ...ஆஅ...
ஆடவர் உலகைப் பழித் தீர்க்க
அழகே உன்னை அவன் தூது விட்டான்
நாடக நாட்டியம் ஆடவிட்டான்
நானடியோ இங்கு வாடுகிறேன்...
To exact vengeance upon the world of men,
Oh embodiment of beauty, He sent you as His messenger!
Female: Haa..aaa..aa…
Male: To exact vengeance upon the world of men,
Oh embodiment of beauty, He sent you as His messenger!
He made you perform this dance of drama,
And I, your humble servant, languish here in fascination...
நான் கலைஞன் அல்ல உன்னைச் சிலையாக்க
நான் கவிஞன் அல்ல உன்னைத் தமிழாக்க
மன்னன் அல்ல மணிமுடி சூட்ட வெறும்
மனிதன் ஆனதால் மயங்குகிறேன்..ஓஓஓ.
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
I am not a king to crown you with jewels,
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
ஓஹோ ...ஓ ..ஓ...ஓஹோ.. .ஓ ..
ஓஹோ ...ஓ ..ஓ...ஓஹோ.. .ஓ ..(4)
Ooo oo oo ohoo oo...
Haa..aaa..aa…
Haa..aaa..aa…
Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
Mannan alla mani mudi sootta
I am not a king to adorn you with a crown of jewels,
Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren oo oo oo ohoo oo
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
Mannan alla mani mudi sootta
I am not a king to adorn you with a crown of jewels,
Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren oo oo oo ohoo oo
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
Haa..aaa..aa…
Haa..aaa..aa…
Male :Sithiarai nilavai therndheduthu
Male: Choosing the pristine moon of the spring month Chithirai,
Thaenaatril adhai oora vaithu
Soaking it in a flowing river of honey,
Female :Haa..aaa..aa…
Female: Haa..aaa..aa…
Male :Sithiarai nilavai theerndheduthu
Male: Choosing the pristine moon of the spring month Chithirai,
Thaenaatril adhai oora vaithu
Soaking it in a flowing river of honey,
Patharai maatrinaal merugumittu
Refining and polishing it like pure gold,
Paruvathil unnai kaana veithaan..kaana veithaan
God brought you into youth for us to behold...
Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
Mannan alla mani mudi sootta
I am not a king to crown you with jewels,
Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren oo oo oo ohoo oo
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
Aadvar ulagai pazhi theerkka
To exact vengeance upon the world of men,
Azhagae unnai avan thoodhu vittaan
Oh embodiment of beauty, He sent you as His messenger!
Female :Haa..aaa..aa…
Female: Haa..aaa..aa…
Male :Aadvar ulagai pazhi theerkka
Male: To exact vengeance upon the world of men,
Azhagae unnai avan thoodhu vittaan
Oh embodiment of beauty, He sent you as His messenger!
Nadaga nattiyam aada vittaan
He made you perform this dance of drama,
Naanadiyoo ingu vaadugiren..vaadugiren
And I, your humble servant, languish here in fascination...
Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka
I am not an artist to sculpt you into a statue,
Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka
I am not a scholar to turn you into pure Tamil verse,
Mannan alla mani mudi sootta
I am not a king to crown you with jewels,
Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren
Being a mere mortal man, I swoon over your beauty...
Ooo oo oo ohoo oo..(4)
Ooo oo oo ohoo oo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Naan Kalaignan Alla is a celebrated romantic track from the 1968 Tamil mystery film Neelagiri Express. Sung masterfully by T. M. Soundarajan alongside vocal improvisations by L. R. Eswari, the song features lyricist Kannadasan's sublime romantic verse. The protagonist expresses his overwhelming admiration for a woman's beauty, humbly acknowledging that he lacks the extraordinary gifts of a sculptor, a master Tamil poet, or a wealthy king. Being just an ordinary human, he can only be completely spellbound by her presence. In the stanzaic verses, Kannadasan weaves vivid imagery: God creates this woman by taking the full moon of the spring month Chithirai, steeping it in honey, and polishing it with pure gold. The narrator poetically muses that God fashioned such irresistible beauty as a subtle vengeance upon mankind, leaving men captivated and surrendered to her grace.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Naan kalaignan alla unnai silaiyakka / Naan kalaignan alla unnai thamilakka”
The deliberate repetition of 'Naan kalaignan alla' ('I am not an artist') across initial lines establishes rhythm and highlights the singer's humility.
Hyperbole & Imagery (Uvamaani)
“Sithiarai nilavai therndheduthu / Thaenaatril adhai oora vaithu / Patharai maatrinaal merugumittu”
Visual and tactile imagery describing the creation of the heroine by soaking the Chithirai moon in honey and polishing it with fine gold standard (patharai).
Edhukai (Tamil Second-Letter Rhyme)
“Mannan alla mani mudi sootta / Verum manidhan aanadhal mayangugiren”
Standard Tamil prosodic technique where the second consonant matches in consecutive lines ('nn' in Mannan, 'ni' in Manidhan).
Personification / Divine Allegory
“Aadvar ulagai pazhi theerkka / Azhagae unnai avan thoodhu vittaan”
Portraying Beauty as a divine ambassador dispatched by God to disarm and conquer the world of men.
Did you know?
Trivia
Neelagiri Express (1968) was a hit detective thriller starring Jaishankar and Cho Ramaswamy. The soundtrack was composed by T. K. Ramamoorthy independently following his separation from the iconic Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy duo. This song remains one of Ramamoorthy's finest solo compositions, celebrated for TMS's soulful rendition and Kannadasan's immortal lyrics.
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