Naan Ondru Ninaithen
From Appa Tata · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Appa Tata1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan ondru ninaiththaen | I thought one thing, |
| Avan ondru ninaiththaan | He (God/Fate) thought another. |
| Naan pogum vazhiyai | The path I was walking upon, |
| Avan vanthu mariththaan… | He came and blocked... |
| Avan vanthu mariththaan… | He came and blocked... |
| Male | |
| Naan ondru ninaiththaen | I thought one thing, |
| Avan ondru ninaiththaan | He thought another. |
| Naan pogum vazhiyai | The path I was walking upon, |
| Avan vanthu mariththaan… | He came and blocked... |
| Avan vanthu mariththaan… | He came and blocked... |
| Male | |
| Kaniyondru kettaen kaayondru koduththaan | I asked for a ripe fruit, he gave me an unripe one, |
| Kannondru kettaen punnaaga padaiththaan | I asked for an eye, he created a wound instead. |
| Kaniyondru kettaen kaayondru koduththaan | I asked for a ripe fruit, he gave me an unripe one, |
| Kannondru kettaen punnaaga padaiththaan | I asked for an eye, he created a wound instead. |
| Male | |
| Ninaivondru ketaen neruppaaga valarththaan | I asked for a gentle memory, he nurtured it into a burning fire. |
| Ninaivondru ketaen neruppaaga valarththaan | I asked for a gentle memory, he nurtured it into a burning fire. |
| Nilavondru kettaen irul kaana azhaiththaan | I asked for the moon, he invited me to witness darkness. |
| Male | |
| Naan ondru ninaiththaen… | I thought one thing... |
| Male | |
| Thunaiyondru kettaen sugam kaana koduththaan | I asked for a companion, he gave one so I could feel happiness, |
| Sugam kaanumpothae vazhi maattri piriththaan | Yet right while experiencing happiness, he altered my path and separated us. |
| Thunaiyondru kettaen sugam kaana koduththaan | I asked for a companion, he gave one so I could feel happiness, |
| Sugam kaanumpothae vazhi maattri piriththaan | Yet right while experiencing happiness, he altered my path and separated us. |
| Male | |
| Alai modhum manathai thaniyaaga viduththaan | He left my mind, restless like crashing waves, all alone. |
| Alai modhum manathai thaniyaaga viduththaan | He left my mind, restless like crashing waves, all alone. |
| Anbaana nenjukku abaraatham vithithaan | He imposed a severe penalty on a heart filled with love. |
| Male | |
| Naan ondru ninaiththaen | I thought one thing, |
| Avan ondru ninaiththaan | He thought another. |
| Naan pogum vazhiyai | The path I was walking upon, |
| Avan vanthu mariththaan… | He came and blocked... |
| Avan vanthu mariththaan… | He came and blocked... |
| Male | |
| Naan ondru ninaiththaen…. | I thought one thing.... |
நான் ஒன்று நினைத்தேன்
அவன் ஒன்று நினைத்தான்
நான் போகும் வழியை
அவன் வந்து மறித்தான்......
அவன் வந்து மறித்தான்......
I thought one thing,
He (God/Fate) thought another.
The path I was walking upon,
He came and blocked...
He came and blocked...
நான் ஒன்று நினைத்தேன்
அவன் ஒன்று நினைத்தான்
நான் போகும் வழியை
அவன் வந்து மறித்தான்......
அவன் வந்து மறித்தான்......
I thought one thing,
He thought another.
The path I was walking upon,
He came and blocked...
He came and blocked...
கனியொன்று கேட்டேன் காயொன்று கொடுத்தான்
கண்ணொன்று கேட்டேன் புண்ணாக படைத்தான்
கனியொன்று கேட்டேன் காயொன்று கொடுத்தான்
கண்ணொன்று கேட்டேன் புண்ணாக படைத்தான்
I asked for a ripe fruit, he gave me an unripe one,
I asked for an eye, he created a wound instead.
I asked for a ripe fruit, he gave me an unripe one,
I asked for an eye, he created a wound instead.
நினைவொன்று கேட்டேன் நெருப்பாக வளர்த்தான்
நினைவொன்று கேட்டேன் நெருப்பாக வளர்த்தான்
நிலவொன்று கேட்டேன் இருள் காண அழைத்தான்
I asked for a gentle memory, he nurtured it into a burning fire.
I asked for a gentle memory, he nurtured it into a burning fire.
I asked for the moon, he invited me to witness darkness.
நான் ஒன்று நினைத்தேன்....
I thought one thing...
துணையொன்று கேட்டேன் சுகம் காண கொடுத்தான்
சுகம் காணும்போதே வழி மாற்றி பிரித்தான்
துணையொன்று கேட்டேன் சுகம் காண கொடுத்தான்
சுகம் காணும்போதே வழி மாற்றி பிரித்தான்
I asked for a companion, he gave one so I could feel happiness,
Yet right while experiencing happiness, he altered my path and separated us.
I asked for a companion, he gave one so I could feel happiness,
Yet right while experiencing happiness, he altered my path and separated us.
அலை மோதும் மனதை தனியாக விடுத்தான்
அலை மோதும் மனதை தனியாக விடுத்தான்
அன்பான நெஞ்சுக்கு அபராதம் விதித்தான்
He left my mind, restless like crashing waves, all alone.
He left my mind, restless like crashing waves, all alone.
He imposed a severe penalty on a heart filled with love.
நான் ஒன்று நினைத்தேன்
அவன் ஒன்று நினைத்தான்
நான் போகும் வழியை
அவன் வந்து மறித்தான்......
அவன் வந்து மறித்தான்......
I thought one thing,
He thought another.
The path I was walking upon,
He came and blocked...
He came and blocked...
நான் ஒன்று நினைத்தேன்.....
I thought one thing....
Naan ondru ninaiththaen
I thought one thing,
Avan ondru ninaiththaan
He (God/Fate) thought another.
Naan pogum vazhiyai
The path I was walking upon,
Avan vanthu mariththaan…
He came and blocked...
Avan vanthu mariththaan…
He came and blocked...
Naan ondru ninaiththaen
I thought one thing,
Avan ondru ninaiththaan
He thought another.
Naan pogum vazhiyai
The path I was walking upon,
Avan vanthu mariththaan…
He came and blocked...
Avan vanthu mariththaan…
He came and blocked...
Kaniyondru kettaen kaayondru koduththaan
I asked for a ripe fruit, he gave me an unripe one,
Kannondru kettaen punnaaga padaiththaan
I asked for an eye, he created a wound instead.
Kaniyondru kettaen kaayondru koduththaan
I asked for a ripe fruit, he gave me an unripe one,
Kannondru kettaen punnaaga padaiththaan
I asked for an eye, he created a wound instead.
Ninaivondru ketaen neruppaaga valarththaan
I asked for a gentle memory, he nurtured it into a burning fire.
Ninaivondru ketaen neruppaaga valarththaan
I asked for a gentle memory, he nurtured it into a burning fire.
Nilavondru kettaen irul kaana azhaiththaan
I asked for the moon, he invited me to witness darkness.
Naan ondru ninaiththaen…
I thought one thing...
Thunaiyondru kettaen sugam kaana koduththaan
I asked for a companion, he gave one so I could feel happiness,
Sugam kaanumpothae vazhi maattri piriththaan
Yet right while experiencing happiness, he altered my path and separated us.
Thunaiyondru kettaen sugam kaana koduththaan
I asked for a companion, he gave one so I could feel happiness,
Sugam kaanumpothae vazhi maattri piriththaan
Yet right while experiencing happiness, he altered my path and separated us.
Alai modhum manathai thaniyaaga viduththaan
He left my mind, restless like crashing waves, all alone.
Alai modhum manathai thaniyaaga viduththaan
He left my mind, restless like crashing waves, all alone.
Anbaana nenjukku abaraatham vithithaan
He imposed a severe penalty on a heart filled with love.
Naan ondru ninaiththaen
I thought one thing,
Avan ondru ninaiththaan
He thought another.
Naan pogum vazhiyai
The path I was walking upon,
Avan vanthu mariththaan…
He came and blocked...
Avan vanthu mariththaan…
He came and blocked...
Naan ondru ninaiththaen….
I thought one thing....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant philosophical song encapsulates the classic theme of human helplessness against destiny—'Man proposes, God disposes.' The protagonist reflects on how every gentle desire or hope for love, light, and togetherness was met with tragic irony. Instead of joy, fate granted sorrow; instead of light, darkness; and instead of enduring companionship, painful separation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Kaniyondru kettaen kaayondru koduththaan”
Contrasts opposing ideas in the same line or stanza to highlight tragic irony (e.g., asking for ripe fruit vs receiving unripe fruit, asking for light vs getting darkness).
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Alai modhum manathai thaniyaaga viduththaan”
Compares a distressed, turbulent mind to ocean waves crashing continuously.
Rhyme & Alliteration (Monai / Etukai)
“Nilavondru kettaen irul kaana azhaiththaan”
Repetition of initial letter/sound combinations (Kaniyondru, Kannondru, Ninaivondru, Nilavondru) creating rhythmic, melancholic musicality.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Naan ondru ninaiththaen / Avan ondru ninaiththaan”
The repeating refrain emphasizes the overarching philosophical theme of destiny overpowering human intention.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song from the film 'Appa Tata' (1972) is renowned for TM Soundararajan's deep, emotional rendition that captured the existential grief characteristic of Kannadasan's signature philosophical tracks.
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