Naan Sirithal Deepavali
From Nayagan · 1987
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- K. Jamunarani
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nayagan1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi | Every day here is Ekadasi! |
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi | Every day here is Ekadasi! |
| Female | |
| Anthi malarum | Blooming at dusk, |
| Nanthavanam naan | I am a flower garden. |
| Alli parugum kambarasam naan | I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk. |
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal…. | If I smile... |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi… | Every day here is Ekadasi... |
| Female | |
| {Enathu ulagil | {In my world, |
| Asthamanam aavathillai | There is no sunset. |
| Ingu iravum pagalum | Here, night and day, |
| Ennavendru thonavillai} (2) | Do not feel any different} |
| Female | |
| Vanthathu ellam | Whatever comes, |
| Povathu thaanae | Is bound to go away. |
| Chandiran kooda | Even the moon, |
| Theivathu thaanae | Wanes, after all. |
| Female | |
| Kaayam endrum | The physical body, |
| Dhegam thaanae | Is always impermanent. |
| Unmai ingae kanden naanae | I have realized this truth here myself. |
| Female :Kaalam neram pogum vaa… | Female: Time and moment are passing, come... |
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal…. | If I smile... |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi… | Every day here is Ekadasi... |
| Female | |
| Anthi malarum | Blooming at dusk, |
| Nanthavanam naan | I am a flower garden. |
| Alli parugum kambarasam naan | I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk. |
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi… | Every day here is Ekadasi... |
| Female | |
| Lalala lalaalaaa laa laa…. | Lalala lalaalaaa laa laa.... |
| Laa la la la laaaaa | Laa la la la laaaaa |
| Laaa..la laaa laa..laa laa la la la la la | Laaa..la laaa laa..laa laa la la la la la |
| Female | |
| {Kadalum alaiyum | {The ocean and the waves, |
| Eppoluthu thoongiyathu | When did they ever sleep? |
| Alai karaiyai kadanthu | When did a wave cross the shore, |
| Eppoluthu yeriyathu} (2) | And climb over it?} |
| Female | |
| Yaar viral endra | Does a veena check, |
| Veenaigal paarkkum | Whose finger plucks it? |
| Yaar isaithaalum innisai paadum | Whoever plays it, it plays sweet music. |
| Female | |
| Meettum kaiyil | In the hand that plucks, |
| Naanor veenai | I am a veena. |
| Vaanil vairam minnum velai | When diamonds sparkle in the night sky. |
| Female :Kaalam neram pogum vaa…. | Female: Time and moment are passing, come.... |
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi… | Every day here is Ekadasi... |
| Female | |
| Anthi malarum | Blooming at dusk, |
| Nanthavanam naan | I am a flower garden. |
| Alli parugum kambarasam naan | I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk. |
| Female | |
| Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi | If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi! |
| Naalum ingae yegathesi… | Every day here is Ekadasi... |
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi!
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi!
அந்தி மலரும் நந்தவனம் நான்
அள்ளி பருகும் கம்பரசம் நான்
Blooming at dusk,
I am a flower garden.
I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk.
நான் சிரித்தால் …
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி.....
If I smile...
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi...
{எனது உலகில்
அஸ்தமனம் ஆவதில்லை
இங்கு இரவும் பகலும்
என்னவென்று தோணவில்லை} (2)
{In my world,
There is no sunset.
Here, night and day,
Do not feel any different}
வந்தது எல்லாம் போவது தானே
சந்திரன் கூட தேய்வது தானே
Whatever comes,
Is bound to go away.
Even the moon,
Wanes, after all.
காயம் என்றும் தேகம் தானே
உண்மை இங்கே கண்டேன் நானே
The physical body,
Is always impermanent.
I have realized this truth here myself.
Female: Time and moment are passing, come...
காலம் நேரம் போகும் வா
If I smile...
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi...
நான் சிரித்தால் ..
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி
Blooming at dusk,
I am a flower garden.
I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk.
அந்தி மலரும் நந்தவனம் நான்
அள்ளி பருகும் கம்பரசம் நான்
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi...
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி......
Lalala lalaalaaa laa laa....
Laa la la la laaaaa
Laaa..la laaa laa..laa laa la la la la la
.........................................
{The ocean and the waves,
When did they ever sleep?
When did a wave cross the shore,
And climb over it?}
{கடலும் அலையும்
எப்பொழுது தூங்கியது
அலை கரையை கடந்து
எப்பொழுது ஏரியது} (2)
Does a veena check,
Whose finger plucks it?
Whoever plays it, it plays sweet music.
யார் விரல் என்றா
வீணைகள் பார்க்கும்
யார் இசைத்தாலும் இன்னிசை பாடும்
In the hand that plucks,
I am a veena.
When diamonds sparkle in the night sky.
Female: Time and moment are passing, come....
மீட்டும் கையில்
நானோர் வீணை
வானில் வைரம் மின்னும் வேலை
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi...
காலம் நேரம் போகும் வா....
Blooming at dusk,
I am a flower garden.
I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk.
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Every day here is Ekadasi...
அந்தி மலரும் நந்தவனம் நான்
அள்ளி பருகும் கம்பரசம் நான்
நான் சிரித்தால் தீபாவளி ஹோய்
நாளும் இங்கே ஏகாதேசி......
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi
Every day here is Ekadasi!
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi
Every day here is Ekadasi!
Anthi malarum
Blooming at dusk,
Nanthavanam naan
I am a flower garden.
Alli parugum kambarasam naan
I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk.
Naan sirithaal….
If I smile...
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi…
Every day here is Ekadasi...
{Enathu ulagil
{In my world,
Asthamanam aavathillai
There is no sunset.
Ingu iravum pagalum
Here, night and day,
Ennavendru thonavillai} (2)
Do not feel any different}
Vanthathu ellam
Whatever comes,
Povathu thaanae
Is bound to go away.
Chandiran kooda
Even the moon,
Theivathu thaanae
Wanes, after all.
Kaayam endrum
The physical body,
Dhegam thaanae
Is always impermanent.
Unmai ingae kanden naanae
I have realized this truth here myself.
Female :Kaalam neram pogum vaa…
Female: Time and moment are passing, come...
Naan sirithaal….
If I smile...
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi…
Every day here is Ekadasi...
Anthi malarum
Blooming at dusk,
Nanthavanam naan
I am a flower garden.
Alli parugum kambarasam naan
I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk.
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi…
Every day here is Ekadasi...
Lalala lalaalaaa laa laa….
Lalala lalaalaaa laa laa....
Laa la la la laaaaa
Laa la la la laaaaa
Laaa..la laaa laa..laa laa la la la la la
Laaa..la laaa laa..laa laa la la la la la
{Kadalum alaiyum
{The ocean and the waves,
Eppoluthu thoongiyathu
When did they ever sleep?
Alai karaiyai kadanthu
When did a wave cross the shore,
Eppoluthu yeriyathu} (2)
And climb over it?}
Yaar viral endra
Does a veena check,
Veenaigal paarkkum
Whose finger plucks it?
Yaar isaithaalum innisai paadum
Whoever plays it, it plays sweet music.
Meettum kaiyil
In the hand that plucks,
Naanor veenai
I am a veena.
Vaanil vairam minnum velai
When diamonds sparkle in the night sky.
Female :Kaalam neram pogum vaa….
Female: Time and moment are passing, come....
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi…
Every day here is Ekadasi...
Anthi malarum
Blooming at dusk,
Nanthavanam naan
I am a flower garden.
Alli parugum kambarasam naan
I am the sweet nectar to be gathered and drunk.
Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi
If I smile, it is Deepavali, hoi!
Naalum ingae yegathesi…
Every day here is Ekadasi...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Naan Sirithaal Deepavali is a hauntingly philosophical song from the 1987 landmark Tamil movie 'Nayagan'. Set in a Mumbai red-light district, the song explores the inner plight and detachment of women in sex work. The lyrics draw a stark contrast between forced outward cheerfulness ('Deepavali', the festival of lights and joy) and inner emptiness ('Ekadasi', the day of fasting).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Juxtaposition / Antithesis
“Naan sirithaal deepavali hoi / Naalum ingae yegathesi”
Contrasts Deepavali (a festival of feasting and joy) with Ekadasi (a strict ritual day of fasting), symbolising the sharp contrast between outward joy and internal suffering.
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Anthi malarum nanthavanam naan”
The speaker compares herself to a flower garden that blooms only at dusk and a veena that plays music no matter whose hand plucks its strings.
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Meettum kaiyil naanor veenai”
Compares her existence to an instrument (veena) lacking agency, yielding to whoever touches it.
Rhetorical Question
“Kadalum alaiyum eppoluthu thoongiyathu”
Asks whether the ocean waves ever sleep, reflecting eternal restlessness and endurance.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this iconic song appears in Mani Ratnam's magnum opus 'Nayagan' (1987) starring Kamal Haasan. Playback singing was led by veteran singer K. Jamuna Rani along with K. S. Chithra, brilliantly capturing the melancholic cabaret style of 1960s-70s Bombay.
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