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Lyrics & meaning

Naan Ulladhai Sollattuma

From Vasantha Raagam · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, P. Susheela, S. N. Surendar
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vasantha Raagam1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naan ulladhai sollattumaaShall I speak the truth?
Oorariya paadattumaaShall I sing for the whole world to know?
Male
Naan ulladhai sollattumaaShall I speak the truth?
Oorariya paadattumaaShall I sing for the whole world to know?
Nallavargal vaazha vendumGood people should live well,
Nanmai ellaam soozha vendumGoodness should surround everywhere.
Nallavargal vaazha vendumGood people should live well,
Nanmai ellaam soozha vendumGoodness should surround everywhere.
Ponmagalum mannavanumThe golden lady and the king,
Peruvaazhvu kaanavendumShould see a grand and prosperous life.
Ponmagalum mannavanumThe golden lady and the king,
Peruvaazhvu kaanavendumShould see a grand and prosperous life.
Vaazhga neengal vaazhgaLong live, may you live long,
Vaazhvin ilakkanamaagaAs the exemplary grammar of life.
Male
Koodukatti vaithirundhaenI had built a nest,
Kuruviyodu vaazhndhirundhaenI lived with a bird.
Naadu vittu vandhabodhuWhen I left the country,
Naanoruthan pizhaithu vandhaenI alone survived and came away.
Male
Koodukatti vaithirundhaenI had built a nest,
Kuruviyodu vaazhndhirundhaenI lived with a bird.
Naadu vittu vandhabodhuWhen I left the country,
Naanoruthan pizhaithu vandhaenI alone survived and came away.
Male
Paedai mugam kaanavillaiI did not see my female bird's face,
Thaedi oda kaalumillaiI had no legs to run and search.
Paedai mugam kaanavillaiI did not see my female bird's face,
Thaedi oda kaalumillaiI had no legs to run and search.
Kann edhiril paarthabodhuWhen I saw her right before my eyes,
Kai anaikka urimaiyillaiI had no right to embrace her.
Vaazhga neengal vaazhgaLong live, may you live long,
Vaazhvin ilakkanamaagaAs the exemplary grammar of life.
Male
Veenaiyondru kandeduthaenI found a Veena,
Viralgal meetta aasai vaithaenI wished to strum it with my fingers.
Vaeroruthan sondhamendruRealizing it belonged to another person,
Meettaamal niruthi vaithaenI refrained from strumming it.
Male
Veenaiyondru kandeduthaenI found a Veena,
Viralgal meetta aasai vaithaenI wished to strum it with my fingers.
Vaeroruthan sondhamendruRealizing it belonged to another person,
Meettaamal niruthi vaithaenI refrained from strumming it.
Male
Indru varai thottadhillaiTill today I haven't touched it,
Kaiviralum pattadhillaiMy fingers haven't even brushed against it.
Indru varai thottadhillaiTill today I haven't touched it,
Kaiviralum pattadhillaiMy fingers haven't even brushed against it.
Innoruvan veenai idhuThis is another man's Veena,
Sudhilayamthaan kaettadhillaiIts melody and rhythm have never been heard.
Vaazhga neengal vaazhgaLong live, may you live long,
Vaazhvin ilakkanamaagaAs the exemplary grammar of life.
Female
Ennudaiya vaanathilaeIn my sky,
Iruttiya naerathilaeWhen darkness descended,
Vennilaavai kaanavillaiI could not see the white moon,
Vidivilakkai yaettri vaithaenSo I lit a guiding lamp.
Vilakkaettri vaithavudanAs soon as I lit the lamp,
Vennilaavum vandhadhammaaThe white moon arrived, oh lady!
Vennilaavai kandavudanUpon seeing the white moon,
Pennilaavum thavithadhammaaThe womanly moon suffered in anguish, oh lady!
Female
Nilavae vandhadhendruJust because the moon has arrived,
Neivilakkai anaippaenaaWill I extinguish the ghee lamp?
Neivilakku podhumendruSaying the ghee lamp is enough,
Nilavaithaan veruppaenaaWill I despise the moon?
Irukarai naduvinilaeBetween two banks,
Nadhi pol odugiraenI flow like a river.
Vidukadhai naanaagiHaving become a riddle myself,
Vidaiyai thaan thaedugiraenI am searching for the answer.
Iraivaa en iraivaaOh Lord, my Lord!
Idharkkoru badhilai sol iraivaaGive an answer to this, oh Lord!
Female
Naan ulladhai sollattumaaShall I speak the truth?
Oorariya paadattumaaShall I sing for the whole world to know?
Nallavargal vaazha vendumGood people should live well,
Nanmai ellaam soozha vendumGoodness should surround everywhere.
Ponmagalum mannavanumThe golden lady and the king,
Nimmadhiyai kaanavendumShould find peace of mind.
Vaazhga neengal vaazhgaLong live, may you live long,
Vaazhvin ilakkanamaagaAs the exemplary grammar of life.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naan ulladhai sollattumaa from Vasantha Raagam (1986) is a poignant reflection on tragic fate, moral duty, and selfless sacrifice. The protagonist pours out his grief regarding his past separation from his love, his return under altered circumstances, and the moral boundaries that now keep him from claiming his love. Through poetic metaphors of birds, a untouched veena, and a sky torn between a moon and a lamp, he expresses the internal struggle of being bound by virtue while dealing with unbearable heartache. Caught like a river flowing helplessly between two banks, he surrenders his predicament to God while wishing eternal happiness, peace, and long life to those around him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Innoruvan veenai idhu

The woman is compared to a Veena (musical instrument) owned by another, symbolizing boundaries of virtue and respect.

Simile (Uvamai)

Irukarai naduvinilae Nadhi pol odugiraen

The speaker explicitly compares his conflicted life position to a river flowing helplessly between two banks.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Koodukatti vaithirundhaen / Kuruviyodu vaazhndhirundhaen

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across consecutive lines creates rhythmic musicality.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paedai mugam kaanavillai / Thaedi oda kaalumillai

Matching of the second consonant 'd' sound in 'Paedai' and 'Thaedi'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vasantha Raagam (1986) stars Vijayakanth, Rahman, and Sudha Chandran. The iconic soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Vaali, and this emotional song was rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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