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Naan Yen Pirandhen album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Yaen Pirandhen

From Naan Yen Pirandhen · 1972

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Naan Yen Pirandhen
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan yen pirandhaen
Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen
Endru naalum pozhudhum
Vaazhum varaiyil
Ninaithidu en thozhaa
Ninaithu seyalpadu en thozhaa
Udanae seyalpadu en thozhaa
Naan yen pirandhaen
Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen
Endru naalum pozhudhum
Vaazhum varaiyil
Ninaithidu en thozhaa
Ninaithu seyalpadu en thozhaa
Udanae seyalpadu en thozhaa
Kudichi odamba keduthukkittu
Veenaa pozhudha pokkareengalae
Indha naerathula naattukku
Edhaavadhu nalladhu seiya koodaadha (Dialogue)
Hum naadaamilla naadu
Indha naadu engalukku enna seidhuchi (Dialogue)
Naadenna seidhadhu namakku
Ena kaelvigal ketpadhu edharku
Neeyenna seidhaai adharku
Ena ninaithaal nanmai unakku
Naadenna seidhadhu namakku
Ena kaelvigal ketpadhu edharku
Neeyenna seidhaai adharku
Ena ninaithaal nanmai unakku
Naan yen pirandhaen
Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen
Endru naalum pozhudhum
Vaazhum varaiyil
Ninaithidu en thozhaa
Ninaithu seyalpadu en thozhaa
Udanae seyalpadu en thozhaa
Malaiyil pirandha nadhiyaal
Makkal dhaagam theerndhadhu
Marathil pirandha kaniyaal
Avar pasiyum thanindhadhu
Malaiyil pirandha nadhiyaal
Makkal dhaagam theerndhadhu
Marathil pirandha kaniyaal
Avar pasiyum thanindhadhu
Kodiyil pirandha malaraal
Engum vaasam thavazhdhadhu
Annai madiyil pirandha unnaal
Enna payan thaan vilaindhadhu
Naan yen pirandhaen
Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen
Endru naalum pozhudhum
Vaazhum varaiyil
Ninaithidu en thozhaa
Ninaithu seyalpadu en thozhaa
Udanae seyalpadu en thozhaa
Pathu thingal sumandhaalae
Aval perumai pada vendum
Unnai pettradhanaal aval
Mattravaraalae pottra pada vendum
Kattravar sabaiyil unakkaaga
Thani idamum thara vendum
Un kannil oru thuli neer vandhaalum
Ulagam azha vendum
Naan yen pirandhaen
Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen
Endru naalum pozhudhum
Vaazhum varaiyil
Ninaithidu en thozhaa
Ninaithu seyalpadu en thozhaa
Udanae seyalpadu en thozhaa
"Why was I born?
What good have I done for my country?"
Day and night,
as long as you live,
think about this, my friend!
Think and take action, my friend!
Take action right now, my friend!
"Why was I born?
What good have I done for my country?"
Day and night,
as long as you live,
think about this, my friend!
Think and take action, my friend!
Take action right now, my friend!
Ruining your health with alcohol,
you just waste your time away!
At a time like this, for our country,
couldn't you do something good? (Dialogue)
Hmm, what country are you talking about?
What has this country ever done for us? (Dialogue)
"What has the country done for us?"
Why ask questions like that?
"What have you done for it?"
Thinking this way will do you good.
"What has the country done for us?"
Why ask questions like that?
"What have you done for it?"
Thinking this way will do you good.
"Why was I born?
What good have I done for my country?"
Day and night,
as long as you live,
think about this, my friend!
Think and take action, my friend!
Take action right now, my friend!
From the river born in the mountains,
the people's thirst was quenched.
From the fruit born on the tree,
their hunger was satisfied.
From the river born in the mountains,
the people's thirst was quenched.
From the fruit born on the tree,
their hunger was satisfied.
From the blossom born on the vine,
fragrance spread everywhere.
Born from your mother's lap,
what useful thing has come from you?
"Why was I born?
What good have I done for my country?"
Day and night,
as long as you live,
think about this, my friend!
Think and take action, my friend!
Take action right now, my friend!
She carried you for ten months in her womb,
and she ought to feel proud of you.
For giving birth to you,
she should be praised by the world.
In the assembly of the learned,
a special place should be reserved for you.
If even a single tear falls from your eye,
the whole world should weep.
"Why was I born?
What good have I done for my country?"
Day and night,
as long as you live,
think about this, my friend!
Think and take action, my friend!
Take action right now, my friend!
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Naan Yen Pirandhen is an inspiring social reform song from the 1972 Tamil movie of the same name starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). The song acts as a call to self-reflection, encouraging individuals to contemplate their purpose in life and their duty towards their nation. It urges citizens to give up destructive habits like alcoholism and stop complaining about what the country has given them, asking them instead to focus on what contribution they have made to society. Using poetic metaphors from nature—such as rivers quenching thirst, fruit trees feeding the hungry, and flowers spreading fragrance—the song highlights that every element in nature serves a selfless purpose. Human beings should similarly strive to live meaningful lives that bring honor to their mothers, gain respect in learned societies, and leave a positive impact on the world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Naan yen pirandhaen / Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen”

The speaker uses self-questioning to evoke self-reflection regarding one's civic duty and social contribution.

Analogy / Metaphor from Nature

“Malaiyil pirandha nadhiyaal / Makkal dhaagam theerndhadhu”

Compares elements of nature (river, fruit, flower) fulfilling a selfless purpose to challenge human beings to do the same.

Ethirai / Alliteration

“Naan yen pirandhaen / Naattukku nalam enna purindhaen”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Na' across lines to create rhythmic flow.

Epistrophe / Refrain

“Ninaithidu en thozhaa / Ninaithu seyalpadu en thozhaa / Udanae seyalpadu en thozhaa”

Repetition of the ending phrase 'en thozhaa' across consecutive lines to build strong direct address to the audience.

Did you know?

Trivia

The iconic lines 'Naadenna seidhadhu namakku... Neeyenna seidhaai adharku' were heavily inspired by U.S. President John F. Kennedy's famous 1961 inaugural address quote: 'Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.' The music for this movie was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS) and lyrics penned by Vaali.

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