Naanaga Naanillai
From Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey · 1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmm hmm mmm mmm | Hmm hmm mmm mmm |
| Hmm hmm mmm mmm | Hmm hmm mmm mmm |
| Hmm hmm mmm mmm | Hmm hmm mmm mmm |
| Hmm hmm mmm mmm | Hmm hmm mmm mmm |
| Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmm | Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmm |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
| Male | |
| Paasam oru naesam | Affection and true love |
| Paasam oru naesam | Affection and true love |
| Kannaara kandaan un saeyae | Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
| Male | |
| Keezh vaanilae oli vandhadhu | Light has appeared in the eastern sky |
| Koottai vittu kili vandhadhu | The bird has emerged from its cage |
| Naan paarkkum aagaayam | In the sky that I gaze upon |
| Engum nee paadum boopaalam | Everywhere echoes the morning raga sung by you |
| Naan paarkkum aagaayam | In the sky that I gaze upon |
| Engum nee paadum boopaalam | Everywhere echoes the morning raga sung by you |
| Vaadum payir vaazha | So that the wilting crop may thrive |
| Nee thaanae neer vaartha kaar megam | You are the dark cloud that poured life-giving water |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
| Paasam oru naesam | Affection and true love |
| Paasam oru naesam | Affection and true love |
| Kannaara kandaan un saeyae | Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
| Male | |
| Mani maaligai maadangalum | Even grand mansions and towering balconies |
| Malar thooviya manjangalum | And flower-strewn cozy beds |
| Thaai veedu polillai | Are nothing like a mother's home |
| Angu thaalaatta aal illai | For there is no one there to sing a lullaby |
| Thaai veedu polillai | Are nothing like a mother's home |
| Angu thaalaatta aal illai | For there is no one there to sing a lullaby |
| Koyil thozhum dheivam | The deity worshipped in temples |
| Neeyindri naan kaana verillai | I see no other god besides you |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
| Paasam oru naesam | Affection and true love |
| Paasam oru naesam | Affection and true love |
| Kannaara kandaan un saeyae | Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content |
| Naanaaga naanillai thaayae | Without you, I am not myself, oh mother |
| Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life |
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம்
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmm
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
கண்ணாரக் கண்டான் உன் சேய்
Affection and true love
Affection and true love
Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
கீழ் வானிலே ஒளி வந்தது
கூண்டை விட்டு கிளி வந்தது
நான் பார்க்கும் ஆகாயம்
எங்கும் நீ பாடும் பூபாளம்
நான் பார்க்கும் ஆகாயம்
எங்கும் நீ பாடும் பூபாளம்
வாடும் பயிர் வாழ
நீ தானே நீர் வார்த்த கார்மேகம்
Light has appeared in the eastern sky
The bird has emerged from its cage
In the sky that I gaze upon
Everywhere echoes the morning raga sung by you
In the sky that I gaze upon
Everywhere echoes the morning raga sung by you
So that the wilting crop may thrive
You are the dark cloud that poured life-giving water
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
கண்ணாரக் கண்டான் உன் சேய்
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
Affection and true love
Affection and true love
Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
மணி மாளிகை மாடங்களும்
மலர் தூவிய மஞ்சங்களும்
தாய் வீடு போலில்லை
அங்கு தாலாட்ட ஆளில்லை
தாய் வீடு போலில்லை
அங்கு தாலாட்ட ஆளில்லை
கோயில் தொழும் தெய்வம்
நீயின்றி நான் காண வேறில்லை
Even grand mansions and towering balconies
And flower-strewn cozy beds
Are nothing like a mother's home
For there is no one there to sing a lullaby
Are nothing like a mother's home
For there is no one there to sing a lullaby
The deity worshipped in temples
I see no other god besides you
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
கண்ணாரக் கண்டான் உன் சேய்
நானாக நானில்லை தாயே
நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே நீயே
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
Affection and true love
Affection and true love
Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
You are the one who gave me a good life
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmm
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmmm
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Paasam oru naesam
Affection and true love
Paasam oru naesam
Affection and true love
Kannaara kandaan un saeyae
Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Keezh vaanilae oli vandhadhu
Light has appeared in the eastern sky
Koottai vittu kili vandhadhu
The bird has emerged from its cage
Naan paarkkum aagaayam
In the sky that I gaze upon
Engum nee paadum boopaalam
Everywhere echoes the morning raga sung by you
Naan paarkkum aagaayam
In the sky that I gaze upon
Engum nee paadum boopaalam
Everywhere echoes the morning raga sung by you
Vaadum payir vaazha
So that the wilting crop may thrive
Nee thaanae neer vaartha kaar megam
You are the dark cloud that poured life-giving water
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Paasam oru naesam
Affection and true love
Paasam oru naesam
Affection and true love
Kannaara kandaan un saeyae
Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Mani maaligai maadangalum
Even grand mansions and towering balconies
Malar thooviya manjangalum
And flower-strewn cozy beds
Thaai veedu polillai
Are nothing like a mother's home
Angu thaalaatta aal illai
For there is no one there to sing a lullaby
Thaai veedu polillai
Are nothing like a mother's home
Angu thaalaatta aal illai
For there is no one there to sing a lullaby
Koyil thozhum dheivam
The deity worshipped in temples
Neeyindri naan kaana verillai
I see no other god besides you
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Paasam oru naesam
Affection and true love
Paasam oru naesam
Affection and true love
Kannaara kandaan un saeyae
Your child has witnessed them to his heart's content
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Without you, I am not myself, oh mother
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Naanaaga Naanillai' is a deeply emotional song celebrating maternal love, gratitude, and devotion from the 1983 Tamil film 'Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey'. The song expresses a son's profound realization that his very identity and well-being are entirely shaped by his mother's selfless nurture. He compares her presence to rain nourishing a withered crop and her affection to a comforting morning raga filling the sky. He reflects on how luxurious mansions and beds of flowers cannot replace the genuine comfort of a mother's home and her lullabies. To him, his mother is the supreme deity above any idol in a temple, emphasizing that true divinity resides in maternal affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)
“Nee thaanae neer vaartha kaar megam”
The mother is compared to a dark rain-bearing cloud ('kaar megam') that revives a wilting crop, symbolizing how her love restores life.
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Naanaaga naanillai thaayae / Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae”
Repetition of the 'Na' sound at the start of words ('Naanaaga', 'naanillai', 'Nalvaazhvu') creating rhythmic flow.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Keezh vaanilae oli vandhadhu / Koottai vittu kili vandhadhu”
Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('Keezh' / 'Koottai') providing poetic structure.
Hyperbole / Devotional Imagery
“Koyil thozhum dheivam / Neeyindri naan kaana verillai”
Elevating the mother above traditional temple deities, identifying her as the true goddess in his world.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song was composed by maestro Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali for the hit film 'Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey' starring Kamal Haasan in a dual role. Rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, it remains one of the most iconic mother-son homage songs in Tamil cinema history.
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