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Lyrics & meaning

Naanaga Naanillai

From Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
27 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
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Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Paasam oru naesam
Paasam oru naesam
Kannaara kandaan un saeyae
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Keezh vaanilae oli vandhadhu
Koottai vittu kili vandhadhu
Naan paarkkum aagaayam
Engum nee paadum boopaalam
Naan paarkkum aagaayam
Engum nee paadum boopaalam
Vaadum payir vaazha
Nee thaanae neer vaartha kaar megam
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Paasam oru naesam
Paasam oru naesam
Kannaara kandaan un saeyae
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Mani maaligai maadangalum
Malar thooviya manjangalum
Thaai veedu polillai
Angu thaalaatta aal illai
Thaai veedu polillai
Angu thaalaatta aal illai
Koyil thozhum dheivam
Neeyindri naan kaana verillai
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Paasam oru naesam
Paasam oru naesam
Kannaara kandaan un saeyae
Naanaaga naanillai thaayae
Nalvaazhvu thandhaayae neeyae
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm
Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Such warmth and true affection,
Such warmth and true affection,
Your child has seen with his own eyes.
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Light has appeared in the eastern sky,
The parrot has stepped out of its cage.
Across the sky I look upon,
Everywhere is the morning song you sing.
Across the sky I look upon,
Everywhere is the morning song you sing.
To help a withering crop survive,
You are the raincloud that showered water.
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Such warmth and true affection,
Such warmth and true affection,
Your child has seen with his own eyes.
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Palaces and grand mansions,
Beds covered with flowers,
They are nothing like a mother's home;
There is no one there to sing a lullaby.
They are nothing like a mother's home;
There is no one there to sing a lullaby.
A deity worshiped in a temple,
Besides you, there is none for me to see.
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Such warmth and true affection,
Such warmth and true affection,
Your child has seen with his own eyes.
I am not who I am on my own, Mother,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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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