Naattiya Kalai
From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. R. Mahalingam
- Music director
- C. N. Pandurangan
- Details
- Thiru Neelakandar1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naattiya kalai engal naayagan | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Naattiya kalai engal naayagan | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Male | |
| Paattiyal porul vedham adhamaana paavangal | Expressions that became the ultimate essence of poetic lyrics and Vedas, |
| Aaa…aa…aah….aaa…aa…. | (Vocalizing / Melodic alaap) |
| Paattiyal porul vedham adhamaana paavangal | Expressions that became the ultimate essence of poetic lyrics and Vedas, |
| Kaattiya kalaivaananae | Oh artist-god who demonstrated it! |
| Kaattiya kalaivaananae | Oh artist-god who demonstrated it! |
| Engal kaaviya nadarajanae | Oh epic Nataraja of ours! |
| Male | |
| Naattiya kalai engal naayagan | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Male | |
| Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu | The inner domestic life became the deer in His hand, |
| Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu | The outer worldly life became the battle-axe in His hand, |
| Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu | The inner domestic life became the deer in His hand, |
| Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu | The outer worldly life became the battle-axe in His hand, |
| Male | |
| Arakkanai miththithaadum | Dancing by trampling the demon of ignorance, |
| Irakkaththai mathiththaadum | Dancing while honoring divine compassion, |
| Aaa….aaa…..aa….aa…aa…aah… | (Vocalizing / Melodic alaap) |
| Arakkanai miththithaadum | Dancing by trampling the demon of ignorance, |
| Irakkaththai mathiththaadum | Dancing while honoring divine compassion, |
| Ambalam ponaanathu | The holy hall became golden, |
| Aadum ambalam ponnaanathu…. | The hall where He dances turned into gold! |
| Male | |
| Naattiya kalai engal naayagan | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Male | |
| Vanthom vanthom endru palar kooduvaar | Many gather saying, 'We have come, we have come!' |
| Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan | He dances saying, 'I have granted grace, granted grace!' |
| Vanthom vanthom endru palar kooduvaar | Many gather saying, 'We have come, we have come!' |
| Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan | He dances saying, 'I have granted grace, granted grace!' |
| Male | |
| Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar | They sing saying, 'We have realized you!' |
| Aaa…aa…aaa…aa… | (Vocalizing / Melodic alaap) |
| Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar | They sing saying, 'We have realized you!' |
| Intha ulagangal uravaadi nadanamidum | Where all these worlds bond together and perform their dance, |
| Male | |
| Naattiya kalai engal naayagan | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
| Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa | Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days? |
நாட்டியக் கலை எங்கள் நாயகன்
அந்நாளில் கூட்டிய கலை அல்லவா
நாட்டியக் கலை எங்கள் நாயகன்
அந்நாளில் கூட்டிய கலை அல்லவா
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
பாட்டியல் பொருள் வேதம் பதமான பாவங்கள்
ஆஅ...ஆ.....ஆஹ்.......ஆஅ......ஆ.......
பாட்டியல் பொருள் வேதம் பதமான பாவங்கள்
காட்டிய கலைவாணனே
காட்டிய கலைவாணனே
எங்கள் காவிய நடராஜனே......
Expressions that became the ultimate essence of poetic lyrics and Vedas,
(Vocalizing / Melodic alaap)
Expressions that became the ultimate essence of poetic lyrics and Vedas,
Oh artist-god who demonstrated it!
Oh artist-god who demonstrated it!
Oh epic Nataraja of ours!
நாட்டியக் கலை எங்கள் நாயகன்
அந்நாளில் கூட்டிய கலை அல்லவா
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
அகமெனும் இல்வாழ்வு மானானது
புறமெனும் பெருவாழ்வு மழுவானது
அகமெனும் இல்வாழ்வு மானானது
புறமெனும் பெருவாழ்வு மழுவானது
The inner domestic life became the deer in His hand,
The outer worldly life became the battle-axe in His hand,
The inner domestic life became the deer in His hand,
The outer worldly life became the battle-axe in His hand,
அரக்கனை மிதித்தாடும்
இரக்கத்தை மதித்தாடும்
ஆஅ...ஆஅ....ஆ....ஆ....ஆ...ஆஹ்......
அரக்கனை மிதித்தாடும்
இரக்கத்தை மதித்தாடும்
அம்பலம் பொன்னானது
ஆடும் அம்பலம் பொன்னானது......
Dancing by trampling the demon of ignorance,
Dancing while honoring divine compassion,
(Vocalizing / Melodic alaap)
Dancing by trampling the demon of ignorance,
Dancing while honoring divine compassion,
The holy hall became golden,
The hall where He dances turned into gold!
நாட்டியக் கலை எங்கள் நாயகன்
அந்நாளில் கூட்டிய கலை அல்லவா
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
வந்தோம் வந்தோம் என்று பலர் கூடுவார்
அருள் தந்தோம் தந்தோம் என்று அவன் ஆடுவான்
வந்தோம் வந்தோம் என்று பலர் கூடுவார்
அருள் தந்தோம் தந்தோம் என்று அவன் ஆடுவான்
Many gather saying, 'We have come, we have come!'
He dances saying, 'I have granted grace, granted grace!'
Many gather saying, 'We have come, we have come!'
He dances saying, 'I have granted grace, granted grace!'
உணர்ந்தோம் உன்னை என்று அவர் பாடுவார்
ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆ......
உணர்ந்தோம் உன்னை என்று அவர் பாடுவார்
இந்த உலகங்கள் உறவாடி நடனமிடும்.......
They sing saying, 'We have realized you!'
(Vocalizing / Melodic alaap)
They sing saying, 'We have realized you!'
Where all these worlds bond together and perform their dance,
நாட்டியக் கலை எங்கள் நாயகன்
அந்நாளில் கூட்டிய கலை அல்லவா
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Paattiyal porul vedham adhamaana paavangal
Expressions that became the ultimate essence of poetic lyrics and Vedas,
Aaa…aa…aah….aaa…aa….
(Vocalizing / Melodic alaap)
Paattiyal porul vedham adhamaana paavangal
Expressions that became the ultimate essence of poetic lyrics and Vedas,
Kaattiya kalaivaananae
Oh artist-god who demonstrated it!
Kaattiya kalaivaananae
Oh artist-god who demonstrated it!
Engal kaaviya nadarajanae
Oh epic Nataraja of ours!
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu
The inner domestic life became the deer in His hand,
Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu
The outer worldly life became the battle-axe in His hand,
Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu
The inner domestic life became the deer in His hand,
Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu
The outer worldly life became the battle-axe in His hand,
Arakkanai miththithaadum
Dancing by trampling the demon of ignorance,
Irakkaththai mathiththaadum
Dancing while honoring divine compassion,
Aaa….aaa…..aa….aa…aa…aah…
(Vocalizing / Melodic alaap)
Arakkanai miththithaadum
Dancing by trampling the demon of ignorance,
Irakkaththai mathiththaadum
Dancing while honoring divine compassion,
Ambalam ponaanathu
The holy hall became golden,
Aadum ambalam ponnaanathu….
The hall where He dances turned into gold!
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Vanthom vanthom endru palar kooduvaar
Many gather saying, 'We have come, we have come!'
Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan
He dances saying, 'I have granted grace, granted grace!'
Vanthom vanthom endru palar kooduvaar
Many gather saying, 'We have come, we have come!'
Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan
He dances saying, 'I have granted grace, granted grace!'
Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar
They sing saying, 'We have realized you!'
Aaa…aa…aaa…aa…
(Vocalizing / Melodic alaap)
Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar
They sing saying, 'We have realized you!'
Intha ulagangal uravaadi nadanamidum
Where all these worlds bond together and perform their dance,
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Is not dance the art that our Lord brought together in those ancient days?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a grand classical tribute to Lord Nataraja, the cosmic dancer and master of divine arts. Kannadasan's lyrics celebrate dance ('Naattiya kalai') as a sacred art created and harmonized by Lord Shiva since antiquity, embodying the deepest meanings of the Vedas and classical Tamil literature.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edukai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Arakkanai miththithaadum / Irakkaththai mathiththaadum”
The second consonant 'rak' in 'Arakkanai' rhymes with 'Irakkaththai', creating rhythmic harmony across lines.
Allegory / Sangam Motif (Agam & Puram)
“Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu / Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu”
Kannadasan skillfully weaves classical Tamil literary concepts of Agam (inner personal life) symbolized by the deer (maan) and Puram (outer public life) symbolized by the battle-axe (mazhu) held in Nataraja's hands.
Iyaibu (End Rhyming)
“Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan / Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar”
The matching verbal suffixes 'aaduvaan' and 'paaduvaan' establish poetic continuity and musical cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Thiru Neelakandar' (1972) depicts the life of Thiruneelakanta Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars. Singer T. R. Mahalingam, who played the titular saint, was famous for his high-pitched, powerful classical singing style that dominated Tamil cinema's early golden era.
Keep listening
More from Thiru Neelakandar
Thiru Neelakandar
Thiru Neelakandar
Thiru Neelakandar
Thiru Neelakandar
Thiru Neelakandar
Thiru Neelakandar