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Thiru Neelakandar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naattiya Kalai

From Thiru Neelakandar · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
C. N. Pandurangan
Movie name
Thiru Neelakandar
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
29 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Paattiyal porul vedham adhamaana paavangal
Aaa…aa…aah….aaa…aa….
Paattiyal porul vedham adhamaana paavangal
Kaattiya kalaivaananae
Kaattiya kalaivaananae
Engal kaaviya nadarajanae
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu
Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu
Agamenum ilvaazhvu maanaanathu
Puramenum peruvaazhvu mazhuvaanathu
Arakkanai miththithaadum
Irakkaththai mathiththaadum
Aaa….aaa…..aa….aa…aa…aah…
Arakkanai miththithaadum
Irakkaththai mathiththaadum
Ambalam ponaanathu
Aadum ambalam ponnaanathu….
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
Vanthom vanthom endru palar kooduvaar
Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan
Vanthom vanthom endru palar kooduvaar
Arul thanthom thanthom endru avan aaduvaan
Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar
Aaa…aa…aaa…aa…
Unarnthom unnai endru avar paaduvaar
Intha ulagangal uravaadi nadanamidum
Naattiya kalai engal naayagan
Annaalil koottiya kalai allavaa
The art of dance is what our Lord
brought together in ancient times, isn't it?
The art of dance is what our Lord
brought together in ancient times, isn't it?
With the Vedas as the song's meaning and gentle expressions,
Aa... aa... aah... aa... aa...
With the Vedas as the song's meaning and gentle expressions,
O master of arts who revealed it all,
O master of arts who revealed it all,
Our poetic Lord Nataraja...
The art of dance is what our Lord
brought together in ancient times, isn't it?
The inner life of home became the gentle deer,
The outer life in the world became the battle-axe,
The inner life of home became the gentle deer,
The outer life in the world became the battle-axe,
Dancing as he crushes the demon beneath his foot,
Dancing as he honors compassion and grace,
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aah...
Dancing as he crushes the demon beneath his foot,
Dancing as he honors compassion and grace,
The sacred stage turned into gold,
The dancing hall turned into pure gold...
The art of dance is what our Lord
brought together in ancient times, isn't it?
Crowds will gather saying, "We have come, we have come!"
He will dance saying, "I have showered my grace on you!"
Crowds will gather saying, "We have come, we have come!"
He will dance saying, "I have showered my grace on you!"
They will sing, "We have truly known you!"
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
They will sing, "We have truly known you!"
And all these worlds will bond and dance with him...
The art of dance is what our Lord
brought together in ancient times, isn't it?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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