Nalam Vazha
From Marupadiyum · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Marupadiyum1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Happy birthday… | Happy birthday… |
| Male | |
| Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal | My blessings for you to live well every day |
| Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal | My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil |
| Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum | Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep |
| Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum | The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you |
| Male | |
| Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum | Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep |
| Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum | The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you |
| Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal | My blessings for you to live well every day |
| Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal | My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil |
| Male | |
| Oh….ho…ho….ho…. | Oh….ho…ho….ho…. |
| Oh….ho…oh…ho…ho.. | Oh….ho…oh…ho…ho.. |
| Male | |
| Manidhargal silaneram niram maaralaam | Human beings may change their colors at times |
| Manangalum avar gunangalum thadam maaralaam | Their minds and character traits may stray off course |
| Ilakanam sila neram pizhaiyaagalaam | Even grammatical rules can sometimes result in errors |
| Ezhudhiya anbu ilakkiyam thavaraagalaam | The written literature of love can turn out to be wrong |
| Male | |
| Viralgalai thaandi valarndhadhai kandu | Seeing that which has grown beyond the fingertips |
| Nagangalai naamum narukkuvadhundu | We are accustomed to trimming off the nails |
| Idhil enna paavam edharkindha sogham kiliyae… | What sin is in this, why this sorrow, my little bird? |
| Male | |
| Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal | My blessings for you to live well every day |
| Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal | My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil |
| Male | |
| Kizhakinil dhinam thondrum kadhiraanadhu | The sun that appears daily in the east |
| Maraivadhum pinbu udhipadhum marabaanadhu | Setting and then rising again is its natural pattern |
| Kadalgalil uruvaaghum alaiyaanadhu | The ocean wave that takes shape in the deep sea |
| Vizhuvadhum pinbu ezhuvadhum iyalbaanadhu | Falling down and rising back up is its true nature |
| Male | |
| Nilavinai nambi iravugal illai | Nights do not depend solely on the moon |
| Vilakugal kaattum velichathin ellai | Lamps will define the boundaries of light |
| Oru vaasal moodi maru vaasal vaippaan iraivan… | Closing one door, God will open another door for you... |
| Male | |
| Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal | My blessings for you to live well every day |
| Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal | My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil |
| Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum | Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep |
| Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum | The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you |
| Male | |
| Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum | Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep |
| Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum | The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you |
| Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal | My blessings for you to live well every day |
| Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal | My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil |
ஹேப்பி பர்த்டே
Happy birthday…
நலம் வாழ
எந்நாளும் என்
வாழ்த்துக்கள் தமிழ்
கூறும் பல்லாண்டு
என் வார்த்தைகள்
இளவேனில் உன் வாசல்
வந்தாடும் இளந் தென்றல்
உன் மீது பண்பாடும்
My blessings for you to live well every day
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
இளவேனில்
உன் வாசல் வந்தாடும்
இளந் தென்றல் உன்
மீது பண்பாடும் நலம்
வாழ எந்நாளும் என்
வாழ்த்துக்கள் தமிழ்
கூறும் பல்லாண்டு
என் வார்த்தைகள்
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
My blessings for you to live well every day
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஓ
ஹோ ஓ ஹோ
ஹோ
Oh….ho…ho….ho….
Oh….ho…oh…ho…ho..
மனிதர்கள் சில
நேரம் நிறம் மாறலாம்
மனங்களும் அவர்
குணங்களும் தடம்
மாறலாம் இலக்கணம்
சில நேரம் பிழையாகலாம்
எழுதிய அன்பு இலக்கியம்
தவறாகலாம்
Human beings may change their colors at times
Their minds and character traits may stray off course
Even grammatical rules can sometimes result in errors
The written literature of love can turn out to be wrong
விரல்களைத்
தாண்டி வளர்ந்ததைக்
கண்டு நகங்களை நாமும்
நறுக்குவதுண்டு இதிலென்ன
பாவம் எதற்கிந்த சோகம்
கிளியே
Seeing that which has grown beyond the fingertips
We are accustomed to trimming off the nails
What sin is in this, why this sorrow, my little bird?
நலம் வாழ
எந்நாளும் என்
வாழ்த்துக்கள் தமிழ்
கூறும் பல்லாண்டு
என் வார்த்தைகள்
My blessings for you to live well every day
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
கிழக்கினில்
தினம் தோன்றும்
கதிரானது மறைவதும்
பின்பு உதிப்பதும் மரபானது
கடல்களில் உருவாகும்
அலையானது விழுவதும்
பின்பு எழுவதும் இயல்பானது
The sun that appears daily in the east
Setting and then rising again is its natural pattern
The ocean wave that takes shape in the deep sea
Falling down and rising back up is its true nature
நிலவினை நம்பி
இரவுகள் இல்லை விளக்குகள்
காட்டும் வெளிச்சத்தின் எல்லை
ஒரு வாசல் மூடி மறுவாசல்
வைப்பான் இறைவன்
Nights do not depend solely on the moon
Lamps will define the boundaries of light
Closing one door, God will open another door for you...
நலம் வாழ
எந்நாளும் என்
வாழ்த்துக்கள் தமிழ்
கூறும் பல்லாண்டு
என் வார்த்தைகள்
இளவேனில் உன் வாசல்
வந்தாடும் இளந் தென்றல்
உன் மீது பண்பாடும்
My blessings for you to live well every day
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
இளவேனில்
உன் வாசல் வந்தாடும்
இளந் தென்றல் உன்
மீது பண்பாடும் நலம்
வாழ எந்நாளும் என்
வாழ்த்துக்கள் தமிழ்
கூறும் பல்லாண்டு
என் வார்த்தைகள்
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
My blessings for you to live well every day
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Happy birthday…
Happy birthday…
Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal
My blessings for you to live well every day
Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal
My blessings for you to live well every day
Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Oh….ho…ho….ho….
Oh….ho…ho….ho….
Oh….ho…oh…ho…ho..
Oh….ho…oh…ho…ho..
Manidhargal silaneram niram maaralaam
Human beings may change their colors at times
Manangalum avar gunangalum thadam maaralaam
Their minds and character traits may stray off course
Ilakanam sila neram pizhaiyaagalaam
Even grammatical rules can sometimes result in errors
Ezhudhiya anbu ilakkiyam thavaraagalaam
The written literature of love can turn out to be wrong
Viralgalai thaandi valarndhadhai kandu
Seeing that which has grown beyond the fingertips
Nagangalai naamum narukkuvadhundu
We are accustomed to trimming off the nails
Idhil enna paavam edharkindha sogham kiliyae…
What sin is in this, why this sorrow, my little bird?
Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal
My blessings for you to live well every day
Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Kizhakinil dhinam thondrum kadhiraanadhu
The sun that appears daily in the east
Maraivadhum pinbu udhipadhum marabaanadhu
Setting and then rising again is its natural pattern
Kadalgalil uruvaaghum alaiyaanadhu
The ocean wave that takes shape in the deep sea
Vizhuvadhum pinbu ezhuvadhum iyalbaanadhu
Falling down and rising back up is its true nature
Nilavinai nambi iravugal illai
Nights do not depend solely on the moon
Vilakugal kaattum velichathin ellai
Lamps will define the boundaries of light
Oru vaasal moodi maru vaasal vaippaan iraivan…
Closing one door, God will open another door for you...
Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal
My blessings for you to live well every day
Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum
Mild spring will come and dance at your doorstep
Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum
The gentle breeze will sing melodiously over you
Nalam vaazha ennaalum en vaazhthukkal
My blessings for you to live well every day
Thamizh koorum pallaandu en vaarthaigal
My words offer blessings of longevity in Tamil
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nalam Vaazha is a heartfelt birthday and comfort song from the 1993 Tamil film Marupadiyum, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and written by Vaali. Sung with profound warmth by S. Janaki, the song acts as a message of solace and resilience to a friend facing emotional turmoil. The lyrics combine wishes of happiness and longevity with deep philosophical reflections on human relationships and life's unpredictable nature.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Viralgalai thaandi valarndhadhai kandu / Nagangalai naamum narukkuvadhundu”
Trimming nails that grow beyond fingertips is used as a metaphor for letting go of relationships or situations that have grown beyond healthy control.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ilavenil un vaasal vandhaadum / Ilanthendral un meedhu panpaadum”
The second consonant sound 'la' (ல/ள/ழ) rhymes across consecutive lines (Ilavenil / Ilanthendral).
Analogy / Symbolism
“Maraivadhum pinbu udhipadhum marabaanadhu / Vizhuvadhum pinbu ezhuvadhum iyalbaanadhu”
The rising and setting sun, and the crashing and rising ocean waves serve as natural analogies for life's inevitable ups and downs.
Did you know?
Trivia
Marupadiyum (1993) was directed by Balu Mahendra and is an adaptation of Mahesh Bhatt's Hindi classic Arth. This song, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki, remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous birthday songs as well as a popular philosophical anthem.
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