Nalamo Ena Naan Ketpen
From Nenjil Oru Ragam · 1982
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Nenjil Oru Ragam1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nalamo ena naan ketpen | I will ask if you are well |
| Yaaro en nee ketpaai | You will ask 'who are you?' |
| Maamagari maamagari maamagari maamagari | Maamagari maamagari maamagari maamagari (Musical swaras) |
| Garipama gari gari sa ni sa | Garipama gari gari sa ni sa (Musical swaras) |
| Female | |
| Nalamo ena naan ketpen | I will ask if you are well |
| Yaaro en nee ketpaai | You will ask 'who are you?' |
| Female | |
| Neeyum naanum vaazhnthathu pazhamai | The life you and I lived is now in the past |
| Adhilenna inimai | What sweetness remains in that? |
| Alai kadal vaazhkkai | A life like a restless ocean wave |
| Female | |
| Nalamo ena naan ketpen | I will ask if you are well |
| Yaaro en nee ketpaai | You will ask 'who are you?' |
| Female | |
| Aaraariraaraari aariraro aaraariraariro | Aaraariraaraari aariraro aaraariraariro (Lullaby refrain) |
| Aaraariraariro aaraariraaraari aariraro | Aaraariraariro aaraariraaraari aariraro (Lullaby refrain) |
| Female | |
| Kaatraai unnai ninaiththaen | I thought of you as the gentle breeze |
| Siragai viriththu paranthaen | I spread my wings and soared high |
| Poi vedam kalaiya kandaen | I saw your false disguise unravel |
| Unai vedan endru arinthaen | I realized you were a cruel hunter |
| Poi vedam kalaiya kandaen | I saw your false disguise unravel |
| Unai vedan endru arinthaen | I realized you were a cruel hunter |
| En siragai parikka veezhnthaen | With my wings plucked, I plummeted down |
| En siragai parikka veezhnthaen | With my wings plucked, I plummeted down |
| Female | |
| Nalamo ena naan ketpen | I will ask if you are well |
| Yaaro en nee ketpaai | You will ask 'who are you?' |
| Female | |
| Vaazhvenum koottinai kalaiththitta paaviyai | The sinner who destroyed the nest of our life |
| Kaattiyum koduththidavo | Should I expose him for who he is? |
| Kazhuththinila thongidum thaaliyai ninaiththingu | Or remembering the sacred thali hanging on my neck |
| Karunaiyai kaattidavo | Should I show mercy and forgive? |
| Female | |
| Padakaai ninaiththu vanthaen | I came thinking of you as my guiding boat |
| Payanam thuninthu seithaen | I bravely embarked on this voyage |
| Nattaattril vizhunthu thudiththaen | I fell into the middle of the river and struggled |
| Nambi kaiyai kettu azhaiththaen | Trusting you, I held out my hand and called for help |
| Nattaattril vizhunthu thudiththaen | I fell into the middle of the river and struggled |
| Nambi kaiyai kettu azhaiththaen | Trusting you, I held out my hand and called for help |
| Nampikkaiyai azhikka thaviththaen | I agonized as my faith was crushed to pieces |
| Nampikkaiyai azhikka thaviththaen | I agonized as my faith was crushed to pieces |
| Female | |
| Nalamo ena naan ketpen | I will ask if you are well |
| Yaaro en nee ketpaai | You will ask 'who are you?' |
| Female | |
| Neeyum naanum vaazhnthathu pazhamai | The life you and I lived is now in the past |
| Adhilenna inimai | What sweetness remains in that? |
| Alai kadal vaazhkkai | A life like a restless ocean wave |
| Adhilenna inimai | What sweetness remains in that? |
| Alai kadal vaazhkkai | A life like a restless ocean wave |
நலமோ என நான் கேட்பேன்
யாரோ என நீ கேட்பாய்
மாமகரி மாமகரி மாமகரி மாமகரி
கரிபம கரி கரி ஸ நி ஸ...
I will ask if you are well
You will ask 'who are you?'
Maamagari maamagari maamagari maamagari (Musical swaras)
Garipama gari gari sa ni sa (Musical swaras)
நலமோ என நான் கேட்பேன்
யாரோ என நீ கேட்பாய்
I will ask if you are well
You will ask 'who are you?'
நீயும் நானும் வாழ்ந்தது பழமை
அதிலென்ன இனிமை
அலைக் கடல் வாழ்க்கை
The life you and I lived is now in the past
What sweetness remains in that?
A life like a restless ocean wave
நலமோ என நான் கேட்பேன்......
யாரோ என நீ கேட்பாய்
I will ask if you are well
You will ask 'who are you?'
ஆராரிராராரி ஆரிரரோ ஆராரிராரிரோ
ஆராரிராரிரோ ஆராரிராராரி ஆரிரரோ..
Aaraariraaraari aariraro aaraariraariro (Lullaby refrain)
Aaraariraariro aaraariraaraari aariraro (Lullaby refrain)
காற்றாய் உன்னை நினைத்தேன்
சிறகை விரித்து பறந்தேன்
பொய் வேடம் கலைய கண்டேன்
உனை வேடன் என்று அறிந்தேன்
பொய் வேடம் கலைய கண்டேன்
உனை வேடன் என்று அறிந்தேன்
என் சிறகை பறிக்க வீழ்ந்தேன்......
என் சிறகை பறிக்க வீழ்ந்தேன்......
I thought of you as the gentle breeze
I spread my wings and soared high
I saw your false disguise unravel
I realized you were a cruel hunter
I saw your false disguise unravel
I realized you were a cruel hunter
With my wings plucked, I plummeted down
With my wings plucked, I plummeted down
நலமோ என நான் கேட்பேன்......
யாரோ என நீ கேட்பாய்
I will ask if you are well
You will ask 'who are you?'
வாழ்வெனும் கூட்டினை கலைத்திட்ட பாவியை
காட்டியும் கொடுத்திடவோ
கழுத்தினில் தொங்கிடும் தாலியை நினைத்திங்கு
கருணையை காட்டிடவோ
The sinner who destroyed the nest of our life
Should I expose him for who he is?
Or remembering the sacred thali hanging on my neck
Should I show mercy and forgive?
படகாய் நினைத்து வந்தேன்
பயணம் துணிந்து செய்தேன்
நட்டாற்றில் விழுந்து துடித்தேன்
நம்பி கையைக் கேட்டு அழைத்தேன்
நட்டாற்றில் விழுந்து துடித்தேன்
நம்பி கையைக் கேட்டு அழைத்தேன்
நம்பிக்கையை அழிக்க தவித்தேன்......
நம்பிக்கையை அழிக்க தவித்தேன்......
I came thinking of you as my guiding boat
I bravely embarked on this voyage
I fell into the middle of the river and struggled
Trusting you, I held out my hand and called for help
I fell into the middle of the river and struggled
Trusting you, I held out my hand and called for help
I agonized as my faith was crushed to pieces
I agonized as my faith was crushed to pieces
நலமோ என நான் கேட்பேன்......
யாரோ என நீ கேட்பாய்
I will ask if you are well
You will ask 'who are you?'
நீயும் நானும் வாழ்ந்தது பழமை
அதிலென்ன இனிமை
அலைக் கடல் வாழ்க்கை
அதிலென்ன இனிமை
அலைக் கடல் வாழ்க்கை
The life you and I lived is now in the past
What sweetness remains in that?
A life like a restless ocean wave
What sweetness remains in that?
A life like a restless ocean wave
Nalamo ena naan ketpen
I will ask if you are well
Yaaro en nee ketpaai
You will ask 'who are you?'
Maamagari maamagari maamagari maamagari
Maamagari maamagari maamagari maamagari (Musical swaras)
Garipama gari gari sa ni sa
Garipama gari gari sa ni sa (Musical swaras)
Nalamo ena naan ketpen
I will ask if you are well
Yaaro en nee ketpaai
You will ask 'who are you?'
Neeyum naanum vaazhnthathu pazhamai
The life you and I lived is now in the past
Adhilenna inimai
What sweetness remains in that?
Alai kadal vaazhkkai
A life like a restless ocean wave
Nalamo ena naan ketpen
I will ask if you are well
Yaaro en nee ketpaai
You will ask 'who are you?'
Aaraariraaraari aariraro aaraariraariro
Aaraariraaraari aariraro aaraariraariro (Lullaby refrain)
Aaraariraariro aaraariraaraari aariraro
Aaraariraariro aaraariraaraari aariraro (Lullaby refrain)
Kaatraai unnai ninaiththaen
I thought of you as the gentle breeze
Siragai viriththu paranthaen
I spread my wings and soared high
Poi vedam kalaiya kandaen
I saw your false disguise unravel
Unai vedan endru arinthaen
I realized you were a cruel hunter
Poi vedam kalaiya kandaen
I saw your false disguise unravel
Unai vedan endru arinthaen
I realized you were a cruel hunter
En siragai parikka veezhnthaen
With my wings plucked, I plummeted down
En siragai parikka veezhnthaen
With my wings plucked, I plummeted down
Nalamo ena naan ketpen
I will ask if you are well
Yaaro en nee ketpaai
You will ask 'who are you?'
Vaazhvenum koottinai kalaiththitta paaviyai
The sinner who destroyed the nest of our life
Kaattiyum koduththidavo
Should I expose him for who he is?
Kazhuththinila thongidum thaaliyai ninaiththingu
Or remembering the sacred thali hanging on my neck
Karunaiyai kaattidavo
Should I show mercy and forgive?
Padakaai ninaiththu vanthaen
I came thinking of you as my guiding boat
Payanam thuninthu seithaen
I bravely embarked on this voyage
Nattaattril vizhunthu thudiththaen
I fell into the middle of the river and struggled
Nambi kaiyai kettu azhaiththaen
Trusting you, I held out my hand and called for help
Nattaattril vizhunthu thudiththaen
I fell into the middle of the river and struggled
Nambi kaiyai kettu azhaiththaen
Trusting you, I held out my hand and called for help
Nampikkaiyai azhikka thaviththaen
I agonized as my faith was crushed to pieces
Nampikkaiyai azhikka thaviththaen
I agonized as my faith was crushed to pieces
Nalamo ena naan ketpen
I will ask if you are well
Yaaro en nee ketpaai
You will ask 'who are you?'
Neeyum naanum vaazhnthathu pazhamai
The life you and I lived is now in the past
Adhilenna inimai
What sweetness remains in that?
Alai kadal vaazhkkai
A life like a restless ocean wave
Adhilenna inimai
What sweetness remains in that?
Alai kadal vaazhkkai
A life like a restless ocean wave
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nalamo Ena Naan Ketpen' expresses the deep agony and emotional conflict of a woman betrayed by her husband. Though she lovingly inquires about his well-being, she anticipates his cold response as if she were a total stranger. She reflects on how her life has turned into a turbulent ocean, grieving over how she once viewed him as a free wind, only to realize he was a hunter who clipped her wings and ruined her life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“Kaatraai unnai ninaiththaen / Unai vedan endru arinthaen”
The speaker compares the husband to the wind ('Kaatraai') and later to a hunter ('Vedan'), and compares life to a nest ('Koottinai') and a turbulent sea ('Alai kadal vaazhkkai').
Wordplay / Pun (Iratura Mozhidhal)
“Nambi kaiyai kettu azhaiththaen / Nampikkaiyai azhikka thaviththaen”
T. Rajendar uses phonetic wordplay splitting 'Nambi kaiyai' (trusting and reaching for a hand) and merging it into 'Nampikkaiyai' (trust/faith) in subsequent lines.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Poi vedam kalaiya kandaen / Unai vedan endru arinthaen”
The second consonant 'da' rhymes between 'vedam' and 'vedan'.
Monai (Initial Letter Alliteration)
“Padakaai ninaiththu vanthaen / Payanam thuninthu seithaen”
The initial letter 'Pa' is repeated in 'Padakaai' and 'Payanam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from 'Nenjil Oru Ragam' (1982) features lyrics and music composed by T. Rajendar, sung masterfully by Vani Jairam. T. Rajendar is known for his signature rhyming patterns and wordplay techniques, such as turning 'nambi kai' into 'nampikkai', which became a trademark style in 1980s Tamil cinema lyrics.
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