Nalandana Nalandana
From Thillana Mohanambal · 1968
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thillana Mohanambal1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| …………………….. | |
| Female | |
| { Nalanthaana | Are you doing well? |
| Nalanthaana udalum | Are you well in body |
| Ullamum nalanthaana } (3) | and mind? Are you doing well? |
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Female | |
| Nalam pera | To attain |
| Vendum neeyendru | wellness, that you must, |
| Naalum en nenjil | every single day in my heart |
| Ninaivundu | I hold the thought. |
| Female | |
| Ilai marai | Like a fruit hidden |
| Kaai pol porul kondu | behind leaves, carrying subtle meaning, |
| Evarum ariyaamal sol indru | tell me today without anyone else knowing. |
| Female | |
| Nalanthaana | Are you doing well? |
| Udalum ullamum nalanthaana | Are your body and mind doing well? |
| Male | |
| …………….. | |
| Female | |
| Kan | Was it because |
| Pattathaal undhan | an evil eye fell upon you, |
| Meniyilae pun pattadho | that your body suffered a wound? |
| Adhai naanariyen | That, I do not know. |
| Male | |
| …………………… | |
| Female | |
| En kan | Was it because my own eyes |
| Pattathaal undhan | gazed upon you, |
| Meniyilae pun pattadho | that your body suffered a wound? |
| Adhai naanariyen | That, I do not know. |
| Female | |
| Pun | The news of your |
| Patta sethiyai | suffering a wound, |
| Kettavudan | as soon as I heard it, |
| Male | |
| ………………. | |
| Female | |
| Indha pen | who could ever know the agony |
| Patta paatai yaar arivaar | that this woman went through? |
| Male | |
| ……………….. | |
| Female | |
| Nalanthaana | Are you doing well? |
| Udalum ullamum nalanthaana | Are your body and mind doing well? |
| Female | |
| { Nadanthathellam | All that has happened, |
| Marandhirupom | let us forget it; |
| Nadapathaiyae ninaithirupom } (2) | let us think only of what is happening now. |
| Female | |
| Kattundom | We are bound by situation; |
| Poruthirupom kaalam | let us endure and wait; time |
| Maarum santhipom | will change, and we shall meet. |
........................
{ நலந்தானா
நலந்தானா உடலும்
உள்ளமும் நலந்தானா } (3)
Are you doing well?
Are you well in body
and mind? Are you doing well?
........................
நலம் பெற
வேண்டும் நீயென்று
நாளும் என் நெஞ்சில்
நினைவுண்டு
To attain
wellness, that you must,
every single day in my heart
I hold the thought.
இலை மறை
காய் போல் பொருள்
கொண்டு எவரும்
அறியாமல் சொல்
இன்று
Like a fruit hidden
behind leaves, carrying subtle meaning,
tell me today without anyone else knowing.
நலந்தானா
உடலும் உள்ளமும்
நலந்தானா
Are you doing well?
Are your body and mind doing well?
........................
கண் பட்டதால்
உந்தன் மேனியிலே
புண் பட்டதோ அதை
நானறியேன்
Was it because
an evil eye fell upon you,
that your body suffered a wound?
That, I do not know.
........................
என் கண் பட்டதால்
உந்தன் மேனியிலே
புண் பட்டதோ அதை
நானறியேன்
Was it because my own eyes
gazed upon you,
that your body suffered a wound?
That, I do not know.
புண் பட்ட
சேதியை கேட்டவுடன்
The news of your
suffering a wound,
as soon as I heard it,
........................
இந்த பெண்
பட்ட பாட்டை யார்
அறிவார்
who could ever know the agony
that this woman went through?
........................
நலந்தானா
உடலும் உள்ளமும்
நலந்தானா
Are you doing well?
Are your body and mind doing well?
நடந்ததெல்லாம்
மறந்திருப்போம் நடப்பதையே
நினைத்திருப்போம்
All that has happened,
let us forget it;
let us think only of what is happening now.
கட்டுண்டோம்
பொறுத்திருப்போம் காலம்
மாறும் சந்திப்போம்
We are bound by situation;
let us endure and wait; time
will change, and we shall meet.
……………………..
{ Nalanthaana
Are you doing well?
Nalanthaana udalum
Are you well in body
Ullamum nalanthaana } (3)
and mind? Are you doing well?
…………………….
Nalam pera
To attain
Vendum neeyendru
wellness, that you must,
Naalum en nenjil
every single day in my heart
Ninaivundu
I hold the thought.
Ilai marai
Like a fruit hidden
Kaai pol porul kondu
behind leaves, carrying subtle meaning,
Evarum ariyaamal sol indru
tell me today without anyone else knowing.
Nalanthaana
Are you doing well?
Udalum ullamum nalanthaana
Are your body and mind doing well?
……………..
Kan
Was it because
Pattathaal undhan
an evil eye fell upon you,
Meniyilae pun pattadho
that your body suffered a wound?
Adhai naanariyen
That, I do not know.
……………………
En kan
Was it because my own eyes
Pattathaal undhan
gazed upon you,
Meniyilae pun pattadho
that your body suffered a wound?
Adhai naanariyen
That, I do not know.
Pun
The news of your
Patta sethiyai
suffering a wound,
Kettavudan
as soon as I heard it,
……………….
Indha pen
who could ever know the agony
Patta paatai yaar arivaar
that this woman went through?
………………..
Nalanthaana
Are you doing well?
Udalum ullamum nalanthaana
Are your body and mind doing well?
{ Nadanthathellam
All that has happened,
Marandhirupom
let us forget it;
Nadapathaiyae ninaithirupom } (2)
let us think only of what is happening now.
Kattundom
We are bound by situation;
Poruthirupom kaalam
let us endure and wait; time
Maarum santhipom
will change, and we shall meet.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic Tamil song from 'Thillana Mohanambal' is a heartfelt inquiry of love and deep affection. The heroine, Mohanambal, lovingly inquires about the health and well-being of her beloved after he suffers an injury. Speaking in coded, gentle words so as not to draw unwanted public attention, she expresses how she daily prays for his complete recovery and happiness. She wonders with tender remorse if her own intense love and gaze caused him harm, or if an evil eye struck him, describing her immense grief upon hearing about his wound. Reassuring him, she advises leaving past troubles behind, encouraging patience through their current social constraints, and holding firmly to the hope that time will turn in their favor so they can reunite.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai Ani (Simile)
“Ilai marai kaai pol porul kondu”
The lyricist compares coded/veiled communication to a fruit hidden behind leaves ('Ilai marai kaai pol'), symbolizing subtle messages meant only for the beloved.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nalanthaana udalum ullamum nalanthaana”
Repetition of initial consonants 'Na' in 'Nalanthaana', 'Nalam', 'Naalum', and 'Ninaivundu' creates a soothing melodic rhythm.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kattundom poruthirupom kaalam”
The second letter 'tt' matches in 'Kattundom' and 'Patta', giving rhythmic flow to the line.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and sung flawlessly by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kannadasan, 'Nalanthaana' is set in Raga Kafi (with touches of Anandabhairavi). It remains one of Tamil cinema's most famous romantic melodies, beautifully picturized on Padmini and Sivaji Ganesan.
Keep listening
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