Nalla Kaariyam
From Ponnoonjal · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Ponnoonjal1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| O..ooo ooo oooo oo ooo | O..ooo ooo oooo oo ooo |
| Female | |
| Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum | A good deed must happen soon |
| Konjam sollungalaen | Please tell me a bit |
| Thulli varum muthu killaigalae | Oh leaping pearl-like parrots! |
| Female | |
| Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum | A good deed must happen soon |
| Konjam sollungalaen | Please tell me a bit |
| Thulli varum muthu killaigalae | Oh leaping pearl-like parrots! |
| Female | |
| Pachai vanna vettrilai pol | Like a green betel leaf |
| Parandhodum podhu | As you fly away |
| Paakku vechu vethilaiyil | Offering betel nut and leaf as an invitation |
| Sonnaal enna thodhu | Why not send a message? |
| Sonnaal enna thoodhu | Why not send a message? |
| Female | |
| Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum | A good deed must happen soon |
| Konjam sollungalaen | Please tell me a bit |
| Thulli varum muthu killaigalae | Oh leaping pearl-like parrots! |
| Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae | Pearl parrots, pearl parrots |
| Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae | Pearl parrots, pearl parrots |
| Male | |
| O..ooo ooo oooo oo | O..ooo ooo oooo oo |
| Vellam odattum | Let the flood flow |
| Pennidam koorattum | Let it tell the woman |
| Ullam vaelikattai thaandi vandhu poovagattum | Let the heart cross boundaries and blossom into a flower |
| Andha megangal paadum raagangal | The melodies sung by those clouds |
| Vanna pen paarkka poyi varum thoodhuaagattum | Let them become a messenger sent to see the colorful maiden |
| Male | |
| Vellam odattum | Let the flood flow |
| Pennidam koorattum | Let it tell the woman |
| Ullam vaelikattai thaandi vandhu poovagattum | Let the heart cross boundaries and blossom into a flower |
| Andha megangal paadum raagangal | The melodies sung by those clouds |
| Vanna pen paarkka poyi varum thoodhuaagattum | Let them become a messenger sent to see the colorful maiden |
| Male | |
| Manjalukku naathu vecha | If turmeric saplings are planted |
| Manakaadho ingae | Won't it spread its fragrance here? |
| Maunathilae sedhi sonnaal | If a message is conveyed through silence |
| Puriyadho angae | Won't it be understood there? |
| Male | |
| Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum | A good deed must happen soon |
| Konjam sollungalaen | Please tell me a bit |
| Thulli varum muthu killaigalae | Oh leaping pearl-like parrots! |
| Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae | Pearl parrots, pearl parrots |
| Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae | Pearl parrots, pearl parrots |
| Female | |
| Haaa…aaaa…haaa..aaa | Haaa…aaaa…haaa..aaa |
| Thanga meengalae thaamarai poovilae | Oh golden fish in the lotus flower |
| Pongum thaen undu en kadhai neer ariveergaloo | Drinking overflowing honey, do you know my story? |
| Andha pon vandu indha pookandu | That golden beetle, seeing this flower |
| Inba thaen unnum naal paarkka viduveergaloo | Will you let us see the day it savors the sweet honey? |
| Pandhiyilae kaathirukku pasiyodu sondham | Relatives wait hungrily at the wedding feast |
| Pakkathilae nee irundhu parimaaru konjam | Stand beside me and serve them a little |
ஓ ..ஓஓஓ...ஓஓஓ... ஓஓஓ... ஓஓஓ...
O..ooo ooo oooo oo ooo
நல்ல காரியம் சீக்கிரம் நடக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லுங்களேன்
துள்ளி வரும் முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
A good deed must happen soon
Please tell me a bit
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
நல்ல காரியம் சீக்கிரம் நடக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லுங்களேன்
துள்ளி வரும் முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
A good deed must happen soon
Please tell me a bit
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
பச்சைவண்ண வெற்றிலைப்போல்
பறந்தோடும் போது
பாக்கு வச்சு வெற்றிலையில்
சொன்னால் என்ன தூது
சொன்னால் என்ன தூது
Like a green betel leaf
As you fly away
Offering betel nut and leaf as an invitation
Why not send a message?
Why not send a message?
நல்ல காரியம் சீக்கிரம் நடக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லுங்களேன்
துள்ளி வரும் முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
முத்து கிள்ளைகளே முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
முத்து கிள்ளைகளே முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
A good deed must happen soon
Please tell me a bit
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ ஓ ஓ
O..ooo ooo oooo oo
Let the flood flow
Let it tell the woman
Let the heart cross boundaries and blossom into a flower
The melodies sung by those clouds
Let them become a messenger sent to see the colorful maiden
வெள்ளம் ஓடட்டும் பெண்ணிடம் கூறட்டும்
உள்ளம் வேலிக்கட்டை தாண்டி வந்து பூவாகட்டும்
அந்த மேகங்கள் பாடும் ராகங்கள்
வண்ணப் பெண் பார்க்க போய் வரும் தூதாகட்டும்
Let the flood flow
Let it tell the woman
Let the heart cross boundaries and blossom into a flower
The melodies sung by those clouds
Let them become a messenger sent to see the colorful maiden
வெள்ளம் ஓடட்டும் பெண்ணிடம் கூறட்டும்
உள்ளம் வேலிக்கட்டை தாண்டி வந்து பூவாகட்டும்
அந்த மேகங்கள் பாடும் ராகங்கள்
வண்ணப் பெண் பார்க்க போய் வரும் தூதாகட்டும்
If turmeric saplings are planted
Won't it spread its fragrance here?
If a message is conveyed through silence
Won't it be understood there?
மஞ்சளுக்கு நாத்து வச்சா
மணக்காதோ இங்கே
மௌனத்திலே சேதி சொன்னால்
புரியாதோ அங்கே
A good deed must happen soon
Please tell me a bit
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
நல்ல காரியம் சீக்கிரம் நடக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லுங்களேன்
துள்ளி வரும் முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
முத்து கிள்ளைகளே முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
முத்து கிள்ளைகளே முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
Haaa…aaaa…haaa..aaa
Oh golden fish in the lotus flower
Drinking overflowing honey, do you know my story?
That golden beetle, seeing this flower
Will you let us see the day it savors the sweet honey?
Relatives wait hungrily at the wedding feast
Stand beside me and serve them a little
ஹா ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆஆ
தங்க மீன்களே தாமரைப் பூவிலே
பொங்கும் தேன் உண்டு என்பதை நீர் அறிவீர்களோ
அந்த பொன் வண்டு இந்த பூக்கண்டு
இன்ப தேன் உண்ணும் நாள் பார்க்க விடுவீர்களோ
பந்தியிலே காத்திருக்கு பசியோடு சொந்தம்
பக்கத்திலே நீ இருந்து பரிமாறு கொஞ்சம்
நல்ல காரியம் சீக்கிரம் நடக்கணும்
கொஞ்சம் சொல்லுங்களேன்
துள்ளி வரும் முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
முத்து கிள்ளைகளே முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
முத்து கிள்ளைகளே முத்து கிள்ளைகளே
O..ooo ooo oooo oo ooo
O..ooo ooo oooo oo ooo
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
A good deed must happen soon
Konjam sollungalaen
Please tell me a bit
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
A good deed must happen soon
Konjam sollungalaen
Please tell me a bit
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
Pachai vanna vettrilai pol
Like a green betel leaf
Parandhodum podhu
As you fly away
Paakku vechu vethilaiyil
Offering betel nut and leaf as an invitation
Sonnaal enna thodhu
Why not send a message?
Sonnaal enna thoodhu
Why not send a message?
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
A good deed must happen soon
Konjam sollungalaen
Please tell me a bit
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
O..ooo ooo oooo oo
O..ooo ooo oooo oo
Vellam odattum
Let the flood flow
Pennidam koorattum
Let it tell the woman
Ullam vaelikattai thaandi vandhu poovagattum
Let the heart cross boundaries and blossom into a flower
Andha megangal paadum raagangal
The melodies sung by those clouds
Vanna pen paarkka poyi varum thoodhuaagattum
Let them become a messenger sent to see the colorful maiden
Vellam odattum
Let the flood flow
Pennidam koorattum
Let it tell the woman
Ullam vaelikattai thaandi vandhu poovagattum
Let the heart cross boundaries and blossom into a flower
Andha megangal paadum raagangal
The melodies sung by those clouds
Vanna pen paarkka poyi varum thoodhuaagattum
Let them become a messenger sent to see the colorful maiden
Manjalukku naathu vecha
If turmeric saplings are planted
Manakaadho ingae
Won't it spread its fragrance here?
Maunathilae sedhi sonnaal
If a message is conveyed through silence
Puriyadho angae
Won't it be understood there?
Nalla kaariyam seekiram nadakkanum
A good deed must happen soon
Konjam sollungalaen
Please tell me a bit
Thulli varum muthu killaigalae
Oh leaping pearl-like parrots!
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
Muthu killaigalae muthu killaigalae
Pearl parrots, pearl parrots
Haaa…aaaa…haaa..aaa
Haaa…aaaa…haaa..aaa
Thanga meengalae thaamarai poovilae
Oh golden fish in the lotus flower
Pongum thaen undu en kadhai neer ariveergaloo
Drinking overflowing honey, do you know my story?
Andha pon vandu indha pookandu
That golden beetle, seeing this flower
Inba thaen unnum naal paarkka viduveergaloo
Will you let us see the day it savors the sweet honey?
Pandhiyilae kaathirukku pasiyodu sondham
Relatives wait hungrily at the wedding feast
Pakkathilae nee irundhu parimaaru konjam
Stand beside me and serve them a little
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic song from the 1973 film 'Ponnoonjal' expresses the passionate anticipation of an upcoming wedding and auspicious union ('nalla kaariyam'). The protagonist addresses elements of nature—parrots, flowing streams, clouds, and golden fish—asking them to act as messengers ('thoodhu') to convey his deep love and intentions to his beloved. Through rich imagery of traditional invitations with betel leaves, turmeric, and wedding feasts, the song captures the cultural essence of South Indian courtship and matrimony, beautifully penned by Kannadasan and set to melody by M. S. Vishwanathan.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Thoodhu Ilakkiyam (Messenger motif)
“Thulli varum muthu killaigalae”
A classic Sangam poetic convention where elements of nature like parrots (killaigalae) and clouds (megangal) are implored to carry love messages to the beloved.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Pachai vanna vettrilai pol”
Comparing the birds' movement or nature to a fresh green betel leaf (pachai vanna vettrilai pol).
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Vellam odattum / Pennidam koorattum”
Repetition of the verbal suffix '-attum' across consecutive lines establishing rhythmic harmony.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Andha pon vandu indha pookandu”
Describing the protagonist and heroine as the golden beetle (pon vandu) and flower (poo) yearning for honey (matrimonial bliss).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ponnoonjal' (1973) starred Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan and Usha Nandini. The track 'Nalla Kaariyam' remains an enduring classic duets of T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, celebrated for Kannadasan's integration of traditional Tamil wedding customs into song lyrics.
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