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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Kanavanukku

From Ilaiyarani Rajalakshmi · 1978

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ilaiyarani Rajalakshmi
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
7 Aug 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
Avan vallamai endrumae virumbuvaal
Anbu vaazhkkaiyilae deepa oli yaettruvaal
Avan vallamai endrumae virumbuvaal
Anbu vaazhkkaiyilae deepa oli yaettruvaal
Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
Sri raman mithilai nagar meethinil vanthaan
Angu seedhaiyaval avan thol kandaal tholae kandaal
Kadhal konda janagiyai kamban kandaan
Antha kadhalukku veeramae kaaranam endraan
Kadhalukku veeramae kaaranam endraan
Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
Thirumurugan veleduththu veeram kaattinaan
Antha deivaanai muruganukae maalai soottinaal
Thirumurugan veleduththu veeram kaattinaan
Antha deivaanai muruganukae maalai soottinaal
Kaalamellaam kaalaiyarkku valimai vendumae
Nalla kaariyangal saathikkum thiramai vendumae
Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
Thanneeril irangaamal neentha mudiyumaa
Thairiyamae illaamal vaazh mudiyumaa
Thanneeril irangaamal neentha mudiyumaa
Thairiyamae illaamal vaazh mudiyumaa
Tannai nambum manithanaiyae ulagam nampum
Intha thaththuvamae illaraththil nallathu seiyum
Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
Avan vallamai endrumae virumbuvaal
Anbu vaazhkkaiyilae deepa oli yaettruvaal
: Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval
Antha kadavalukke nandri kooruvaal
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
She will always take pride in his strength,
And light the lamp of joy in their loving life.
She will always take pride in his strength,
And light the lamp of joy in their loving life.
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
Lord Rama arrived in the city of Mithila,
Where Sita saw his strong shoulders and gazed only at them.
The poet Kamban witnessed Sita fall in love,
And said Rama's valor was the reason for her love.
Said his valor was the reason for her love.
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
Lord Murugan raised his spear and showed his bravery,
And Deivayanai garlanded Murugan with love.
Lord Murugan raised his spear and showed his bravery,
And Deivayanai garlanded Murugan with love.
Throughout their lives, young men need strength,
And the ability to achieve good deeds.
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
Can anyone swim without stepping into the water?
Can anyone live life without courage?
Can anyone swim without stepping into the water?
Can anyone live life without courage?
The world believes in a person who believes in himself;
This truth brings harmony and blessings to married life.
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
She will always take pride in his strength,
And light the lamp of joy in their loving life.
A woman blessed with a good husband
Will always offer her thanks to God.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval' celebrates the joy and fulfillment of a woman blessed with a virtuous and courageous husband. It highlights strength, self-confidence, and capability as crucial virtues in a man that bring harmony and prosperity to domestic life (illarum). Through these virtues, the wife lights the lamp of happiness and expresses her heartfelt gratitude to God. To emphasize the connection between valor and devotion, lyricist Poovai Senguttavan uses classic mythological allusions. He references Kamban's Ramayana, where Sita falls in love upon witnessing Rama's heroic presence in Mithila, as well as Deivanai marrying Lord Murugan after his brave deeds with the spear. The lyrics conclude with practical wisdom—that just as swimming requires entering the water, a meaningful life requires courage and self-belief.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Literary Allusion (Ilakkia Kurippu)

“Angu seedhaiyaval avan thol kandaal tholae kandaal”

Refers directly to Kamba Ramayanam's famous scene in Mithila ('Thol kandaar tholae kandaar') where Sita gazes upon Rama's shoulders.

Mythological Allusion (Samaaya Kurippu)

“Thirumurugan veleduththu veeram kaattinaan”

References Lord Murugan wielding his Vel (spear) and his divine marriage to Deivanai as an example of valor inspiring love.

Analogy / Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Thanneeril irangaamal neentha mudiyumaa”

Uses the practical impossibility of swimming without getting into water as an analogy for attempting to live life without courage.

Refrain (Pallavi Madakku)

“Nalla kanavanukku manaiviyaanaval”

The repeating core lines reinforce the central theme of a wife's gratitude and devotion to a good husband.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyric 'thol kandaal tholae kandaal' is a direct homage to the famous verse in Kamban's Kamba Ramayanam ('Thol kandaar tholae kandaar...') describing how the women of Mithila were mesmerized by specific features of Lord Rama's divine beauty, unable to look anywhere else once they caught sight of his shoulders.

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