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Isaimozhi
Vivasayee album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Nalla Nilam

From Vivasayee · 1967

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Vivasayee
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
30 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nalla nalla nilam paarthu
Naamum vidhai vidhaikanum
Nalla nalla nilam paarthu
Naamum vidhai vidhaikanum
Naattu makkal managalilae
Naanayathai valarkkanum
Palli endra nilangalilae
Kalvithanai vidahikkanum
Pillaigalai seerthiruthi
Periyavargal aakkanum
Nalla nalla nilam paarthu
Naamum vidhai vidhaikanum
Kanniyarkkum kaalaiyarkkum
Kattupattai vidhaithu
Karppu nilai thavaraadhu
Kaadhal payir valarthu
Kanniyarkkum kaalaiyarkkum
Kattupattai vidhaithu
Karppu nilai thavaraadhu
Kaadhal payir valarthu
Annai thandhai aanavarkku
Tham poruppai vidhaithu
Pinn varum sandhidhiyai
Paenum murai valarthu
Iruppavargal idhayathilae
Irakkamadhai vidhaikkanum
Illaadhor vaazhkaiyilae
Inba payir valarkkanum
Nalla nalla nilam paarthu
Naamum vidhai vidhaikanum
Naattu makkal managalilae
Naanayathai valarkkanum
Paar muludhum manidha kula
Panbudhanai vidhaithu
Paamarargal nenjathilae
Pagutharivai valarthu
Paar muludhum manidha kula
Panbudhanai vidhaithu
Paamarargal nenjathilae
Pagutharivai valarthu
Por muraiyai kondavarkku
Nermuraiyai vidhaithu
Seer valara dhinamum veghamadhai valarthu
Pettra thirunaattinilae
Pattruthanai vidhaikkanum
Pattruthanai vidhaithu vittu
Nalla ottrumaiyai valarkkanum
Nalla nalla nilam paarthu
Naamum vidhai vidhaikanum
Naattu makkal managalilae
Naanayathai valarkkanum
Naanayathai valarkkanum
Looking for good, fertile soil,
we must sow our seeds.
Looking for good, fertile soil,
we must sow our seeds.
In the minds of our country's people,
we must cultivate honesty.
In the fields known as schools,
we must sow education.
Guiding and shaping children,
we must raise them into noble adults.
Looking for good, fertile soil,
we must sow our seeds.
In young women and young men,
sowing self-restraint,
staying true to moral integrity,
cultivating the crop of love,
In young women and young men,
sowing self-restraint,
staying true to moral integrity,
cultivating the crop of love,
In those who have become parents,
sowing their sense of duty,
to care for the coming generations,
cultivating proper ways of raising them,
In the hearts of the wealthy,
we must sow compassion.
In the lives of the needy,
we must grow the harvest of joy.
Looking for good, fertile soil,
we must sow our seeds.
In the minds of our country's people,
we must cultivate honesty.
Across the entire world,
sowing human values,
in the hearts of common people,
cultivating rational thought,
Across the entire world,
sowing human values,
in the hearts of common people,
cultivating rational thought,
In those who wage war,
sowing the path of righteousness,
building the momentum for daily progress,
In the beloved land that gave us birth,
we must sow devotion.
And having sown devotion,
we must cultivate great unity.
Looking for good, fertile soil,
we must sow our seeds.
In the minds of our country's people,
we must cultivate honesty.
We must cultivate honesty.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic song from 'Vivasayee' (1967) uses the central agricultural process of sowing seeds and harvesting crops as an extended metaphor for social, moral, and political reform. M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) uses agricultural imagery to deliver an inspiring message on building a progressive society through education, discipline, compassion, and patriotism. The lyricist Udumalai Narayanakavi weaves rationalist and ethical principles into the verses, encouraging the cultivation of integrity in citizens, quality education in schools, parental responsibility, rational thought among common people, and compassion toward the needy to construct a harmonious nation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Palli endra nilangalilae / Kalvithanai vidahikkanum”

The entire lyric compares societal reform, virtue, education, and love to farming activities like sowing seeds (vidhaithu) and growing crops (payir valarthu).

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kanniyarkkum kaalaiyarkkum / Kattupattai vidhaithu”

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Ka' in Kanniyarkkum/Kaalaiyarkkum/Kattupattai/Karppu/Kaadhal.

Edugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Nalla nalla nilam paarthu / Palli endra nilangalilae”

Matching second consonants across successive lines to create rhythmic harmony (e.g., 'lla' in Nalla / Palli / Pillaigalai).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Kattupattai vidhaithu / Kaadhal payir valarthu”

Consistent alternating end rhymes using 'vidhaithu' (sowing) and 'valarthu' (nurturing/cultivating) or 'vidhaikkanum' and 'valarkkanum'.

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Trivia

Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, a prominent reformist poet of the Dravidian movement, the song uniquely blends Dravidian rationalist ideals ('Pagutharivai valarthu') with MGR's screen persona as a champion of the working class and farmers. 'Vivasayee' was filmed extensively on real farm locations and remains one of MGR's most celebrated thematic classics promoting agriculture.

Keep listening

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