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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai Male

From Petralthan Pillaiya · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Petralthan Pillaiya1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambiBelieving in tiny little hands,
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambiA history is waiting to be made, younger brother.
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambiBelieving in tiny little hands,
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambiA history is waiting to be made, younger brother.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Male
Thavaru enbadhu thavari seivadhuA mistake is something done by accident,
Thappu enbadhu therindhu seivadhuA wrong is something done knowingly.
Thavaru enbadhu thavari seivadhuA mistake is something done by accident,
Thappu enbadhu therindhu seivadhuA wrong is something done knowingly.
Thavaru seidhavan thirundha paarkkanumOne who made a mistake must try to reform,
Thappu seidhavan varundhi aaganumOne who did a wrong must feel regretful.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Male
Annaiyidam nee anbai vaangalaamYou can receive love from your mother,
Thandhaiyidam nee arivai vaangalaamYou can receive wisdom from your father.
Annaiyidam nee anbai vaangalaamYou can receive love from your mother,
Thandhaiyidam nee arivai vaangalaamYou can receive wisdom from your father.
Irandum irundhaal paerai vaangalaamIf you have both, you can earn a good name,
Paerai vaanginaal oorai vaangalaamIf you earn a good name, you can win over the whole town.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambiBelieving in tiny little hands,
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambiA history is waiting to be made, younger brother.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Male
Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaamIf you have compassion, you can become a philanthropist,
Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaamIf you have a sense of duty, you can become a hero.
Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaamIf you have compassion, you can become a philanthropist,
Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaamIf you have a sense of duty, you can become a hero.
Porumai irundhaal manidhanaagalaamIf you have patience, you can become a true human,
Moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaamIf you have all three, you can become a leader.
Indha moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaamIf you have these three, you can become a leader.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Male
Arivukku inangu valluvarai pol…Yield to wisdom like Thiruvalluvar...
Ooo… oo…hooOoo... oo...hoo
Anbukku vanangu vallaraarai pol…Bow down to love like Vallalar...
Aa… aa…haa…Aa... aa...haa...
Kavidhaigal vazhangu bharadhiyai pol…Offer poetry like Subramania Bharati...
Aa… aa…haa…Aa... aa...haa...
Maedaiyil muzhangu thiru vi kaa pol…Roar on stage like Thiru. Vi. Ka...
Maedaiyil muzhangu thiru vi kaa polRoar on stage like Thiru. Vi. Ka.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambiBelieving in tiny little hands,
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambiA history is waiting to be made, younger brother.
Male
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambiBelieving in good, good children,
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambiThis country relies on them, younger brother.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai Nambi is an iconic inspirational song from the 1966 film Petralthan Pillaiya. Written by Vaali and performed by T. M. Soundararajan for M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), the song serves as a moral guide aimed at raising righteous children who will form the foundation of a prosperous nation. It outlines essential life values, clearly differentiating an unintentional slip ('thavaru') from a deliberate wrongdoing ('thappu'), encouraging moral correction and accountability.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi

The repetition of words like 'Nalla nalla' and 'Chinnanchiru' emphasizes the virtues of good character and childhood innocence.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Epiphora)

Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaam / Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaam

The rhyming suffixes '-aagalaam' in consecutive lines create a rhythmic and memorable moral cadence.

Upamai (Simile)

Arivukku inangu valluvarai pol…

The lyricist draws direct comparisons using 'pol' (like) to iconic Tamil historical and literary stalwarts as role models for children.

Ethitai (Semantic Contrast)

Thavaru enbadhu thavari seivadhu / Thappu enbadhu therindhu seivadhu

Explicit moral distinction made between accidental error ('thavaru') and conscious wrong ('thappu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Petralthan Pillaiya (1966) was an official adaptation of Charlie Chaplin's famous silent film 'The Kid' (1921), starring M. G. Ramachandran alongside Master Sekhar. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan, this song became an anthem played widely in Tamil Nadu schools during Children's Day celebrations and morning assemblies.

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