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Petralthan Pillaiya album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai Male

From Petralthan Pillaiya · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Petralthan Pillaiya
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
4 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambi
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambi
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambi
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambi
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Thavaru enbadhu thavari seivadhu
Thappu enbadhu therindhu seivadhu
Thavaru enbadhu thavari seivadhu
Thappu enbadhu therindhu seivadhu
Thavaru seidhavan thirundha paarkkanum
Thappu seidhavan varundhi aaganum
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Annaiyidam nee anbai vaangalaam
Thandhaiyidam nee arivai vaangalaam
Annaiyidam nee anbai vaangalaam
Thandhaiyidam nee arivai vaangalaam
Irandum irundhaal paerai vaangalaam
Paerai vaanginaal oorai vaangalaam
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambi
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambi
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaam
Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaam
Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaam
Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaam
Porumai irundhaal manidhanaagalaam
Moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaam
Indha moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaam
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Arivukku inangu valluvarai pol…
Ooo… oo…hoo
Anbukku vanangu vallaraarai pol…
Aa… aa…haa…
Kavidhaigal vazhangu bharadhiyai pol…
Aa… aa…haa…
Maedaiyil muzhangu thiru vi kaa pol…
Maedaiyil muzhangu thiru vi kaa pol
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambi
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambi
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
Relying on tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, little brother!
Relying on tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, little brother!
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
A mistake is done unintentionally,
a wrongdoing is done knowingly.
A mistake is done unintentionally,
a wrongdoing is done knowingly.
One who made a mistake must try to reform,
one who did wrong must truly repent.
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
From a mother, you can receive love,
from a father, you can gain wisdom.
From a mother, you can receive love,
from a father, you can gain wisdom.
If you have both, you will earn a good name,
and with a good name, you can win over the whole town!
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
Relying on tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, little brother!
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
If you have compassion, you can become a great giver,
if you have a sense of duty, you can become a hero.
If you have compassion, you can become a great giver,
if you have a sense of duty, you can become a hero.
If you have patience, you can become a true human being,
and with all three, you can become a leader.
If you have these three, you can become a leader.
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
Yield to wisdom like Valluvar (the ancient poet-sage),
Oh... oh... ho...
Bow down to love like Vallalar (the saint of compassion),
Ah... ah... ha...
Share poetic words like Bharathi (the visionary poet)...
Ah... aah... ha...
Roar from the stage like Thiru Vi Ka (the great orator)...
Roar from the stage like Thiru Vi Ka (the great orator)...
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
Relying on tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, little brother!
Placing its faith in good children,
this entire country rests on you, little brother!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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