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Petralthan Pillaiya album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai

From Petralthan Pillaiya · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Petralthan Pillaiya
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
3 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
Both :Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambi
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambi
Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaam
Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaam
Porumai irundhaal manidhanaagalaam
Moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaam
Indha moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaam
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Annaiyidam nee anbai vaangalaam
Thandhaiyidam nee arivai vaangalaam
Irandum irundhaal paerai vaangalaam
Paerai vaanginaal oorai vaangalaam
Anbil uyarndhavar yaaru
Vallalaar
Aaan… vallalaar
Arivil uyarndhavar yaaru
Valluvar
Aamaa valluvar
Paattil uyarndhavar yaaru
Bharadhiyaar
Aamaam bharadhiyaar
Kovilai thaedi dheivam vandhadho
Kovilai thaedi dheivam vandhadho
Koottukkul paravai thirumbi vandhadho
Thaai mugam paarkka pillai vandhadho
Thanga thaamarai arumbi vandhadho
Mazhalaiyai kaetten
Manam kulirndhadhu
Madiyil sumandhaen
Ninaivu vandhadhu
Oomaiyin ullam vaai malarndhadhu
Maganae endroru kural koduthadhu
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi
Indha naadae irukkudhu thambi
Chinnanchiru kaigalai nambi
Oru sarithiram irukkudhu thambi
Relying on good, virtuous children,
this whole nation rests upon them, little brother.
Relying on good, virtuous children,
this whole nation rests upon them, little brother.
Counting on these tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, little brother.
Counting on these tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, 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 patience, you can become a true human being.
If you have all three, you can become a leader.
If you have all these three, you can become a leader.
Relying on good, virtuous children,
this whole nation rests upon them, little brother.
From a mother, you can receive love.
From a father, you can gain wisdom.
If you have both, you can earn a good name.
If you earn a good name, you can win over the whole town.
Who is the greatest in love?
Vallalar.
Ah yes... Vallalar.
Who is the greatest in wisdom?
Valluvar.
Yes, Valluvar.
Who is the greatest in song and poetry?
Bharatiyar.
Yes, Bharatiyar.
Has God come seeking the temple?
Has God come seeking the temple?
Has the bird returned to its nest?
Has the child come to see its mother's face?
Has a golden lotus bloomed?
I heard the sweet babble of the child,
and my heart found peace.
I held him in my lap,
and my memories returned.
The heart of a mute blossomed into speech,
calling out aloud, "My son!"
Relying on good, virtuous children,
this whole nation rests upon them, little brother.
Relying on good, virtuous children,
this whole nation rests upon them, little brother.
Counting on these tiny little hands,
a whole history awaits, little brother.
Female
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Female
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Chorus
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Chorus
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai Nambi' is an inspiring, moral-driven song from the 1966 Tamil movie Petralthan Pillaiya, written by lyricist Vaali. The song serves as an address to the youth, highlighting how the future and progress of the nation depend on raising children imbued with strong ethics and righteousness. It presents a formula for true leadership based on three core virtues: compassion, devotion to duty, and patience, while citing historical stalwarts like Vallalar, Thiruvalluvar, and Bharathiyar as ideal role models. In the second half, the tone turns tender and emotional, describing the joy of parental affection and reunion. Using vivid metaphors of a bird returning to its nest and a golden lotus blossoming, the lyrics capture the emotional awakening of a parent upon hearing their child's voice and holding them close, illustrating how love restores lost memories and brings voice to silent hearts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar / Repetition for emphasis

“Nalla nalla pillaigalai nambi”

The repetitive use of 'Nalla nalla' (Good, good) emphasizes the primary importance of character and moral uprightness in children.

Iyaibu / End Rhyme

“Karunai irundhaal vallalaagalaam / Kadamai irundhaal veeranaagalaam / Porumai irundhaal manidhanaagalaam / Moondrum irundhaal thalaivanaagalaam”

The identical suffix '-aagalaam' across four consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, conditional flow explaining how virtues build character.

Rhetorical Questioning & Historical Allusion

“Anbil uyarndhavar yaaru / Vallalaar ... Arivil uyarndhavar yaaru / Valluvar ... Paattil uyarndhavar yaaru / Bharadhiyaar”

Vaali uses rhetorical questions followed by answers to evoke figures from Tamil literary and spiritual history (Vallalar, Thiruvalluvar, Bharathiyar) as personifications of love, wisdom, and poetry.

Urvagam / Metaphor

“Thanga thaamarai arumbi vandhadho”

The line metaphorically compares an innocent child to a 'budding golden lotus' ('Thanga thaamarai arumbi').

Keep listening

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Nalla Nalla Pillaigalai Male1966
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Kanna Nee Vazhga1973
Manidharil ManikkamHopeFamily
Naalai Namathe Male1975
Naalai NamadheHopefulHope
Ammavil Thodanguthu1974
Orey SaatchiHopefulCompassion

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