Nalla Veenai Idhe Mannile
From Kannin Manigal · 1956
- Lyricist
- Kambadasan
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music director
- S. V. Venkatraman
- Details
- Kannin Manigal1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nalla veenai idhae | This is a fine veena. |
| Nalla veenai idhae | This is a fine veena. |
| Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo | Will you throw it in the dust to perish? |
| Ammaa allaal vaazhvinilae | Oh Mother, in a life of distress, |
| Allaal vaazhvinilae | In a life of distress, |
| Anbenum amuthai arulvaayo | Will you bestow the nectar of love? |
| Female | |
| Amma nalla veenai idhae | Oh Mother, this is a fine veena. |
| Female | |
| Vanthathu vasantham | Spring has arrived, |
| Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae | The cuckoo of life sings. |
| Vaiyaththil kaalam | Time in this world, |
| Vaanil vilaiyaaduthae | Plays in the sky. |
| Female | |
| Vanthathu vasantham | Spring has arrived, |
| Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae | The cuckoo of life sings. |
| Vaiyaththil kaalam | Time in this world, |
| Vaanil vilaiyaaduthae | Plays in the sky. |
| Female | |
| Enthanin nenjamo | As for my heart, |
| Yaengiyae vaaduthae | It yearns and wilts, |
| Yaengiyae vaaduthae | It yearns and wilts. |
| Iravum pagalum | Night and day, |
| Kanneeraal oduthe | It flows with tears. |
| Female | |
| Amma nalla veenai idhae | Oh Mother, this is a fine veena. |
| Female | |
| Velli nilaavinilae..aa… | In the silvery moonlight... |
| Velli nilaavinilae | In the silvery moonlight, |
| Kalangam veedhiyunil mun jolikkum | Even a blemish shines brightly out in the open, |
| Female | |
| Mullin naduvinilae | In the midst of thorns, |
| Mullin naduvinilae | In the midst of thorns, |
| Rojavum mugam kaattiyae | The rose shows its face, |
| Thaen suvai oottiyae sirikkum | And smiles while feeding sweet honey. |
| Female | |
| Nalla veenai idhae | This is a fine veena. |
| Anbin dheepam idhae | This is the lamp of love. |
| Kurudaai anaivatho kaattrinilae | Will it be extinguished blindly in the wind? |
| Female | |
| Chinnajchiru padake | Oh tiny little boat, |
| Chinnajchiru padake | Oh tiny little boat, |
| Vellam saervatho aattrinilae | Will a flood overtake it in the river? |
| Female | |
| Nalla veenai idhae | This is a fine veena. |
| Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo | Will you throw it in the dust to perish? |
| Nalla veenai idhae | This is a fine veena. |
நல்ல வீணை இதே
நல்ல வீணை இதே
மண்ணிலே நலங்கெட எரிவாயோ
அம்மா அல்லால் வாழ்வினிலே
அல்லால் வாழ்வினிலே
அன்பெனும் அமுதை அருள்வாயோ
This is a fine veena.
This is a fine veena.
Will you throw it in the dust to perish?
Oh Mother, in a life of distress,
In a life of distress,
Will you bestow the nectar of love?
அம்மா நல்ல வீணை இதே
Oh Mother, this is a fine veena.
வந்தது வசந்தம்
வாழ்வின் குயில் பாடுதே
வையத்தில் காலம்
வானில் விளையாடுதே
Spring has arrived,
The cuckoo of life sings.
Time in this world,
Plays in the sky.
வந்தது வசந்தம்
வாழ்வின் குயில் பாடுதே
வையத்தில் காலம்
வானில் விளையாடுதே
Spring has arrived,
The cuckoo of life sings.
Time in this world,
Plays in the sky.
எந்தனின் நெஞ்சமோ
ஏங்கியே வாடுதே
ஏங்கியே வாடுதே
இரவும் பகலும்
கண்ணீரால் ஓடுதே
As for my heart,
It yearns and wilts,
It yearns and wilts.
Night and day,
It flows with tears.
அம்மா நல்ல வீணை இதே
Oh Mother, this is a fine veena.
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே...ஆ.....
வெள்ளி நிலாவினிலே...
களங்கம் வீதியுனில் முன் ஜொலிக்கும்
In the silvery moonlight...
In the silvery moonlight,
Even a blemish shines brightly out in the open,
முள்ளின் நடுவினிலே
முள்ளின் நடுவினிலே
ரோஜாவும் முகம் காட்டியே
தேன் சுவை ஊட்டியே சிரிக்கும்
In the midst of thorns,
In the midst of thorns,
The rose shows its face,
And smiles while feeding sweet honey.
நல்ல வீணை இதே...
This is a fine veena.
This is the lamp of love.
Will it be extinguished blindly in the wind?
அன்பின் தீபம் இதே
குருடாய் அனைவதோ காற்றினிலே
Oh tiny little boat,
Oh tiny little boat,
Will a flood overtake it in the river?
சின்னச்சிறு படகே
சின்னச்சிறு படகே
வெள்ளம் சேர்வதோ ஆற்றினிலே
This is a fine veena.
Will you throw it in the dust to perish?
This is a fine veena.
நல்ல வீணை இதே
மண்ணிலே நலங்கெட எரிவாயோ
நல்ல வீணை இதே
Nalla veenai idhae
This is a fine veena.
Nalla veenai idhae
This is a fine veena.
Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo
Will you throw it in the dust to perish?
Ammaa allaal vaazhvinilae
Oh Mother, in a life of distress,
Allaal vaazhvinilae
In a life of distress,
Anbenum amuthai arulvaayo
Will you bestow the nectar of love?
Amma nalla veenai idhae
Oh Mother, this is a fine veena.
Vanthathu vasantham
Spring has arrived,
Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae
The cuckoo of life sings.
Vaiyaththil kaalam
Time in this world,
Vaanil vilaiyaaduthae
Plays in the sky.
Vanthathu vasantham
Spring has arrived,
Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae
The cuckoo of life sings.
Vaiyaththil kaalam
Time in this world,
Vaanil vilaiyaaduthae
Plays in the sky.
Enthanin nenjamo
As for my heart,
Yaengiyae vaaduthae
It yearns and wilts,
Yaengiyae vaaduthae
It yearns and wilts.
Iravum pagalum
Night and day,
Kanneeraal oduthe
It flows with tears.
Amma nalla veenai idhae
Oh Mother, this is a fine veena.
Velli nilaavinilae..aa…
In the silvery moonlight...
Velli nilaavinilae
In the silvery moonlight,
Kalangam veedhiyunil mun jolikkum
Even a blemish shines brightly out in the open,
Mullin naduvinilae
In the midst of thorns,
Mullin naduvinilae
In the midst of thorns,
Rojavum mugam kaattiyae
The rose shows its face,
Thaen suvai oottiyae sirikkum
And smiles while feeding sweet honey.
Nalla veenai idhae
This is a fine veena.
Anbin dheepam idhae
This is the lamp of love.
Kurudaai anaivatho kaattrinilae
Will it be extinguished blindly in the wind?
Chinnajchiru padake
Oh tiny little boat,
Chinnajchiru padake
Oh tiny little boat,
Vellam saervatho aattrinilae
Will a flood overtake it in the river?
Nalla veenai idhae
This is a fine veena.
Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo
Will you throw it in the dust to perish?
Nalla veenai idhae
This is a fine veena.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant composition explores deep existential despair, emotional yearning, and a plea for divine grace. Drawing poetic inspiration from Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's famous works, the song compares the human soul and potential to a finely crafted veena, a delicate lamp of love, and a tiny boat. The protagonist questions whether such a precious creation will be discarded to perish in ruin or blown out by harsh winds.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (Kavithai Kurippu)
“Nalla veenai idhae / Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo”
The line 'Nalla veenai idhae / Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo' directly references Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's immortal poem 'Nallathor Veenai Seidhe', adapting its existential motif.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Anbin dheepam idhae”
Human life and love are metaphorically compared to a fine musical instrument ('Nalla veenai'), a lamp ('Anbin dheepam'), and a tiny boat navigating a river ('Chinnajchiru padake').
Moonaiai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vanthathu vasantham / Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae”
Repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sound 'Va' across words creating rhythmic harmony.
Contrast (Muran)
“Vanthathu vasantham ... Enthanin nenjamo Yaengiyae vaaduthae”
Contrasting the joyful arrival of spring in nature against the weeping, yearning heart of the speaker.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sung by Carnatic classical icon M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV) and set to music by S. V. Venkatraman for the 1956 film 'Kannin Manigal', the song's lyrics were written by Kambadasan, who ingeniously reinterpreted Bharatiyar's philosophical poem on purpose and destiny.
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