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Kannin Manigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Veenai Idhe Mannile

From Kannin Manigal · 1956

Lyricist
Kambadasan
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
S. V. Venkatraman
Movie name
Kannin Manigal
Movie release year
1956
Lyrics added on
13 Aug 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nalla veenai idhae
Nalla veenai idhae
Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo
Ammaa allaal vaazhvinilae
Allaal vaazhvinilae
Anbenum amuthai arulvaayo
Amma nalla veenai idhae
Vanthathu vasantham
Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae
Vaiyaththil kaalam
Vaanil vilaiyaaduthae
Vanthathu vasantham
Vaazhvin kuyil paaduthae
Vaiyaththil kaalam
Vaanil vilaiyaaduthae
Enthanin nenjamo
Yaengiyae vaaduthae
Yaengiyae vaaduthae
Iravum pagalum
Kanneeraal oduthe
Amma nalla veenai idhae
Velli nilaavinilae..aa…
Velli nilaavinilae
Kalangam veedhiyunil mun jolikkum
Mullin naduvinilae
Mullin naduvinilae
Rojavum mugam kaattiyae
Thaen suvai oottiyae sirikkum
Nalla veenai idhae
Anbin dheepam idhae
Kurudaai anaivatho kaattrinilae
Chinnajchiru padake
Chinnajchiru padake
Vellam saervatho aattrinilae
Nalla veenai idhae
Mannilae nalangeda erivaayo
Nalla veenai idhae
This is a fine veena (musical instrument),
This is a fine veena.
Will you throw it into the dust to be ruined?
O Mother, otherwise in life,
Otherwise in this life,
Will you bless me with the sweet nectar of love?
O Mother, this is a fine veena.
Spring has arrived,
The cuckoo of life is singing.
In this world, time
Plays across the open sky.
Spring has arrived,
The cuckoo of life is singing.
In this world, time
Plays across the open sky.
Yet my own heart
Longs and withers away,
Longs and withers away.
Day and night
Flow away in tears.
O Mother, this is a fine veena.
In the silvery moon... ah...
In the silvery moon,
Despite its flaw, it shines brightly.
In the midst of thorns,
In the midst of thorns,
The rose shows its face,
Offering sweet nectar with a smile.
This is a fine veena.
This is a lamp of love,
Will it be snuffed out blindly in the wind?
Like a tiny little boat,
Like a tiny little boat,
Will it be lost in the river's flood?
This is a fine veena,
Will you throw it into the dust to be ruined?
This is a fine veena.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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