Nalla Vellikizhamaiyile
From Sakkarai Devan · 1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae | On an auspicious Friday |
| Amma un vaasalilae | At your doorstep, Mother |
| Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla | I sang a song to speak of your glory |
| Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla | I strung colorful flowers for you to wear |
| Male | |
| Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae | On an auspicious Friday |
| Amma un vaasalilae | At your doorstep, Mother |
| Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla | I sang a song to speak of your glory |
| Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla | I strung colorful flowers for you to wear |
| Vaadiyamma vaazhththidaththaanae | Come, Mother, to bestow your blessings |
| Kaanthaariyammaa un magan naanae | Mother Kaanthaari, I am your son |
| Male | |
| Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae | On an auspicious Friday |
| Amma un vaasalilae | At your doorstep, Mother |
| Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla | I sang a song to speak of your glory |
| Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla | I strung colorful flowers for you to wear |
| Male | |
| Aalai karumpaalai naam podalaam | We can set up the sugarcane mill |
| Aaththaa arul thaanae saaraakkuthu | Mother's grace turns it into rich juice |
| Saarai paagaaga naam kaaichalaam | We can boil the juice into thick syrup |
| Ammaa arulthaanae inipaakkuthu | Mother's grace makes it sweet |
| Male | |
| Sei thozhil nerththiyudan | With perfection in the work done |
| Seithida vendum endru | Striving that it must be done right |
| Akkarai kaattugindra sakkarai devan ingu | Here is Sakkarai Devan showing such deep care |
| Oor madhikka per vilanga | So the town respects and his name shines high |
| Vaazhvathellaam un arulalthaanae | Living successfully is all due to your grace alone |
| Male | |
| Velli kizhamaiyilae | On Friday |
| Amma un vaasalilae | At your doorstep, Mother |
| Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla | I sang a song to speak of your glory |
| Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla | I strung colorful flowers for you to wear |
| Male | |
| Ingae naam konda kai raasiyae | The lucky touch that we possess here |
| Amma aval thantha arulaasiyae | Is the holy blessing given by Mother |
| Endrum enai kaakkum magaraasiyae | O Queen of fortune who protects me forever |
| Vaazhven naan unthan pugazh pesiyae | I shall live praising your divine glory |
| Male | |
| Pillaigal menmaikkellaam | For all the elevation and greatness of children |
| Pettraval yaeniyadaa | The mother who gave birth is the ladder |
| Akkarai servatharkku annaithaan thoniyadaa | To reach the destination shore, mother is the boat |
| Kaalam ellaam kaavalukku | To guard and protect us throughout time |
| Thaai irukka kavalaigal yaedhu | When Mother is present, what worries can there be? |
| Male | |
| Velli kizhamaiyilae | On Friday |
| Amma un vaasalilae | At your doorstep, Mother |
| Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla | I sang a song to speak of your glory |
| Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla | I strung colorful flowers for you to wear |
| Vaadiyamma vaazhththidaththaanae | Come, Mother, to bestow your blessings |
| Kaanthaariyammaa un magan naanae | Mother Kaanthaari, I am your son |
| Male | |
| Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae | On an auspicious Friday |
| Amma un vaasalilae | At your doorstep, Mother |
| Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla | I sang a song to speak of your glory |
| Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla | I strung colorful flowers for you to wear |
நல்ல வெள்ளிக் கிழமையிலே
அம்மா உன் வாசலிலே
பாட்டெடுத்தேன் உந்தன் பெருமை சொல்ல
வண்ணப் பூ தொடுத்தேன் நீ சூடிக் கொள்ள
On an auspicious Friday
At your doorstep, Mother
I sang a song to speak of your glory
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
நல்ல வெள்ளிக் கிழமையிலே
அம்மா உன் வாசலிலே
பாட்டெடுத்தேன் உந்தன் பெருமை சொல்ல
வண்ணப் பூ தொடுத்தேன் நீ சூடிக் கொள்ள
வாடியம்மா வாழ்த்திடத்தானே
காந்தாரியம்மா உன் மகன் நானே
On an auspicious Friday
At your doorstep, Mother
I sang a song to speak of your glory
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Come, Mother, to bestow your blessings
Mother Kaanthaari, I am your son
நல்ல வெள்ளிக் கிழமையிலே
அம்மா உன் வாசலிலே
பாட்டெடுத்தேன் உந்தன் பெருமை சொல்ல
வண்ணப் பூ தொடுத்தேன் நீ சூடிக் கொள்ள
On an auspicious Friday
At your doorstep, Mother
I sang a song to speak of your glory
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
ஆலைக் கரும்பாலை நாம் போடலாம்
ஆத்தா அருள் தானே சாறாக்குது
சாறைப் பாகாக நாம் காய்ச்சலாம்
அம்மா அருள்தானே இனிப்பாக்குது
We can set up the sugarcane mill
Mother's grace turns it into rich juice
We can boil the juice into thick syrup
Mother's grace makes it sweet
செய் தொழில் நேர்த்தியுடன்
செய்திட வேண்டும் என்று
அக்கறை காட்டுகின்ற சக்கரை தேவன் இங்கு
ஊர் மதிக்க பேர் விளங்க
வாழ்வதெல்லாம் உன் அருளால்தானே...
With perfection in the work done
Striving that it must be done right
Here is Sakkarai Devan showing such deep care
So the town respects and his name shines high
Living successfully is all due to your grace alone
வெள்ளிக் கிழமையிலே
அம்மா உன் வாசலிலே
பாட்டெடுத்தேன் உந்தன் பெருமை சொல்ல
வண்ணப் பூ தொடுத்தேன் நீ சூடிக் கொள்ள
On Friday
At your doorstep, Mother
I sang a song to speak of your glory
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
இங்கே நாம் கொண்ட கை ராசியே
அம்மா அவள் தந்த அருளாசியே
என்றும் எனைக் காக்கும் மகராசியே
வாழ்வேன் நான் உந்தன் புகழ் பேசியே
The lucky touch that we possess here
Is the holy blessing given by Mother
O Queen of fortune who protects me forever
I shall live praising your divine glory
பிள்ளைகள் மேன்மைக்கெல்லாம்
பெற்றவள் ஏணியடா
அக்கரை சேர்வதற்கு அன்னைதான் தோணியடா
காலம் எல்லாம் காவலுக்கு
தாய் இருக்க கவலைகள் ஏது........
For all the elevation and greatness of children
The mother who gave birth is the ladder
To reach the destination shore, mother is the boat
To guard and protect us throughout time
When Mother is present, what worries can there be?
வெள்ளிக் கிழமையிலே
அம்மா உன் வாசலிலே
பாட்டெடுத்தேன் உந்தன் பெருமை சொல்ல
வண்ணப் பூ தொடுத்தேன் நீ சூடிக் கொள்ள
வாடியம்மா வாழ்த்திடத்தானே
காந்தாரியம்மா உன் மகன் நானே
On Friday
At your doorstep, Mother
I sang a song to speak of your glory
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Come, Mother, to bestow your blessings
Mother Kaanthaari, I am your son
நல்ல வெள்ளிக் கிழமையிலே
அம்மா உன் வாசலிலே
பாட்டெடுத்தேன் உந்தன் பெருமை சொல்ல
வண்ணப் பூ தொடுத்தேன் நீ சூடிக் கொள்ள
On an auspicious Friday
At your doorstep, Mother
I sang a song to speak of your glory
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae
On an auspicious Friday
Amma un vaasalilae
At your doorstep, Mother
Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla
I sang a song to speak of your glory
Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae
On an auspicious Friday
Amma un vaasalilae
At your doorstep, Mother
Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla
I sang a song to speak of your glory
Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Vaadiyamma vaazhththidaththaanae
Come, Mother, to bestow your blessings
Kaanthaariyammaa un magan naanae
Mother Kaanthaari, I am your son
Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae
On an auspicious Friday
Amma un vaasalilae
At your doorstep, Mother
Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla
I sang a song to speak of your glory
Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Aalai karumpaalai naam podalaam
We can set up the sugarcane mill
Aaththaa arul thaanae saaraakkuthu
Mother's grace turns it into rich juice
Saarai paagaaga naam kaaichalaam
We can boil the juice into thick syrup
Ammaa arulthaanae inipaakkuthu
Mother's grace makes it sweet
Sei thozhil nerththiyudan
With perfection in the work done
Seithida vendum endru
Striving that it must be done right
Akkarai kaattugindra sakkarai devan ingu
Here is Sakkarai Devan showing such deep care
Oor madhikka per vilanga
So the town respects and his name shines high
Vaazhvathellaam un arulalthaanae
Living successfully is all due to your grace alone
Velli kizhamaiyilae
On Friday
Amma un vaasalilae
At your doorstep, Mother
Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla
I sang a song to speak of your glory
Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Ingae naam konda kai raasiyae
The lucky touch that we possess here
Amma aval thantha arulaasiyae
Is the holy blessing given by Mother
Endrum enai kaakkum magaraasiyae
O Queen of fortune who protects me forever
Vaazhven naan unthan pugazh pesiyae
I shall live praising your divine glory
Pillaigal menmaikkellaam
For all the elevation and greatness of children
Pettraval yaeniyadaa
The mother who gave birth is the ladder
Akkarai servatharkku annaithaan thoniyadaa
To reach the destination shore, mother is the boat
Kaalam ellaam kaavalukku
To guard and protect us throughout time
Thaai irukka kavalaigal yaedhu
When Mother is present, what worries can there be?
Velli kizhamaiyilae
On Friday
Amma un vaasalilae
At your doorstep, Mother
Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla
I sang a song to speak of your glory
Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Vaadiyamma vaazhththidaththaanae
Come, Mother, to bestow your blessings
Kaanthaariyammaa un magan naanae
Mother Kaanthaari, I am your son
Nalla velli kizhamaiyilae
On an auspicious Friday
Amma un vaasalilae
At your doorstep, Mother
Paatteduththaen unthan perumai solla
I sang a song to speak of your glory
Vanna poo thoduththaen nee soodi kolla
I strung colorful flowers for you to wear
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nalla Velli Kizhamaiyilae is a deeply soulful folk-devotional track from the 1993 film Sakkarai Devan, composed and rendered by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali. The song serves as a reverence both to the village deity Goddess Kaanthaari and to maternal love in general. The protagonist attributes all his agricultural success, good fortune, and social standing in the village entirely to the divine blessings of his mother.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Pettraval yaeniyadaa / Akkarai servatharkku annaithaan thoniyadaa”
Compares the mother to a ladder ('yaeni') that helps children reach height and a boat ('thoni') that safely transports them across life's shore.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Pillaigal menmaikkellaam / Pettraval yaeniyadaa”
Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Pillaigal' / 'Pettraval') creating a rhythmic flow.
Rhyme (Edhukai / Iyaibu)
“Ingae naam konda kai raasiyae / Amma aval thantha arulaasiyae”
End rhymes such as 'kai raasiyae', 'arulaasiyae', 'magaraasiyae', and 'pesiyae' create a pleasing melodic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track showcases Ilaiyaraaja singing his own composition in his signature rustic, emotive tone. Lyricist Vaali cleverly incorporated the protagonist's name 'Sakkarai Devan' and sugarcane processing imagery directly into the narrative of the song.
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