Nallathai Naadu Ketkum
From Nallathai Naadu Kekum · 1991
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Radhika, Prabakar
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Nallathai Naadu Kekum1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nalladha naadu kaetkum | The country listens to good advice, |
| Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum | And it listens even more when good people speak it. |
| Nalladha naadu kaetkum | The country listens to good advice, |
| Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum | And it listens even more when good people speak it. |
| Nalladha thaan sonnaaru nammudaiya thalaivaru | Our leader spoke only what was good, |
| Nalladha thaan sonnaaru nammudaiya thalaivaru | Our leader spoke only what was good, |
| Sonnadhu pol vaazhndhaaru aayiratthil oruvaru | He lived as he spoke, one in a thousand. |
| Male | |
| Nalladha naadu kaetkum | The country listens to good advice, |
| Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum | And it listens even more when good people speak it. |
| Male | |
| Un manam ennaalum pon manam endraalae | If your heart is forever a heart of gold, |
| Thendral pola naan unnai thaalaattuvaen | I will rock you to sleep like a gentle breeze. |
| Vanjanai seidhaalum vambugal pannaalum | But if you deceitfully plot or create trouble, |
| Thendral alla puyal endru naan kaattuvaen | I will show you that I am a storm, not a breeze. |
| Panbodu vaazhndhidu pallaandu paaduvaen | Live with virtue, and I will sing of your long life, |
| Anbodu aayiram nalvaazhthu kooruvaen | With affection, I will bestow a thousand blessings, |
| Nallorkku yaeniyaai naan maaruvaen | I will become a ladder to elevate the righteous. |
| Male | |
| Nalladha naadu kaetkum | The country listens to good advice, |
| Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum | And it listens even more when good people speak it. |
| Male | |
| Nalvazhi sendraalae naermaiyil nindraalae | If you walk the right path and stand by honesty, |
| Thunbanghal ellaamae thoolaagumae | All your troubles will be reduced to dust. |
| Female | |
| Nattadhu poovaagum thottadhu ponnaagum | What you plant will blossom, what you touch will turn to gold, |
| Enniyadhu ennaalum kai koodumae | Whatever you envision will be achieved every time. |
| Male | |
| Andraadam vaervaiyil munnaettram thaedalaam | Through daily honest sweat, we can seek progress, |
| Illaamai enbadhae illaamal odalaam | Poverty itself can completely vanish, |
| Ponnaana vaazhkkaiyai naam kaanalaam | And we can witness a truly golden life. |
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
நல்லத தான் சொன்னாரு நம்ம தலைவரு
நல்லத தான் சொன்னாரு நம்ம தலைவரு
சொன்னது போல் வாழ்ந்தாரு ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவரு
The country listens to good advice,
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
The country listens to good advice,
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
Our leader spoke only what was good,
Our leader spoke only what was good,
He lived as he spoke, one in a thousand.
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
The country listens to good advice,
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
உன் மனம் எந்நாளும் போன் மனம் என்றாலே
தென்றல் போல நான் உன்னை தாலாட்டுவேன்
வஞ்சனை செய்தாலும் வம்புகள் பண்ணாலும்
தென்றல் அல்ல புயலென நானா காட்டுவேன்
பண்போடு வாழ்ந்திடு பல்லாண்டு பாடுவேன்
அன்போடு ஆயிரம் நல்வாழ்த்து கூறுவேன்
நல்லோர்க்கு ஏணியாய் நான் மாறுவேன்
If your heart is forever a heart of gold,
I will rock you to sleep like a gentle breeze.
But if you deceitfully plot or create trouble,
I will show you that I am a storm, not a breeze.
Live with virtue, and I will sing of your long life,
With affection, I will bestow a thousand blessings,
I will become a ladder to elevate the righteous.
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
நல்லத தான் சொன்னாரு நம்ம தலைவரு
சொன்னது போல் வாழ்ந்தாரு ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவரு
The country listens to good advice,
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
If you walk the right path and stand by honesty,
All your troubles will be reduced to dust.
நல்வழி சென்றாலே நேர் வழி நின்றாலே
துன்பங்கள் எல்லாமே தூளாகுமே
What you plant will blossom, what you touch will turn to gold,
Whatever you envision will be achieved every time.
நட்டது பூவாகும் தொட்டது பொன்னாகும்
எண்ணியது எந்நாளும் கை கூடுமே
Through daily honest sweat, we can seek progress,
Poverty itself can completely vanish,
And we can witness a truly golden life.
அன்றாடம் வேர்வையில் முன்னேற்றம் தேடலாம்
இல்லாமை என்பதே இல்லாமல் ஓடலாம்
பொன்னான வாழ்க்கையை நாம் காணலாம்
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
நல்லத தான் சொன்னாரு நம்ம தலைவரு
சொன்னது போல் வாழ்ந்தாரு ஆயிரத்தில் ஒருவரு
நல்லதை நாடு கேட்கும்
அதையும் நல்லவங்க சொன்ன கேட்கும்
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
The country listens to good advice,
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
The country listens to good advice,
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
Nalladha thaan sonnaaru nammudaiya thalaivaru
Our leader spoke only what was good,
Nalladha thaan sonnaaru nammudaiya thalaivaru
Our leader spoke only what was good,
Sonnadhu pol vaazhndhaaru aayiratthil oruvaru
He lived as he spoke, one in a thousand.
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
The country listens to good advice,
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
Un manam ennaalum pon manam endraalae
If your heart is forever a heart of gold,
Thendral pola naan unnai thaalaattuvaen
I will rock you to sleep like a gentle breeze.
Vanjanai seidhaalum vambugal pannaalum
But if you deceitfully plot or create trouble,
Thendral alla puyal endru naan kaattuvaen
I will show you that I am a storm, not a breeze.
Panbodu vaazhndhidu pallaandu paaduvaen
Live with virtue, and I will sing of your long life,
Anbodu aayiram nalvaazhthu kooruvaen
With affection, I will bestow a thousand blessings,
Nallorkku yaeniyaai naan maaruvaen
I will become a ladder to elevate the righteous.
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
The country listens to good advice,
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
And it listens even more when good people speak it.
Nalvazhi sendraalae naermaiyil nindraalae
If you walk the right path and stand by honesty,
Thunbanghal ellaamae thoolaagumae
All your troubles will be reduced to dust.
Nattadhu poovaagum thottadhu ponnaagum
What you plant will blossom, what you touch will turn to gold,
Enniyadhu ennaalum kai koodumae
Whatever you envision will be achieved every time.
Andraadam vaervaiyil munnaettram thaedalaam
Through daily honest sweat, we can seek progress,
Illaamai enbadhae illaamal odalaam
Poverty itself can completely vanish,
Ponnaana vaazhkkaiyai naam kaanalaam
And we can witness a truly golden life.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This uplifting song emphasizes the power of moral integrity, righteous leadership, and hard work. It pays tribute to an ideal leader who lived according to his noble words, setting an example for the whole nation. The speaker promises gentle affection to the virtuous and fierce opposition to those who act deceitfully. Ultimately, the song serves as an encouraging anthem, declaring that honesty, ethical living, and diligent labor will overcome hardship and lead society to a prosperous, golden future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Nattadhu poovaagum thottadhu ponnaagum”
In lines 'Nattadhu poovaagum' and 'Thottadhu ponnaagum', the second consonants ('tta') rhyme, creating rhythmic harmony.
Metaphor
“Nallorkku yaeniyaai naan maaruvaen”
The speaker compares themselves to a 'ladder' ('yaeniyaai') that helps righteous people climb to success.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Thendral alla puyal endru naan kaattuvaen”
Contrasts the gentle 'breeze' ('thendral') for good deeds with a destructive 'storm' ('puyal') for wicked acts.
Hyperbole / Idiom
“Nattadhu poovaagum thottadhu ponnaagum”
'Thottadhu ponnaagum' (Whatever is touched turns to gold) uses exaggerated imagery to denote absolute success.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Nallathai Naadu Kekum' (1991) was compiled and completed after M. G. Ramachandran's (MGR) demise using archive footage and tribute concepts. Vaali wrote these lyrics heavily inspired by MGR's political and moral film legacy, reinforcing the imagery of MGR as an iconic leader ('aayiratthil oruvar').
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