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Nallathai Naadu Kekum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nallathai Naadu Ketkum

From Nallathai Naadu Kekum · 1991

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Radhika, Prabakar
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Nallathai Naadu Kekum
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
9 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
Nalladha thaan sonnaaru nammudaiya thalaivaru
Nalladha thaan sonnaaru nammudaiya thalaivaru
Sonnadhu pol vaazhndhaaru aayiratthil oruvaru
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
Un manam ennaalum pon manam endraalae
Thendral pola naan unnai thaalaattuvaen
Vanjanai seidhaalum vambugal pannaalum
Thendral alla puyal endru naan kaattuvaen
Panbodu vaazhndhidu pallaandu paaduvaen
Anbodu aayiram nalvaazhthu kooruvaen
Nallorkku yaeniyaai naan maaruvaen
Nalladha naadu kaetkum
Adhaiyum nallavanga sonnaa kaetkum
Nalvazhi sendraalae naermaiyil nindraalae
Thunbanghal ellaamae thoolaagumae
Nattadhu poovaagum thottadhu ponnaagum
Enniyadhu ennaalum kai koodumae
Andraadam vaervaiyil munnaettram thaedalaam
Illaamai enbadhae illaamal odalaam
Ponnaana vaazhkkaiyai naam kaanalaam
The country will listen to what is good,
And it will surely listen if good people say it!
The country will listen to what is good,
And it will surely listen if good people say it!
Our leader spoke only what was good,
Our leader spoke only what was good!
One in a thousand, he lived by his words!
The country will listen to what is good,
And it will surely listen if good people say it!
If your heart is always a golden heart,
I will cradle you like a gentle breeze.
If you practice deceit or stir up trouble,
I will show you that I am not a breeze, but a storm!
Live with noble virtues, and I will wish you a long life!
With love, I will offer a thousand good blessings.
I will become a ladder to lift up good people!
The country will listen to what is good,
And it will surely listen if good people say it!
If you walk the right path and stand by honesty,
All your troubles will crumble into dust.
What you plant will bloom, and what you touch will turn to gold,
Whatever you wish for will always come true!
Through our daily sweat and toil, we can find progress,
We can strive until poverty is completely gone,
And we can all lead a golden life!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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