Nallathor Veenai Seidhae
From Ore Oru Gramathiley · 1989
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singers
- Not listed
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ore Oru Gramathiley1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nallathor veenai seidhae | Having crafted a fine veena, |
| Adhai nalangeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo | Will anyone throw it into the dust to spoil? |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, O divine Parasakthi! |
| Enai sudar migum arivudan | Me, with a bright glowing intellect, |
| Padithuvittaai | You have created. |
| Female | |
| Vallamai thaaraaiyoo | Will you not grant me the capability, |
| Indha maanilam payan ura vaazhvadharkkae | So that this world may live fruitfully? |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, O divine Parasakthi! |
| Nila sumaiyena vaazhnthida puriguvaiyoo | Will you condemn me to live as a burden to this earth? |
| Indha nila sumaiyena vaazhnthida puriguvaiyoo | Will you condemn me to live as a burden to this earth? |
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெட புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ
சொல்லடி சிவ சக்தி
எனைச் சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன் படைத்துவிட்டாய்
Having crafted a fine veena,
Will anyone throw it into the dust to spoil?
Tell me, O divine Parasakthi!
Me, with a bright glowing intellect,
You have created.
வல்லமை தாராயோ
இந்த மாநிலம் பயனுற வாழ்வதற்கே
சொல்லடி சிவ சக்தி
நிலச் சுமையென வாழ்ந்திட புரிகுவையோ
நிலச் சுமையென வாழ்ந்திட புரிகுவையோ
Will you not grant me the capability,
So that this world may live fruitfully?
Tell me, O divine Parasakthi!
Will you condemn me to live as a burden to this earth?
Will you condemn me to live as a burden to this earth?
Nallathor veenai seidhae
Having crafted a fine veena,
Adhai nalangeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo
Will anyone throw it into the dust to spoil?
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, O divine Parasakthi!
Enai sudar migum arivudan
Me, with a bright glowing intellect,
Padithuvittaai
You have created.
Vallamai thaaraaiyoo
Will you not grant me the capability,
Indha maanilam payan ura vaazhvadharkkae
So that this world may live fruitfully?
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, O divine Parasakthi!
Nila sumaiyena vaazhnthida puriguvaiyoo
Will you condemn me to live as a burden to this earth?
Indha nila sumaiyena vaazhnthida puriguvaiyoo
Will you condemn me to live as a burden to this earth?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this famous poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, the poet fervently prays to Goddess Sivasakthi, questioning his life's purpose. He uses the metaphor of a beautifully crafted veena, asking if anyone would ever toss such a precious musical instrument into the dirt to be destroyed. Since the Divine Mother has blessed him with a glowing, sharp intellect, he pleads for the strength and capability to serve society meaningfully, rather than existing merely as an unproductive burden to the earth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Nallathor veenai seidhae”
Compares human intellect and divine potential to a finely crafted veena that should not be wasted in dust.
Rhetorical Question
“Nila sumaiyena vaazhnthida puriguvaiyoo”
Asks Sivasakthi if she created him with great intellect only to let him become a burden, emphasizing his yearning for purpose.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nallathor veenai seidhae”
Repetition of the 'Na' sound at the start of words ('Nallathor', 'Nalangeda').
Imagery
“Enai sudar migum arivudan”
'Sudar migum arivu' creates a vivid visual representation of a luminous, blazing intellect.
Did you know?
Trivia
This verse is part of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's iconic poem 'Sivasakthi'. Though featured in the 1989 film 'Ore Oru Gramathiley' with music by Ilaiyaraaja, it is one of the most celebrated literary works in Tamil history, widely performed in Carnatic music concerts and public addresses.
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