Nallathor Veenai Seidhe
From Kalvanin Kadhali -(1955) · 1955
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- P. Bhanumathi
- Music director
- G. Govindarajulu Naidu
- Details
- Kalvanin Kadhali -(1955)1955
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena), |
| Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo | Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot? |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena), |
| Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo | Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot? |
| Female | |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena), |
| Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo | Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot? |
| Female | |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, oh Divine Mother Sivasakthi! |
| Enai sudarmigu arivudan padaiththuvittaai | You have created me endowed with a radiant intellect. |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, oh Divine Mother Sivasakthi! |
| Enai sudarmigu arivudan padaiththuvittaai | You have created me endowed with a radiant intellect. |
| Female | |
| Vallamai thaaraayo…ooo…oo..oo… | Will you not grant me the strength? |
| Vallamai thaaraayo | Will you not grant me the strength? |
| Intha maanilam payanura vaazhvatharke | So that I may live a life beneficial to this vast world, |
| Female | |
| Vallamai thaaraayo | Will you not grant me the strength? |
| Intha maanilam payanura vaazhvatharke | So that I may live a life beneficial to this vast world, |
| Vallamai thaaraayo…. | Will you not grant me the strength? |
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெடப் புழுதியில் எரிவதுண்டோ
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெடப் புழுதியில் எரிவதுண்டோ
Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena),
Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot?
Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena),
Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot?
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெடப் புழுதியில் எரிவதுண்டோ
Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena),
Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot?
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனைச் சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன் படைத்துவிட்டாய்
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனைச் சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன் படைத்துவிட்டாய்
Tell me, oh Divine Mother Sivasakthi!
You have created me endowed with a radiant intellect.
Tell me, oh Divine Mother Sivasakthi!
You have created me endowed with a radiant intellect.
வல்லமை தாராயோ...ஓஓ....ஓ...ஓ...
வல்லமை தாராயோ
இந்த மானிலம் பயனுர வாழ்வதற்கே
Will you not grant me the strength?
Will you not grant me the strength?
So that I may live a life beneficial to this vast world,
வல்லமை தாராயோ
இந்த மானிலம் பயனுர வாழ்வதற்கே
வல்லமை தாராயோ வாழ்வதற்கே
வல்லமை தாராயோ......
Will you not grant me the strength?
So that I may live a life beneficial to this vast world,
Will you not grant me the strength?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena),
Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo
Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena),
Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo
Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical lute (Veena),
Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo
Would anyone throw it into the dust to let it rot?
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, oh Divine Mother Sivasakthi!
Enai sudarmigu arivudan padaiththuvittaai
You have created me endowed with a radiant intellect.
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, oh Divine Mother Sivasakthi!
Enai sudarmigu arivudan padaiththuvittaai
You have created me endowed with a radiant intellect.
Vallamai thaaraayo…ooo…oo..oo…
Will you not grant me the strength?
Vallamai thaaraayo
Will you not grant me the strength?
Intha maanilam payanura vaazhvatharke
So that I may live a life beneficial to this vast world,
Vallamai thaaraayo
Will you not grant me the strength?
Intha maanilam payanura vaazhvatharke
So that I may live a life beneficial to this vast world,
Vallamai thaaraayo….
Will you not grant me the strength?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic prayer composed by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar is an impassioned plea to Goddess Sivasakthi regarding human potential and divine purpose. The speaker uses a striking metaphor, comparing a human endowed with deep intellect to a finely crafted musical instrument (Veena). Just as no artisan would carefully make a fine Veena only to discard it in dirt, the Divine Mother would not grant high intelligence only to let it go to waste.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Metaphor / Analogy)
“Nallathor veenai seithae / Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo”
Human intellect and life are compared to a beautifully constructed Veena, highlighting the tragic waste if human talent is ruined.
Rhetorical Question
“Adhai nalankeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo”
Asking 'erivathundo' (would anyone throw it away?) to forcefully emphasize that divine talent is meant to serve a higher purpose.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nallathor / Solladi / Vallamai”
The second consonant 'lla' rhymes across lines in the poem ('Nallathor', 'Solladi', 'Vallamai').
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Solladi sivasakthi”
Repetition of the 's' sound at the start of words for rhythmic emphasis.
Did you know?
Trivia
Originally written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar as a devotional/philosophical poem titled 'Sivasakthi', this song was adapted for the 1955 classic Tamil film 'Kalvanin Kadhali' (starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi). It was rendered powerfully by multi-talented actress-singer P. Bhanumathi under G. Govindarajulu Naidu's musical direction.
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