Nallathor Veenai Seidhe
From Varumayin Niram Sigappu · 1980
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Varumayin Niram Sigappu1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Adhai nalangeda | To let it spoil and go to ruin, |
| Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…oo.. | Would anyone throw it into the dust? |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Male | |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, O Sivasakthi! |
| Enai sudar migum arivudan | You created me with a radiant, brilliant intellect, |
| Padaithuvitaai | You created me! |
| Solladi sivasakthi ……. | Tell me, O Sivasakthi... |
| Male | |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Adhai nalangeda | To let it spoil and go to ruin, |
| Puzhuthiyil erivathundo… | Would anyone throw it into the dust? |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Adhai nalangeda | To let it spoil and go to ruin, |
| Puzhuthiyil erivathundo… | Would anyone throw it into the dust? |
| Male | |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, O Sivasakthi, |
| Enai sudar migum arivudan | Me with a radiant intellect, |
| Padaithuvitaai | You created me! |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, O Sivasakthi, |
| Enai sudar migum arivudan | Me with a radiant intellect, |
| Padaithuvitaai | You created me! |
| Male | |
| Vallamai thaaraayoo | Will you not grant me the strength? |
| Indha maanilam payanura | So that this great world may benefit, |
| Vaazhvadharkkae | For me to live such a life? |
| Male | |
| Solladi sivasakthi | Tell me, O Sivasakthi, |
| Enai sudar migum arivudan | Me with a radiant intellect, |
| Padaithuvitaai | You created me! |
| Nila sumai ena vaazhnthida | To live merely as a burden upon this earth, |
| Puriguvaiyoo | Will you destine me to do so? |
| Male | |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Adhai nalangeda | To let it spoil and go to ruin, |
| Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…ooo | Would anyone throw it into the dust? |
| Male | |
| Visai oru pandhinai pol | Like a ball propelled with great force, |
| Aaaa….aaa…..aaaa…..aaa…..aaa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Aaa…aaa….aaa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa….aaaaa.. | [Vocalizing] |
| Isai oru pandhinai pol | Like a ball moving with swift force, |
| Ullam vendiya padi sellum | That moves according to the heart's command, |
| Udal ketten | I asked for such a body. |
| Nasaiyaru manam ketten | I asked for a mind free of base desires. |
| Nitham navamena sudar tharum | That daily shines with renewed brilliance, |
| Uyir ketten…uyir ketten…. | I asked for a life force... I asked for a life force... |
| Uyir ketten…ae….ae..ae….. | I asked for a life force... |
| Male | |
| Thasaiyinai thee sudinum | Even if fire scorches my flesh, |
| Siva shakthiyai paadum | To continuously sing praises of Siva Shakthi, |
| Nal agam ketten | I asked for a noble heart. |
| Asaivuru madhi ketten | I asked for an ever-agile intellect. |
| Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum | In granting all these blessings to me, |
| Thadai ulladhoo | Is there any obstacle holding you back? |
| Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum | In granting all these blessings to me, |
| Thadai ulladhoo…oo…oo…oo…. | Is there any obstacle holding you back? |
| Male | |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Adhai nalangeda | To let it spoil and go to ruin, |
| Puzhuthiyil erivathundo… | Would anyone throw it into the dust? |
| Nallathor veenai seithae | Having crafted a fine musical veena, |
| Aaa…..aaa….aaa…….. | [Vocalizing] |
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெட
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ...ஓ....
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனை சுடர் மிகும் அறிவுடன்
படைத்துவிட்டாய்
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி...
Tell me, O Sivasakthi!
You created me with a radiant, brilliant intellect,
You created me!
Tell me, O Sivasakthi...
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெட
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ...ஓ....
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெட
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ...
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனை சுடர் மிகும் அறிவுடன்
படைத்துவிட்டாய்
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனை சுடர் மிகும் அறிவுடன்
படைத்துவிட்டாய்
Tell me, O Sivasakthi,
Me with a radiant intellect,
You created me!
Tell me, O Sivasakthi,
Me with a radiant intellect,
You created me!
வல்லமை தாராயோ
இந்த மாநிலம் பயனுற
வாழ்வதற்கே
Will you not grant me the strength?
So that this great world may benefit,
For me to live such a life?
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனை சுடர் மிகும் அறிவுடன்
படைத்துவிட்டாய்
நில சுமை என வாழ்ந்திட
புரிகுவையோ
Tell me, O Sivasakthi,
Me with a radiant intellect,
You created me!
To live merely as a burden upon this earth,
Will you destine me to do so?
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெட
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ...ஓ....
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
விசையுறு பந்தினை போல்
ஆஆ...ஆஅ....ஆஆ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
ஆஅ...ஆஅ....ஆஅ...ஆ...ஆ....ஆஅ.ஆஅ...ஆஆஅ...
விசையுறு பந்தினை போல்
உள்ளம் வேண்டிய படி செல்லும்
உடல் கேட்டேன்
நசையறு மனம் கேட்டேன்
நித்தம் நவமென சுடர் தரும்
உயிர் கேட்டேன்...உயிர் கேட்டேன்...
உயிர் கேட்டேன்......ஏ....ஏ....ஏ....
Like a ball propelled with great force,
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
Like a ball moving with swift force,
That moves according to the heart's command,
I asked for such a body.
I asked for a mind free of base desires.
That daily shines with renewed brilliance,
I asked for a life force... I asked for a life force...
I asked for a life force...
தசையினை தீ சுடினும்
சிவ சக்தியை பாடும்
நல் அகம் கேட்டேன்
அசைவுறு மதி கேட்டேன்
இவை அருள்வதில் உனக்கேதும்
தடை உள்ளதோ
இவை அருள்வதில் உனக்கேதும்
தடை உள்ளதோ..ஓ...ஓ...ஓ...
Even if fire scorches my flesh,
To continuously sing praises of Siva Shakthi,
I asked for a noble heart.
I asked for an ever-agile intellect.
In granting all these blessings to me,
Is there any obstacle holding you back?
In granting all these blessings to me,
Is there any obstacle holding you back?
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
அதை நலங்கெட
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ...
நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே
ஆஅ...ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
[Vocalizing]
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Adhai nalangeda
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…oo..
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, O Sivasakthi!
Enai sudar migum arivudan
You created me with a radiant, brilliant intellect,
Padaithuvitaai
You created me!
Solladi sivasakthi …….
Tell me, O Sivasakthi...
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Adhai nalangeda
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Adhai nalangeda
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, O Sivasakthi,
Enai sudar migum arivudan
Me with a radiant intellect,
Padaithuvitaai
You created me!
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, O Sivasakthi,
Enai sudar migum arivudan
Me with a radiant intellect,
Padaithuvitaai
You created me!
Vallamai thaaraayoo
Will you not grant me the strength?
Indha maanilam payanura
So that this great world may benefit,
Vaazhvadharkkae
For me to live such a life?
Solladi sivasakthi
Tell me, O Sivasakthi,
Enai sudar migum arivudan
Me with a radiant intellect,
Padaithuvitaai
You created me!
Nila sumai ena vaazhnthida
To live merely as a burden upon this earth,
Puriguvaiyoo
Will you destine me to do so?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Adhai nalangeda
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…ooo
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Visai oru pandhinai pol
Like a ball propelled with great force,
Aaaa….aaa…..aaaa…..aaa…..aaa…
[Vocalizing]
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aa…aa…aaa…aaa….aaaaa..
[Vocalizing]
Isai oru pandhinai pol
Like a ball moving with swift force,
Ullam vendiya padi sellum
That moves according to the heart's command,
Udal ketten
I asked for such a body.
Nasaiyaru manam ketten
I asked for a mind free of base desires.
Nitham navamena sudar tharum
That daily shines with renewed brilliance,
Uyir ketten…uyir ketten….
I asked for a life force... I asked for a life force...
Uyir ketten…ae….ae..ae…..
I asked for a life force...
Thasaiyinai thee sudinum
Even if fire scorches my flesh,
Siva shakthiyai paadum
To continuously sing praises of Siva Shakthi,
Nal agam ketten
I asked for a noble heart.
Asaivuru madhi ketten
I asked for an ever-agile intellect.
Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum
In granting all these blessings to me,
Thadai ulladhoo
Is there any obstacle holding you back?
Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum
In granting all these blessings to me,
Thadai ulladhoo…oo…oo…oo….
Is there any obstacle holding you back?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Adhai nalangeda
To let it spoil and go to ruin,
Puzhuthiyil erivathundo…
Would anyone throw it into the dust?
Nallathor veenai seithae
Having crafted a fine musical veena,
Aaa…..aaa….aaa……..
[Vocalizing]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this powerful poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, featured prominently in the film Varumayin Niram Sigappu, the poet questions Goddess Sivasakthi about the purpose of human existence. He draws a vivid comparison between human intellect and a finely crafted Veena instrument, asserting that just as no creator would make a fine instrument only to throw it in the dust, God could not have endowed humans with intelligence merely to let them suffer as useless burdens on earth. Bharathiyar asks for the vitality of a bouncing ball, a pure mind devoid of malice, an ever-renewing spirit, and a heart so resilient that it sings divine praises even when consumed by physical pain. He passionately demands these qualities to serve the world meaningfully, asking the Divine Mother if there is any barrier preventing her from granting his plea.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Rupakam / Uvamaani)
“Nallathor veenai seithae adhai nalangeda puzhuthiyil erivathundo”
Compares human life endowed with intelligence to a finely crafted Veena instrument that should not be cast into dust.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Visai oru pandhinai pol ullan vendiya padi sellum udal ketten”
Compares the desired agility and responsiveness of the physical body to a ball thrown with force.
Alliteration and Rhyme (Monai & Ethirai)
“Nasaiyaru manam ketten / Nitham navamena sudar tharum”
Demonstrates classical Tamil poetic harmony through matching initial sounds (Monai) and second-letter rhymes (Ethirai) across lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Originally a nationalist poem composed by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar in the early 20th century, this piece was adapted into the 1980 film Varumayin Niram Sigappu (directed by K. Balachander). It was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. In the film, Kamal Haasan plays an unemployed, educated youth who aggressively performs this song to express his frustration against widespread societal unemployment.
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