Nallathor Veenai
From Bharathi · 2000
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Bharathi2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Solladi siva sakthi | Tell me, O Siva Sakthi! |
| Enai chudar migum arivudan | Having created me with intellect |
| Padaithu vittaai | full of radiant brilliance, |
| Male | |
| Vallamai thaaraaiyoo…oo | Won't you grant me strength? |
| Vallamai thaaraaiyoo | Won't you grant me strength? |
| Indha maanilam payanura | So that this great earth may benefit |
| Vaazhvadharkkae | from my living? |
| Vallamai thaaraaiyo | Won't you grant me strength? |
| Indha maanilam payanura | So that this great earth may benefit |
| Vaazhvadharkkae | from my living? |
| Solladi siva sakthi | Tell me, O Siva Sakthi! |
| Nila chumai yena | Will you make me live as a mere burden |
| Vaazhndhida puriguvaiyo | upon this earth? |
| Chorus | |
| Nalladhor veenai seidhae | Having crafted a fine veena, |
| Adhai nalam keda | would anyone throw it in the dust |
| Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo | to let its quality spoil? |
| Male | |
| Thasaiyinai thee choodinum | Even if fire scorches my flesh, |
| Siva sakthiyai paadum nal | a pure heart that sings of Siva Sakthi, |
| Agam ketten | I ask of you! |
| Nasaiyaru manam ketten | I ask for a mind free of evil desires! |
| Nitham navam yena chudar tharum | A life force that shines with daily freshness, |
| Uyir ketten | I ask of you! |
| Asaivuru madhi ketten | I ask for an unwavering intellect! |
| Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum | Is there any obstacle for you |
| Thadai uladho | in granting these to me? |
| Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum | Is there any obstacle for you |
| Thadai uladho | in granting these to me? |
| Chorus | |
| Nalladhor veenai seidhae oo…ooo | Having crafted a fine veena, |
| Adhai nalam keda | would anyone throw it in the dust |
| Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo | to let its quality spoil? |
| Nalladhor veenai seidhae oo…ooo | Having crafted a fine veena, |
| Adhai nalam keda | would anyone throw it in the dust |
| Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo | to let its quality spoil? |
ஆண் குழு :
நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே
அதை நலம் கெடப்
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ
நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே
அதை நலம் கெடப்
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ
Tell me, O Siva Sakthi!
Having created me with intellect
full of radiant brilliance,
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனைச் சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன்
படைத்துவிட்டாய்
Won't you grant me strength?
Won't you grant me strength?
So that this great earth may benefit
from my living?
Won't you grant me strength?
So that this great earth may benefit
from my living?
Tell me, O Siva Sakthi!
Will you make me live as a mere burden
upon this earth?
ஆண் மற்றும் குழு :
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
எனைச் சுடர்மிகும் அறிவுடன்
படைத்துவிட்டாய்
Having crafted a fine veena,
would anyone throw it in the dust
to let its quality spoil?
வல்லமை தாராயோ...ஓ...
வல்லமை தாராயோ
இந்த மாநிலம் பயனுற
வாழ்வதற்கே
வல்லமை தாராயோ
இந்த மாநிலம் பயனுற
வாழ்வதற்கே
சொல்லடி சிவசக்தி
நிலச்சுமையென
வாழ்ந்திடப் புரிகுவையோ
Even if fire scorches my flesh,
a pure heart that sings of Siva Sakthi,
I ask of you!
I ask for a mind free of evil desires!
A life force that shines with daily freshness,
I ask of you!
I ask for an unwavering intellect!
Is there any obstacle for you
in granting these to me?
Is there any obstacle for you
in granting these to me?
நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே
அதை நலம் கெடப்
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ
Having crafted a fine veena,
would anyone throw it in the dust
to let its quality spoil?
Having crafted a fine veena,
would anyone throw it in the dust
to let its quality spoil?
தசையினைத் தீச்சுடினும்
சிவ சக்தியைப் பாடும் நல்
அகம் கேட்டேன்
நசையறு மனம் கேட்டேன்
நித்தம் நவம் எனச் சுடர்தரும்
உயிர்கேட்டேன்
அசைவறு மதிகேட்டேன்
இவை அருள்வதில் உனக்கெதும்
தடையுளதோ
இவை அருள்வதில் உனக்கெதும்
தடையுளதோ
நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே ....ஓ...ஓஒ
அதை நலம் கெடப்
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ
நல்லதோர் வீணைசெய்தே ....ஓ...ஓஒ
அதை நலம் கெடப்
புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ
Solladi siva sakthi
Tell me, O Siva Sakthi!
Enai chudar migum arivudan
Having created me with intellect
Padaithu vittaai
full of radiant brilliance,
Vallamai thaaraaiyoo…oo
Won't you grant me strength?
Vallamai thaaraaiyoo
Won't you grant me strength?
Indha maanilam payanura
So that this great earth may benefit
Vaazhvadharkkae
from my living?
Vallamai thaaraaiyo
Won't you grant me strength?
Indha maanilam payanura
So that this great earth may benefit
Vaazhvadharkkae
from my living?
Solladi siva sakthi
Tell me, O Siva Sakthi!
Nila chumai yena
Will you make me live as a mere burden
Vaazhndhida puriguvaiyo
upon this earth?
Nalladhor veenai seidhae
Having crafted a fine veena,
Adhai nalam keda
would anyone throw it in the dust
Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo
to let its quality spoil?
Thasaiyinai thee choodinum
Even if fire scorches my flesh,
Siva sakthiyai paadum nal
a pure heart that sings of Siva Sakthi,
Agam ketten
I ask of you!
Nasaiyaru manam ketten
I ask for a mind free of evil desires!
Nitham navam yena chudar tharum
A life force that shines with daily freshness,
Uyir ketten
I ask of you!
Asaivuru madhi ketten
I ask for an unwavering intellect!
Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum
Is there any obstacle for you
Thadai uladho
in granting these to me?
Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum
Is there any obstacle for you
Thadai uladho
in granting these to me?
Nalladhor veenai seidhae oo…ooo
Having crafted a fine veena,
Adhai nalam keda
would anyone throw it in the dust
Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo
to let its quality spoil?
Nalladhor veenai seidhae oo…ooo
Having crafted a fine veena,
Adhai nalam keda
would anyone throw it in the dust
Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo
to let its quality spoil?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this iconic philosophical poem, Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar fervently prays to the Supreme Goddess Siva Sakthi. He questions his divine purpose, pleading with the Mother Goddess to grant him the strength, clarity, and intellectual vigor necessary to serve the world meaningfully rather than existing as a burden to the earth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Nalladhor veenai seidhae / Adhai nalam keda / Puzhudhiyil yerivadhundo”
Bharathi compares human life and intellect to a finely crafted veena (musical instrument), asking if a creator would create something beautiful only to discard it in dirt.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaaiyani)
“Ivai arulvadhil unakkedhum / Thadai uladho”
Bharathi poses rhetorical questions to the Divine Mother to assert his conviction that God created humans for a higher purpose.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nitham navam yena chudar tharum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words for rhythmic effect (e.g., 'N' sound in Nitham/Navam).
Did you know?
Trivia
This composition is one of Subramanya Bharathi's most famous spiritual and existential poems. In the 2000 biographical film 'Bharathi', the song was set to music by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung brilliantly by K. J. Yesudas (along with Rajkumar Bharathi, the great-grandson of Bharathiyaar, contributing to the soundtrack).
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