Nallavan Enakku
From Padithal Mattum Podhuma · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Padithal Mattum Podhuma1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| ……………………….. | Chorus: |
| Chorus :……………………. | |
| Male | |
| Nallavan | A good person |
| Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan | I am a good person to myself |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Male | |
| Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan | I am a good person to myself |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Male | |
| ……………………… | |
| Male | |
| Ullam sonnadhai maraippavan illai | I am not one who hides what my heart says |
| Ooruku theemai seidhavan illai | I am not one who causes harm to the town |
| Ullam sonnadhai maraippavan illai | I am not one who hides what my heart says |
| Ooruku theemai seidhavan illai | I am not one who causes harm to the town |
| Vallavan aayinum nallavan | Even if capable, I am a good person |
| Vallavan aayinum nallavan | Even if capable, I am a good person |
| Male | |
| Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan | I am a good person to myself |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Male | |
| ……………………….. | |
| Male | |
| {Pallam maedu kandaal | {If I see lowlands and highlands |
| Paarthu chellum pillai | I am a child who treads carefully |
| Naan paasam endra noolil | I am a jasmine bound together |
| Serthu kattiya mullai} (2) | In the thread called affection} (2) |
| Hoi | Hoi |
| Male | |
| Illai illai endru endrum | I am not one who ever said |
| Sonnavan illai | 'No, I do not have' |
| Illai illai endru endrum | I am not one who ever said |
| Sonnavan illai | 'No, I do not have' |
| Male | |
| En kannai naanae kanden | I saw my own eyes |
| Adhil ennai naanae kanden | In them I saw myself |
| En kannai naanae kanden | I saw my own eyes |
| Adhil ennai naanae kanden | In them I saw myself |
| Male | |
| …………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan | I am a good person to myself |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Male | |
| ……………………………. | |
| Male | |
| Chittu polae vaanil thulli | Like a sparrow leaping in the sky |
| Sella vendum | One must go |
| Chittu polae vaanil thulli | Like a sparrow leaping in the sky |
| Sella vendum | One must go |
| Male | |
| Keeri pillai polae | Like a mongoose |
| Oorndhu sella vendum | One must crawl along |
| Mannil keeri pillai polae | Like a mongoose on the ground |
| Oorndhu sella vendum..hoi | One must crawl along.. hoi |
| Male | |
| Thollai endra paambai | The snake called trouble |
| Kavvi kolla vendum | One must bite and defeat |
| Thollai endra paambai | The snake called trouble |
| Kavvi kolla vendum | One must bite and defeat |
| Male | |
| Thooya ullam vendum | A pure heart is needed |
| Endrum sevai seiya vendum | One must always render service |
| Thooya ullam vendum | A pure heart is needed |
| Endrum sevai seiya vendum | One must always render service |
| Male | |
| …………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan | I am a good person to myself |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Sollilum seyalilum nallavan | A good person in word and deed |
| Male | |
| ……………………………. | |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Ohooo…oohooo..ooohoo..oooo…. | Ohooo…oohooo..ooohoo..oooo…. |
..............................
குழு :
..............................
Chorus:
நல்லவன் நல்லவன்
எனக்கு நானே நல்லவன்
சொல்லிலும் செயலிலும்
நல்லவன் சொல்லிலும்
செயலிலும் நல்லவன்
A good person
I am a good person to myself
A good person in word and deed
A good person in word and deed
நல்லவன் எனக்கு
நானே நல்லவன் சொல்லிலும்
செயலிலும் நல்லவன்
I am a good person to myself
A good person in word and deed
..............................
உள்ளம் சொன்னதை
மறைப்பவன் இல்லை ஊருக்கு
தீமை செய்தவன் இல்லை
உள்ளம் சொன்னதை மறைப்பவன்
இல்லை ஊருக்கு தீமை செய்தவன்
இல்லை வல்லவன் ஆயினும்
நல்லவன் வல்லவன் ஆயினும்
நல்லவன்
I am not one who hides what my heart says
I am not one who causes harm to the town
I am not one who hides what my heart says
I am not one who causes harm to the town
Even if capable, I am a good person
Even if capable, I am a good person
நல்லவன் எனக்கு
நானே நல்லவன் சொல்லிலும்
செயலிலும் நல்லவன்
சொல்லிலும் செயலிலும்
நல்லவன்
I am a good person to myself
A good person in word and deed
A good person in word and deed
..............................
{ பள்ளம் மேடு
கண்டால் பார்த்து செல்லும்
பிள்ளை நான் பாசம் என்ற
நூலில் சேர்த்து கட்டிய
முல்லை } (2) ஹோய்
{If I see lowlands and highlands
I am a child who treads carefully
I am a jasmine bound together
In the thread called affection} (2)
Hoi
இல்லை இல்லை
என்று என்றும் சொன்னவன்
இல்லை இல்லை இல்லை
என்று என்றும் சொன்னவன்
இல்லை
I am not one who ever said
'No, I do not have'
I am not one who ever said
'No, I do not have'
என் கண்ணை
நானே கண்டேன் அதில்
என்னை நானே கண்டேன்
என் கண்ணை நானே
கண்டேன் அதில் என்னை
நானே கண்டேன்
I saw my own eyes
In them I saw myself
I saw my own eyes
In them I saw myself
..............................
நல்லவன் எனக்கு
நானே நல்லவன் சொல்லிலும்
செயலிலும் நல்லவன்
சொல்லிலும் செயலிலும்
நல்லவன்
I am a good person to myself
A good person in word and deed
A good person in word and deed
..............................
சிட்டு போலே
வானில் துள்ளி செல்ல
வேண்டும் சிட்டு போலே
வானில் துள்ளி செல்ல
வேண்டும்
Like a sparrow leaping in the sky
One must go
Like a sparrow leaping in the sky
One must go
கீறி பிள்ளை
போலே ஊர்ந்து செல்ல
வேண்டும் மண்ணில் கீறி
பிள்ளை போலே ஊர்ந்து
செல்ல வேண்டும் ஹோய்
Like a mongoose
One must crawl along
Like a mongoose on the ground
One must crawl along.. hoi
தொல்லை என்ற
பாம்பை கவ்வி கொள்ள
வேண்டும் தொல்லை
என்ற பாம்பை கவ்வி
கொள்ள வேண்டும்
The snake called trouble
One must bite and defeat
The snake called trouble
One must bite and defeat
தூய உள்ளம்
வேண்டும் என்றும்
சேவை செய்ய வேண்டும்
தூய உள்ளம் வேண்டும்
என்றும் சேவை செய்ய
வேண்டும்
A pure heart is needed
One must always render service
A pure heart is needed
One must always render service
..............................
நல்லவன் எனக்கு
நானே நல்லவன் சொல்லிலும்
செயலிலும் நல்லவன்
சொல்லிலும் செயலிலும்
நல்லவன்
I am a good person to myself
A good person in word and deed
A good person in word and deed
..............................
டிரம்ஸ் :
..............................
..............................
Ohooo…oohooo..ooohoo..oooo….
ஓஹோ ஓஹோ
ஓஹோ ஓஓஓஓ
டிரம்ஸ் :
..............................
………………………..
Chorus:
Chorus :…………………….
Nallavan
A good person
Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan
I am a good person to myself
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan
I am a good person to myself
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
………………………
Ullam sonnadhai maraippavan illai
I am not one who hides what my heart says
Ooruku theemai seidhavan illai
I am not one who causes harm to the town
Ullam sonnadhai maraippavan illai
I am not one who hides what my heart says
Ooruku theemai seidhavan illai
I am not one who causes harm to the town
Vallavan aayinum nallavan
Even if capable, I am a good person
Vallavan aayinum nallavan
Even if capable, I am a good person
Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan
I am a good person to myself
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
………………………..
{Pallam maedu kandaal
{If I see lowlands and highlands
Paarthu chellum pillai
I am a child who treads carefully
Naan paasam endra noolil
I am a jasmine bound together
Serthu kattiya mullai} (2)
In the thread called affection} (2)
Hoi
Hoi
Illai illai endru endrum
I am not one who ever said
Sonnavan illai
'No, I do not have'
Illai illai endru endrum
I am not one who ever said
Sonnavan illai
'No, I do not have'
En kannai naanae kanden
I saw my own eyes
Adhil ennai naanae kanden
In them I saw myself
En kannai naanae kanden
I saw my own eyes
Adhil ennai naanae kanden
In them I saw myself
……………………………
Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan
I am a good person to myself
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
…………………………….
Chittu polae vaanil thulli
Like a sparrow leaping in the sky
Sella vendum
One must go
Chittu polae vaanil thulli
Like a sparrow leaping in the sky
Sella vendum
One must go
Keeri pillai polae
Like a mongoose
Oorndhu sella vendum
One must crawl along
Mannil keeri pillai polae
Like a mongoose on the ground
Oorndhu sella vendum..hoi
One must crawl along.. hoi
Thollai endra paambai
The snake called trouble
Kavvi kolla vendum
One must bite and defeat
Thollai endra paambai
The snake called trouble
Kavvi kolla vendum
One must bite and defeat
Thooya ullam vendum
A pure heart is needed
Endrum sevai seiya vendum
One must always render service
Thooya ullam vendum
A pure heart is needed
Endrum sevai seiya vendum
One must always render service
……………………………
Nallavan enakku naanae nallavan
I am a good person to myself
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
Sollilum seyalilum nallavan
A good person in word and deed
…………………………….
…………………………..
Ohooo…oohooo..ooohoo..oooo….
Ohooo…oohooo..ooohoo..oooo….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nallavan Enakku Naanae Nallavan' is a uplifting philosophical song from Padithal Mattum Podhuma (1962). The song celebrates inner integrity, self-respect, and moral purity. The protagonist reflects on his character, stating that he is honest to his own conscience, faithful in both words and deeds, and never harbors ill intentions toward anyone in society. Through metaphors of nature, such as a sparrow soaring freely or a mongoose fearlessly tackling a snake, the song inspires a life of active courage, benevolence, and selflessness. It emphasizes stepping carefully through life's highs and lows, being bound by love, and serving humanity with a pure heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Thollai endra paambai Kavvi kolla vendum”
Trouble is directly metaphorized as a snake ('paambu') that needs to be tackled like a mongoose does.
Uvamai (Simile)
“Chittu polae vaanil thulli Sella vendum”
Comparing the joyful bounding of a person to a sparrow ('Chittu polae') leaping in the sky.
Monai & Etukai (Rhyme & Alliteration)
“Sollilum seyalilum nallavan”
Alliteration and rhyming words 'Sollilum' and 'seyalilum' highlight consistency between speech and action.
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Naan paasam endra noolil Serthu kattiya mullai”
Affection is conceptualized as a thread ('nooril') holding together delicate jasmine flowers.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Padithal Mattum Podhuma' (1962) featured music by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and lyrics written by Kannadasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan, and this track is a popular moral philosophy song showcasing character integrity.
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