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Isaimozhi
Thyagam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nallavarkkellam

From Thyagam · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Thyagam
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
17 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm…
Nallavarkkellaam…
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
Ondru mana saatchi
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
Nambikkai vaithu kallaiyum paarthaal
Dheivathin kaatchiyammaa
Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa
Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
Ondru mana saatchi
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
Dheivathin saatchiyammaa
Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal
Nadhi seidha kuttram illai
Vidhi seidha kuttram andri vaerae yaarammaa
Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal
Nadhi seidha kuttram illai
Vidhi seidha kuttram andri vaerae yaarammaa
Paravaigalae badhil sollungal
Manidhargal mayangum podhu neengal paesungal
Manadhukku manadhae konjam thoodhu sellungal
Nallavarkkellaam…
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
Ondru mana saatchi
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
Dheivathin saatchiyammaa
Aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai
Avanandri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai
Aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai
Avanandri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai
Manidhanammaa mayangugiren
Thavarukku thunindha manidhan azhuvadhillaiyae
Thavariyum vaanam mannil vizhuvadhillaiyae
Nallavarkkellaam…
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
Ondru mana saatchi
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
Nambikkai vaithu kallaiyum paarthaal
Dheivathin kaatchiyammaa
Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa
Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa
Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm…
Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm…
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
For all good people...
For all good people, there are two witnesses:
One is their conscience,
And the other is God.
If you look even at a stone with faith,
You will see a vision of God.
That is the vision from within the heart,
And that is the witness to the truth.
For all good people, there are two witnesses:
One is their conscience,
And the other is God,
Yes, the witness of God.
If a flowing river dries up,
It is not the fault of the river;
Who else is to blame but fate?
If a flowing river dries up,
It is not the fault of the river;
Who else is to blame but fate?
Oh birds, please give me an answer!
When humans are lost in confusion, you speak up!
Go and carry a message from one heart to another!
For all good people...
For all good people, there are two witnesses:
One is their conscience,
And the other is God,
Yes, the witness of God.
As God knows, there is not a drop of malice in my heart,
Without Him, I have no comfort.
As God knows, there is not a drop of malice in my heart,
Without Him, I have no comfort.
I am only human, I feel lost and helpless;
A man who dares to do wrong never weeps,
Just as the sky never falls to the ground by mistake.
For all good people...
For all good people, there are two witnesses:
One is their conscience,
And the other is God.
If you look even at a stone with faith,
You will see a vision of God.
That is the vision from within the heart,
And that is the witness to the truth.
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm... mmm...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nallavarkkellaam Saatchighal Rendu is a deeply philosophical song from the 1978 movie Thyagam, written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. The protagonist, facing injustice and misunderstanding, comforts himself with the truth that a good-hearted person needs approval from only two sources: their own internal conscience and the Almighty God. The lyrics use natural metaphors, such as a river drying up due to cruel fate rather than its own desire, to illustrate how innocent people often suffer due to destiny rather than personal fault. The song explores themes of human vulnerability, moral purity, and divine justice. The protagonist asks birds to convey his innocence when fellow humans fail to understand him, asserting that a truly wicked person who intentionally commits wrong does not shed tears of remorse. It remains one of Tamil cinema's most poignant anthems on innocence, faith, and conscience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal”

Repetition of the initial letter 'Na' in 'Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal / Nadhi seidha kuttram illai' creates rhythmic emphasis.

Personification

“Paravaigalae badhil sollungal”

Addressing birds directly ('Paravaigalae badhil sollungal') and asking them to mediate human emotions and deliver messages.

Metaphor

“Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal Nadhi seidha kuttram illai”

Comparing a drying river to a good human suffering due to unavoidable fate ('Vidhi') rather than personal wrongdoing.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa / Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa”

Repeated line structure 'Adhu thaan...' reinforces the spiritual definition of truth and divine sight.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and vocals by T.M. Soundararajan, picturized on 'Nadigavel' Sivaji Ganesan in the movie Thyagam (1978), which was a remake of the Bengali film Amanush (1975). Kannadasan's lyrics are widely celebrated for capturing the essence of Karma, innocence, and existential reflection.

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