Nallavarkkellam
From Thyagam · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thyagam1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm… | Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm... |
| Male | |
| Nallavarkkellaam… | For all good people... |
| Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu | For all good people, there are two witnesses |
| Ondru mana saatchi | One is the conscience |
| Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa | One is the witness of God, O lady |
| Nambikkai vaithu kallaiyum paarthaal | If you look at a stone with faith |
| Dheivathin kaatchiyammaa | It is the vision of God, O lady |
| Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa | That is the vision of the inner heart, O lady |
| Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa | That is the witness to the truth, O lady |
| Male | |
| Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu | For all good people, there are two witnesses |
| Ondru mana saatchi | One is the conscience |
| Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa | One is the witness of God, O lady |
| Dheivathin saatchiyammaa | The witness of God, O lady |
| Male | |
| Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal | If the river water dries up |
| Nadhi seidha kuttram illai | It is not the fault of the river |
| Vidhi seidha kuttram andri vaerae yaarammaa | Who else is to blame except destiny, O lady? |
| Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal | If the river water dries up |
| Nadhi seidha kuttram illai | It is not the fault of the river |
| Vidhi seidha kuttram andri vaerae yaarammaa | Who else is to blame except destiny, O lady? |
| Paravaigalae badhil sollungal | Oh birds, please answer me |
| Manidhargal mayangum podhu neengal paesungal | When humans are deluded, you speak up |
| Manadhukku manadhae konjam thoodhu sellungal | Please carry a message from mind to mind |
| Male | |
| Nallavarkkellaam… | For all good people... |
| Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu | For all good people, there are two witnesses |
| Ondru mana saatchi | One is the conscience |
| Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa | One is the witness of God, O lady |
| Dheivathin saatchiyammaa | The witness of God, O lady |
| Male | |
| Aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai | As God knows, there is not a drop of deceit in my heart |
| Avanandri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai | Apart from Him, I have no other comfort |
| Aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai | As God knows, there is not a drop of deceit in my heart |
| Avanandri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai | Apart from Him, I have no other comfort |
| Manidhanammaa mayangugiren | I am human, O lady, I am feeling lost |
| Thavarukku thunindha manidhan azhuvadhillaiyae | A man who dares to do wrong does not weep |
| Thavariyum vaanam mannil vizhuvadhillaiyae | Even by mistake, the sky does not fall down to earth |
| Male | |
| Nallavarkkellaam… | For all good people... |
| Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu | For all good people, there are two witnesses |
| Ondru mana saatchi | One is the conscience |
| Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa | One is the witness of God, O lady |
| Nambikkai vaithu kallaiyum paarthaal | If you look at a stone with faith |
| Dheivathin kaatchiyammaa | It is the vision of God, O lady |
| Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa | That is the vision of the inner heart, O lady |
| Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa | That is the witness to the truth, O lady |
| Male | |
| Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm… | Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm... |
| Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm… | Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm... |
ம்ம்.....ம்ம்.....ம்ம்.....ம்ம்.....ம்ம்....
Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm...
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம்
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம் சாட்சிகள் ரெண்டு
ஒன்று மனசாட்சி
ஒன்று தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
நம்பிக்கை வைத்து கல்லையும் பார்த்தால்
தெய்வத்தின் காட்சியம்மா
அதுதான் உள்ளத்தின் காட்சியம்மா
அதுதான் உண்மைக்கு சாட்சியம்மா
For all good people...
For all good people, there are two witnesses
One is the conscience
One is the witness of God, O lady
If you look at a stone with faith
It is the vision of God, O lady
That is the vision of the inner heart, O lady
That is the witness to the truth, O lady
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம் சாட்சிகள் ரெண்டு
ஒன்று மனசாட்சி
ஒன்று தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
For all good people, there are two witnesses
One is the conscience
One is the witness of God, O lady
The witness of God, O lady
நதி வெள்ளம் காய்ந்துவிட்டால்
நதி செய்த குற்றம் இல்லை
விதி செய்த குற்றம் அன்றி வேறு யாரம்மா
நதி வெள்ளம் காய்ந்துவிட்டால்
நதி செய்த குற்றம் இல்லை
விதி செய்த குற்றம் அன்றி வேறு யாரம்மா
பறவைகளே பதில் சொல்லுங்கள்
மனிதர்கள் மயங்கும் போது நீங்கள் பேசுங்கள்
மனதிற்கு மனதை கொஞ்சம் தூது செல்லுங்கள்
If the river water dries up
It is not the fault of the river
Who else is to blame except destiny, O lady?
If the river water dries up
It is not the fault of the river
Who else is to blame except destiny, O lady?
Oh birds, please answer me
When humans are deluded, you speak up
Please carry a message from mind to mind
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம்
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம் சாட்சிகள் ரெண்டு
ஒன்று மனசாட்சி
ஒன்று தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
For all good people...
For all good people, there are two witnesses
One is the conscience
One is the witness of God, O lady
The witness of God, O lady
ஆண்டவன் அறிய நெஞ்சில்
ஒரு துளி வஞ்சம் இல்லை
அவனன்றி எனக்கு வேறு ஆறுதல் இல்லை
ஆண்டவன் அறிய நெஞ்சில்
ஒரு துளி வஞ்சம் இல்லை
அவனன்றி எனக்கு வேறு ஆறுதல் இல்லை
மனிதனம்மா மயங்குகிறேன்
தவறுக்கு துணிந்த மனிதன் அழுவதில்லையே
தவறியும் வானம் மண்ணில் விழுவதில்லையே
As God knows, there is not a drop of deceit in my heart
Apart from Him, I have no other comfort
As God knows, there is not a drop of deceit in my heart
Apart from Him, I have no other comfort
I am human, O lady, I am feeling lost
A man who dares to do wrong does not weep
Even by mistake, the sky does not fall down to earth
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம்
நல்லவர்க்கெல்லாம் சாட்சிகள் ரெண்டு
ஒன்று மனசாட்சி
ஒன்று தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
தெய்வத்தின் சாட்சியம்மா
நம்பிக்கை வைத்து கல்லையும் பார்த்தால்
தெய்வத்தின் காட்சியம்மா
அதுதான் உள்ளத்தின் காட்சியம்மா
அதுதான் உண்மைக்கு சாட்சியம்மா
For all good people...
For all good people, there are two witnesses
One is the conscience
One is the witness of God, O lady
If you look at a stone with faith
It is the vision of God, O lady
That is the vision of the inner heart, O lady
That is the witness to the truth, O lady
ம்ம்......ம்ம்......ம்ம்.....ம்ம்....ம்ம்....
ம்ம்......ம்ம்......ம்ம்.....ம்ம்....ம்ம்....
Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm...
Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm...
Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm…
Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm...
Nallavarkkellaam…
For all good people...
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
For all good people, there are two witnesses
Ondru mana saatchi
One is the conscience
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
One is the witness of God, O lady
Nambikkai vaithu kallaiyum paarthaal
If you look at a stone with faith
Dheivathin kaatchiyammaa
It is the vision of God, O lady
Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa
That is the vision of the inner heart, O lady
Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa
That is the witness to the truth, O lady
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
For all good people, there are two witnesses
Ondru mana saatchi
One is the conscience
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
One is the witness of God, O lady
Dheivathin saatchiyammaa
The witness of God, O lady
Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal
If the river water dries up
Nadhi seidha kuttram illai
It is not the fault of the river
Vidhi seidha kuttram andri vaerae yaarammaa
Who else is to blame except destiny, O lady?
Nadhi vellam kaaindhu vittaal
If the river water dries up
Nadhi seidha kuttram illai
It is not the fault of the river
Vidhi seidha kuttram andri vaerae yaarammaa
Who else is to blame except destiny, O lady?
Paravaigalae badhil sollungal
Oh birds, please answer me
Manidhargal mayangum podhu neengal paesungal
When humans are deluded, you speak up
Manadhukku manadhae konjam thoodhu sellungal
Please carry a message from mind to mind
Nallavarkkellaam…
For all good people...
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
For all good people, there are two witnesses
Ondru mana saatchi
One is the conscience
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
One is the witness of God, O lady
Dheivathin saatchiyammaa
The witness of God, O lady
Aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai
As God knows, there is not a drop of deceit in my heart
Avanandri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai
Apart from Him, I have no other comfort
Aandavan ariya nenjil oru thuli vanjam illai
As God knows, there is not a drop of deceit in my heart
Avanandri enakku vaeru aarudhal illai
Apart from Him, I have no other comfort
Manidhanammaa mayangugiren
I am human, O lady, I am feeling lost
Thavarukku thunindha manidhan azhuvadhillaiyae
A man who dares to do wrong does not weep
Thavariyum vaanam mannil vizhuvadhillaiyae
Even by mistake, the sky does not fall down to earth
Nallavarkkellaam…
For all good people...
Nallavarkkellaam saatchighal rendu
For all good people, there are two witnesses
Ondru mana saatchi
One is the conscience
Ondru dheivathin saatchiyammaa
One is the witness of God, O lady
Nambikkai vaithu kallaiyum paarthaal
If you look at a stone with faith
Dheivathin kaatchiyammaa
It is the vision of God, O lady
Adhu thaan ullatthin kaatchiyammaa
That is the vision of the inner heart, O lady
Adhu thaan unmaikku saatchiyammaa
That is the witness to the truth, O lady
Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm…
Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm...
Mm….mm….mm….mm….mm…
Mm....mm....mm....mm....mm...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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