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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nalvaakku Nee

From Satharam · 1956

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
K. R. Ramasamy
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Satharam1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Naadalum raajakalai kaanaveTo see the kings who rule the country,
Indha kaadaalaum raaja naan pogirenI, the king who rules this forest, am going.
Thanga thodavum soodi viraivaagaveWearing gold earrings, swiftly,
Vegu joraaga seerodu nee kaana naan vaarenVery grandly and in style, I come for you to see.
Male
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Selvaakkum undaaga ellorum kondaadaSo that influence flourishes and everyone celebrates,
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Selvaakkum undaaga ellorum kondaadaSo that influence flourishes and everyone celebrates,
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Male
Koththodu muthaaram kodiyeO slender vine like a cluster of pearls,
Kothi kondaaren naanunai thediyaeI embraced you eagerly seeking you out,
Koththodu muthaaram kodiyeO slender vine like a cluster of pearls,
Kothi kondaaren naanunai thediyaeI embraced you eagerly seeking you out,
Vithaaram neeyum adhai soodiyeAdorn yourself elegantly with it,
en vithaaram neeyum adhai soodiyeMy elegant dame, adorn yourself with it,
Un singaara vaayale sangeedham paadalaamYou can sing music with your lovely mouth!
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Male
Vatti mele vatti pottu naatileIn the homes of those in the country who charge interest upon interest,
Pirar vayieriya seibavarin veetileAnd make others' stomachs burn in misery,
Vatti mele vatti pottu naatileIn the homes of those in the country who charge interest upon interest,
Pirar vayieriya seibavarin veetileAnd make others' stomachs burn in misery,
Vatti mele vatti pottu naatileIn the homes of those in the country who charge interest upon interest,
Pirar vayieriya seibavarin veetileAnd make others' stomachs burn in misery,
Naan kachidamaai kaivarisai kaattidaveFor me to cleverly demonstrate my sleight of hand,
Naan kachidamaai kaivarisai kaattidaveFor me to cleverly demonstrate my sleight of hand,
En kannaatti kaiyaale aalaathi suthiyeMy dear woman, ward off the evil eye with your hands, and
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Male
Anjaamal lanjam vaangi serthidumIn the houses of great unjust people,
Perum aniyaayakaargalin veetileWho fearlessly amass riches through bribes,
Anjaamal lanjam vaangi serthidumIn the houses of great unjust people,
Perum aniyaayakaargalin veetileWho fearlessly amass riches through bribes,
Minjaamal thaettai pottu meelavaeTo sweep clean and return without leaving anything behind,
Yedhum minjaamal thaettai pottu meelavaeTo sweep clean and return without leaving anything behind,
Un ponnaana vaayale poyivarum endru thaanWith your golden mouth, bid me a safe farewell, and
Male
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Selvaakkum undaaga ellorum kondaadaSo that influence flourishes and everyone celebrates,
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!
Selvaakkum undaaga ellorum kondaadaSo that influence flourishes and everyone celebrates,
Nall vaakku nee kodadiGive me your good word, my girl,
En thangame nal vaakku kodadiMy darling gold, give me your good word!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In this song from the 1956 movie Satharam, a Robin Hood-like hero addresses his lover before departing on a daring venture. He playfully contrasts himself, the king of the forest, with the actual rulers of the land. His target is the wealthy corrupt who exploit the poor through exorbitant interest rates and bribes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis (Naadudhal vs Kaadudhal)

Naadalum raajakalai kaanave / Indha kaadaalaum raaja naan pogiren

Contrasts 'Naadalum raaja' (king ruling the country) with 'Kaadaalum raaja' (king ruling the forest) to establish the protagonist's rebellious outlaw identity.

Refrain / Epiphora (Iyaibu)

Nall vaakku nee kodadi

The repeating refrain 'Nall vaakku nee kodadi / En thangame nal vaakku kodadi' creates rhythmic emphasis and emotional grounding throughout the track.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Koththodu muthaaram kodiye

Compares the beloved lady to a delicate cluster of pearls on a vine ('Koththodu muthaaram kodiye').

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Vatti mele vatti pottu naatile

Rhythmic repetition of 'vatti' in 'Vatti mele vatti pottu' emphasizes the excessive burden of compound interest imposed by greedy lenders.

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Trivia

Satharam (1956) featured music composed by G. Ramanathan with lyrics penned by A. Maruthakasi. Maruthakasi was renowned for embedding sharp anti-corruption, socialist commentary within folk and film songs during the 1950s.

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