Nambinen Maharajane
From Kattalai · 1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nambinen magaraajanae | I believed in you, my great king |
| Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae | My trust was not in vain |
| Kannan pol koduthaayae | You gave like Lord Krishna did |
| Vanna poonjsaelai | A colorful floral saree |
| Illaiyil avamaanam thaan… | Without which there would only be humiliation... |
| Female | |
| Nambinen magaraajanae | I believed in you, my great king |
| Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae | My trust was not in vain |
| Nandriyai vaayaravae | To express my gratitude fully with my mouth |
| Sollavor mozhi illaiyae | There are no words to say |
| Kannan pol koduthaayae | You gave like Lord Krishna did |
| Vanna poonjsaelai | A colorful floral saree |
| Illaiyil avamaanam thaan… | Without which there would only be humiliation... |
| Dhraupathi thanai kaatha | Just like the God who protected Draupadi |
| Dheivam pol neeyae | You are that divine person |
| Kannanin avadhaaram thaan | Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna |
| Female | |
| Nambinen magaraajanae… | I believed in you, my great king... |
| Female | |
| Manjal poosuven | I will apply turmeric |
| Undhan perai cholli naanae | Chanting your name myself |
| Iravil madi mel thaalaattuven | At night, I will lull you to sleep on my lap |
| Female | |
| Netri kungumam | The vermilion on my forehead |
| Undhan nenjil serum vannam | In a way that it touches your chest |
| Ilamai nadhiyil neeraattuven | I will bathe you in the river of youth |
| Male | |
| Acham enbadhondru | Saying that a feeling called fear |
| Ingu micham illai endru | Has no remainder left here anymore |
| Pachai vanna poovae | Oh green-hued flower |
| Anbu paadal sollu indru | Sing a song of love today |
| Female | |
| Annai thandhai | Mother, father |
| Ellaam neeyaaga | With you becoming everything to me |
| Indha annam vandhaal | This swan has arrived |
| Undhan seiyaaga | To be your child/beloved |
| Female | |
| Nambinen magaraajanae | I believed in you, my great king |
| Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae | My trust was not in vain |
| Male | |
| Thendral enbadhu | When the gentle breeze |
| Endhan thottam vandha podhu | Came into my garden |
| Adadaa adhu or pennaanadho | Aha, did it transform into a woman? |
| Male | |
| Semmeen enbadhu | When the red fish |
| Endhan odai vandha podhu | Came into my stream |
| Adhuvo mugathil kannaanadho | Did it become the eyes on the face? |
| Female | |
| Kodai veyil vaatta | When the summer heat withered, when this maiden came |
| Indha kodhai vandha velai | At the time this maiden arrived |
| Vaadai kaatru kondu | Bringing the cool northern wind |
| Neeyum vaattam theertha solai | You became the grove that quenched my distress |
| Male | |
| Unnai vittu engum sellaadhu | Will never leave you to go anywhere else |
| Endhan kangal endrum | My eyes always stay |
| Kannae un meedhu | My darling, fixed upon you |
| Female | |
| Nambinen magaraajanae | I believed in you, my great king |
| Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae | My trust was not in vain |
| Nandriyai vaayaravae | To express my gratitude fully with my mouth |
| Sollavor mozhi illaiyae | There are no words to say |
| Kannan pol koduthaayae | You gave like Lord Krishna did |
| Vanna poonjsaelai | A colorful floral saree |
| Illaiyil avamaanam thaan… | Without which there would only be humiliation... |
| Dhraupathi thanai kaatha | Just like the God who protected Draupadi |
| Dheivam pol neeyae | You are that divine person |
| Kannanin avadhaaram thaan | Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna |
| Kannanin avadhaaram thaan | Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna |
| Kannanin avadhaaram thaan | Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna |
நம்பினேன் மகராஜனே
நம்பியது வீணில்லையே
கண்ணன் போல் கொடுத்தேயே
வண்ணப் பூஞ்சேலை
இல்லையில் அவமானம்தான்
I believed in you, my great king
My trust was not in vain
You gave like Lord Krishna did
A colorful floral saree
Without which there would only be humiliation...
நம்பினேன் மகராஜனே
நம்பியது வீணில்லையே
I believed in you, my great king
My trust was not in vain
To express my gratitude fully with my mouth
There are no words to say
You gave like Lord Krishna did
A colorful floral saree
Without which there would only be humiliation...
Just like the God who protected Draupadi
You are that divine person
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
நன்றியை வாயாரவே சொல்ல
ஓர் மொழி இல்லையே
கண்ணன் போல் கொடுத்தாயே
வண்ணப் பூஞ்சேலை
இல்லையில் அவமானம்தான்
திரௌபதி தனைக் காத்த
தெய்வம் போல் நீயே
கண்ணனின் அவதாரம்தான்
I believed in you, my great king...
நம்பினேன் மகராஜனே
I will apply turmeric
Chanting your name myself
At night, I will lull you to sleep on my lap
மஞ்சள் பூசுவேன்
உந்தன் பேரைச் சொல்லி நானே
இரவில் மடி மேல் தாலாட்டுவேன்
நெற்றிக் குங்குமம்
உந்தன் நெஞ்சில் சேரும் வண்ணம்
வெள்ளமே நதியில் நீராட்டுவேன்
The vermilion on my forehead
In a way that it touches your chest
I will bathe you in the river of youth
அச்சம் என்பதொன்று
இங்கு மிச்சம் இல்லை என்று
பச்சை வண்ணப் பூவே
அந்தப் பாடல் சொல்லு இன்று
Saying that a feeling called fear
Has no remainder left here anymore
Oh green-hued flower
Sing a song of love today
அன்னை தந்தை
எல்லாம் நீயாக
இந்த அன்னம் வந்தாள்
உந்தன் சேயாக
Mother, father
With you becoming everything to me
This swan has arrived
To be your child/beloved
நம்பினேன் மகராஜனே
நம்பியது வீணில்லையே
I believed in you, my great king
My trust was not in vain
தென்றல் என்பது
எந்தன் தோட்டம் வந்த போது
அடடா அது ஓர் பெண்ணானதோ
When the gentle breeze
Came into my garden
Aha, did it transform into a woman?
செம்மீன் என்பது
எந்தன் ஓடை வந்த போது
அதுவோ முகத்தில் கண்ணானதோ
When the red fish
Came into my stream
Did it become the eyes on the face?
கோடை வெயில் வாட்ட
இந்த கோதை வந்த வேளை
வாடை காற்று கொண்டு
நீயும் வாட்டம் தீர்த்த சோலை
When the summer heat withered, when this maiden came
At the time this maiden arrived
Bringing the cool northern wind
You became the grove that quenched my distress
உன்னை விட்டு எங்கும் செல்லாது
எந்தன் கண்கள் என்றும்
கண்ணே உன் மீது
Will never leave you to go anywhere else
My eyes always stay
My darling, fixed upon you
நம்பினேன் மகராஜனே
நம்பியது வீணில்லையே
I believed in you, my great king
My trust was not in vain
To express my gratitude fully with my mouth
There are no words to say
You gave like Lord Krishna did
A colorful floral saree
Without which there would only be humiliation...
Just like the God who protected Draupadi
You are that divine person
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
நன்றியை வாயாரவே சொல்ல
ஓர் மொழி இல்லையே
கண்ணன் போல் கொடுத்தாயே
வண்ணப் பூஞ்சேலை
இல்லையில் அவமானம்தான்
திரௌபதி தனைக் காத்த
தெய்வம் போல் நீயே
கண்ணனின் அவதாரம்தான்
கண்ணனின் அவதாரம்தான்
கண்ணனின் அவதாரம்தான்
Nambinen magaraajanae
I believed in you, my great king
Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae
My trust was not in vain
Kannan pol koduthaayae
You gave like Lord Krishna did
Vanna poonjsaelai
A colorful floral saree
Illaiyil avamaanam thaan…
Without which there would only be humiliation...
Nambinen magaraajanae
I believed in you, my great king
Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae
My trust was not in vain
Nandriyai vaayaravae
To express my gratitude fully with my mouth
Sollavor mozhi illaiyae
There are no words to say
Kannan pol koduthaayae
You gave like Lord Krishna did
Vanna poonjsaelai
A colorful floral saree
Illaiyil avamaanam thaan…
Without which there would only be humiliation...
Dhraupathi thanai kaatha
Just like the God who protected Draupadi
Dheivam pol neeyae
You are that divine person
Kannanin avadhaaram thaan
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
Nambinen magaraajanae…
I believed in you, my great king...
Manjal poosuven
I will apply turmeric
Undhan perai cholli naanae
Chanting your name myself
Iravil madi mel thaalaattuven
At night, I will lull you to sleep on my lap
Netri kungumam
The vermilion on my forehead
Undhan nenjil serum vannam
In a way that it touches your chest
Ilamai nadhiyil neeraattuven
I will bathe you in the river of youth
Acham enbadhondru
Saying that a feeling called fear
Ingu micham illai endru
Has no remainder left here anymore
Pachai vanna poovae
Oh green-hued flower
Anbu paadal sollu indru
Sing a song of love today
Annai thandhai
Mother, father
Ellaam neeyaaga
With you becoming everything to me
Indha annam vandhaal
This swan has arrived
Undhan seiyaaga
To be your child/beloved
Nambinen magaraajanae
I believed in you, my great king
Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae
My trust was not in vain
Thendral enbadhu
When the gentle breeze
Endhan thottam vandha podhu
Came into my garden
Adadaa adhu or pennaanadho
Aha, did it transform into a woman?
Semmeen enbadhu
When the red fish
Endhan odai vandha podhu
Came into my stream
Adhuvo mugathil kannaanadho
Did it become the eyes on the face?
Kodai veyil vaatta
When the summer heat withered, when this maiden came
Indha kodhai vandha velai
At the time this maiden arrived
Vaadai kaatru kondu
Bringing the cool northern wind
Neeyum vaattam theertha solai
You became the grove that quenched my distress
Unnai vittu engum sellaadhu
Will never leave you to go anywhere else
Endhan kangal endrum
My eyes always stay
Kannae un meedhu
My darling, fixed upon you
Nambinen magaraajanae
I believed in you, my great king
Nambiyadhu veenillaiyae
My trust was not in vain
Nandriyai vaayaravae
To express my gratitude fully with my mouth
Sollavor mozhi illaiyae
There are no words to say
Kannan pol koduthaayae
You gave like Lord Krishna did
Vanna poonjsaelai
A colorful floral saree
Illaiyil avamaanam thaan…
Without which there would only be humiliation...
Dhraupathi thanai kaatha
Just like the God who protected Draupadi
Dheivam pol neeyae
You are that divine person
Kannanin avadhaaram thaan
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
Kannanin avadhaaram thaan
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
Kannanin avadhaaram thaan
Truly an incarnation of Lord Krishna
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a poignant and devoted expression of gratitude and love from the heroine towards her savior and lover. Drawing a strong mythological parallel to Lord Krishna saving Draupadi's honor by bestowing her with an endless saree, she views her beloved as a divine incarnation who saved her from shame and suffering. She feels immense relief, expressing that all fear has vanished under his care. The lyrics elaborate on her commitment to serve, love, and cherish him as her everything—parent, lover, and lord. In turn, the poetic imagery portrays how his presence brings soothing comfort like a cool breeze or a lush grove in scorching summer heat, cementing a bond of eternal trust and devotion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mythological Allusion & Simile
“Dhraupathi thanai kaatha Dheivam pol neeyae Kannanin avadhaaram thaan”
Compares the protagonist directly to Lord Krishna saving Draupadi in Mahabharata to highlight his chivalry and protective nature.
Metaphor
“Ilamai nadhiyil neeraattuven”
Uses vivid metaphors comparing youth to a river ('Ilamai nadhi') and comfort to a cool grove ('vaattam theertha solai').
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Acham enbadhondru / Ingu micham illai endru”
Tamil poetic rhyming where the second letter matches across lines, seen in 'Acham' and 'Micham'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song belongs to the 1993 Tamil film 'Kattalai', starring Sathyaraj and Bhanupriya. Directed by Liaquat Ali Khan, the soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by the iconic lyricist Vaali.
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