Naanaga Naan Illai
From Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey · 1983
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Mhmm mhmm mhmm mhmm …. | Mhmm mhmm mhmm mhmm... |
| Male | |
| { Naanaaga naan illai thaayae | { Mother, I am not myself without you, |
| Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae } (2) | You are the one who gave me a good life } (2) |
| { Paasam oru nesam } (2) | { Affection and devotion } (2) |
| Kannara kandaan un seyae | Your child has seen it to his heart's content. |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naan illai thaayae | Mother, I am not myself without you, |
| Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life. |
| Male | |
| Keezh vaanilae oli vanthadhu | Light appeared in the eastern sky, |
| Koondai vitu kili vanthadhu | The bird has emerged from its cage. |
| { Naan paarkum aagaayam | { In the sky that I gaze upon, |
| Engum nee paadum boopalam } (2) | Everywhere is the morning melody you sing } (2) |
| Male | |
| Vaazhum payir vaazha | For the growing crop to flourish, |
| Neethaanae neer vaartha kaarmegam | You are the rain cloud that showered life-giving water. |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naan illai thaayae | Mother, I am not myself without you, |
| Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life. |
| { Paasam oru nesam } (2) | { Affection and devotion } (2) |
| Kannara kandaan un seyae | Your child has seen it to his heart's content. |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naan illai thaayae | Mother, I am not myself without you, |
| Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life. |
| Male | |
| Mani maaligai maadangalum | Even grand mansions and lofty towers, |
| Malar thooviya manjangalum | And flower-strewn couches of luxury, |
| { Thaai veedu pol illai | { Are nothing compared to a mother's home, |
| Angu thaalaata aal illai } (2) | There is no one there to sing a soothing lullaby } (2) |
| Male | |
| Koil thozhum deivam | Beyond the deity worshipped in temples, |
| Nee indri naan kaana ver illai | I see no other living god but you. |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naan illai thaayae | Mother, I am not myself without you, |
| Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life. |
| { Paasam oru nesam } (2) | { Affection and devotion } (2) |
| Kannara kandaan un seyae | Your child has seen it to his heart's content. |
| Male | |
| Naanaaga naan illai thaayae | Mother, I am not myself without you, |
| Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae | You are the one who gave me a good life. |
ம்ஹ்ம் ம்ஹ்ம்
ம்ஹ்ம் ம்ஹ்ம்
Mhmm mhmm mhmm mhmm...
{ நானாக நானில்லை
தாயே நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே
நீயே } (2)
{ பாசம் ஒரு நேசம்
கண்ணாரக் கண்டான்
உன்சேயே } (2)
{ Mother, I am not myself without you,
You are the one who gave me a good life } (2)
{ Affection and devotion } (2)
Your child has seen it to his heart's content.
நானாக நானில்லை
தாயே நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே
நீயே
Mother, I am not myself without you,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
கீழ் வானிலே
ஒளி வந்தது கூண்டை
விட்டு கிளி வந்தது
{ நான் பார்க்கும் ஆகாயம்
எங்கும் நீ பாடும் பூபாளம் } (2)
Light appeared in the eastern sky,
The bird has emerged from its cage.
{ In the sky that I gaze upon,
Everywhere is the morning melody you sing } (2)
வாடும் பயிர்வாழ
நீ தானே நீர் வார்த்த
கார்மேகம்
For the growing crop to flourish,
You are the rain cloud that showered life-giving water.
நானாக நானில்லை
தாயே நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே
நீயே
{ பாசம் ஒரு நேசம் } (2)
கண்ணாரக் கண்டான்
உன்சேயே
Mother, I am not myself without you,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
{ Affection and devotion } (2)
Your child has seen it to his heart's content.
நானாக நானில்லை
தாயே நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே
நீயே
Mother, I am not myself without you,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
மணி மாளிகை
மாடங்களும் மலர் தூவிய
மஞ்சங்களும்
{ தாய் வீடு போலில்லை
அங்கு தாலாட்ட ஆளில்லை } (2)
Even grand mansions and lofty towers,
And flower-strewn couches of luxury,
{ Are nothing compared to a mother's home,
There is no one there to sing a soothing lullaby } (2)
கோயில்
தொழும் தெய்வம்
நீயின்றி நான் காண
வேறில்லை
Beyond the deity worshipped in temples,
I see no other living god but you.
நானாக நானில்லை
தாயே நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே
நீயே
{ பாசம் ஒரு நேசம் } (2)
கண்ணாரக் கண்டான்
உன்சேயே
Mother, I am not myself without you,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
{ Affection and devotion } (2)
Your child has seen it to his heart's content.
நானாக நானில்லை
தாயே நல்வாழ்வு தந்தாயே
நீயே
Mother, I am not myself without you,
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Mhmm mhmm mhmm mhmm ….
Mhmm mhmm mhmm mhmm...
{ Naanaaga naan illai thaayae
{ Mother, I am not myself without you,
Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae } (2)
You are the one who gave me a good life } (2)
{ Paasam oru nesam } (2)
{ Affection and devotion } (2)
Kannara kandaan un seyae
Your child has seen it to his heart's content.
Naanaaga naan illai thaayae
Mother, I am not myself without you,
Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Keezh vaanilae oli vanthadhu
Light appeared in the eastern sky,
Koondai vitu kili vanthadhu
The bird has emerged from its cage.
{ Naan paarkum aagaayam
{ In the sky that I gaze upon,
Engum nee paadum boopalam } (2)
Everywhere is the morning melody you sing } (2)
Vaazhum payir vaazha
For the growing crop to flourish,
Neethaanae neer vaartha kaarmegam
You are the rain cloud that showered life-giving water.
Naanaaga naan illai thaayae
Mother, I am not myself without you,
Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life.
{ Paasam oru nesam } (2)
{ Affection and devotion } (2)
Kannara kandaan un seyae
Your child has seen it to his heart's content.
Naanaaga naan illai thaayae
Mother, I am not myself without you,
Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Mani maaligai maadangalum
Even grand mansions and lofty towers,
Malar thooviya manjangalum
And flower-strewn couches of luxury,
{ Thaai veedu pol illai
{ Are nothing compared to a mother's home,
Angu thaalaata aal illai } (2)
There is no one there to sing a soothing lullaby } (2)
Koil thozhum deivam
Beyond the deity worshipped in temples,
Nee indri naan kaana ver illai
I see no other living god but you.
Naanaaga naan illai thaayae
Mother, I am not myself without you,
Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life.
{ Paasam oru nesam } (2)
{ Affection and devotion } (2)
Kannara kandaan un seyae
Your child has seen it to his heart's content.
Naanaaga naan illai thaayae
Mother, I am not myself without you,
Nal vaazhvu thanthaayae neeyae
You are the one who gave me a good life.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song is a deep tribute to maternal love and gratitude. The protagonist expresses that his identity, success, and well-being are entirely owed to his mother's unconditional love and sacrifices. He compares her presence to a refreshing monsoon cloud that nurtures life, and notes that no luxurious mansion can replace the comfort and warmth of a mother's home.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“Neethaanae neer vaartha kaarmegam”
The lyricist compares the mother to a dark rain-bearing cloud ('kaarmegam') that pours life-giving water on crops.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Keezh vaanilae oli vanthadhu / Koondai vitu kili vanthadhu”
Repetition of the initial 'K' sound across consecutive lines ('Keezh', 'Koondai').
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Mani maaligai maadangalum / Malar thooviya manjangalum”
The second consonant sound 'n' matches between 'Mani' and 'Malar' (with soft consonant assonance).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1983 Tamil film 'Thoongadhey Thambi Thoongadhey', starring Kamal Haasan in a dual role. The iconic music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, sung emotionally by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, with heartfelt lyrics penned by Vaali.
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