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Uthama Raasa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nandri Unakku

From Uthama Raasa · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Uthama Raasa
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
15 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nandri unakku cholla
Vaarttai illai maariyae
Nenjil neranju nikkum
Aayiram kan sooliyae
Manja neer thelikkudhammaa
Oor sananga koodiyae
Mangalam koduppavalae
Kunguma chingaariyae
Thottiyam kaali endru thulangidum thaayae
Soolakkal maari endru pugazh padaithaayae
Adichu pudichu kidandha oorukkullae
Nalla arivai koduthu inaicha umaiyavalae
Manushan nenachu edhu thaan nadakkumadi
Undhan nenappu edhuvo adhu thaan nigazhumadi
Nallorkku theengizhachaa kaappaval neeyae
Pollaadha kobam kondu pongidum thaayae
Kodaanu kodiyilae naanum un saeyae
Kai pillai kai vanangum sakthiyae maayae
Veappilaiyil aadai katti veetrirukkum ambigaiyae
Mukkonathil ukkaandhidum magamaayi
Nandri unakku cholla
Vaarttai illai maariyae
Nenjil neranju nikkum
Aayiram kan sooliyae
Manja neer thelikkudhammaa
Oor sananga koodiyae
Mangalam koduppavalae
Kunguma chingaariyae
Padathai virithu paambum kudai pidikkum
Kilai padarndhu adarndha vaembum nizhal kodukkum
Adadaa azhagin azhagaai koluvirukkum
Undhan adiyai panindhae vanangi ulagirukkum
Panneeru sandhanathil theerthamum aadi
Annaadam elumichaiyil maalaiyum soodi
Karpoora jothiyai thaan yaetridum dhevi
Kan vendum kaanbadharkku aayiram kodi
Kaalam vandhaal kan thirappaai
Theeyavarai nee erippaai
Aangaariyae ongaariyae maakaali
Nandri unakku cholla
Vaarttai illai maariyae
Nenjil neranju nikkum
Aayiram kan sooliyae
Manja neer thelikkudhammaa
Oor sananga koodiyae
Mangalam koduppavalae
Kunguma chingaariyae
Thottiyam kaali endru thulangidum thaayae
Soolakkal maari endru pugazh padaithaayae
To offer you my gratitude,
I have no words, O Mariamma!
Filling and dwelling deep within our hearts,
O trident-bearing Goddess with a thousand eyes!
Turmeric water is sprinkled, Mother,
as all the village folk gather together!
O giver of all auspicious blessings,
O beautiful one adorned with red kumkum!
O Mother shining with glory as Thottiyam Kali!
O Goddess who won great renown as Sulakkal Mari!
In this village where people were fighting and bickering,
O Goddess Uma, you gave them good sense and brought them together!
What can ever happen just because a human wishes it?
Whatever is your divine will alone will come to pass!
If any harm comes to good people, you are the one who protects them!
O Mother who rises in fierce rage against evil!
Among your millions and millions, I too am your child!
O divine Shakti, O Mother Maya, this little child prays to you with folded hands!
O Ambika, seated in majesty wearing garments of neem leaves,
O Mahamayi, dwelling inside the sacred triangle!
To offer you my gratitude,
I have no words, O Mariamma!
Filling and dwelling deep within our hearts,
O trident-bearing Goddess with a thousand eyes!
Turmeric water is sprinkled, Mother,
as all the village folk gather together!
O giver of all auspicious blessings,
O beautiful one adorned with red kumkum!
Spreading its hood, even a serpent holds an umbrella over you,
and the dense, branching neem tree offers its cooling shade!
Ah, you sit in royal grace, the very peak of beauty!
The whole world bows in devotion at your sacred feet!
Bathing in holy rosewater and sandalwood paste,
wearing a garland of fresh lemons every single day,
O Goddess before whom the bright camphor flame is lit,
one needs billions of eyes just to behold your glorious form!
When the time comes, you will open your eyes,
and you will burn down the wicked!
O fierce Goddess, O voice of the sacred Om, O Mahakali!
To offer you my gratitude,
I have no words, O Mariamma!
Filling and dwelling deep within our hearts,
O trident-bearing Goddess with a thousand eyes!
Turmeric water is sprinkled, Mother,
as all the village folk gather together!
O giver of all auspicious blessings,
O beautiful one adorned with red kumkum!
O Mother shining with glory as Thottiyam Kali!
O Goddess who won great renown as Sulakkal Mari!
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Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a deeply devotional Tamil village hymn dedicated to Goddess Mariamman (an incarnation of Goddess Sakthi/Kali). The singer expresses overwhelming gratitude to the deity for bringing peace, unity, and wisdom to a once-divided village. The lyrics highlight the absolute power of divine will over human desire, proclaiming that nothing moves without the Goddess's grace. Throughout the hymn, vivid rural ritualistic imagery is invoked—sprinkling turmeric water, lighting camphor, offering lemon garlands, and worshipping the deity adorned with neem leaves and vermilion. The song portrays the Goddess both as a benevolent protector of the righteous and a fierce, fiery annihilator of evil.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Alliteration (Monai)

“Nandri unakku cholla / Nenjil neranju nikkum”

Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in lines like 'Nandri' and 'Nenjil', which creates a rhythmic flow in Tamil poetry.

Edukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Padathai virithu paambum kudai pidikkum / Kilai padarndhu adarndha vaembum nizhal kodukkum”

Rhyming of the second letter across consecutive lines, such as 'Padathai' and 'Kilai' ('da' / 'la' soft consonant harmony) or 'Thottiyam' / 'Soolakkal'.

Devotional Metaphor & Imagery (Uvamaani)

“Padathai virithu paambum kudai pidikkum”

Vivid visual imagery describing nature and animals revering the divine mother, such as the snake spreading its hood like an umbrella.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic devotional song features in the 1993 Tamil movie 'Uthama Raasa' starring Prabhu and Kushboo. The music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali, and the song became a staple track played during temple festivals across rural Tamil Nadu.

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