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Kalaivanan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nanthanin Sarithiram

From Kalaivanan · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Pendyala Nageswara Rao
Movie name
Kalaivanan
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
31 Jan 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aandavan apdaippilae
Aadhiyilae jaathi madha baedhamillai
Avaiellaam paadhiyilae
Manidhargalaal ulagilae vandha thollai
Nandhanin sarithiram arumai
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
Nandhanin sarithiram arumai
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile
Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile
Adimai nanhanum pirandhaanae
Aani ponnani ambalavaanan
Arulai ninaithae valarndhaane
Nandhanin sarithiram arumai
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
Andhanaraagiya aandaiyinidamae
Ambalam sellavae vidai kettaan
Andhanaraagiya aandaiyinidamae
Ambalam sellavae vidai kettaan
Pannai velaigal paangudan mudithe
Paraiya nee poyi va endraar
Kannaeer peruki anndhan kalangavae
Kann moondrudaiyonin karunaiyaal andriravae
Kazhani ellaam neer paaindhu payir yeri
Kadhir vilaindhae thalai saaindhae nindrathuvae
Bakthiyin magimaiyai vedhiyar unardhae
Parivudan poyi vara vidai alithaar
Oonum urakkamum marndhae nandhanum
Ulalm urughi nindridavae
Umaiyaval naadhan aruladhinaale
Ullam maariya maraiyavarae
Thiyanathil moozhgiya nandhanai azhaithae
Siavnai sevikka seidhanare
Aanandha kanneer perukkiya anban
Arutjodhyilae kalandhaanae
In God's creation,
In the beginning, there were no divisions of caste or religion.
All these were troubles along the way,
Brought into this world by human beings...
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
I shall sing of its glory.
I shall sing of its glory.
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
I shall sing of its glory...
I shall sing of its glory.
In the hamlet of Adhanur,
In the hamlet of Adhanur,
The bonded laborer Nandan was born...
Keeping in mind the grace of the Lord of the Golden Hall,
He grew up thinking only of His grace...
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
I shall sing of its glory...
I shall sing of its glory.
From his Brahmin landlord master,
He asked for permission to visit the holy shrine.
From his Brahmin landlord master,
He asked for permission to visit the holy shrine.
"Finish all the farm work properly,
And only then may you go, Paraya," said the master...
As Nandan wept with flowing tears in sorrow,
By the grace of the three-eyed Lord, that very night,
Water flooded all the fields and the crops grew tall,
The grain ripened and stood bowed low.
Realizing the power of his devotion, the Brahmin
Kindly granted him leave to go and visit.
Forgetting both food and sleep, as Nandan
Stood with a heart melting in love,
By the grace of the Lord of Goddess Uma,
The priests had a change of heart;
Calling upon Nandan, who was immersed in meditation,
They welcomed him to worship Lord Shiva.
Shedding tears of joy, that loving devotee
Merged into the divine light of grace......
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from the movie Kalaivanan (1959) retells the story of Nandanar, a renowned Dalit saint from Tamil Shaivite devotion (Periya Puranam). It begins with a egalitarian philosophical declaration that God created humanity without caste or religious barriers, and that discrimination is purely a man-made social ill. The song narrates Nandan's deep devotion to Lord Shiva, his struggle to obtain permission from his Brahmin landlord to visit the sacred shrine at Chidambaram, and the miracle wrought by Shiva that transforms his master's heart. Ultimately, through unshakeable devotion and divine grace, Nandan merges into the sacred light of Lord Shiva.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Aandavan apdaippilae / Aadhiyilae jaathi madha baedhamillai”

Matching initial vowel sounds in consecutive words ('Aandavan' / 'Aadhiyilae') establishing rhythmic harmony.

Etukai (Second Letter Agreement)

“Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile / Adimai nanhanum pirandhaanae”

The second consonant 'dh' matches in 'Aadhanoorilae' and 'Adimai', providing traditional Tamil prosodic rhythm.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Aani ponnani ambalavaanan”

Lord Shiva is described as 'Aani ponnani ambalavaanan' (Ambalavanan pure as tested gold), comparing divine sanctity to unblemished gold.

Visual Imagery

“Kazhani ellaam neer paaindhu payir yeri / Kadhir vilaindhae thalai saaindhae nindrathuvae”

Describing the miraculous event where fields overnight overflow with water and grain stalks bow down ripe for harvest.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from Kalaivanan (1959) uses the traditional Kathakalakshepam (musical storytelling) style. Written by A. Maruthakasi and sung by T. M. Soundarajan, it popularized the social message of spiritual equality from the life of Saint Nandanar to a wider cinematic audience.

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