Nanthanin Sarithiram
From Kalaivanan · 1959
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Pendyala Nageswara Rao
- Details
- Kalaivanan1959
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aandavan apdaippilae | In God's creation, |
| Aadhiyilae jaathi madha baedhamillai | In the beginning, there was no distinction of caste or religion. |
| Avaiellaam paadhiyilae | All these came midway, |
| Manidhargalaal ulagilae vandha thollai | As troubles brought upon the world by human beings. |
| Male | |
| Nandhanin sarithiram arumai | The story of Nandan is wonderful, |
| Naan uraippen adhan perumai | I shall speak of its greatness. |
| Naan uraippen adhan perumai | I shall speak of its greatness. |
| Nandhanin sarithiram arumai | The story of Nandan is wonderful, |
| Naan uraippen adhan perumai | I shall speak of its greatness. |
| Naan uraippen adhan perumai | I shall speak of its greatness. |
| Male | |
| Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile | In the village settlement of Adhanur, |
| Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile | In the village settlement of Adhanur, |
| Adimai nanhanum pirandhaanae | Nandan was born as a slave. |
| Aani ponnani ambalavaanan | Cherishing the grace of Ambalavanan, pure as precious gold, |
| Arulai ninaithae valarndhaane | He grew up constantly contemplating His grace. |
| Nandhanin sarithiram arumai | The story of Nandan is wonderful, |
| Naan uraippen adhan perumai | I shall speak of its greatness. |
| Naan uraippen adhan perumai | I shall speak of its greatness. |
| Male | |
| Andhanaraagiya aandaiyinidamae | To his Brahmin master, |
| Ambalam sellavae vidai kettaan | He requested leave to go to the sacred temple. |
| Andhanaraagiya aandaiyinidamae | To his Brahmin master, |
| Ambalam sellavae vidai kettaan | He requested leave to go to the sacred temple. |
| Pannai velaigal paangudan mudithe | Finish the farm duties properly, |
| Paraiya nee poyi va endraar | And then go, O Paraiya, said the master. |
| Male | |
| Kannaeer peruki anndhan kalangavae | As tears overflowed and Nandan felt distressed, |
| Kann moondrudaiyonin karunaiyaal andriravae | By the compassion of the three-eyed Lord on that night, |
| Kazhani ellaam neer paaindhu payir yeri | Water irrigated all the fields and the crops grew tall, |
| Kadhir vilaindhae thalai saaindhae nindrathuvae | The grain ripened and stood bowing down. |
| Male | |
| Bakthiyin magimaiyai vedhiyar unardhae | Realizing the power of his devotion, the Brahmin, |
| Parivudan poyi vara vidai alithaar | Granted permission with kindness to go and return. |
| Oonum urakkamum marndhae nandhanum | Forgetting food and sleep, Nandan |
| Ulalm urughi nindridavae | Stood with his heart melting in devotion. |
| Male | |
| Umaiyaval naadhan aruladhinaale | By the grace of Goddess Uma's Lord Shiva, |
| Ullam maariya maraiyavarae | The Brahmin whose heart had transformed, |
| Thiyanathil moozhgiya nandhanai azhaithae | Called Nandan who was immersed in deep meditation, |
| Siavnai sevikka seidhanare | And enabled him to offer service to Lord Shiva. |
| Aanandha kanneer perukkiya anban | The devotee who shed tears of ecstatic joy, |
| Arutjodhyilae kalandhaanae | Merged into the divine light of grace. |
ஆண்டவன் படைப்பிலே
ஆதியிலே ஜாதிமத பேதமில்லை
அவையெல்லாம் பாதியிலே
மனிதர்களால் உலகிலே வந்த தொல்லை......
In God's creation,
In the beginning, there was no distinction of caste or religion.
All these came midway,
As troubles brought upon the world by human beings.
நந்தனின் சரித்திரம் அருமை
நானுரைப்பேன் அதன் பெருமை
நானுரைப்பேன் அதன் பெருமை
நந்தனின் சரித்திரம் அருமை
நானுரைப்பேன் அதன் பெருமை...
நானுரைப்பேன் அதன் பெருமை
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
I shall speak of its greatness.
I shall speak of its greatness.
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
I shall speak of its greatness.
I shall speak of its greatness.
ஆதனூரிலே சேரி தன்னிலே
ஆதனூரிலே சேரி தன்னிலே
அடிமை நந்தனும் பிறந்தானே....
ஆனிப் பொன்னணி அம்பலவாணன்
அருளை நினைத்தே வளர்ந்தானே..
நந்தனின் சரித்திரம் அருமை
நானுரைப்பேன் அதன் பெருமை...
நானுரைப்பேன் அதன் பெருமை
In the village settlement of Adhanur,
In the village settlement of Adhanur,
Nandan was born as a slave.
Cherishing the grace of Ambalavanan, pure as precious gold,
He grew up constantly contemplating His grace.
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
I shall speak of its greatness.
I shall speak of its greatness.
அந்தணராகிய ஆண்டையினிடமே
அம்பலம் செல்லவே விடை கேட்டான்
அந்தணராகிய ஆண்டையினிடமே
அம்பலம் செல்லவே விடை கேட்டான்
பண்ணை வேலைகள் பாங்குடன் முடித்தே
பறையா நீ போய் வா என்றார்....
To his Brahmin master,
He requested leave to go to the sacred temple.
To his Brahmin master,
He requested leave to go to the sacred temple.
Finish the farm duties properly,
And then go, O Paraiya, said the master.
கண்ணீர் பெருக்கி நந்தன் கலங்கவே
கண் மூன்றுடையோனின் கருணையால் அன்றிரவே
கழனியெல்லாம் நீர் பாய்ந்து பயிரேறி
கதிர் விளைந்தே தலை சாய்ந்தே நின்றதுவே
As tears overflowed and Nandan felt distressed,
By the compassion of the three-eyed Lord on that night,
Water irrigated all the fields and the crops grew tall,
The grain ripened and stood bowing down.
பக்தியின் மகிமையை வேதியர் உணர்ந்தே
பரிவுடன் போய் வர விடை அளித்தார்
ஊணும் உறக்கமும் மறந்தே நந்தனும்
உள்ளம் உருகி நின்றிடவே
Realizing the power of his devotion, the Brahmin,
Granted permission with kindness to go and return.
Forgetting food and sleep, Nandan
Stood with his heart melting in devotion.
உமையவள் நாதன் அருளதினாலே
உள்ளம் மாறிய மறையவரே
தியானத்தில் மூழ்கிய நந்தனை அழைத்தே
சிவனைச் சேவிக்க செய்தனரே
ஆனந்தக் கண்ணீர் பெருக்கிய அன்பன்
அருட் சோதியிலே கலந்தானே......
By the grace of Goddess Uma's Lord Shiva,
The Brahmin whose heart had transformed,
Called Nandan who was immersed in deep meditation,
And enabled him to offer service to Lord Shiva.
The devotee who shed tears of ecstatic joy,
Merged into the divine light of grace.
Aandavan apdaippilae
In God's creation,
Aadhiyilae jaathi madha baedhamillai
In the beginning, there was no distinction of caste or religion.
Avaiellaam paadhiyilae
All these came midway,
Manidhargalaal ulagilae vandha thollai
As troubles brought upon the world by human beings.
Nandhanin sarithiram arumai
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
I shall speak of its greatness.
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
I shall speak of its greatness.
Nandhanin sarithiram arumai
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
I shall speak of its greatness.
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
I shall speak of its greatness.
Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile
In the village settlement of Adhanur,
Aadhanoorilae saeri thannile
In the village settlement of Adhanur,
Adimai nanhanum pirandhaanae
Nandan was born as a slave.
Aani ponnani ambalavaanan
Cherishing the grace of Ambalavanan, pure as precious gold,
Arulai ninaithae valarndhaane
He grew up constantly contemplating His grace.
Nandhanin sarithiram arumai
The story of Nandan is wonderful,
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
I shall speak of its greatness.
Naan uraippen adhan perumai
I shall speak of its greatness.
Andhanaraagiya aandaiyinidamae
To his Brahmin master,
Ambalam sellavae vidai kettaan
He requested leave to go to the sacred temple.
Andhanaraagiya aandaiyinidamae
To his Brahmin master,
Ambalam sellavae vidai kettaan
He requested leave to go to the sacred temple.
Pannai velaigal paangudan mudithe
Finish the farm duties properly,
Paraiya nee poyi va endraar
And then go, O Paraiya, said the master.
Kannaeer peruki anndhan kalangavae
As tears overflowed and Nandan felt distressed,
Kann moondrudaiyonin karunaiyaal andriravae
By the compassion of the three-eyed Lord on that night,
Kazhani ellaam neer paaindhu payir yeri
Water irrigated all the fields and the crops grew tall,
Kadhir vilaindhae thalai saaindhae nindrathuvae
The grain ripened and stood bowing down.
Bakthiyin magimaiyai vedhiyar unardhae
Realizing the power of his devotion, the Brahmin,
Parivudan poyi vara vidai alithaar
Granted permission with kindness to go and return.
Oonum urakkamum marndhae nandhanum
Forgetting food and sleep, Nandan
Ulalm urughi nindridavae
Stood with his heart melting in devotion.
Umaiyaval naadhan aruladhinaale
By the grace of Goddess Uma's Lord Shiva,
Ullam maariya maraiyavarae
The Brahmin whose heart had transformed,
Thiyanathil moozhgiya nandhanai azhaithae
Called Nandan who was immersed in deep meditation,
Siavnai sevikka seidhanare
And enabled him to offer service to Lord Shiva.
Aanandha kanneer perukkiya anban
The devotee who shed tears of ecstatic joy,
Arutjodhyilae kalandhaanae
Merged into the divine light of grace.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
Keep listening
More from Kalaivanan
Kalaivanan
Kalaivanan
Kalaivanan
Kalaivanan
Kalaivanan
Kalaivanan