Nee Aandavana
From Vaaname Ellai · 1992
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Maragadha Mani
- Details
- Vaaname Ellai1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Im…imum…im…imum… | Hm... mm... hm... mm... |
| Im…imum…im…imum… | Hm... mm... hm... mm... |
| Male | |
| Nee andavana | Are you God? |
| Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae | Since you have no mother or father |
| Kanna naan un jaadhi thaan | Little child, I am of your caste |
| Uravenbadhae enakillaiyae | Since I have no relations either |
| Kanneer enna kanna | Why tears, my child? |
| Ada naan un maamanae | Look, I am your maternal uncle! |
| Mannil vandhadhaalae | Because you arrived on this earth |
| Nee mannin maindhanae | You are a son of this soil |
| Male | |
| Thai bhaashai ariyaadha | Without knowing a mother tongue |
| Pudhu indhiyan | A new Indian |
| Nee endral poiyillaiyae | If I call you that, it is not a lie |
| Than jaadhi sollaamal nee vaazhgiraai | You live without revealing your caste |
| Un polae oorillaiyae | There is no town like you |
| Female | |
| Im…imum… | Hm... mm... |
| Male | |
| Idhazhoram aayiram | Beside your lips, a thousand |
| Siru pookal pookiraai | Small flowers bloom |
| Oru kannaal paarkiraai | You look with one eye |
| Odhukeedu ketkiraai | Asking for a space |
| Thaalatida mozhiyundu valarvaai piraiye | There is language to sing a lullaby, grow like the crescent moon |
| Female | |
| Im…imum… | Hm... mm... |
| Male | |
| Palootida vazhi illai | There is no way to feed milk |
| Adhudhaan kuraiyae | That alone is the shortcoming |
| Undhan sogam sonnaal | If you speak your sorrow |
| Yekkam poividum | Longing will fade away |
| Engal sogam sonnaal | If we speak our sorrow |
| Un thookam poividu | Your sleep will vanish |
| Female | |
| Nee andavana | Are you God? |
| Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae | Since you have no mother or father |
| Kanna naan un jaadhi thaan | Little child, I am of your caste |
| Uravenbadhae enakillaiyae | Since I have no relations either |
| Male | |
| Kanneer enna kanna | Why tears, my child? |
| Ada naan un maamanae | Look, I am your maternal uncle! |
| Female | |
| Mannil vandhadhaalae | Because you arrived on this earth |
| Nee mannin maindhanae | You are a son of this soil |
| Female | |
| Aaro aaro aaro araaraaro | Aaro aaro aaro araaraaro (Lullaby) |
| Female | |
| Aaro aaro aaro areeraaro | Aaro aaro aaro areeraaro (Lullaby) |
| Female | |
| Kalaigindra megangal | The scattering clouds |
| Sabhai koodiyae | Gathering together in council |
| Vaan veliyai thaalatudhae | Sing a lullaby to the open sky |
| Female | |
| Karaigindra pirai aindhu | Five waning crescent moons |
| Kai veesiyae | Waving their hands |
| Sooriyanai thaalatudhe | Sing a lullaby to the sun |
| Male | |
| Ah…aha…ah… | Ah... aha... ah... |
| Female | |
| Mudiyaadha yaathirai | An endless journey |
| Mudigidra velaiyil | At the time it comes to an end |
| Muthangal thandhu nee | You give kisses |
| Mullanai selaiyil | Dressed in a thorny cloth |
| Female | |
| Nee enbadhu | Are you |
| Em vaazhvil varava selavaa | An income or an expense in our life? |
| Mul enbadho rojavil | Is a thorn to a rose |
| Urava pagaya | A relative or an enemy? |
| Female | |
| Kaalam seidha kolam | A pattern drawn by time |
| Nee ingae vandhadhu | Is your arrival here |
| Kanneerodu vandhu | Arriving with tears |
| Kanneer serndhadhu | Joining with tears |
| Female | |
| Nee andavana | Are you God? |
| Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae | Since you have no mother or father |
| Female | |
| Kanna naan un jaadhi thaan | Little child, I am of your caste |
| Uravenbadhae enakillaiyae | Since I have no relations either |
| Male | |
| Kanneer enna kanna | Why tears, my child? |
| Ada naan un maamanae | Look, I am your maternal uncle! |
ம்ம்....ம்ஹும்.....ம்ம்....ம்ஹும்.....
ம்ம்....ம்ஹும்.....ம்ம்....ம்ஹும்.....
Hm... mm... hm... mm...
Hm... mm... hm... mm...
நீ ஆண்டவனா
தாய் தந்தைதான் உனக்கில்லையே
கண்ணா நான் உன் ஜாதிதான்
உறவென்பதே எனக்கில்லையே
கண்ணீர் என்ன கண்ணா
அட நான் உன் மாமனே
மண்ணில் வந்ததாலே
நீ மண்ணின் மைந்தனே
Are you God?
Since you have no mother or father
Little child, I am of your caste
Since I have no relations either
Why tears, my child?
Look, I am your maternal uncle!
Because you arrived on this earth
You are a son of this soil
தாய் பாஷை அறியாத
புது இந்தியன்
நீ என்றால் பொய்யில்லையே
தன் ஜாதி சொல்லாமல் நீ வாழ்கிறாய்
உன் போலே ஊரில்லையே
Without knowing a mother tongue
A new Indian
If I call you that, it is not a lie
You live without revealing your caste
There is no town like you
ம்ம்....ம்ஹும்.....
Hm... mm...
இதழோரம் ஆயிரம்
சிறு பூக்கள் பூக்கிறாய்
ஒரு கண்ணால் பார்க்கிறாய்
ஒதுக்கீடு கேட்கிறாய்
தாலாட்டிட மொழியுண்டு வளர்வாய் பிறையே
Beside your lips, a thousand
Small flowers bloom
You look with one eye
Asking for a space
There is language to sing a lullaby, grow like the crescent moon
ம்ம்....ம்ஹும்.....
Hm... mm...
பாலூட்டிட வழி இல்லை
அதுதான் குறையே
உந்தன் சோகம் சொன்னால்
ஏக்கம் போய்விடும்
எங்கள் சோகம் சொன்னால்
உன் தூக்கம் போய்விடும்
There is no way to feed milk
That alone is the shortcoming
If you speak your sorrow
Longing will fade away
If we speak our sorrow
Your sleep will vanish
பெண்
: நீ ஆண்டவனா
தாய் தந்தைதான் உனக்கில்லையே
கண்ணா நான் உன் ஜாதிதான்
உறவென்பதே எனக்கில்லையே
Are you God?
Since you have no mother or father
Little child, I am of your caste
Since I have no relations either
கண்ணீர் என்ன கண்ணா
அட நான் உன் மாமனே
Why tears, my child?
Look, I am your maternal uncle!
மண்ணில் வந்ததாலே
நீ மண்ணின் மைந்தனே
Because you arrived on this earth
You are a son of this soil
ஆரோ ஆரோ ஆரோ ஆராராரோ
ஆரோ ஆரோ ஆரோ ஆரீராரோ
Aaro aaro aaro araaraaro (Lullaby)
கலைகின்ற மேகங்கள்
சபை கூடியே
வான் வெளியை தாலாட்டுதே
Aaro aaro aaro areeraaro (Lullaby)
கரைகின்ற பிறை ஐந்து
கை வீசியே
சூரியனை தாலாட்டுதே
The scattering clouds
Gathering together in council
Sing a lullaby to the open sky
ஆ.....அஹ.....ஆ.....
Five waning crescent moons
Waving their hands
Sing a lullaby to the sun
முடியாத யாத்திரை
முடிகின்ற வேளையில்
முத்தங்கள் தந்து நீ
முள் ஆனாய் சேலையில்
Ah... aha... ah...
நீ என்பது
எம் வாழ்வில் வரவா செலவா
முள் என்பது ரோஜாவில்
உறவா பகையா
An endless journey
At the time it comes to an end
You give kisses
Dressed in a thorny cloth
காலம் செய்த கோலம்
நீ இங்கே வந்தது
கண்ணீரோடு வந்து
கண்ணீர் சேர்ந்தது
Are you
An income or an expense in our life?
Is a thorn to a rose
A relative or an enemy?
நீ ஆண்டவனா
தாய் தந்தைதான் உனக்கில்லையே
A pattern drawn by time
Is your arrival here
Arriving with tears
Joining with tears
கண்ணா நான் உன் ஜாதிதான்
உறவென்பதே எனக்கில்லையே
Are you God?
Since you have no mother or father
கண்ணீர் என்ன கண்ணா
அட நான் உன் மாமனே
Little child, I am of your caste
Since I have no relations either
மண்ணில் வந்ததாலே
நீ மண்ணின் மைந்தனே
Why tears, my child?
Look, I am your maternal uncle!
Im…imum…im…imum…
Hm... mm... hm... mm...
Im…imum…im…imum…
Hm... mm... hm... mm...
Nee andavana
Are you God?
Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae
Since you have no mother or father
Kanna naan un jaadhi thaan
Little child, I am of your caste
Uravenbadhae enakillaiyae
Since I have no relations either
Kanneer enna kanna
Why tears, my child?
Ada naan un maamanae
Look, I am your maternal uncle!
Mannil vandhadhaalae
Because you arrived on this earth
Nee mannin maindhanae
You are a son of this soil
Thai bhaashai ariyaadha
Without knowing a mother tongue
Pudhu indhiyan
A new Indian
Nee endral poiyillaiyae
If I call you that, it is not a lie
Than jaadhi sollaamal nee vaazhgiraai
You live without revealing your caste
Un polae oorillaiyae
There is no town like you
Im…imum…
Hm... mm...
Idhazhoram aayiram
Beside your lips, a thousand
Siru pookal pookiraai
Small flowers bloom
Oru kannaal paarkiraai
You look with one eye
Odhukeedu ketkiraai
Asking for a space
Thaalatida mozhiyundu valarvaai piraiye
There is language to sing a lullaby, grow like the crescent moon
Im…imum…
Hm... mm...
Palootida vazhi illai
There is no way to feed milk
Adhudhaan kuraiyae
That alone is the shortcoming
Undhan sogam sonnaal
If you speak your sorrow
Yekkam poividum
Longing will fade away
Engal sogam sonnaal
If we speak our sorrow
Un thookam poividu
Your sleep will vanish
Nee andavana
Are you God?
Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae
Since you have no mother or father
Kanna naan un jaadhi thaan
Little child, I am of your caste
Uravenbadhae enakillaiyae
Since I have no relations either
Kanneer enna kanna
Why tears, my child?
Ada naan un maamanae
Look, I am your maternal uncle!
Mannil vandhadhaalae
Because you arrived on this earth
Nee mannin maindhanae
You are a son of this soil
Aaro aaro aaro araaraaro
Aaro aaro aaro araaraaro (Lullaby)
Aaro aaro aaro areeraaro
Aaro aaro aaro areeraaro (Lullaby)
Kalaigindra megangal
The scattering clouds
Sabhai koodiyae
Gathering together in council
Vaan veliyai thaalatudhae
Sing a lullaby to the open sky
Karaigindra pirai aindhu
Five waning crescent moons
Kai veesiyae
Waving their hands
Sooriyanai thaalatudhe
Sing a lullaby to the sun
Ah…aha…ah…
Ah... aha... ah...
Mudiyaadha yaathirai
An endless journey
Mudigidra velaiyil
At the time it comes to an end
Muthangal thandhu nee
You give kisses
Mullanai selaiyil
Dressed in a thorny cloth
Nee enbadhu
Are you
Em vaazhvil varava selavaa
An income or an expense in our life?
Mul enbadho rojavil
Is a thorn to a rose
Urava pagaya
A relative or an enemy?
Kaalam seidha kolam
A pattern drawn by time
Nee ingae vandhadhu
Is your arrival here
Kanneerodu vandhu
Arriving with tears
Kanneer serndhadhu
Joining with tears
Nee andavana
Are you God?
Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae
Since you have no mother or father
Kanna naan un jaadhi thaan
Little child, I am of your caste
Uravenbadhae enakillaiyae
Since I have no relations either
Kanneer enna kanna
Why tears, my child?
Ada naan un maamanae
Look, I am your maternal uncle!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the 1992 film 'Vaaname Ellai' is a moving lullaby sung to an abandoned infant by young adults who are themselves struggling with pain, isolation, and existential crises. Vairamuthu's lyrics draw a philosophical parallel between the orphaned child and God—neither possesses an earthly mother, father, or caste. The infant represents a pure, unblemished 'New Indian' who exists without the divisions of religion, caste, or language. Through tender imagery and introspective questions, the song explores the duality of joy and sorrow. Though the characters are burdened by their own tragic circumstances, holding and caring for the baby gives them a renewed sense of purpose and comfort. The infant's innocent presence serves as a turning point, reminding them of humanity, resilience, and hope amidst despair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nee andavana / Thaai thandhai thaan unakillaiyae”
Compares the orphaned infant directly to God, as both lack human parents and caste divisions, highlighting the child's divinity and purity.
Visual Imagery
“Idhazhoram aayiram / Siru pookal pookiraai”
Evokes a vivid image of a baby's innocent smile appearing like flowers blossoming at the corner of its lips.
Rhetorical Question
“Mul enbadho rojavil / Urava pagaya”
Ponders the nature of pain and existence by questioning if a thorn on a rose is a friend or foe, reflecting on the infant's complex role in their troubled lives.
Personification
“Kalaigindra megangal... Vaan veliyai thaalatudhae”
Personifies nature by describing clouds gathering to sing a lullaby to the sky, and waning moons singing to the sun.
Emonai / Alliteration
“Kaalam seidha kolam / Kanneerodu vandhu”
Repetition of consonant sounds across lines creating melodic harmony (e.g., 'Kaalam' and 'Kanneer').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Vaaname Ellai' (1992) was written and directed by K. Balachander and featured music composed by Maragathamani (M. M. Keeravani). The story revolves around five youths who decide to end their lives but take a pact to live life to the fullest for a year first. Finding this abandoned baby serves as a crucial emotional pivot in the narrative, altering their perspectives on life, suffering, and responsibility.
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