Nee Kettadhu Inbam
From Aalukkoru Veedu · 1960
- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Aalukkoru Veedu1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nee kettathu inbam… | You asked for happiness... |
| Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam | You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow |
| Vaazhkkai idhuthaano | Is this what life is? |
| Ethir paarththathi nizhalai adainthathu veyilaip | You expected shade, but ended up in scorching heat |
| Padam ithu thaano | Is this the picture of life? |
| Female | |
| Pesi pesi pala naal pesi | After talking and talking for many days |
| Nesam valarththu nenjam magizhnthe | Nurturing affection and making the heart rejoice |
| Aasaik kaniyaai aagumpothu | Just as it matures into the desired fruit |
| Anbai izhanthaal laabam yaedhu | If love is lost, what gain is there? |
| Anbai izhanthaal laabam yaedhu | If love is lost, what gain is there? |
| Laabam yaedhu….. | What gain is there...? |
| Female | |
| Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam | You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow |
| Vaazhkkai idhuthaano | Is this what life is? |
| Ethir paarththathi nizhalai adainthathu veyilaip | You expected shade, but ended up in scorching heat |
| Padam ithu thaano | Is this the picture of life? |
| Female | |
| Thunba naragil suzhalum ulagam | The world spinning in a hell of suffering |
| Thundu thundaai udainthu athilae | Shattering into tiny pieces, and from that |
| Thunba naragil suzhalum ulagam | The world spinning in a hell of suffering |
| Thundu thundaai udainthu athilae | Shattering into tiny pieces, and from that |
| Female | |
| inbamendror ulagam thondri | Will a new world called happiness emerge |
| Yaelaith thuyarai theerththidaatho | And put an end to the poor person's sorrow? |
| Yaelaith thuyarai theerththidaatho | And put an end to the poor person's sorrow? |
| Theerththidaatho…. | Will it not end...? |
| Female | |
| Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam | You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow |
| Vaazhkkai idhuthaano | Is this what life is? |
| Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam | You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow |
| Vaazhkkai idhuthaano | Is this what life is? |
| Vaazhkkai idhuthaano | Is this what life is? |
| Vaazhkkai idhuthaano…..oo….. | Is this what life is...? |
நீ கேட்டது இன்பம்........
நீ கேட்டது இன்பம் கிடைத்தது துன்பம்
வாழ்க்கை இதுதானோ
எதிர் பார்த்தது நிழலை அடைந்தது வெயிலைப்
பாடம் இது தானோ
You asked for happiness...
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Is this what life is?
You expected shade, but ended up in scorching heat
Is this the picture of life?
பேசிப் பேசிப் பலநாள் பேசி
நேசம் வளர்த்து நெஞ்சம் மகிழ்ந்தே
ஆசைக் கனியாய் ஆகும் போது
அன்பை இழந்தால் லாபம் ஏது
அன்பை இழந்தால் லாபம் ஏது
லாபம் ஏது......
After talking and talking for many days
Nurturing affection and making the heart rejoice
Just as it matures into the desired fruit
If love is lost, what gain is there?
If love is lost, what gain is there?
What gain is there...?
நீ கேட்டது இன்பம் கிடைத்தது துன்பம்
வாழ்க்கை இதுதானோ
எதிர் பார்த்தது நிழலை அடைந்தது வெயிலைப்
பாடம் இது தானோ
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Is this what life is?
You expected shade, but ended up in scorching heat
Is this the picture of life?
துன்ப நரகில் சுழலும் உலகம்
துண்டு துண்டாய் உடைந்து அதிலே
துன்ப நரகில் சுழலும் உலகம்
துண்டு துண்டாய் உடைந்து அதிலே
The world spinning in a hell of suffering
Shattering into tiny pieces, and from that
The world spinning in a hell of suffering
Shattering into tiny pieces, and from that
இன்ப மென்றோர் உலகம் தோன்றி
ஏழைத் துயரைத் தீர்த்திடாதோ
ஏழைத் துயரைத் தீர்த்திடாதோ
தீர்த்திடாதோ......
Will a new world called happiness emerge
And put an end to the poor person's sorrow?
And put an end to the poor person's sorrow?
Will it not end...?
நீ கேட்டது இன்பம் கிடைத்தது துன்பம்
வாழ்க்கை இதுதானோ
நீ கேட்டது இன்பம் கிடைத்தது துன்பம்
வாழ்க்கை இதுதானோ
வாழ்க்கை இதுதானோ
வாழ்க்கை இதுதானோ......ஓ......
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Is this what life is?
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Is this what life is?
Is this what life is?
Is this what life is...?
Nee kettathu inbam…
You asked for happiness...
Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Vaazhkkai idhuthaano
Is this what life is?
Ethir paarththathi nizhalai adainthathu veyilaip
You expected shade, but ended up in scorching heat
Padam ithu thaano
Is this the picture of life?
Pesi pesi pala naal pesi
After talking and talking for many days
Nesam valarththu nenjam magizhnthe
Nurturing affection and making the heart rejoice
Aasaik kaniyaai aagumpothu
Just as it matures into the desired fruit
Anbai izhanthaal laabam yaedhu
If love is lost, what gain is there?
Anbai izhanthaal laabam yaedhu
If love is lost, what gain is there?
Laabam yaedhu…..
What gain is there...?
Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Vaazhkkai idhuthaano
Is this what life is?
Ethir paarththathi nizhalai adainthathu veyilaip
You expected shade, but ended up in scorching heat
Padam ithu thaano
Is this the picture of life?
Thunba naragil suzhalum ulagam
The world spinning in a hell of suffering
Thundu thundaai udainthu athilae
Shattering into tiny pieces, and from that
Thunba naragil suzhalum ulagam
The world spinning in a hell of suffering
Thundu thundaai udainthu athilae
Shattering into tiny pieces, and from that
inbamendror ulagam thondri
Will a new world called happiness emerge
Yaelaith thuyarai theerththidaatho
And put an end to the poor person's sorrow?
Yaelaith thuyarai theerththidaatho
And put an end to the poor person's sorrow?
Theerththidaatho….
Will it not end...?
Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Vaazhkkai idhuthaano
Is this what life is?
Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam
You asked for happiness, but what you got was sorrow
Vaazhkkai idhuthaano
Is this what life is?
Vaazhkkai idhuthaano
Is this what life is?
Vaazhkkai idhuthaano…..oo…..
Is this what life is...?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nee Kettathu Inbam from the movie Aalukkoru Veedu (1960) is a deeply emotional and philosophical song exploring the unpredictable, ironical nature of human life. Written by the renowned poet Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the song meditates on how humans constantly seek joy and peace, only to be confronted with tragedy and hardship. Using vivid contrasts like seeking shade but finding unbearable heat, the lyrist captures the heartbreak of unfulfilled expectations and lost love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethiridai / Antithesis
“Nee kettathu inbam kidaiththathu thnbam”
Contrasts opposites such as 'inbam' (happiness) and 'thunbam' (sorrow) within the same line to emphasize life's tragic turns.
Metaphor / Imagery
“Ethir paarththathi nizhalai adainthathu veyilaip”
Uses 'nizhal' (shade) as a metaphor for comfort/joy and 'veyil' (sun heat) as a metaphor for pain/hardship.
Sol-pinvaru-nilai-ani / Repetition (Anaphora)
“Pesi pesi pala naal pesi”
Repetition of the word 'pesi' to emphasize long, continuous conversations that built deep affection over time.
Edhukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Thunba naragil suzhalum ulagam / Thundu thundaai udainthu athilae”
Consonance of the second letter 'n' in 'Thunba' and 'Thundu' creating rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Aalukkoru Veedu (1960) featured music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram's lyrics in this film reflected his signature socialistic outlook, combining personal melancholy with a broader empathy for the poor and downtrodden.
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