Neerellam Panneeramma
From Kavithai Malar · 1982
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kavithai Malar1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma | All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy. |
| Engengum gangai vellam paayum | Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow. |
| Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum | In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan. |
| Adhu naanae…..naanae……… | That is me... me... |
| Female | |
| Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma | All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy. |
| Engengum gangai vellam paayum | Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow. |
| Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum | In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan. |
| Female | |
| Muthukkal kaetten kanneerai thandhaai | I asked for pearls, but you gave me tears. |
| Illaadha ondrai kaetten unnidam | I asked you for something that does not exist. |
| Ennangal ellaam yemaatramaanaal | If all thoughts turn into disappointment, |
| Yekkangal thaane sondham nammidam | Only longings remain as our true possession. |
| Female | |
| Idhu naan podum | This is drawn by me, |
| Azhagiya neerkkolam | A beautiful pattern drawn on water, |
| Vidimazhai kaarkaalam | A rainy season of non-stop rain, |
| Kavalaiyin oorkkolam | A procession of worries. |
| Marandhadhu neeya illai naana raaja naana | Is it you who forgot, or is it me, my king, is it me? |
| Female | |
| Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma | All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy. |
| Engengum gangai vellam paayum | Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow. |
| Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum | In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan. |
| Female | |
| Naan kaetta vesham kaalangal dhorum | The role I asked for across all time, |
| Unnodu vaazhum vaazhkkai paathiram | Is the life-character lived together with you. |
| Nee thandha vesham kann moodum naeram | The role you gave me, when eyes close in the end, |
| Kaathodu pogum vaarthai paathiram | Is a character whose words vanish into the wind. |
| Female | |
| Idhai kaettpaayoo | Will you listen to this? |
| Oru murai paarppaayoo | Will you look at me just once? |
| Karaidhanil saerppaayoo | Will you bring me safely to the shore? |
| Kavalaiyai theerpaiyoo | Will you relieve my sorrow? |
| Marandhadhu neeya illai naana raaja naana | Is it you who forgot, or is it me, my king, is it me? |
| Female | |
| Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma | All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy. |
| Engengum gangai vellam paayum | Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow. |
| Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum | In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan. |
| Adhu naanae…..naanae……… | That is me... me... |
| Female | |
| Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma | All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy. |
| Engengum gangai vellam paayum | Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow. |
| Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum | In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan. |
நீரெல்லாம் பன்னீரம்மா ஆனந்த கண்ணீரம்மா
எங்கெங்கும் கங்கை வெள்ளம் பாயும்
அதில் பாலைவனம் ப்ருந்தாவனம் ஆகும்
அது நானே.......நானே.........
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
That is me... me...
நீரெல்லாம் பன்னீரம்மா ஆனந்த கண்ணீரம்மா
எங்கெங்கும் கங்கை வெள்ளம் பாயும்
அதில் பாலைவனம் ப்ருந்தாவனம் ஆகும்
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
முத்துக்கள் கேட்டேன் கண்ணீரை தந்தாய்
இல்லாத ஒன்றை கேட்டேன் உன்னிடம்
எண்ணங்கள் எல்லாம் ஏமாற்றமானால்
ஏக்கங்கள் தானே சொந்தம் நம்மிடம்
I asked for pearls, but you gave me tears.
I asked you for something that does not exist.
If all thoughts turn into disappointment,
Only longings remain as our true possession.
இது நான் போடும்
அழகிய நீர்க்கோலம்
விடிமழை கார்காலம்
கவலையின் ஊர்க்கோலம்
மறந்தது நீயா இல்லை நானா ராஜா நானா
This is drawn by me,
A beautiful pattern drawn on water,
A rainy season of non-stop rain,
A procession of worries.
Is it you who forgot, or is it me, my king, is it me?
நீரெல்லாம் பன்னீரம்மா ஆனந்த கண்ணீரம்மா
எங்கெங்கும் கங்கை வெள்ளம் பாயும்
அதில் பாலைவனம் ப்ருந்தாவனம் ஆகும்
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
நான் கேட்ட வேஷம் காலங்கள் தோறும்
உன்னோடு வாழும் வாழ்க்கை பாத்திரம்
நீ தந்த வேஷம் கண்மூடும் நேரம்
காத்தோடு போகும் வார்த்தை பாத்திரம்
The role I asked for across all time,
Is the life-character lived together with you.
The role you gave me, when eyes close in the end,
Is a character whose words vanish into the wind.
இதை கேட்பாயோ
ஒருமுறை பார்ப்பாயோ
கரைதனில் சேர்ப்பாயோ
கவலையை தீர்ப்பாயோ
மறந்தது நீயா இல்லை நானா ராஜா நானா
Will you listen to this?
Will you look at me just once?
Will you bring me safely to the shore?
Will you relieve my sorrow?
Is it you who forgot, or is it me, my king, is it me?
நீரெல்லாம் பன்னீரம்மா ஆனந்த கண்ணீரம்மா
எங்கெங்கும் கங்கை வெள்ளம் பாயும்
அதில் பாலைவனம் ப்ருந்தாவனம் ஆகும்
அது நானே.......நானே.........
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
That is me... me...
நீரெல்லாம் பன்னீரம்மா ஆனந்த கண்ணீரம்மா
எங்கெங்கும் கங்கை வெள்ளம் பாயும்
அதில் பாலைவனம் ப்ருந்தாவனம் ஆகும்
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Engengum gangai vellam paayum
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
Adhu naanae…..naanae………
That is me... me...
Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Engengum gangai vellam paayum
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
Muthukkal kaetten kanneerai thandhaai
I asked for pearls, but you gave me tears.
Illaadha ondrai kaetten unnidam
I asked you for something that does not exist.
Ennangal ellaam yemaatramaanaal
If all thoughts turn into disappointment,
Yekkangal thaane sondham nammidam
Only longings remain as our true possession.
Idhu naan podum
This is drawn by me,
Azhagiya neerkkolam
A beautiful pattern drawn on water,
Vidimazhai kaarkaalam
A rainy season of non-stop rain,
Kavalaiyin oorkkolam
A procession of worries.
Marandhadhu neeya illai naana raaja naana
Is it you who forgot, or is it me, my king, is it me?
Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Engengum gangai vellam paayum
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
Naan kaetta vesham kaalangal dhorum
The role I asked for across all time,
Unnodu vaazhum vaazhkkai paathiram
Is the life-character lived together with you.
Nee thandha vesham kann moodum naeram
The role you gave me, when eyes close in the end,
Kaathodu pogum vaarthai paathiram
Is a character whose words vanish into the wind.
Idhai kaettpaayoo
Will you listen to this?
Oru murai paarppaayoo
Will you look at me just once?
Karaidhanil saerppaayoo
Will you bring me safely to the shore?
Kavalaiyai theerpaiyoo
Will you relieve my sorrow?
Marandhadhu neeya illai naana raaja naana
Is it you who forgot, or is it me, my king, is it me?
Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Engengum gangai vellam paayum
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
Adhu naanae…..naanae………
That is me... me...
Neerellaam panner amma aanandha kanneer amma
All this water is rosewater, oh my, these are tears of joy.
Engengum gangai vellam paayum
Everywhere the floodwaters of Ganges flow.
Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum
In that, even a desert turns into Brindavan.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Neerellaam Panner Amma from the 1982 film Kavithai Malar, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by P. Susheela, is a poignantly expressive melody depicting deep sorrow, longing, and existential melancholy. Through the evocative lyrics of Pulamaipithan, the female protagonist reflects on the bittersweet nature of love where her tears of grief are ironised as rosewater and joyful tears. She laments that while she wished for a life filled with joy and companionship, fate left her with mere longings and heartbreak. The song uses rich metaphors of theatrical roles and temporary drawings on water (Neerkkolam) to describe the fleeting and unfulfilled nature of her relationship. Directly addressing her beloved as 'Raaja', she questions who among them truly forgot the love they shared, pleading for his gaze, hearing, and salvation from her ocean of despair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Azhagiya neerkkolam”
Comparing life's fragile, temporary nature and unfulfilled love to 'Neerkkolam' (a decorative pattern drawn on water surface that immediately dissolves).
Contrast / Paradox
“Muthukkal kaetten kanneerai thandhaai”
Contrasting 'Muthukkal' (pearls/joys requested) with 'Kanneerai' (tears received), highlighting the irony of expectations vs reality.
Rhyme / End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Idhai kaettpaayoo / Oru murai paarppaayoo / Karaidhanil saerppaayoo / Kavalaiyai theerpaiyoo”
Repetition of the rhythmic interrogative suffix '-ayoo' at the end of consecutive lines creates a melodious, pleading cadence.
Hyperbole / Metaphor
“Adhil paalaivanam brindhavanam aagum”
Comparing grief and tears to the endless floodwaters of the holy Ganges river capable of transforming a desert into a lush Brindavan garden.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this song stands as a classic demonstration of legendary playback singer P. Susheela's emotive range in rendering complex classical-infused film melodies during the early 1980s.
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