Neeyum Bommai Naanum Bommai
From Bommai · 1964
- Lyricist
- V. Lakshmanan
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- S. Balachandar
- Details
- Bommai1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Neeyum bommai naanum bommai | You are a doll, I am a doll |
| Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai | If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll |
| Neeyum bommai naanum bommai | You are a doll, I am a doll |
| Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai | If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll |
| Male | |
| Thaayin madiyil pillaiyum bommai | In a mother's lap, the child too is a doll |
| Thalaivan munnae thondanum bommai | Before a leader, the follower is a doll |
| Kovilil vaazhum dheivamum bommai | The deity dwelling in the temple is a doll |
| Adhai kumbidum manidhar yaavarum bommai | And all the humans who worship it are dolls |
| Male | |
| Neeyum bommai naanum bommai | You are a doll, I am a doll |
| Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai | If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll |
| Male | |
| Vallavan kaiyil nallavan bommai | In the hands of the mighty, the good person is a doll |
| Ullavan mun illaadhavan bommai | Before the wealthy, the destitute is a doll |
| Vallavan kaiyil nallavan bommai | In the hands of the mighty, the good person is a doll |
| Ullavan mun illaadhavan bommai | Before the wealthy, the destitute is a doll |
| Allum pagalum uzhaippavan bommai | The one who labors day and night is a doll |
| Dhinam allal pattu alaibavan bommai | The one who wanders suffering daily is a doll |
| Male | |
| Neeyum bommai naanum bommai | You are a doll, I am a doll |
| Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai | If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll |
| Male | |
| Vidhiyin paarvaiyil uyirgal bommai | In the eyes of destiny, living beings are dolls |
| Veesum puyalil ulagamae bommai | In a raging storm, the entire world is a doll |
| Nathiyin munnae dharumamum bommai | Before the surging river, righteousness itself is a doll |
| Varum saavin pidiyil vaazhvum bommai | In the grip of impending death, life is a doll |
| Male | |
| Neeyum bommai naanum bommai | You are a doll, I am a doll |
| Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai | If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll |
| Male | |
| Anbin anaippil anaivarum bommai | In the warm embrace of love, everyone is a doll |
| Aasai vaarthaiyil arivum bommai | In the seductive words of desire, wisdom itself is a doll |
| Anbin anaippil anaivarum bommai | In the warm embrace of love, everyone is a doll |
| Aasai vaarthaiyil arivum bommai | In the seductive words of desire, wisdom itself is a doll |
| Inba cholaiyil iyarkai bommai | In the garden of joy, nature is a doll |
| Andha iyarkai amaippil edhuvumae bommai | And in the grandeur of nature's design, everything is a doll |
| Male | |
| Neeyum bommai naanum bommai | You are a doll, I am a doll |
| Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai | If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll |
நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை
நினைச்சு பார்த்தா எல்லாம் பொம்மை
நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை
நினைச்சு பார்த்தா எல்லாம் பொம்மை
You are a doll, I am a doll
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
You are a doll, I am a doll
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
தாயின் மடியில் பிள்ளையும் பொம்மை
தலைவன் முன்னே தொண்டனும் பொம்மை
கோவிலில் வாழும் தெய்வமும் பொம்மை
அதை கும்பிடும் மனிதர் யாவரும் பொம்மை
In a mother's lap, the child too is a doll
Before a leader, the follower is a doll
The deity dwelling in the temple is a doll
And all the humans who worship it are dolls
நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை
நினைச்சு பார்த்தா எல்லாம் பொம்மை
You are a doll, I am a doll
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
வல்லவன் கையில் நல்லவன் பொம்மை
உள்ளவன் முன் இல்லாதவன் பொம்மை
வல்லவன் கையில் நல்லவன் பொம்மை
உள்ளவன் முன் இல்லாதவன் பொம்மை
அல்லும் பகலும் உழைப்பவன் பொம்மை
தினம் அல்லல்பட்டு அலைபவன் பொம்மை
In the hands of the mighty, the good person is a doll
Before the wealthy, the destitute is a doll
In the hands of the mighty, the good person is a doll
Before the wealthy, the destitute is a doll
The one who labors day and night is a doll
The one who wanders suffering daily is a doll
நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை
நினைச்சு பார்த்தா எல்லாம் பொம்மை
You are a doll, I am a doll
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
விதியின் பார்வையில் உயிர்கள் பொம்மை
வீசும் புயலில் உலகமே பொம்மை
நதியின் முன்னே தர்மமும் பொம்மை
வரும் சாவின் பிடியில் வாழ்வும் பொம்மை
In the eyes of destiny, living beings are dolls
In a raging storm, the entire world is a doll
Before the surging river, righteousness itself is a doll
In the grip of impending death, life is a doll
நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை
நினைச்சு பார்த்தா எல்லாம் பொம்மை
You are a doll, I am a doll
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
அன்பின் அணைப்பில் அனைவரும் பொம்மை
ஆசை வார்த்தையில் அறிவும் பொம்மை
அன்பின் அணைப்பில் அனைவரும் பொம்மை
ஆசை வார்த்தையில் அறிவும் பொம்மை
இன்ப சோலையில் இயற்கை பொம்மை
அந்த இயற்கை அமைப்பில் எதுவுமே பொம்மை
In the warm embrace of love, everyone is a doll
In the seductive words of desire, wisdom itself is a doll
In the warm embrace of love, everyone is a doll
In the seductive words of desire, wisdom itself is a doll
In the garden of joy, nature is a doll
And in the grandeur of nature's design, everything is a doll
நீயும் பொம்மை நானும் பொம்மை
நினைச்சு பார்த்தா எல்லாம் பொம்மை
You are a doll, I am a doll
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Neeyum bommai naanum bommai
You are a doll, I am a doll
Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Neeyum bommai naanum bommai
You are a doll, I am a doll
Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Thaayin madiyil pillaiyum bommai
In a mother's lap, the child too is a doll
Thalaivan munnae thondanum bommai
Before a leader, the follower is a doll
Kovilil vaazhum dheivamum bommai
The deity dwelling in the temple is a doll
Adhai kumbidum manidhar yaavarum bommai
And all the humans who worship it are dolls
Neeyum bommai naanum bommai
You are a doll, I am a doll
Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Vallavan kaiyil nallavan bommai
In the hands of the mighty, the good person is a doll
Ullavan mun illaadhavan bommai
Before the wealthy, the destitute is a doll
Vallavan kaiyil nallavan bommai
In the hands of the mighty, the good person is a doll
Ullavan mun illaadhavan bommai
Before the wealthy, the destitute is a doll
Allum pagalum uzhaippavan bommai
The one who labors day and night is a doll
Dhinam allal pattu alaibavan bommai
The one who wanders suffering daily is a doll
Neeyum bommai naanum bommai
You are a doll, I am a doll
Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Vidhiyin paarvaiyil uyirgal bommai
In the eyes of destiny, living beings are dolls
Veesum puyalil ulagamae bommai
In a raging storm, the entire world is a doll
Nathiyin munnae dharumamum bommai
Before the surging river, righteousness itself is a doll
Varum saavin pidiyil vaazhvum bommai
In the grip of impending death, life is a doll
Neeyum bommai naanum bommai
You are a doll, I am a doll
Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Anbin anaippil anaivarum bommai
In the warm embrace of love, everyone is a doll
Aasai vaarthaiyil arivum bommai
In the seductive words of desire, wisdom itself is a doll
Anbin anaippil anaivarum bommai
In the warm embrace of love, everyone is a doll
Aasai vaarthaiyil arivum bommai
In the seductive words of desire, wisdom itself is a doll
Inba cholaiyil iyarkai bommai
In the garden of joy, nature is a doll
Andha iyarkai amaippil edhuvumae bommai
And in the grandeur of nature's design, everything is a doll
Neeyum bommai naanum bommai
You are a doll, I am a doll
Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai
If you deeply reflect, everything is a doll
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song uses the metaphor of a puppet or doll ('bommai') to contemplate human existence, power dynamics, and the impermanence of control. The lyrist reflects that regardless of status—whether a child, follower, deity, working laborer, or wise scholar—everyone is ultimately driven by forces beyond their control, such as fate, nature, emotion, and death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Neeyum bommai naanum bommai / Ninaichu paarthaa ellaam bommai”
Comparing every aspect of creation—human beings, gods, societal roles, nature, and intellect—to helpless dolls driven by higher powers.
Refrain / Anaphora
“Neeyum bommai naanum bommai”
Repetition of the signature chorus lines across the song to reinforce the central theme of universal powerlessness.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Vallavan kaiyil nallavan bommai”
Matching initial consonant and vowel sounds across words in the same line.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Allum pagalum uzhaippavan bommai / Dhinam allal pattu alaibavan bommai”
Syllabic harmony in the second letter of successive words, such as 'Allum' and 'allal'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the movie 'Bommai' (1964), directed and scored by the multi-talented Veena maestro S. Balachander. Sung by K. J. Yesudas, this song is renowned for its profound philosophical lyrics written by V. Lakshmanan.
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