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Kakkai Siraginilae album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nenavu Therinja

From Kakkai Siraginilae · 2000

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kakkai Siraginilae
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
28 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Kanavil koodaa nee thaanae
Kannil theriyum saami
Anbai pozhindhu varum
Gangaiyammaa
Nee manjal nilavukkoru
Thangaiyammaa
Anbai pozhindhu varum
Gangaiyammaa
Nee manjal nilavukkoru
Thangaiyammaa
Kannae kannammaa
Nee koyil kuyilammaa
Nee koyil kuyilammaa
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Kanavil koodaa nee thaanae
Kannil theriyum saami
Thaai nee saei pol
Thaalaattinaai ennai
Paaraattinaai ennai
Thavamaai kidandhen
Seeraattinaai ennai
Naan paaduvaen unnai
Indha kuyil santhoshamaai
Kan uranga thaanae
Patta thuyar onnaa rendaa
Neeyum endhan thaayae
Paadum paattu laali
Paasam ennum vaeli
Paadum paattu laali
Paasam ennum vaeli
Undhan madi thaayin madi thaanae
Anbil dhinam thandhen enai naanae
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Kanavil koodaa nee thaanae
Kannil theriyum saami
Anbai pozhindhu varum
Gangaiyammaa
Nee manjal nilavukkoru
Thangaiyammaa
Anbai pozhindhu varum
Gangaiyammaa
Nee manjal nilavukkoru
Thangaiyammaa
Kannae kannammaa
Nee koyil kuyilammaa
Nee koyil kuyilammaa
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Kanavil koodaa nee thaanae
Kannil theriyum saami
Deebam eriya
Thiriyaagiyae naanum
Oli kaattuven naalum
Uyirai karaithae
Uravaagiyae naanum
Valamaakkuven unnai
Pon nagaiyum vetkkam kollum
Punnagaiyai kaami
Mannil unnai thatheduthaan
Indha vellai chaami
Nilavillaamal vaana
Nee illamal naana
Nilavillaamal vaana
Nee illamal naana
Vedham engum undhan mozhi thaanae
Vaazhkai ellaam innum oli thaanae
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Kanavil koodaa nee thaanae
Kannil theriyum saami
Anbai pozhindhu varum
Gangaiyammaa
Female :Nanaa nananananana
Naanannannaa
Male :Nee manjal nilavukkoru
Thangaiyammaa
Female :Naa nanaa nananananana
Naanannannaa
Kannae kannammaa
Nee koyil kuyilammaa
Nee koyil kuyilammaa
Nenavu therinja naal mudhalaa
Nee thaan enakku saami
Kanavil koodaa nee thaanae
Kannil theriyum saami
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
Even in my dreams,
you are the God I see before my eyes.
Flowing and showering love,
you are Mother Ganga.
To the golden moon,
you are a little sister.
Flowing and showering love,
you are Mother Ganga.
To the golden moon,
you are a little sister.
My precious darling,
you are the temple cuckoo.
You are the temple cuckoo.
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
Even in my dreams,
you are the God I see before my eyes.
Like a mother to a child,
you sang me lullabies,
you cherished and praised me.
I lay there like a prayer,
and you lovingly cared for me;
I will sing of you.
Just so this cuckoo could happily
close her eyes and sleep,
did you endure just one or two troubles?
You too are my mother.
The song you sing is a lullaby,
a protective fence of love.
The song you sing is a lullaby,
a protective fence of love.
Your lap is truly a mother's lap;
in love, I gave myself to you each day.
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
Even in my dreams,
you are the God I see before my eyes.
Flowing and showering love,
you are Mother Ganga.
To the golden moon,
you are a little sister.
Flowing and showering love,
you are Mother Ganga.
To the golden moon,
you are a little sister.
My precious darling,
you are the temple cuckoo.
You are the temple cuckoo.
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
Even in my dreams,
you are the God I see before my eyes.
For the lamp to burn,
I will become the wick
and bring light every day.
Giving all of my life,
and becoming your family,
I will make your world flourish.
Making even gold jewellery blush,
show me that smile!
He took you as his own on this earth,
this pure-hearted soul.
Can there be a sky without the moon?
Can I ever be without you?
Can there be a sky without the moon?
Can I ever be without you?
All sacred teachings are in your words,
and the rest of life is pure light.
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
Even in my dreams,
you are the God I see before my eyes.
Flowing and showering love,
you are Mother Ganga.
Female: Nana nanananana
Nanannanna
Male: To the golden moon,
you are a little sister.
Female: Na nana nanananana
Nanannanna
My precious darling,
you are the temple cuckoo.
You are the temple cuckoo.
From the day I can remember,
you alone have been my God.
Even in my dreams,
you are the God I see before my eyes.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful song from 'Kakkai Siraginilae' expresses profound affection, gratitude, and devotion towards a maternal and guiding figure. The singer equates the beloved to a living deity (saami) and a loving mother who offered comfort, lullabies, and unconditional protection through times of hardship and sorrow. The lyrics draw rich comparisons to sacred rivers like Ganga, the gentle yellow moon, and temple cuckoos, highlighting how this bond forms the very core of the singer's existence. In return for this nurturing affection, the speaker pledges devotion and sacrifice, comparing themselves to a wick melting away to shed light on their protector's life. The overall theme is a deep emotional tribute celebrating maternal love, spiritual devotion, and eternal companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Paasam ennum vaeli

'Paasam ennum vaeli' directly metaphors affection as a protective fence safeguarding the speaker.

Upamai (Simile)

Thaai nee saei pol

'Thaai nee saei pol' explicitly compares the nurturing relationship to that between a mother and a child.

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Paadum paattu laali / Paasam ennum vaeli

Repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound in 'Paadum' and 'Paasam' creates melodic harmony.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Paaraattinaai ennai / Seeraattinaai ennai

The second consonant 'ra' in 'Paaraattinaai' and 'Seeraattinaai' creates an agreeable rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 2000 film 'Kakkai Siraginilae', directed by P. Vasu and starring Parthiban and Preetha Vijayakumar. The title of the movie is inspired by the iconic opening line of Mahakavi Subramania Bharati's poem 'Kakkai Siraginilae Nandalala'.

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