Nerana Nedunsalai
From Kaaviya Thalaivi · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Kaaviya Thalaivi1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naeraana nedunchaalai | A long, straight highway |
| Oridathil iru kooraaga pirivadhundu | Splits into two separate paths at one place |
| Kooraaga pirindhavai ver idathil vandhu | Paths that split apart at one place |
| Neraaga inaivathu undu..inaivathu undu | Come together directly at another place... come together |
| Male | |
| Thaayenum sumaithaangi | The load-bearing rest named Mother |
| Thaan sumandha mazhalaiyai | The child she carried and raised |
| Thaalaathu irakki vaithaal | Set down gently without a lullaby |
| Thaalaathu irakki vaithaal | Set down gently without a lullaby |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalenum sumai thaangi | The load-bearing rest named Love |
| Kanneeril vaazhndhavan | The man who had lived in tears |
| Kalippudan yetru kondaan | Accepted the child with joy |
| Kalippudan yetru kondaan | Accepted the child with joy |
| Male | |
| Innoruvar nalam kaakkum | Protecting the well-being of another |
| Thyaagamum seelamum | Such sacrifice and righteous character |
| Ellorkkum vaaippadhillai | Is not a virtue granted to everyone |
| Ellorkkum vaaippadhillai | Is not a virtue granted to everyone |
| Male | |
| Izhandhadhor sippiyil | From an oyster shell that was lost |
| Veli vandha muththinai | The precious pearl that emerged |
| En magal endrazhaithaan | He called her 'My daughter' |
| Idhayathil ezhudhinaan…aan…. | And etched her deep in his heart... |
| Male | |
| Izhandhadhor sippiyil | From an oyster shell that was lost |
| Veli vandha muththinai | The precious pearl that emerged |
| En magal endrazhaithaan | He called her 'My daughter' |
| En magal endrazhaithaan | He called her 'My daughter' |
| Idhayathil ezhudhinaan… | And etched her deep in his heart... |
| Ilam selvi vaazhvil or | In the life of this young girl |
| Edhirkaalam ezhudhugindraan | He is writing a future |
| Edhirkaalam ezhudhugindraan…aa…hooo… | He is writing a future... |
நேரான நெடுஞ்சாலை
ஓரிடத்தில் இரு கூறாகப் பிரிவதுண்டு
கூறாகப் பிரிந்தவை வேறிடத்தில் வந்து
நேராக இணைவதுண்டு
A long, straight highway
Splits into two separate paths at one place
Paths that split apart at one place
Come together directly at another place... come together
தாயெனும் சுமைதாங்கி
தான் சுமந்த மழலையை
தாளாது இறக்கி வைத்தாள்
தாளாது இறக்கி வைத்தாள்
The load-bearing rest named Mother
The child she carried and raised
Set down gently without a lullaby
Set down gently without a lullaby
காதலெனும் சுமைதாங்கி
கண்ணீரில் வாழ்ந்தவன்
களிப்புடன் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டான்
களிப்புடன் ஏற்றுக் கொண்டான்
The load-bearing rest named Love
The man who had lived in tears
Accepted the child with joy
Accepted the child with joy
இன்னொருவர் நலங்காக்கும்
தியாகமும் சீலமும்
எல்லோர்க்கும் வாய்ப்பதில்லை
எல்லோர்க்கும் வாய்ப்பதில்லை
Protecting the well-being of another
Such sacrifice and righteous character
Is not a virtue granted to everyone
Is not a virtue granted to everyone
இழந்ததோர் சிப்பியில்
வெளிவந்த முத்தினை
என் மகள் என்றழைத்தான்
இதயத்தில் எழுதினான்
From an oyster shell that was lost
The precious pearl that emerged
He called her 'My daughter'
And etched her deep in his heart...
இழந்ததோர் சிப்பியில்
வெளிவந்த முத்தினை
என் மகள் என்றழைத்தான்
என் மகள் என்றழைத்தான்
இதயத்தில் எழுதினான்
இளஞ்செல்வி வாழ்விலோர்
எதிர்காலம் எழுதுகிறான்
எதிர்காலம் எழுதுகிறான்...ஆஆ ..ஓஓ
From an oyster shell that was lost
The precious pearl that emerged
He called her 'My daughter'
He called her 'My daughter'
And etched her deep in his heart...
In the life of this young girl
He is writing a future
He is writing a future...
Naeraana nedunchaalai
A long, straight highway
Oridathil iru kooraaga pirivadhundu
Splits into two separate paths at one place
Kooraaga pirindhavai ver idathil vandhu
Paths that split apart at one place
Neraaga inaivathu undu..inaivathu undu
Come together directly at another place... come together
Thaayenum sumaithaangi
The load-bearing rest named Mother
Thaan sumandha mazhalaiyai
The child she carried and raised
Thaalaathu irakki vaithaal
Set down gently without a lullaby
Thaalaathu irakki vaithaal
Set down gently without a lullaby
Kaadhalenum sumai thaangi
The load-bearing rest named Love
Kanneeril vaazhndhavan
The man who had lived in tears
Kalippudan yetru kondaan
Accepted the child with joy
Kalippudan yetru kondaan
Accepted the child with joy
Innoruvar nalam kaakkum
Protecting the well-being of another
Thyaagamum seelamum
Such sacrifice and righteous character
Ellorkkum vaaippadhillai
Is not a virtue granted to everyone
Ellorkkum vaaippadhillai
Is not a virtue granted to everyone
Izhandhadhor sippiyil
From an oyster shell that was lost
Veli vandha muththinai
The precious pearl that emerged
En magal endrazhaithaan
He called her 'My daughter'
Idhayathil ezhudhinaan…aan….
And etched her deep in his heart...
Izhandhadhor sippiyil
From an oyster shell that was lost
Veli vandha muththinai
The precious pearl that emerged
En magal endrazhaithaan
He called her 'My daughter'
En magal endrazhaithaan
He called her 'My daughter'
Idhayathil ezhudhinaan…
And etched her deep in his heart...
Ilam selvi vaazhvil or
In the life of this young girl
Edhirkaalam ezhudhugindraan
He is writing a future
Edhirkaalam ezhudhugindraan…aa…hooo…
He is writing a future...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song by Kannadasan reflects on fate, sacrifice, and unconditional love. It opens with the metaphor of a long highway that splits into separate paths only to merge again later, symbolizing how human destinies separated by circumstance can unexpectedly cross paths once more. It tells the story of a mother forced to part with her child and a noble man who, despite his own sorrow, joyfully accepts the child as his own. The lyrics praise the rare virtue of sacrifice needed to care for another's child. Kannadasan poetically compares the child to a pearl that emerged from a lost oyster shell, embraced lovingly by a man who pledges to carve out a bright future for her.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor
“Naeraana nedunchaalai Oridathil iru kooraaga pirivadhundu”
The splitting and merging of a highway represents human destinies separating and reuniting through life's unexpected turns.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Thaayenum sumaithaangi / Kaadhalenum sumai thaangi”
Compares a mother and love to a 'Sumaithaangi' (a traditional roadside stone bench used to rest heavy loads), illustrating their role in carrying life's burdens.
Metaphor
“Izhandhadhor sippiyil Veli vandha muththinai”
Compares the motherless child to a pearl ('muthu') originating from a lost shell ('sippi').
Refrain / Repetition (Anaphora)
“Ellorkkum vaaippadhillai / Edhirkaalam ezhudhugindraan”
Repetition of key lines emphasizes emotional weight and deepens the thematic focus on virtue and future.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kaaviya Thalaivi (1970) was directed by K. Balachander, starring Gemini Ganesan and Sowcar Janaki. The film's soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. This song showcases Kannadasan's signature style of blending profound philosophical truths with intense melodramatic narrative.
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