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Ponnoonjal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nigaredhu Enakku

From Ponnoonjal · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Ponnoonjal
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
14 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nigaryedhu enakku nigar yedhu
Nigaryedhu enakku nigar yedhu
Indha nilam engum paarthaalum
Enakeedu kidaiyaadhu
Nilam engum paarthaalum
Enakeedu kidaiyaadhu
Nigar yedhu enakku nigar yedhu
Dhisai naangum naan aadum medaiyandroo
Haaa…aaa..aa
Dhisai naangum naan aadum medaiyandroo
Alai vilaiyaadum kadal endhan aadaiyandro
Alai vilaiyaadum kadal endhan aadaiyandro
Azhagaana puvi endhan jaadai androo
En attathai pirar aada mudiyathandro
En attathai pirar aada mudiyathandro
Nigaryedhu enakku nigar yedhu
Malarum vizhiyil indha ulagam muzhuthum
Enai mandraadi nindraadumandroo
Malarum vizhiyil indha ulagam muzhuthum
Enai mandraadi nindraadumandroo
Odiyum idaiyil pala kodigal pirandha kalai
Pandhadi pandhadum andro
Odiyum idaiyil pala kodigal pirandha kalai
Pandhadi pandhadum andro
Padai veettu maakaali naanae andro
Kodi pottu nadaalum maanaeyandro
Padai veettu maakaali naanae andro
Kodi pottu nadaalum maanaeyandro
Nigaryedhu enakku nigar yedhu
Sakthi thandavam nettri kannanai
Vittu povadhu aagathu..haaa..aaa..aa..aa
Sakthi thandavam nettri kannanai
Vittu povadhu aagathu
Thannai pondravar illai endroru
Pennin aanavam koodathu
Thannai pondravar illai endroru
Pennin aanavam koodathu
Ethikkum kodhikkum nadanamidum
Sakthikkum enakkum idaiyil oru
Ethikkum kodhikkum nadanamidum
Sakthikkum enakkum idaiyil oru
Vegam vara ragam vara thalam vara
Baavam vara thudikkum
Aanava penmaiyai adakkum
Aayiram nadagam nadathum
Aanava penmaiyai adakkum
Aayiram nadagam nadathum
Sakthikkum padhikkum nadakkum kadhaiyai
Mudikkum oruvan naan
Who is my equal? Who can match me?
Who is my equal? Who can match me?
Wherever you look across this earth,
There is no match for me.
Wherever you look across the earth,
There is no match for me.
Who is my equal? Who can match me?
Aren't all four directions the stage where I dance?
Ha... aa... aa
Aren't all four directions the stage where I dance?
Isn't the sea of dancing waves the garment I wear?
Isn't the sea of dancing waves the garment I wear?
Isn't this beautiful earth a reflection of my grace?
Can anyone else dance the way I dance?
Can anyone else dance the way I dance?
Who is my equal? Who can match me?
Before my blossoming eyes, the whole world
Pleads and dances around me, doesn't it?
Before my blossoming eyes, the whole world
Pleads and dances around me, doesn't it?
At my slender waist, countless artistic movements
Bounce and play like a ball, don't they?
At my slender waist, countless artistic movements
Bounce and play like a ball, don't they?
Am I not the great Kali of Padaiveedu herself?
Am I not the graceful queen who raises her flag and rules the land?
Am I not the great Kali of Padaiveedu herself?
Am I not the graceful queen who raises her flag and rules the land?
Who is my equal? Who can match me?
The fierce dance of Shakthi (cosmic energy) should not
Leave behind the Lord with the third eye... ha... aa... aa... aa
The fierce dance of Shakthi (cosmic energy) should not
Leave behind the Lord with the third eye.
Claiming that no one is her equal,
A woman should not hold such arrogance.
Claiming that no one is her equal,
A woman should not hold such arrogance.
As fiery dance heats up all directions,
Between Shakthi and me,
As fiery dance heats up all directions,
Between Shakthi and me,
With rising speed, rising melody, and rising rhythm,
Expressions throb with life,
To humble an arrogant woman,
A thousand dramas will be staged,
To humble an arrogant woman,
A thousand dramas will be staged,
The ongoing story between Shakthi and her Lord,
I am the one who will bring it to its close.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This track is a classic Indian musical dance-duel (Saval Paattu) that mirrors the mythological cosmic dance competition between Lord Shiva and Goddess Sakthi. The first half is sung from the female perspective (P. Susheela), where she boasts of her peerless beauty, artistic supremacy, and divine grace, claiming the four directions as her dance floor and comparing herself to Mahakali.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Dhisai naangum naan aadum medaiyandroo”

The singer metaphorically portrays the four cardinal directions as her personal dance stage.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Alai vilaiyaadum kadal endhan aadaiyandro”

The vast ocean with rolling waves is visualised as the garment she wears.

Mythological Allusion

“Padai veettu maakaali naanae andro”

The singer aligns her power and artistic stance with Goddess Mahakali, invoking traditional Hindu mythology.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Vegam vara ragam vara thalam vara / Baavam vara thudikkum”

Repetition of the ending sound '-vara' across consecutive rhythmic phrases creates a musical cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Nigaryedhu Enakku Nigar Yedhu' from Ponnoonjal (1973) is a celebrated 'Saval Paattu' (challenge song) composed by M. S. Vishwanathan and written by Kannadasan. It depicts a musical and philosophical clash between female pride and male supremacy, drawing heavy inspiration from the legendary cosmic dance duel between Shiva and Sakthi in Hindu lore.

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