Nil Angey
From Kumudham · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kumudham1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nil angae….. | Stop there... |
| Nil angae nil angae nil angae | Stop there, stop there, stop there! |
| Enna un idhayam enna un thiyaagam | What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Enna un idhayam enna un thiyaagam | What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Female | |
| Ini aval ullam thudittidum velai | Now is the moment when her heart will throb in distress, |
| Ingae nirkkindraai…aa…aaa…aaa…aaiii… | Yet you stand right here... aa... aaa... aaa... |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Female | |
| Karunaiyudan thaali | With compassion, the sacred wedding thread (thaali) |
| Kazhuthai thazhuvi nirkkum | Embraces her neck; |
| Kaigalil pon valaigal | The golden bangles on her wrists |
| Kaarigaiyai thazhuvum | Embrace the woman; |
| Aadai aval azhagai | The dress gracefully wraps her beauty, |
| Anbodu thazhuvi nirkkum | Embracing her with love; |
| Aadai aval azhagai | The dress gracefully wraps her beauty, |
| Anbodu thazhuvi nirkkum | Embracing her with love; |
| Arivirundhum unnidathil | Yet despite having knowledge, |
| Andha karunai siridhum illai | You possess not a single shred of that mercy. |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Female | |
| Unbadharkku thandhaalum | Even if you give her food to eat, |
| Udai uduthi vittaalum | Even if you adorn her in fine clothes, |
| Alli koduthaalum | Even if you shower her with wealth, |
| Archanaigal seidhaalum | Even if you offer her praises and worship, |
| Athanaikkum melae | Above all those things, |
| Pathinikku thaevai ondru | A devoted wife needs just one thing; |
| Athanaikkum melae | Above all those things, |
| Pathinikku thaevai ondru | A devoted wife needs just one thing; |
| Ariyaaiyo… ariyaaiyo padithirundhu | Don't you know... don't you know, despite being educated? |
| Ariyum ullam unakkillaiyo | Do you not have an understanding heart? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Female | |
| Allum pagalum | Night and day, |
| Arugae thunaiyirundhu | Being a supportive companion by her side, |
| Sollaal udalaal uyiraal suvai koduthu | Giving joy through words, body, and soul, |
| Sellum varaiyilum serndhirukkum | And remaining united until life's end— |
| Perumaiyai thaan | That honorable path alone, |
| Thiyaagam enbaar thiyaagam enbaar | Is what is called true sacrifice, is called sacrifice! |
| Maalai mattum sootti vittaal | If you merely place a wedding garland on her, |
| Thiyaagiyaaga mudiyumaa | Can you truly be called a self-sacrificing hero? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Female | |
| Enna un idhayam enna un thiyaagam | What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Female | |
| Kannizhandha mangaikku | For a woman who has lost her eyesight, |
| Kanneer perukkeduthaal… | If tears overflow from her eyes... |
| Kana pozhudhil un thiyaagam | In an instant, your grand sacrifice |
| Karugi vidum maravaadhae… | Will burn to ashes, do not forget... |
| Moodi kidakkindra mana kadhavai | The doors of your mind that remain shut, |
| Thirandhu vidu… | Open them up... |
| Thirandhu kidakkindra | And the doors that lie wide open to distractions, |
| Kadhavugalai moodi vidu… | Shut them close... |
| Female | |
| Manam kulira paadi vidu | Sing to soothe and gladden her heart, |
| Mangaikku vaazhvu kodu | Give a life to this woman, |
| Manidha vadivilae | And in human form, |
| Dheivamaai maari vidu… | Transform into a deity! |
நில் அங்கே.......
நில் அங்கே நில் அங்கே நில் அங்கே
என்ன உன் இதயம் என்ன உன் தியாகம்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
என்ன உன் இதயம் என்ன உன் தியாகம்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Stop there...
Stop there, stop there, stop there!
What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours?
Where are you going?
What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours?
Where are you going?
இனி அவள் உள்ளம் துடித்திடும் வேளை
எங்கே நிற்கின்றாய்.....ஆஆ...ஆஅ...ஆஅ.....அஆய்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Now is the moment when her heart will throb in distress,
Yet you stand right here... aa... aaa... aaa...
Where are you going?
கருணையுடன் தாலி
கழுத்தை தழுவி நிற்கும்
கைகளில் பொன் வளைகள்
காரிகையைத் தழுவும்
ஆடை அவள் அழகை
அன்போடு தழுவி நிற்கும்
அறிவிருந்தும் உன்னிடத்தில்
அந்தக் கருணை சிறிதும் இல்லை
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
With compassion, the sacred wedding thread (thaali)
Embraces her neck;
The golden bangles on her wrists
Embrace the woman;
The dress gracefully wraps her beauty,
Embracing her with love;
The dress gracefully wraps her beauty,
Embracing her with love;
Yet despite having knowledge,
You possess not a single shred of that mercy.
Where are you going?
உண்பதற்கு தந்தாலும்
உடை உடுத்தி விட்டாலும்
அள்ளிக் கொடுத்தாலும்
அர்ச்சனைகள் செய்தாலும்
அத்தனைக்கும் மேலே
பத்தினிக்குத் தேவையொன்று
அறியாயோ......அறியாயோ படித்திருந்தும்
அறியும் உள்ளம் உனக்கில்லையோ
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Even if you give her food to eat,
Even if you adorn her in fine clothes,
Even if you shower her with wealth,
Even if you offer her praises and worship,
Above all those things,
A devoted wife needs just one thing;
Above all those things,
A devoted wife needs just one thing;
Don't you know... don't you know, despite being educated?
Do you not have an understanding heart?
Where are you going?
அல்லும் பகலும்
அருகே துணையிருந்து
சொல்லால் உடலால் உயிரால்
சுவை கொடுத்து
செல்லும் வரையிலும் சேர்ந்திருக்கும்
பெருமையைத்தான்
தியாகம் என்பார்
மாலை மட்டும் சூட்டிவிட்டால்
தியாகியாக முடியுமா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Night and day,
Being a supportive companion by her side,
Giving joy through words, body, and soul,
And remaining united until life's end—
That honorable path alone,
Is what is called true sacrifice, is called sacrifice!
If you merely place a wedding garland on her,
Can you truly be called a self-sacrificing hero?
Where are you going?
என்ன உன் இதயம் என்ன உன் தியாகம்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours?
Where are you going?
கண்ணிழந்த மங்கைக்குக்
கண்ணீர் பெருக்கெடுத்தால்.....
கணப் பொழுதில் உன் தியாகம்
கருகி விடும் மறவாதே.....
மூடிக் கிடக்கின்ற மனக் கதவைத்
திறந்து விடு....
திறந்து கிடக்கின்ற
கதவுகளை மூடி விடு....
For a woman who has lost her eyesight,
If tears overflow from her eyes...
In an instant, your grand sacrifice
Will burn to ashes, do not forget...
The doors of your mind that remain shut,
Open them up...
And the doors that lie wide open to distractions,
Shut them close...
மனங்குளிரப் பாடி விடு
மங்கைக்கு வாழ்வு கொடு
மனித வடிவினிலே
தெய்வமாய் மாறி விடு......
Sing to soothe and gladden her heart,
Give a life to this woman,
And in human form,
Transform into a deity!
Nil angae…..
Stop there...
Nil angae nil angae nil angae
Stop there, stop there, stop there!
Enna un idhayam enna un thiyaagam
What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Enna un idhayam enna un thiyaagam
What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Ini aval ullam thudittidum velai
Now is the moment when her heart will throb in distress,
Ingae nirkkindraai…aa…aaa…aaa…aaiii…
Yet you stand right here... aa... aaa... aaa...
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Karunaiyudan thaali
With compassion, the sacred wedding thread (thaali)
Kazhuthai thazhuvi nirkkum
Embraces her neck;
Kaigalil pon valaigal
The golden bangles on her wrists
Kaarigaiyai thazhuvum
Embrace the woman;
Aadai aval azhagai
The dress gracefully wraps her beauty,
Anbodu thazhuvi nirkkum
Embracing her with love;
Aadai aval azhagai
The dress gracefully wraps her beauty,
Anbodu thazhuvi nirkkum
Embracing her with love;
Arivirundhum unnidathil
Yet despite having knowledge,
Andha karunai siridhum illai
You possess not a single shred of that mercy.
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Unbadharkku thandhaalum
Even if you give her food to eat,
Udai uduthi vittaalum
Even if you adorn her in fine clothes,
Alli koduthaalum
Even if you shower her with wealth,
Archanaigal seidhaalum
Even if you offer her praises and worship,
Athanaikkum melae
Above all those things,
Pathinikku thaevai ondru
A devoted wife needs just one thing;
Athanaikkum melae
Above all those things,
Pathinikku thaevai ondru
A devoted wife needs just one thing;
Ariyaaiyo… ariyaaiyo padithirundhu
Don't you know... don't you know, despite being educated?
Ariyum ullam unakkillaiyo
Do you not have an understanding heart?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Allum pagalum
Night and day,
Arugae thunaiyirundhu
Being a supportive companion by her side,
Sollaal udalaal uyiraal suvai koduthu
Giving joy through words, body, and soul,
Sellum varaiyilum serndhirukkum
And remaining united until life's end—
Perumaiyai thaan
That honorable path alone,
Thiyaagam enbaar thiyaagam enbaar
Is what is called true sacrifice, is called sacrifice!
Maalai mattum sootti vittaal
If you merely place a wedding garland on her,
Thiyaagiyaaga mudiyumaa
Can you truly be called a self-sacrificing hero?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Enna un idhayam enna un thiyaagam
What kind of heart do you have? What kind of sacrifice is yours?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Kannizhandha mangaikku
For a woman who has lost her eyesight,
Kanneer perukkeduthaal…
If tears overflow from her eyes...
Kana pozhudhil un thiyaagam
In an instant, your grand sacrifice
Karugi vidum maravaadhae…
Will burn to ashes, do not forget...
Moodi kidakkindra mana kadhavai
The doors of your mind that remain shut,
Thirandhu vidu…
Open them up...
Thirandhu kidakkindra
And the doors that lie wide open to distractions,
Kadhavugalai moodi vidu…
Shut them close...
Manam kulira paadi vidu
Sing to soothe and gladden her heart,
Mangaikku vaazhvu kodu
Give a life to this woman,
Manidha vadivilae
And in human form,
Dheivamaai maari vidu…
Transform into a deity!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nil Angae' from the movie Kumudham (1961) is a powerful moral and emotional intervention written by Kavignar Kannadasan. The narrator confronts a man who believes he is making a noble 'sacrifice' by walking away from his sightless, helpless wife. The song dismantles his false sense of martyrdom, pointing out that inanimate objects like her wedding thread, bangles, and clothes show more love and proximity to her than he does, despite all his education.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Muran (Oxymoron / Contrast)
“Moodi kidakkindra mana kadhavai thirandhu vidu… Thirandhu kidakkindra kadhavugalai moodi vidu…”
Kannadasan uses contrasting poetic imagery by telling the man to open the closed doors (his heart/mind) and close the open doors (external distractions/sensory wandering).
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“mana kadhavai”
The mind/heart is conceptualized as a 'door' (mana kadhavu) that needs to be opened to allow empathy in.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Manam kulira paadi vidu / Mangaikku vaazhvu kodu / Manidha vadivilae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' across consecutive lines (Manam, Mangaikku, Manidha) creating a melodic rhythm.
Personification
“Karunaiyudan thaali kazhuthai thazhuvi nirkkum”
Inanimate objects—the sacred thread (thaali), gold bangles, and garments—are personified as tenderly embracing the woman with love, highlighting the husband's lack of warmth.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1961 Tamil film 'Kumudham', this song serves as a pinnacle of philosophical songwriting in Tamil cinema. Kannadasan masterfully redefines the concept of 'Thiyaagam' (sacrifice), arguing that true sacrifice isn't drama or abandonment, but unwavering companionship and emotional commitment.
Keep listening
More from Kumudham
Kumudham
Kumudham
Kumudham
Kumudham
Kumudham
Kumudham