Nilamengum Neerodi
From Sontham (1973) · 1973
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sontham (1973)1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilamengum neerodi | Just as water flows all across the land |
| Nel vilaiyum paavanaiyil | Creating the sight of flourishing paddy crops |
| Thozhi nalam kaakka | To safeguard the well-being of her dear friend |
| Thogai manam thuninthaal | The graceful woman gathered courage in her heart |
| Thozhi nalam kaakka | To safeguard the well-being of her dear friend |
| Thogai manam thuninthaal | The graceful woman gathered courage in her heart |
| Male | |
| Maalaiyitta kanavanukku | To the husband who was wedded to her |
| Maalaiyittu manam mudithaal | She exchanged garlands and tied the knot of marriage |
| Manamengum anpoori | With love completely overflowing in her heart |
| Mananthavarukku pani purinthaal | She rendered humble service to the man she married |
| Male | |
| Thangaththil vairamena | Like a precious diamond embedded in gold |
| Thannai inaiththirunthaal | She intertwined her life and self with his |
| Singaththin sinam thanikkum | Capable of appeasing even the rage of a lion |
| Saevaiyilae vaazhnthirunthaal | She spent her life in devoted service |
| Male | |
| Mangaiyitta manjal | The sacred turmeric worn by this woman |
| Mattroruththi vaazhvatharkkae | Was meant for another woman's life to blossom |
| Kungumam thozhiyaval | The auspicious kumkum she wore was meant |
| Kudumbam valarvatharkkae | For her friend's family to flourish and grow |
நிலமெங்கும் நீரோடி
நெல் விளையும் பாவனையில்
தோழி நலம் காக்க
தோகை மனம் துணிந்தாள்
தோழி நலம் காக்க
தோகை மனம் துணிந்தாள்
Just as water flows all across the land
Creating the sight of flourishing paddy crops
To safeguard the well-being of her dear friend
The graceful woman gathered courage in her heart
To safeguard the well-being of her dear friend
The graceful woman gathered courage in her heart
மாலையிட்ட கணவனுக்கு
மாலையிட்டு மணம் முடித்தாள்
மனமெங்கும் அன்பூறி
மணந்தவருக்கு பணி புரிந்தாள்
To the husband who was wedded to her
She exchanged garlands and tied the knot of marriage
With love completely overflowing in her heart
She rendered humble service to the man she married
தங்கத்தில் வைரமென
தன்னை இணைத்திருந்தாள்
சிங்கத்தின் சினம் தணிக்கும்
சேவையிலே வாழ்ந்திருந்தாள்
Like a precious diamond embedded in gold
She intertwined her life and self with his
Capable of appeasing even the rage of a lion
She spent her life in devoted service
மங்கையிட்ட மஞ்சள்
மற்றொருத்தி வாழ்வதற்கே
குங்குமமும் தோழியவள்
குடும்பம் வளர்வதற்கே
The sacred turmeric worn by this woman
Was meant for another woman's life to blossom
The auspicious kumkum she wore was meant
For her friend's family to flourish and grow
Nilamengum neerodi
Just as water flows all across the land
Nel vilaiyum paavanaiyil
Creating the sight of flourishing paddy crops
Thozhi nalam kaakka
To safeguard the well-being of her dear friend
Thogai manam thuninthaal
The graceful woman gathered courage in her heart
Thozhi nalam kaakka
To safeguard the well-being of her dear friend
Thogai manam thuninthaal
The graceful woman gathered courage in her heart
Maalaiyitta kanavanukku
To the husband who was wedded to her
Maalaiyittu manam mudithaal
She exchanged garlands and tied the knot of marriage
Manamengum anpoori
With love completely overflowing in her heart
Mananthavarukku pani purinthaal
She rendered humble service to the man she married
Thangaththil vairamena
Like a precious diamond embedded in gold
Thannai inaiththirunthaal
She intertwined her life and self with his
Singaththin sinam thanikkum
Capable of appeasing even the rage of a lion
Saevaiyilae vaazhnthirunthaal
She spent her life in devoted service
Mangaiyitta manjal
The sacred turmeric worn by this woman
Mattroruththi vaazhvatharkkae
Was meant for another woman's life to blossom
Kungumam thozhiyaval
The auspicious kumkum she wore was meant
Kudumbam valarvatharkkae
For her friend's family to flourish and grow
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant track from the film Sontham (1973) depicts the immense sacrifice and selflessness of a woman who accepts marriage not for her own personal desires, but for the welfare and prosperity of her beloved friend. Comparing her nurturing presence to water that makes fields bloom, the lyrics extol her virtue, loyalty, and gentle nature capable of calming even a fierce temperament.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai Ani (Simile)
“Thangaththil vairamena”
Compares the harmonious union of husband and wife to a diamond set beautifully within gold ('vairamena').
Metaphor
“Nilamengum neerodi Nel vilaiyum paavanaiyil”
Compares her selfless actions and sacrifices to water flowing over land to yield rich crops.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thozhi nalam kaakka / Thogai manam thuninthaal”
The 'Th' sound repeats at the beginning of the initial words in both lines.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kungumam thozhiyaval / Kudumbam valarvatharkkae”
The 'Ku' sound repeats at the start of 'Kungumam' and 'Kudumbam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed and rendered by M. S. Viswanathan with evocative verses by Kannadasan, this song highlights the quintessential 1970s Tamil cinema theme of noble self-sacrifice. MSV's distinct voice adds a deeply emotional dimension to Kannadasan's literary framing of female virtue and friendship.
Keep listening
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