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Savale Samali album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nilavai Paarthu Vaanam

From Savale Samali · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Savale Samali
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
11 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nadhiyai paarthu naanal sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Naalai paarthu iravu sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Pudhiyadhallavae theendaamai enbadhu
Pudhumaiyallavae adhai neeyum sonnadhu
Pudhiyadhallavae theendaamai enbadhu
Pudhumaiyallavae adhai neeyum sonnadhu
Sonna vaarthaiyum iraval thaanadhu…
Sonna vaarthaiyum iraval thaanadhu
Thiru neelakandarin manaivi sonnadhu
Thiru neelakandarin manaivi sonnadhu
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Thaalathai raagam thodaadha podhilae
Geedhathai nenjam thodaamal pogumae
Thandhai thannaiyae thaai thodaavidil
Naanum illaiyae neeyum illaiyae
Naanum illaiyae neeyum illaiyae
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Thangam edutha kai
Adhu thangam paarthadhaa
Dharmam kaatha kai s
Sama dharmam kandadhaa
Aalayam seivom angae anumadhi illai
Nee andha koottamae idhil adhisayam illai
Nee andha koottamae idhil adhisayam illai
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Ennai thodaadhae
The sky looked at the moon and said,
"Do not touch me."
The earth looked at the shadow and said,
"Do not touch me."
The sky looked at the moon and said,
"Do not touch me."
The earth looked at the shadow and said,
"Do not touch me."
The reed looked at the river and said,
"Do not touch me."
The night looked at tomorrow and said,
"Do not touch me."
The sky looked at the moon and said,
"Do not touch me."
The earth looked at the shadow and said,
"Do not touch me."
Untouchability is nothing new,
and it is no surprise that you say it too.
Untouchability is nothing new,
and it is no surprise that you say it too.
Even the words you spoke were borrowed...
Even the words you spoke were borrowed,
spoken long ago by Saint Thiruneelakantar's wife.
Spoken long ago by Saint Thiruneelakantar's wife.
The sky looked at the moon and said,
"Do not touch me."
The earth looked at the shadow and said,
"Do not touch me."
When melody does not touch the rhythm,
the song fails to touch the heart.
If a mother had never touched the father,
neither I would exist, nor you.
Neither I would exist, nor you.
The sky looked at the moon and said,
"Do not touch me."
The earth looked at the shadow and said,
"Do not touch me."
Did the hands that mined the gold
ever get to keep that gold?
Did the hands that defended righteousness
ever see equal justice?
We build the temple, yet we are not allowed inside.
You belong to that very same crowd, so this is no surprise.
You belong to that very same crowd, so this is no surprise.
The sky looked at the moon and said,
"Do not touch me."
The earth looked at the shadow and said,
"Do not touch me."
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nilavai Paarthu Vaanam Sonnadhu is a deeply philosophical and socially conscious song from the 1971 Tamil film 'Savale Samali', written by Kaviarasu Kannadasan. The song critiques social discrimination, rejection, and the practice of untouchability by using natural metaphors, such as the distant sky refusing to touch the moon, the earth refusing the shadow, and night refusing tomorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

“Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu”

Inanimate entities like the sky, earth, night, and river are given human attributes of speech and rejection.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu / Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ni' in 'Nilavai' and 'Nizhalai' creates a rhythmic flow.

Ethugai (Second Letter Agreement)

“Thangam edutha kai / Dharmam kaatha kai”

The second consonant sound 'ng' / 'r' creates structural harmony across lines.

Rhetorical Question

“Thangam edutha kai / Adhu thangam paarthadhaa”

A poignant question emphasizing social inequality, asking if laborers who mine gold ever get to share in its prosperity.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Savale Samali' (1971), starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Kannadasan references the Tamil Saivite saint Thiruneelakantar, whose wife took a pledge not to touch him after a disagreement, drawing a parallel to personal and societal untouchability.

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