Nilavai Paarthu Vaanam
From Savale Samali · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Savale Samali1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu | Looking at the moon, the sky said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu | Looking at the shadow, the earth said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Male | |
| Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu | Looking at the moon, the sky said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu | Looking at the shadow, the earth said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nadhiyai paarthu naanal sonnadhu | Looking at the river, the reed said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Naalai paarthu iravu sonnadhu | Looking at tomorrow, the night said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Male | |
| Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu | Looking at the moon, the sky said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu | Looking at the shadow, the earth said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Male | |
| Pudhiyadhallavae theendaamai enbadhu | Untouchability is nothing new; |
| Pudhumaiyallavae adhai neeyum sonnadhu | It is no novelty that you said it too. |
| Pudhiyadhallavae theendaamai enbadhu | Untouchability is nothing new; |
| Pudhumaiyallavae adhai neeyum sonnadhu | It is no novelty that you said it too. |
| Sonna vaarthaiyum iraval thaanadhu… | Even the words you spoke were borrowed... |
| Sonna vaarthaiyum iraval thaanadhu | Even the words you spoke were borrowed, |
| Thiru neelakandarin manaivi sonnadhu | Said long ago by the wife of Thiru Neelakandar. |
| Thiru neelakandarin manaivi sonnadhu | Said long ago by the wife of Thiru Neelakandar. |
| Male | |
| Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu | Looking at the moon, the sky said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu | Looking at the shadow, the earth said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Male | |
| Thaalathai raagam thodaadha podhilae | When rhythm does not touch melody, |
| Geedhathai nenjam thodaamal pogumae | The song fails to reach the heart. |
| Thandhai thannaiyae thaai thodaavidil | If a mother does not touch the father, |
| Naanum illaiyae neeyum illaiyae | Neither I would exist, nor would you. |
| Naanum illaiyae neeyum illaiyae | Neither I would exist, nor would you. |
| Male | |
| Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu | Looking at the moon, the sky said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu | Looking at the shadow, the earth said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Male | |
| Thangam edutha kai | The hands that mined the gold, |
| Adhu thangam paarthadhaa | Did they ever get to enjoy that gold? |
| Dharmam kaatha kai s | The hands that safeguarded justice, |
| Sama dharmam kandadhaa | Did they ever witness social equality? |
| Aalayam seivom angae anumadhi illai | We build the temple, yet entry is forbidden there. |
| Nee andha koottamae idhil adhisayam illai | You belong to that same group, so this is no surprise. |
| Nee andha koottamae idhil adhisayam illai | You belong to that same group, so this is no surprise. |
| Male | |
| Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu | Looking at the moon, the sky said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
| Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu | Looking at the shadow, the earth said: |
| Ennai thodaadhae | "Do not touch me." |
விசில் :
......................................
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
"Do not touch me."
நிலவைப் பார்த்து வானம் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நிழலைப் பார்த்து பூமி சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the river, the reed said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at tomorrow, the night said:
"Do not touch me."
நிலவைப் பார்த்து வானம் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நிழலைப் பார்த்து பூமி சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நதியைப் பார்த்து நாணல் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நாளைப் பார்த்து இரவு சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
"Do not touch me."
நிலவைப் பார்த்து வானம் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நிழலைப் பார்த்து பூமி சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
Untouchability is nothing new;
It is no novelty that you said it too.
Untouchability is nothing new;
It is no novelty that you said it too.
Even the words you spoke were borrowed...
Even the words you spoke were borrowed,
Said long ago by the wife of Thiru Neelakandar.
Said long ago by the wife of Thiru Neelakandar.
புதியதல்லவே தீண்டாமை என்பது
புதுமை அல்லவே அதை நீயும் சொன்னது
புதியதல்லவே தீண்டாமை என்பது
புதுமை அல்லவே அதை நீயும் சொன்னது
சொன்ன வார்த்தையும் இரவல்தானது
சொன்ன வார்த்தையும் இரவல்தானது
திருநீலகண்டனின் மனைவி சொன்னது
திருநீலகண்டனின் மனைவி சொன்னது
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
"Do not touch me."
நிலவைப் பார்த்து வானம் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நிழலைப் பார்த்து பூமி சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
When rhythm does not touch melody,
The song fails to reach the heart.
If a mother does not touch the father,
Neither I would exist, nor would you.
Neither I would exist, nor would you.
தாளத்தை ராகம் தொடாத போதிலே
கீதத்தை நெஞ்சம் தொடாமல் போகுமே
தந்தை தன்னையே தாய் தொடாவிடில்
நானும் இல்லையே நீயும் இல்லையே
நானும் இல்லையே நீயும் இல்லையே
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
"Do not touch me."
நிலவைப் பார்த்து வானம் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நிழலைப் பார்த்து பூமி சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
The hands that mined the gold,
Did they ever get to enjoy that gold?
The hands that safeguarded justice,
Did they ever witness social equality?
We build the temple, yet entry is forbidden there.
You belong to that same group, so this is no surprise.
You belong to that same group, so this is no surprise.
விசில் :
...........................
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
"Do not touch me."
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
"Do not touch me."
தங்கம் எடுத்த கை
அது தங்கம் பார்த்ததா
தர்மம் காத்த கை
சமதர்மம் கண்டதா
ஆலயம் செய்வோம் அங்கே அனுமதியில்லை
நீ அந்தக்கூட்டமே இதில் அதிசயமில்லை
நீ அந்தக்கூட்டமே இதில் அதிசயமில்லை
நிலவைப் பார்த்து வானம் சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
நிழலைப் பார்த்து பூமி சொன்னது
என்னைத் தொடாதே
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nadhiyai paarthu naanal sonnadhu
Looking at the river, the reed said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Naalai paarthu iravu sonnadhu
Looking at tomorrow, the night said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Pudhiyadhallavae theendaamai enbadhu
Untouchability is nothing new;
Pudhumaiyallavae adhai neeyum sonnadhu
It is no novelty that you said it too.
Pudhiyadhallavae theendaamai enbadhu
Untouchability is nothing new;
Pudhumaiyallavae adhai neeyum sonnadhu
It is no novelty that you said it too.
Sonna vaarthaiyum iraval thaanadhu…
Even the words you spoke were borrowed...
Sonna vaarthaiyum iraval thaanadhu
Even the words you spoke were borrowed,
Thiru neelakandarin manaivi sonnadhu
Said long ago by the wife of Thiru Neelakandar.
Thiru neelakandarin manaivi sonnadhu
Said long ago by the wife of Thiru Neelakandar.
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Thaalathai raagam thodaadha podhilae
When rhythm does not touch melody,
Geedhathai nenjam thodaamal pogumae
The song fails to reach the heart.
Thandhai thannaiyae thaai thodaavidil
If a mother does not touch the father,
Naanum illaiyae neeyum illaiyae
Neither I would exist, nor would you.
Naanum illaiyae neeyum illaiyae
Neither I would exist, nor would you.
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Thangam edutha kai
The hands that mined the gold,
Adhu thangam paarthadhaa
Did they ever get to enjoy that gold?
Dharmam kaatha kai s
The hands that safeguarded justice,
Sama dharmam kandadhaa
Did they ever witness social equality?
Aalayam seivom angae anumadhi illai
We build the temple, yet entry is forbidden there.
Nee andha koottamae idhil adhisayam illai
You belong to that same group, so this is no surprise.
Nee andha koottamae idhil adhisayam illai
You belong to that same group, so this is no surprise.
Nilavai paarthu vaanam sonnadhu
Looking at the moon, the sky said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Nizhalai paarthu boomi sonnadhu
Looking at the shadow, the earth said:
Ennai thodaadhae
"Do not touch me."
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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