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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ninnaicharan Adainthen Male

From Bharathi · 2000

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Bharathi2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aa… aa… aa…haa aa aaaAh... ah... ah...
Aa… aa… aa…haa aa aaaAh... ah... ah...
Aa… aa… aa…..Ah... ah... ah...
Male
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Ponnai uyarvai pugazhai virumbidumDesiring wealth, high status, and fame,
Ponnai uyarvai pugazhai virumbidumDesiring wealth, high status, and fame,
Ennai kavalaigal thinna thagaadhendruSo that worries may not consume me,
Male
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Male
Midimaiyum achamumPoverty and fear,
Maevi en nenjilHaving settled in my heart,
Midimaiyum achamumPoverty and fear,
Maevi en nenjilHaving settled in my heart,
Kudimai pugunthanaHave taken up residence;
Kondravai pokkendruTo destroy and drive them away,
Male
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Male
Than seyal enniAnxious about my own self-centered actions,
Thavippadhu theerndhinguTo end my suffering here,
Nin seyal seidhuBy performing your divine works,
Niraivu perum vannamSo that I may attain ultimate fulfillment,
Male
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Male
Thunbam ini illai sorvillaiThere is no sorrow anymore, no exhaustion,
Sorvillai thorppillaiNo exhaustion, no defeat,
Nalladhu theeyadhu naamariyomGood or evil, we do not judge or know,
Naamariyom naamariyomWe know not, we know not!
Anbu neriyil arangal valarthidaTo foster righteousness on the path of love,
Nalladhu naattuga theemaiyai ottugaTo establish goodness and banish evil,
Male
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Ponnai uyarvai pugazhai virumbidumDesiring wealth, high status, and fame,
Ponnai uyarvai pugazhai virumbidumDesiring wealth, high status, and fame,
Ennai kavalaigal thinna thagaadhendruSo that worries may not consume me,
Male
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!
Ninnai charanadaindhenI surrender unto you,
Kannammaa ninnai charanadaindhenOh Kannamma, I surrender unto you!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ninnai Charanadaindhen is a deeply spiritual song written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar, expressing complete devotion and surrender (Sharanagati) to the divine feminine in the form of Kannamma. The speaker acknowledges human frailties—such as attachment to wealth, status, fame, along with inner battles against poverty, fear, and anxiety. By surrendering completely to Kannamma, the poet seeks freedom from these mental anxieties and ego-driven actions, surrendering his will to the divine.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ponnai uyarvai pugazhai virumbidum / Ennai kavalaigal thinna thagaadhendru

The second consonant sound 'n' ('ன்') rhymes across 'Ponnai' and 'Ennai', establishing traditional Tamil poetic meter.

Personification

Ennai kavalaigal thinna thagaadhendru

Worries (kavalaigal) are personified as living creatures capable of eating or consuming the speaker.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Anbu neriyil arangal valarthida

The repetition of the initial vowel sound 'A' ('Anbu', 'arangal') adds rhythm and harmony to the verse.

Repetition (Anaphora / Sorkal Thirumpudhal)

Naamariyom naamariyom

The phrase 'naamariyom' ('we know not') is repeated to emphasize complete ego detachment and submission to cosmic wisdom.

Did you know?

Trivia

This poem is part of the immortal verse collection by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar. In the 2000 biographical film 'Bharathi', the song was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Classical vocalist Bombay Jayashree performed a celebrated version of this song, and Ilaiyaraaja won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for the soundtrack.

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