Njaana Thangame
From Raja Gopuram · 1984
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Ilayaraja, B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Raja Gopuram1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child, |
| Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae | Listen to my song, my precious golden child. |
| Maram onnu nattu vachen njaana thangamae | I planted a tree, my precious golden child, |
| Kanneeril thanneer vitten njaana thangamae | I watered it with my tears, my precious golden child. |
| Maram yaeno pazhudhaa pochu njaana thangamae | Somehow the tree withered, my precious golden child, |
| Kodi vandhu thonaiyaa aachu njaana thangamae | A creeping vine came to its aid, my precious golden child. |
| Male | |
| Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child, |
| Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae | Listen to my song, my precious golden child. |
| Female | |
| Aaraari raari raaro… | Lullaby sounds (Aaraari raari raaro...) |
| Aaraari raari raaro… | Lullaby sounds (Aaraari raari raaro...) |
| Aaraariro… aaraariro… | Aaraariro... aaraariro... |
| Aaraariro… aaraariro… | Aaraariro... aaraariro... |
| Aaraariro… Aaraariro… | Aaraariro... Aaraariro... |
| Male | |
| Kizhinjaalum saaya chaela | Even if a dyed saree gets torn, |
| Velakkukku thiriyaagum | It can still serve as a wick for a lamp. |
| Aruthaalum kora pullu azhagaana paayaagum | Even if cut down, korai grass can be woven into a beautiful mat. |
| Manusha jaadhi niyaayam mattum vaeru vaeru | Only human standards of justice differ from person to person. |
| Soma thaangi mannil saanjaa thaanguvadhaaru | If the supporting pillar itself collapses to the ground, who will support it? |
| Thanni ulla varaikkum kokku irukkum | A crane stays only as long as there is water, |
| Kolam vathi ponaa kokku parakkum | Once the pond dries up, the crane flies away. |
| Oravellaam pagal mosam adi podi ellaam vaesham | All relatives are deceitful in plain sight; move along, everything is a disguise. |
| Male | |
| Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child, |
| Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae | Listen to my song, my precious golden child. |
| Male | |
| Kalangaadhae njaana pennae | Do not grieve, my wise girl, |
| Kanneerum yaenammaa | Why these tears, my dear? |
| Naadaanda mangammaavum | Even Queen Mangammal who ruled the realm, |
| Un pola pennammaa | Was a woman just like you. |
| Annaalil thaan kannagi pola un kadhaiyaachu | Back in those days, your life story became like Kannagi's, |
| Karai yaeri thaan kendaigal rendu pogudhu ippodhu | Now two carp fish are stepping onto the bank. |
| Oorukkullae ingae yaarum illaiyo | Is there no soul with empathy left in this town? |
| Indha mazha paeinjum eeram illaiyo | Is there no human warmth left even after all this rain? |
| Thalaraadhae thalumbaadhae | Do not falter, do not break, |
| Edhir kaalam nee thaan pennae | You are the future, young woman. |
| Male | |
| Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child, |
| Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae | Listen to my song, my precious golden child. |
| Maram onnu nattu vachen njaana thangamae | I planted a tree, my precious golden child, |
| Kanneeril thanneer vitten njaana thangamae | I watered it with my tears, my precious golden child. |
| Maram yaeno pazhudhaa pochu njaana thangamae | Somehow the tree withered, my precious golden child, |
| Kodi vandhu thonaiyaa aachu njaana thangamae | A creeping vine came to its aid, my precious golden child. |
| Male | |
| Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae | Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child, |
| Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae | Listen to my song, my precious golden child. |
ஞானத் தங்கமே ஞானத் தங்கமே
எம் பாட்டக் கேளம்மா ஞானத் தங்கமே
மரமொண்ணு நட்டு வச்சேன் ஞானத் தங்கமே
கண்ணீரில் தண்ணீர் விட்டேன் ஞானத் தங்கமே
மரமேனோ பழுதாப் போச்சு ஞானத் தங்கமே
கொடி வந்து துணையா ஆச்சு ஞானத் தங்கமே
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
I planted a tree, my precious golden child,
I watered it with my tears, my precious golden child.
Somehow the tree withered, my precious golden child,
A creeping vine came to its aid, my precious golden child.
ஞானத் தங்கமே ஞானத் தங்கமே
எம் பாட்டக் கேளம்மா ஞானத் தங்கமே
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
............................
Lullaby sounds (Aaraari raari raaro...)
Lullaby sounds (Aaraari raari raaro...)
Aaraariro... aaraariro...
Aaraariro... aaraariro...
Aaraariro... Aaraariro...
கிழிஞ்சாலும் சாயச் சேல
வெளக்குக்கு திரியாகும்
அறுத்தாலும் கோரப்புல்லு அழகான பாயாகும்
மனுஷ ஜாதி ஞாயம் மட்டும் வேறு வேறு
சொமதாங்கிதான் மண்ணில் சாஞ்சா தாங்குவதாரு
தண்ணியுள்ள வரைக்கும் கொக்கு இருக்கும்
கொளம் வத்தி போனா கொக்கு பறக்கும்
ஒறவெல்லாம் பகல் மோசம்
அடி போடி எல்லாம் வேஷம்.....
Even if a dyed saree gets torn,
It can still serve as a wick for a lamp.
Even if cut down, korai grass can be woven into a beautiful mat.
Only human standards of justice differ from person to person.
If the supporting pillar itself collapses to the ground, who will support it?
A crane stays only as long as there is water,
Once the pond dries up, the crane flies away.
All relatives are deceitful in plain sight; move along, everything is a disguise.
ஞானத் தங்கமே ஞானத் தங்கமே
எம் பாட்டக் கேளம்மா ஞானத் தங்கமே
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
கலங்காதே ஞானப்பெண்ணே
கண்ணீரும் ஏனம்மா
நாடாண்ட மங்கம்மாவும்
உன் போல பெண்ணம்மா
அந்நாளில்தான் கண்ணகி போல உன் கதையாச்சு
கரையேறித்தான் கெண்டைகள் ரெண்டு போகுது இப்போது
ஊருக்குள்ளே இங்கே யாருமில்லையோ
இந்த மழை பேஞ்சும் ஈரமில்லையோ
தளராதே தளும்பாதே
எதிர்காலம் நீதான் பெண்ணே....
Do not grieve, my wise girl,
Why these tears, my dear?
Even Queen Mangammal who ruled the realm,
Was a woman just like you.
Back in those days, your life story became like Kannagi's,
Now two carp fish are stepping onto the bank.
Is there no soul with empathy left in this town?
Is there no human warmth left even after all this rain?
Do not falter, do not break,
You are the future, young woman.
ஞானத் தங்கமே ஞானத் தங்கமே
எம் பாட்டக் கேளம்மா ஞானத் தங்கமே
மரமொண்ணு நட்டு வச்சேன் ஞானத் தங்கமே
கண்ணீரில் தண்ணீர் விட்டேன் ஞானத் தங்கமே
மரமேனோ பழுதாப் போச்சு ஞானத் தங்கமே
கொடி வந்து துணையா ஆச்சு ஞானத் தங்கமே
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
I planted a tree, my precious golden child,
I watered it with my tears, my precious golden child.
Somehow the tree withered, my precious golden child,
A creeping vine came to its aid, my precious golden child.
ஞானத் தங்கமே ஞானத் தங்கமே
எம் பாட்டக் கேளம்மா ஞானத் தங்கமே
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
Maram onnu nattu vachen njaana thangamae
I planted a tree, my precious golden child,
Kanneeril thanneer vitten njaana thangamae
I watered it with my tears, my precious golden child.
Maram yaeno pazhudhaa pochu njaana thangamae
Somehow the tree withered, my precious golden child,
Kodi vandhu thonaiyaa aachu njaana thangamae
A creeping vine came to its aid, my precious golden child.
Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
Aaraari raari raaro…
Lullaby sounds (Aaraari raari raaro...)
Aaraari raari raaro…
Lullaby sounds (Aaraari raari raaro...)
Aaraariro… aaraariro…
Aaraariro... aaraariro...
Aaraariro… aaraariro…
Aaraariro... aaraariro...
Aaraariro… Aaraariro…
Aaraariro... Aaraariro...
Kizhinjaalum saaya chaela
Even if a dyed saree gets torn,
Velakkukku thiriyaagum
It can still serve as a wick for a lamp.
Aruthaalum kora pullu azhagaana paayaagum
Even if cut down, korai grass can be woven into a beautiful mat.
Manusha jaadhi niyaayam mattum vaeru vaeru
Only human standards of justice differ from person to person.
Soma thaangi mannil saanjaa thaanguvadhaaru
If the supporting pillar itself collapses to the ground, who will support it?
Thanni ulla varaikkum kokku irukkum
A crane stays only as long as there is water,
Kolam vathi ponaa kokku parakkum
Once the pond dries up, the crane flies away.
Oravellaam pagal mosam adi podi ellaam vaesham
All relatives are deceitful in plain sight; move along, everything is a disguise.
Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
Kalangaadhae njaana pennae
Do not grieve, my wise girl,
Kanneerum yaenammaa
Why these tears, my dear?
Naadaanda mangammaavum
Even Queen Mangammal who ruled the realm,
Un pola pennammaa
Was a woman just like you.
Annaalil thaan kannagi pola un kadhaiyaachu
Back in those days, your life story became like Kannagi's,
Karai yaeri thaan kendaigal rendu pogudhu ippodhu
Now two carp fish are stepping onto the bank.
Oorukkullae ingae yaarum illaiyo
Is there no soul with empathy left in this town?
Indha mazha paeinjum eeram illaiyo
Is there no human warmth left even after all this rain?
Thalaraadhae thalumbaadhae
Do not falter, do not break,
Edhir kaalam nee thaan pennae
You are the future, young woman.
Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
Maram onnu nattu vachen njaana thangamae
I planted a tree, my precious golden child,
Kanneeril thanneer vitten njaana thangamae
I watered it with my tears, my precious golden child.
Maram yaeno pazhudhaa pochu njaana thangamae
Somehow the tree withered, my precious golden child,
Kodi vandhu thonaiyaa aachu njaana thangamae
A creeping vine came to its aid, my precious golden child.
Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae
Oh precious golden child, oh precious golden child,
Em paatta kelammaa njaana thangamae
Listen to my song, my precious golden child.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Njaana Thangamae' is a soulful lullaby and philosophical consolation sung to soothe a young woman in deep emotional distress. Through vivid folk imagery—such as a tree nourished by tears, torn sarees repurposed as lamp wicks, and cranes abandoning dried-up ponds—the song reflects on the fickle nature of worldly relationships and the inevitability of sorrow.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Anaphora
“Njaana thangamae njaana thangamae”
The phrase 'Njaana thangamae' is repeated rhythmically throughout the song to structure it as a soothing folk lullaby.
Extended Metaphor
“Thanni ulla varaikkum kokku irukkum / Kolam vathi ponaa kokku parakkum”
The crane staying by the pond only while water remains serves as a metaphor for fair-weather relatives who desert during tough times.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Thalaraadhae thalumbaadhae”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Th' creates a reassuring phonetic cadence.
Allusion
“Annaalil thaan kannagi pola un kadhaiyaachu”
Refers to Kannagi from the epic Silappatikaram to emphasize tragic virtue and fortitude.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1984 film 'Raja Gopuram', the song utilizes the 'Njaana Thangam' folk lullaby refrain traditionally used in Tamil rural music to express bittersweet wisdom and endurance.
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