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Lyrics & meaning

Oru Naal Ninaitha Kariyam

From Paadhukaappu · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Paadhukaappu1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'
Male
Rathinathil seithu vaithaCrafted out of precious gems,
Chithirathin mandapathilInside a picturesque pavilion,
Uravo uravo uravoIs it a bond, a relationship, a soulmate?
Pathu viral thottizhuthuReaching out with ten fingers,
Arthamulla sethi sollaTo convey a message filled with deep meaning,
Varavo varavo varavoIs it arriving, coming, approaching?
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'
Male
Malaril paniyitta kalaiLike the art of dew resting on a delicate flower,
Manjal mugathuku thiraiA modest veil over a turmeric-adorned face,
Pennil nee oru silaiAmong all women, you are a sculptured statue,
Indru naan athan vilaiAnd today, I am the price paid for it.
Male
Kaniyil oriya mugamA face filled with the sweetness of ripe fruit,
Karumbil vangiya rasamA nectar borrowed from the sugarcane,
Rathiyai meriya sugamA bliss that surpasses Rathi, the goddess of love,
Indru naan athan vasamToday, I am completely under its spell.
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'
Male
Iraivan aalayamaniIt is like the sacred temple bell of the Almighty,
Idhuvum devanin paniThis too is a divine work of God,
Anintha mangala aniAdorned with auspicious traditional ornaments,
Anbu illaram iniA domestic life built on love is sweet from now on.
Male
Ondru enbathu varamThe number 'One' represents a divine boon,
Irandu enbathu manamThe number 'Two' represents the union of two minds,
Moondru enbathu kulamThe number 'Three' represents the growth of the family lineage,
Mudivillathathu sugamAnd endless is the ultimate joy that follows.
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'
Male
Nadhiyil irupakkam karaiA river bounded by banks on both sides,
Naduvil ezhuvathu alaiWith waves rising in the middle,
Alaiyai meeriya nadaiA journey that glides past the turbulent waves,
Vazhalkai thoniyin kadhaiSuch is the story of life's floating boat.
Male
Mullai enbathu nilai'Mullai' (forest land) symbolizes steadfast virtue,
Kurunji enbathu gunam'Kurinji' (mountain land) symbolizes pure character,
Marutham enbathu manam'Marutham' (farmland) symbolizes the sweetness of home,
Vazhnthu valarpathu inamTo live and nurture human lineage across generations.
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'
Male
Rathinathil seithu vaithaCrafted out of precious gems,
Chithirathin mandapathilInside a picturesque pavilion,
Uravo uravo uravoIs it a bond, a relationship, a soulmate?
Pathu viral thottezhuthuWriting and reaching out with ten fingers,
Arthamulla sethi sollaTo convey a message filled with deep meaning,
Varavo varavo varavoIs it arriving, coming, approaching?
Oru naal ninaitha kariyam nadakumOne day, the intended goal will come to pass,
Ulagam rasika vaavena azhaikumThe world will call out in admiration, 'Come, behold!'

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Oru Naal Ninaitha Kariyam Nadakum' expresses profound optimism, romantic devotion, and the fulfillment of life's noble aspirations. It conveys the hopeful message that earnest desires and effort will eventually yield success, gaining recognition and admiration from the world. Through poetic imagery, the singer describes finding romantic fulfillment, celebrating the beauty and virtue of his beloved, and framing marriage as a divine blessing that connects individuals into a meaningful family life. In its deeper verses, lyricist Kannadasan cleverly blends classical Sangam Tamil literary concepts (the landscapes of Mullai, Kurinji, and Marutham) as metaphors for human virtues, emotional maturity, and peaceful domestic harmony. Life is likened to a boat navigating rising river waves, emphasizing resilience, love, and the continuation of human lineage with enduring bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Ondru enbathu varam / Irandu enbathu manam / Moondru enbathu kulam / Mudivillathathu sugam

Lines end with the rhyming '-am' suffix ('varam', 'manam', 'kulam', 'sugam'), creating a pleasing rhythmic cadence.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Rathinathil seithu vaitha / Chithirathin mandapathil

The second letter/syllable ('thi') rhymes across 'Rathinathil' and 'Chithirathin'.

Metaphor

Vazhalkai thoniyin kadhai

Life is metaphorically compared to a boat ('thoni') traversing river currents and waves.

Classical Thinai Metaphor (Sangam Allusion)

Mullai enbathu nilai / Kurunji enbathu gunam / Marutham enbathu manam

Kannadasan uses classical Sangam landscapes (Mullai, Kurinji, Marutham) metaphorically to represent human character, virtue, and domestic harmony.

Anaphora / Repetition

Uravo uravo uravo / Varavo varavo varavo

Repetition of words at the end of lines heightens the emotional intensity and poetic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1970 Tamil film 'Paadhukaappu', starring Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, directed by A. Bhimsingh. Composed by the legendary maestro M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by 'Kaviarasu' Kannadasan, the song stands out for how effortlessly Kannadasan integrated ancient Sangam Tamil landscape symbolism (Thinai) into popular film music, beautifully rendered by T. M. Soundararajan.

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