Oru Nanbanin
From Sattam · 1983
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Sattam1983
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmm hmm mmm mmm | Hmm hmm mmm mmm |
| Haaa…aaa…aaa…haaa…aaa….haa… | Haaa…aaa…aaa…haaa…aaa….haa… |
| Hmmm hmmmm….. | Hmmm hmmmm….. |
| Male | |
| Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu | This is the story of a friend |
| Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu | This is the story of a friend |
| Nanbanaa pagaivanaa | Is he a friend or a foe? |
| Paadinaal puriyalaam | If I sing, you might understand |
| Naan paadavo… ooo | Shall I sing?… ooo |
| Male | |
| Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu | This is the story of a friend |
| Male | |
| Inba thunbam irandilum | In both joy and sorrow |
| Paadhi paadhi iruvarum | Sharing everything equally, fifty-fifty |
| Pagirndhu kondu pazhaginom | We bonded and spent our lives together |
| Male | |
| Inba thunbam irandilum | In both joy and sorrow |
| Paadhi paadhi iruvarum | Sharing everything equally, fifty-fifty |
| Pagirndhu kondu pazhaginom | We bonded and spent our lives together |
| Male | |
| Kannaadi munnaal nindru | Even when standing in front of a mirror |
| Paarthaalumae | And looking at my own reflection |
| En vizhi kaanbadhu | What my eyes saw |
| Avan mugam endru vaazhndha | Was his face — such was the life in... |
| Male | |
| Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu | This story of a friend |
| Male | |
| Thendral pondra nanban thaan | The friend who was like a gentle breeze |
| Theeyai pola maarinaan | Transformed into a scorching fire |
| Sonna vaarthai meerinaan | He broke the word he gave |
| Male | |
| Thendral pondra nanban thaan | The friend who was like a gentle breeze |
| Theeyai pola maarinaan | Transformed into a scorching fire |
| Sonna vaarthai meerinaan | He broke the word he gave |
| Male | |
| Oru thaayin pillai pola | Like children born to a single mother |
| Uravaadinom | We cherished our brotherhood |
| Thozhanae dhrogiyaai maariyae | That friend turned into a traitor |
| Vanjam theertha | And exacted his revenge in... |
| Male | |
| Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu | This story of a friend |
| Nanbanaa pagaivanaa | Is he a friend or a foe? |
| Paadinaal puriyalaam | If I sing, you might understand |
| Naan paadavo… haa… | Shall I sing?… haa… |
| Male | |
| Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu… | This is the story of a friend… |
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ஹா.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஹா....ஆஅ.....ஹா.....
ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம்.....
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Haaa…aaa…aaa…haaa…aaa….haa…
Hmmm hmmmm…..
ஒரு நண்பனின் கதை இது
ஒரு நண்பனின் கதை இது
நண்பனா பகைவனா
பாடினால் புரியலாம்
நான் பாடவோ....ஒ......
This is the story of a friend
This is the story of a friend
Is he a friend or a foe?
If I sing, you might understand
Shall I sing?… ooo
ஒரு நண்பனின் கதை இது
This is the story of a friend
இன்ப துன்பம் இரண்டிலும்
பாதிப் பாதி இருவரும்
பகிர்ந்து கொண்டு பழகினோம்
In both joy and sorrow
Sharing everything equally, fifty-fifty
We bonded and spent our lives together
இன்ப துன்பம் இரண்டிலும்
பாதிப் பாதி இருவரும்
பகிர்ந்து கொண்டு பழகினோம்
In both joy and sorrow
Sharing everything equally, fifty-fifty
We bonded and spent our lives together
கண்ணாடி முன்னால் நின்று
பார்த்தாலுமே
என் விழி காண்பது
அவன் முகம் என்று வாழ்ந்த
Even when standing in front of a mirror
And looking at my own reflection
What my eyes saw
Was his face — such was the life in...
ஒரு நண்பனின் கதை இது
This story of a friend
தென்றல் போன்ற நண்பன்தான்
தீயைப் போல மாறினான்
சொன்ன வார்த்தை மீறினான்
The friend who was like a gentle breeze
Transformed into a scorching fire
He broke the word he gave
தென்றல் போன்ற நண்பன்தான்
தீயைப் போல மாறினான்
சொன்ன வார்த்தை மீறினான்
The friend who was like a gentle breeze
Transformed into a scorching fire
He broke the word he gave
ஒரு தாயின் பிள்ளை போல
உறவாடினோம்
தோழனே துரோகியாய் மாறியே
வஞ்சம் தீர்த்த
Like children born to a single mother
We cherished our brotherhood
That friend turned into a traitor
And exacted his revenge in...
ஒரு நண்பனின் கதை இது
நண்பனா பகைவனா
பாடினால் புரியலாம்
நான் பாடவோ.... ஹா...
This story of a friend
Is he a friend or a foe?
If I sing, you might understand
Shall I sing?… haa…
ஒரு நண்பனின் கதை இது...
This is the story of a friend…
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Hmm hmm mmm mmm
Haaa…aaa…aaa…haaa…aaa….haa…
Haaa…aaa…aaa…haaa…aaa….haa…
Hmmm hmmmm…..
Hmmm hmmmm…..
Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu
This is the story of a friend
Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu
This is the story of a friend
Nanbanaa pagaivanaa
Is he a friend or a foe?
Paadinaal puriyalaam
If I sing, you might understand
Naan paadavo… ooo
Shall I sing?… ooo
Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu
This is the story of a friend
Inba thunbam irandilum
In both joy and sorrow
Paadhi paadhi iruvarum
Sharing everything equally, fifty-fifty
Pagirndhu kondu pazhaginom
We bonded and spent our lives together
Inba thunbam irandilum
In both joy and sorrow
Paadhi paadhi iruvarum
Sharing everything equally, fifty-fifty
Pagirndhu kondu pazhaginom
We bonded and spent our lives together
Kannaadi munnaal nindru
Even when standing in front of a mirror
Paarthaalumae
And looking at my own reflection
En vizhi kaanbadhu
What my eyes saw
Avan mugam endru vaazhndha
Was his face — such was the life in...
Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu
This story of a friend
Thendral pondra nanban thaan
The friend who was like a gentle breeze
Theeyai pola maarinaan
Transformed into a scorching fire
Sonna vaarthai meerinaan
He broke the word he gave
Thendral pondra nanban thaan
The friend who was like a gentle breeze
Theeyai pola maarinaan
Transformed into a scorching fire
Sonna vaarthai meerinaan
He broke the word he gave
Oru thaayin pillai pola
Like children born to a single mother
Uravaadinom
We cherished our brotherhood
Thozhanae dhrogiyaai maariyae
That friend turned into a traitor
Vanjam theertha
And exacted his revenge in...
Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu
This story of a friend
Nanbanaa pagaivanaa
Is he a friend or a foe?
Paadinaal puriyalaam
If I sing, you might understand
Naan paadavo… haa…
Shall I sing?… haa…
Oru nanbanin kadhai idhu…
This is the story of a friend…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Oru Nanbanin Kadhai Idhu' is a poignant reflection on the bittersweet journey of an intense friendship shattered by betrayal. The speaker ponders whether his former companion should now be regarded as a friend or a foe. He fondly recalls their shared past—a time when they were inseparable, sharing every joy and sorrow equally, to the extent that looking in a mirror felt like seeing his friend's reflection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai Ani)
“Thendral pondra nanban thaan / Theeyai pola maarinaan”
Compares the friend's soothing initial nature to a gentle breeze ('Thendral pondra') and his sudden hostility to fire ('Theeyai pola').
Contrast / Antonymy (Muran)
“Inba thunbam irandilum”
Pairs contrasting emotions—joy ('Inbam') and sorrow ('Thunbam')—to highlight the complete spectrum of experiences shared by the friends.
Simile (Upamai Ani)
“Oru thaayin pillai pola uravaadinom”
Compares the deep bond of friendship between two unrelated individuals to the biological kinship of brothers born to the same mother ('Oru thaayin pillai pola').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Thendral pondra nanban thaan / Theeyai pola maarinaan”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Th' ('Thendral' / 'Theeyai') across consecutive lines creating melodic cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
The movie 'Sattam' (1983) features music composed by Gangai Amaran, with lyrics penned by Vaali and vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. 'Sattam' is an official Tamil remake of the 1980 Hindi blockbuster 'Dostana' starring Amitabh Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha. The film stars Kamal Haasan and Sarath Babu as close friends who end up on opposing sides of the law, mirroring the core narrative of this song.
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