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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Pallandu Kaalam Nee

From Nee Oru Maharani · 1976

Lyricist
Kumaradevan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Nee Oru Maharani1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pallaandu kaalam nee vaazha vendumMay you live for many long years
Pala kodi paadal naan paada vendumI wish to sing millions of songs for you
Pallaandu kaalam nee vaazha vendumMay you live for many long years
Pala kodi paadal naan paada vendumI wish to sing millions of songs for you
Neraana paadhai nee sellum paadhaiThe path you walk is a straight and righteous path
Nenjaara vaazhtha vandhenae paedhaiI, an innocent woman, have come to bless you from my heart
Female
Pallaandu kaalam nee vaazha vendumMay you live for many long years
Pala kodi paadal naan paada vendumI wish to sing millions of songs for you
Female
Megham sindhum kanneerThe tears shed by the cloud
Adhu dhaagam theerkkum thanneerAre the waters that quench the thirst
Megham sindhum kanneerThe tears shed by the cloud
Adhu dhaagam theerkkum thanneerAre the waters that quench the thirst
Andha dhaagam thanindha pinnaeOnce that thirst is quenched
Vandha megham therivadhillaiThe cloud that arrived disappears from sight
Ingu ondrin mudivil ondruHere at the end of one thing begins another
Endra ulagin niyathi unduSuch is the eternal law of this world
Female
Pallaandu kaalam nee vaazha vendumMay you live for many long years
Pala kodi paadal naan paada vendumI wish to sing millions of songs for you
Female
Vilakkai yettri vaithaenI lit a lamp of brightness
Adhan adiyil irulai kandenYet beneath it I found only darkness
Andha irulil ulavugindrenI wander aimlessly in that darkness
Adhil thayakkam thaane kondenAnd I found myself filled with hesitation
Naan paadam padikka vandhenI came here to learn a life lesson
Ingae naane paadam aanenInstead I myself became a lesson to all
Female
Malaiyil pirandha mangaiA maiden born in the high mountains
Aval tharaiyil thavazhum gangaiShe is the river Ganges flowing on the ground
Malaiyil pirandha mangaiA maiden born in the high mountains
Aval tharaiyil thavazhum gangaiShe is the river Ganges flowing on the ground
Ingu thazhuvi sellum nadhiyaeThe river that caresses and flows along
Adhu thaangi kollum edhaiyumIt endures and carries everything with it
Andha nadhyai pola vandhenI arrived just like that resilient river
En vidhiyin vazhiyil selvenI shall continue along the path of my destiny
Female
Pallaandu kaalam nee vaazha vendumMay you live for many long years
Pala kodi paadal naan paada vendumI wish to sing millions of songs for you
Naan paada vendum naan paada vendumI must sing, I must sing

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Pallaandu Kaalam Nee Vaazha Vendum is a poignant and reflective song from the 1976 Tamil movie Nee Oru Maharani. Sung beautifully by P. Susheela with music composed by the duo Sankar Ganesh and lyrics penned by Kumaradevan, the song expresses selfless blessings, philosophical acceptance, and deep emotional resilience. The protagonist bestows endless blessings of longevity and happiness upon her beloved while contemplating the bittersweet nature of life, destiny, and transience through nature metaphors. Through evocative imagery of rain clouds vanishing after quenching thirst, darkness dwelling right under a lit lamp, and a mountain river enduring all obstacles on its path, the song articulates a philosophical surrender to destiny. The singer accepts her role as a lesson for others and resolves to walk her predetermined path with quiet dignity and grace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Megham sindhum kanneer, adhu dhaagam theerkkum thanneer

Rain from clouds is poetically framed as tears ('kanneer') that quench the world's thirst, metaphorically representing selfless sacrifice.

Paradox / Irony (Muran)

Vilakkai yettri vaithaen, adhan adiyil irulai kanden

Lighting a lamp to remove darkness only to find darkness right beneath its base highlights the painful irony of life.

Simile (Uvamaani)

Andha nadhyai pola vandhen, en vidhiyin vazhiyil selven

The protagonist compares her life's journey and capacity to endure hardship to a flowing river that carries everything in its stride.

Alliteration / Monai

Pallaandu kaalam nee vaazha vendum, pala kodi paadal naan paada vendum

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound in Pallaandu and Pala creates a rhythmic, musical harmony in the opening refrain.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features the iconic voice of P. Susheela and is one of the memorable compositions by Sankar-Ganesh during the mid-1970s. The lyrical theme echoes classic Tamil literary motifs where nature (clouds, light, rivers) serves as an allegory for human fate and philosophical acceptance.

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