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Thiruvilaiyadal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Pazham Neeyappa

From Thiruvilaiyadal · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. B. Sundarambal
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thiruvilaiyadal
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
16 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Pazham neeyappaa
Gyaana pazham neeyappaa
Thamizh gyaana pazham neeyappaa} (2)
Kannondril kanalaai vandhaai
Netri kannondril kanalaai vandhaai
Aaru kamalaththil uruvaai nindraai
Aaru kamalaththil uruvaai nindraai
Karthikagai pen paal undaai
Thiru karthikagai pen paal undaai
Ulagannai anaipaalae thirumeni oru sertha
Thamizh gyaana pazham neeyappaa
Oorundu perundu
Uravundu sugamundu utraar petraarum undu
Oorundu perundu
Uravundu sugamundu utraar petraarumundu
Neerunda megangal ninraadum kailaiyil
Neevaazha idamum unduu
Neerunda megangal ninraadum kailaiyil
Neevaazha idamum unduu
Thaaiyundu manamundu
Thaaiyundu manamundu
Anbulla thanthaikku
Thaaladha pasam undu
Un thaththuvan thavarendru sollavum
Avvaiyin thamizhukku urimai undu
Aaruvadhu sinam kooruvadhu thamizh
Ariyaadha siruvanaa nee
Aaruvadhu sinam kooruvadhu thamizh
Ariyaadha siruvanaa nee
Maaruvadhu manam seruvadhu inam
Theriyaadha muruganaa nee
Maaruvadhu manam seruvadhu inam
Theriyaadha muruganaa nee
Yerumayil yeru
Eesanidam naadu
Yerumayil yeru
Eesanidam naadu
Inmugam kaattavaa nee
Yetrukkolvaai koottichchelven
Ennudan odivaa nee
Ennudan odivaa nee ….
You are the fruit, my Lord!
You are the fruit of wisdom, my Lord!
You are the Tamil fruit of wisdom, my Lord!
You came forth as a spark of fire from an eye,
You came forth as a spark from the forehead eye,
You took shape upon six lotus blossoms,
You took shape upon six lotus blossoms,
You drank milk from the Karthigai maidens,
You drank milk from the sacred Karthigai maidens,
When the Mother of the world embraced you, your forms merged into one divine body,
You are the Tamil fruit of wisdom, my Lord!
You have a home, you have renown,
You have relationships, comfort, family, and parents!
You have a home, you have renown,
You have relationships, comfort, family, and parents!
On Mount Kailash, where rain-filled clouds gather and dance,
There is a place for you to live!
On Mount Kailash, where rain-filled clouds gather and dance,
There is a place for you to live!
You have a mother, you have her loving heart,
You have a mother, you have her loving heart,
And your affectionate father
Holds boundless love for you!
Even to say that your stance is mistaken,
Avvai's Tamil has every right!
"Anger must cool down," teaches Tamil—
Are you an innocent boy who does not know this?
"Anger must cool down," teaches Tamil—
Are you an innocent boy who does not know this?
"Minds will soften, and families will reunite"—
Are you a Murugan who does not know this?
"Minds will soften, and families will reunite"—
Are you a Murugan who does not know this?
Mount your soaring peacock,
Seek out Lord Shiva,
Mount your soaring peacock,
Seek out Lord Shiva,
Come, show your pleasant face!
Accept my word, and I will take you there,
Come running along with me!
Come running along with me!
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic song from Thiruvilaiyadal (1965) features the ancient Tamil poetess Avvaiyar addressing young Lord Murugan, who has fled to Palani in intense anger after losing a divine contest to his brother Ganesha for a fruit of wisdom ('Gyaana Pazham'). Avvaiyar consoles and pacifies him by explaining that Murugan himself is the ultimate embodiment of Tamil wisdom and spiritual maturity, rendering a physical fruit redundant.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Gyaana pazham neeyappaa / Thamizh gyaana pazham neeyappaa”

Addressing Lord Murugan directly as the 'Gyaana Pazham' (fruit of spiritual wisdom), contrasting physical fruit with divine essence.

Iyaibu (Rhyme / Epiphora)

“Oorundu perundu / Uravundu sugamundu utraar petraarum undu”

Repeated end-rhyming suffix '-undu' across multiple continuous lines to create a comforting rhythmic cadence.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

“Aaruvadhu sinam kooruvadhu thamizh / Ariyaadha siruvanaa nee”

Repetition of initial vowel sounds ('A') creating poetic harmony.

Allusion (Athoradhana)

“Aaruvadhu sinam kooruvadhu thamizh”

References the classical ethical dictum 'Aaruvadhu Sinam' from Avvaiyar's Aathichudi.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered by the legendary K. B. Sundarambal (who also portrayed Avvaiyar on screen), 'Pazham Neeyappa' is one of the most famous devotional songs in Tamil cinema history. The lyricist Kannadasan skillfully incorporated Avvaiyar's real literary style and quotes, such as 'Aaruvadhu Sinam' from Aathichudi, into the screenplay.

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