Sathiyama Naan
From Annaiyum Pithavum · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Annaiyum Pithavum1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam | Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy. |
| Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam | As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth. |
| Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam | Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy. |
| Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam | As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth. |
| Male | |
| En jaan udambil oru jaan vayirae sathiyam | In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth. |
| En jaan udambil oru jaan vayirae sathiyam | In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth. |
| Oru jaan vayiraal en saan udambae thathuvam | Because of this one-span stomach, my eight-span body becomes a living philosophy. |
| Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam | Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy. |
| Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam | As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth. |
| Male | |
| Nallavarullam thedum bodhu naanayam seraadhu | When searching for a good person's heart, wealth does not accumulate. |
| Naanayam vandhaal adharkkum kooda naanayam irukkadhu | Even when money arrives, it lacks true honesty and integrity. |
| Ullathil thangam undu thangathil ullam illai | There is gold within the heart, but there is no heart within gold. |
| Ullathai ingae vaithaan thangathai engae vaithaan | He placed the human heart here, but where did he place the gold? |
| Male | |
| Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam | Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy. |
| Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam | As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth. |
| Male | |
| Kaalam arindhu neram arindhu kadavul tharugindraan | Knowing the right time and moment, God grants his gifts. |
| Kaalam arindhu neram arindhu kadavul tharugindraan | Knowing the right time and moment, God grants his gifts. |
| Kanniyam nermai paaradhae enakkattalai idukkindraan | Without considering dignity or honesty, he gives me commands. |
| Achaana nottai kandaal machaanum maamanum undu | When seeing printed currency notes, relatives like brothers-in-law and uncles suddenly appear. |
| Achaana nottai kandaal machaanum maamanum undu | When seeing printed currency notes, relatives like brothers-in-law and uncles suddenly appear. |
| Ippodhu naanae raaja en pinnae aayiram kooja | Now I am the king, with a thousand flatterers trailing behind me. |
| Male | |
| Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam | Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy. |
| Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam | As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth. |
| En jaan udambil oru jaan vayirae sathiyam | In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth. |
| Oru jaan vayiraal en saan udambae thathuvam | Because of this one-span stomach, my eight-span body becomes a living philosophy. |
| Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam | Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy. |
| Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam | As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth. |
சத்தியமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் தத்துவம்
தத்துவமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் சத்தியம்
சத்தியமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் தத்துவம்
தத்துவமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் சத்தியம்
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
எண்ஜான் உடம்பில் ஒரு ஜான் வயிறே சத்தியம்
எண்ஜான் உடம்பில் ஒரு ஜான் வயிறே சத்தியம்
ஒரு ஜான் வயிறால் எண்சான் உடம்பே தத்துவம்
சத்தியமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் தத்துவம்
தத்துவமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் சத்தியம்
In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth.
In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth.
Because of this one-span stomach, my eight-span body becomes a living philosophy.
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
நல்லவருள்ளம் தேடும்போது நாணயம் சேராது
நாணயம் வந்தால் அதற்கும் கூட நாணயம் இருக்காது
உள்ளத்தில் தங்கம் உண்டு தங்கத்தில் உள்ளம் இல்லை
உள்ளதை இங்கே வைத்தான் தங்கத்தை எங்கே வைத்தான்
When searching for a good person's heart, wealth does not accumulate.
Even when money arrives, it lacks true honesty and integrity.
There is gold within the heart, but there is no heart within gold.
He placed the human heart here, but where did he place the gold?
சத்தியமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் தத்துவம்
தத்துவமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் சத்தியம்
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
காலமறிந்து நேரமறிந்து கடவுள் தருகின்றான்
காலமறிந்து நேரமறிந்து கடவுள் தருகின்றான்
கண்ணியம் நேர்மை பாராதே எனக் கட்டளை இடுகின்றான்
அச்சான நோட்டைக் கண்டால் மச்சானும் மாமனும் உண்டு
அச்சான நோட்டைக் கண்டால் மச்சானும் மாமனும் உண்டு
இப்போது நானே ராஜா என் பின்னே ஆயிரம் கூஜா
Knowing the right time and moment, God grants his gifts.
Knowing the right time and moment, God grants his gifts.
Without considering dignity or honesty, he gives me commands.
When seeing printed currency notes, relatives like brothers-in-law and uncles suddenly appear.
When seeing printed currency notes, relatives like brothers-in-law and uncles suddenly appear.
Now I am the king, with a thousand flatterers trailing behind me.
சத்தியமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் தத்துவம்
அப்பா தத்துவமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் சத்தியம்
எண்ஜான் உடம்பில் ஒரு ஜான் வயிறே சத்தியம்
ஒரு ஜான் வயிறால் எண்சான் உடம்பே தத்துவம்
சத்தியமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் தத்துவம்
ஐயா தத்துவமா நான் சொல்லுவதெல்லாம் சத்தியம்
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth.
Because of this one-span stomach, my eight-span body becomes a living philosophy.
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
En jaan udambil oru jaan vayirae sathiyam
In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth.
En jaan udambil oru jaan vayirae sathiyam
In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth.
Oru jaan vayiraal en saan udambae thathuvam
Because of this one-span stomach, my eight-span body becomes a living philosophy.
Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
Nallavarullam thedum bodhu naanayam seraadhu
When searching for a good person's heart, wealth does not accumulate.
Naanayam vandhaal adharkkum kooda naanayam irukkadhu
Even when money arrives, it lacks true honesty and integrity.
Ullathil thangam undu thangathil ullam illai
There is gold within the heart, but there is no heart within gold.
Ullathai ingae vaithaan thangathai engae vaithaan
He placed the human heart here, but where did he place the gold?
Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
Kaalam arindhu neram arindhu kadavul tharugindraan
Knowing the right time and moment, God grants his gifts.
Kaalam arindhu neram arindhu kadavul tharugindraan
Knowing the right time and moment, God grants his gifts.
Kanniyam nermai paaradhae enakkattalai idukkindraan
Without considering dignity or honesty, he gives me commands.
Achaana nottai kandaal machaanum maamanum undu
When seeing printed currency notes, relatives like brothers-in-law and uncles suddenly appear.
Achaana nottai kandaal machaanum maamanum undu
When seeing printed currency notes, relatives like brothers-in-law and uncles suddenly appear.
Ippodhu naanae raaja en pinnae aayiram kooja
Now I am the king, with a thousand flatterers trailing behind me.
Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
En jaan udambil oru jaan vayirae sathiyam
In my eight-span body, the one-span stomach is the ultimate truth.
Oru jaan vayiraal en saan udambae thathuvam
Because of this one-span stomach, my eight-span body becomes a living philosophy.
Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam
Swearing upon truth, everything I say is philosophy.
Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam
As philosophy, everything I say is the absolute truth.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a satirical and deeply philosophical commentary on human existence, hunger, wealth, and societal hypocrisy. Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, it centers on the Tamil proverb concept of 'En saan udambuku sirassu pradhaanam' and 'Oru jaan vayiru' (the one-span belly driving the eight-span body), illustrating how basic physical needs dictate human actions and survival.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sledai / Pun
“Naanayam vandhaal adharkkum kooda naanayam irukkadhu”
The word 'Naanayam' is cleverly used with a double meaning: 'coins/currency' and 'honesty/integrity'.
Antimetabole / Chiasmus
“Ullathil thangam undu thangathil ullam illai”
Inversion of words in successive clauses to create philosophical emphasis.
Antimetabole / Inversion
“Sathiyama nan solluvathellaam thathuvam / Thathuvamaa naan solluvathellaam sathiyam”
Interchanging 'Sathiyam' (Truth) and 'Thathuvam' (Philosophy) across consecutive lines.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Ippodhu naanae raaja en pinnae aayiram kooja”
Rhyming ends of phrases to create a catchy rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan frequently used wordplay involving 'Naanayam' across his discography to critique commercialism versus moral integrity. Sung dynamically by T. M. Soundarajan, this composition by M. S. Vishwanathan blends humor with street-smart wisdom.
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