Sollathan Ninaikkiren 2
From Engal Selvi · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani, Chorus
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Engal Selvi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to speak, but I am unable to. |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to speak, but I am unable to. |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand. |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand. |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to speak, but I am unable to. |
| Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai | Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand. |
| Female | |
| Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai | I wish to speak, but I am unable to. |
| Female | |
| Ullaasa ulagamendru piranthu vittaen | I was born thinking this was a joyous world, |
| Idhan unmai nilai ariyaamal | Without knowing its true reality, |
| Mayangugindraen naan | I am swooning in bewilderment. |
| Female | |
| Kann mayakkam theerththu vaippaai | Dispel this haze from my eyes, |
| Iyarkkaiyammaa | Oh Mother Nature! |
| Kadhal mudhal dharmam varai kaatta vaaraai | Come to guide me from love to righteousness. |
| Un magalukkuthavu seivaai iyarkkaiyammaa | Help your daughter, Oh Mother Nature! |
| Ulanganinthu vanthu vidu varuga thaayae | Come with a compassionate heart, welcome Mother! |
| Varuga thaayae varuga thaayae varuga thaayae | Welcome Mother, welcome Mother, welcome Mother! |
| Female | |
| Kadhal kadhal kadhal | Love, love, love. |
| Kavalaiyai theerppathu kadhal | Love is that which dispels sorrow. |
| Paathi paathiyai aangalum pengalum | Shared equally in halves by men and women, |
| Pangu perum sugam kadhal | The joy they partake in is love. |
| Female | |
| Aadhi mudhalilae ulagam piranthathum | Right from the dawn when the world was born, |
| Aarambamaanathum kadhal | That which began everything is love. |
| Thagathagavena palapalavena | Glittering intensely and shining brightly, |
| Jolippathuthaan selvam | That alone is wealth. |
| Female | |
| Thannai maranthae unnai arugil | Forgetting oneself and pulling you close, |
| Izhuppathuthaan selvam | That alone is wealth. |
| Pettra magalai thanthaiyai vittu | Separating a beloved daughter from her father, |
| Pirippathuthaan selvam | That alone is wealth. |
| Female | |
| Pesum vaayai oomaiyaakki | Turning a speaking mouth into a mute one, |
| Madakkuvathe selvam | And silencing it completely is wealth. |
| Kannirunthum kurudanaaga | Making one blind despite having eyes, |
| Maattruvathe selvam | Is the doing of wealth. |
| Kalviyillaa moodaraiyum | Bowing down even before an uneducated fool, |
| Vananguvathe selavam | Is forced by wealth. |
| Female | |
| Engae dharmam | Where is righteousness? |
| Engae dharmam engae dharmam | Where is righteousness, where is righteousness? |
| Female | |
| Mannavar mudiyum thennavar naadum | In the crowns of kings and across the southern land, |
| Valarntha dharmam engae engae | Where is that righteousness that once flourished? |
| Kanniyar karpum annaiyar panbum | In the chastity of maidens and the virtue of mothers, |
| Kaattiya dharmam engae engae | Where is that righteousness that was once displayed? |
| Female | |
| Kaalgal thalarnthu kaigalum ointhu | With my legs failing and hands exhausted, |
| Kadhurugiraen en thaayae | I cry out to you, my mother! |
| Kanniyam valarkkum dharmaththin uravai | The bond of righteousness that nurtures dignity, |
| Kaattiduvaai neeyae | Show it to me yourself! |
| Kanniyam valarkkum dharmaththin uravai | The bond of righteousness that nurtures dignity, |
| Kaattiduvaai neeyae | Show it to me yourself! |
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவருக்குப்
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவருக்குப் புரியவில்லை
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand.
Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand.
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
அதை சொன்னாலும் கேட்பவருக்குப் புரியவில்லை
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand.
சொல்லத்தான் நினைக்கிறேன் முடியவில்லை
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
உல்லாச உலகமென்று பிறந்து விட்டேன் இதன்
உண்மை நிலை அறியாமல்
மயங்குகின்றேன் நான்
I was born thinking this was a joyous world,
Without knowing its true reality,
I am swooning in bewilderment.
கண் மயக்கம் தீர்த்து வைப்பாய் இயற்கையம்மா
காதல் முதல் தர்மம் வரை காட்ட வாராய்
உன் மகளுக்குதவி செய்வாய் இயற்கையம்மா
உளங்கனிந்து வந்து விடு வருக தாயே
வருக தாயே வருக தாயே வருக தாயே......
Dispel this haze from my eyes,
Oh Mother Nature!
Come to guide me from love to righteousness.
Help your daughter, Oh Mother Nature!
Come with a compassionate heart, welcome Mother!
Welcome Mother, welcome Mother, welcome Mother!
காதல் காதல் காதல்
கவலையைத் தீர்ப்பது காதல்
பாதிப் பாதியை ஆண்களும் பெண்களும்
பங்கு பெறும் சுகம் காதல்....
Love, love, love.
Love is that which dispels sorrow.
Shared equally in halves by men and women,
The joy they partake in is love.
ஆதி முதலிலே உலகம் பிறந்ததும்
ஆரம்பமானதும் காதல்
தகதகவென பளபளவென
ஜொலிப்பதுதான் செல்வம்.....
Right from the dawn when the world was born,
That which began everything is love.
Glittering intensely and shining brightly,
That alone is wealth.
தன்னை மறந்தே உன்னை அருகில்
இழுப்பதுதான் செல்வம்
பெற்ற மகளைத் தந்தையை விட்டுப்
பிரிப்பதுதான் செல்வம்
Forgetting oneself and pulling you close,
That alone is wealth.
Separating a beloved daughter from her father,
That alone is wealth.
பேசும் வாயை ஊமையாக்கி
மடக்குவதே செல்வம்
கண்ணிருந்தும் குருடனாக
மாற்றுவதே செல்வம்
கல்வியில்லா மூடரையும்
வணங்குவதே செல்வம்.....
Turning a speaking mouth into a mute one,
And silencing it completely is wealth.
Making one blind despite having eyes,
Is the doing of wealth.
Bowing down even before an uneducated fool,
Is forced by wealth.
எங்கே தர்மம்
எங்கே தர்மம் எங்கே தர்மம்
Where is righteousness?
Where is righteousness, where is righteousness?
மன்னவர் முடியும் தென்னவர் நாடும்
வளர்த்த தர்மம் எங்கே.....எங்கே....
கன்னியர் கற்பும் அன்னையர் பண்பும்
காட்டிய தர்மம் எங்கே.....எங்கே....
In the crowns of kings and across the southern land,
Where is that righteousness that once flourished?
In the chastity of maidens and the virtue of mothers,
Where is that righteousness that was once displayed?
கால்கள் தளர்ந்து கைகளும் ஓய்ந்து
கதறுகிறேன் என் தாயே
கண்ணியம் வளர்க்கும் தர்மத்தின் உருவை
காட்டிடுவாய் நீயே....
கண்ணியம் வளர்க்கும் தர்மத்தின் உருவை
காட்டிடுவாய் நீயே....
With my legs failing and hands exhausted,
I cry out to you, my mother!
The bond of righteousness that nurtures dignity,
Show it to me yourself!
The bond of righteousness that nurtures dignity,
Show it to me yourself!
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand.
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand.
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Even if I speak, those who listen do not understand.
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
I wish to speak, but I am unable to.
Ullaasa ulagamendru piranthu vittaen
I was born thinking this was a joyous world,
Idhan unmai nilai ariyaamal
Without knowing its true reality,
Mayangugindraen naan
I am swooning in bewilderment.
Kann mayakkam theerththu vaippaai
Dispel this haze from my eyes,
Iyarkkaiyammaa
Oh Mother Nature!
Kadhal mudhal dharmam varai kaatta vaaraai
Come to guide me from love to righteousness.
Un magalukkuthavu seivaai iyarkkaiyammaa
Help your daughter, Oh Mother Nature!
Ulanganinthu vanthu vidu varuga thaayae
Come with a compassionate heart, welcome Mother!
Varuga thaayae varuga thaayae varuga thaayae
Welcome Mother, welcome Mother, welcome Mother!
Kadhal kadhal kadhal
Love, love, love.
Kavalaiyai theerppathu kadhal
Love is that which dispels sorrow.
Paathi paathiyai aangalum pengalum
Shared equally in halves by men and women,
Pangu perum sugam kadhal
The joy they partake in is love.
Aadhi mudhalilae ulagam piranthathum
Right from the dawn when the world was born,
Aarambamaanathum kadhal
That which began everything is love.
Thagathagavena palapalavena
Glittering intensely and shining brightly,
Jolippathuthaan selvam
That alone is wealth.
Thannai maranthae unnai arugil
Forgetting oneself and pulling you close,
Izhuppathuthaan selvam
That alone is wealth.
Pettra magalai thanthaiyai vittu
Separating a beloved daughter from her father,
Pirippathuthaan selvam
That alone is wealth.
Pesum vaayai oomaiyaakki
Turning a speaking mouth into a mute one,
Madakkuvathe selvam
And silencing it completely is wealth.
Kannirunthum kurudanaaga
Making one blind despite having eyes,
Maattruvathe selvam
Is the doing of wealth.
Kalviyillaa moodaraiyum
Bowing down even before an uneducated fool,
Vananguvathe selavam
Is forced by wealth.
Engae dharmam
Where is righteousness?
Engae dharmam engae dharmam
Where is righteousness, where is righteousness?
Mannavar mudiyum thennavar naadum
In the crowns of kings and across the southern land,
Valarntha dharmam engae engae
Where is that righteousness that once flourished?
Kanniyar karpum annaiyar panbum
In the chastity of maidens and the virtue of mothers,
Kaattiya dharmam engae engae
Where is that righteousness that was once displayed?
Kaalgal thalarnthu kaigalum ointhu
With my legs failing and hands exhausted,
Kadhurugiraen en thaayae
I cry out to you, my mother!
Kanniyam valarkkum dharmaththin uravai
The bond of righteousness that nurtures dignity,
Kaattiduvaai neeyae
Show it to me yourself!
Kanniyam valarkkum dharmaththin uravai
The bond of righteousness that nurtures dignity,
Kaattiduvaai neeyae
Show it to me yourself!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from Engal Selvi (1960) serves as a poignant philosophical reflection on human suffering, worldly illusions, and societal corruptions. The protagonist cries out to Mother Nature, feeling helpless and misunderstood in a world that she initially believed was filled with joy. Through contrast, the lyrics explore the noble essence of love versus the corrupting influence of wealth, which blinds people, silences truth, and subverts moral values. Ultimately, the singer desperately seeks the lost path of righteousness (dharmam) that once sustained society, honor, and human relationships.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sol Pinvarunilai Ani (Anaphora / Epistrophe)
“Jolippathuthaan selvam... Izhuppathuthaan selvam... Pirippathuthaan selvam”
The repetitive ending of lines with the word 'selvam' (wealth) emphasizes the ironic and corrupting power of money in various human situations.
Irattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeia)
“Thagathagavena palapalavena”
The paired rhythmic words 'Thagathagavena' and 'palapalavena' vividly imitate the dazzling, shiny allure of material riches.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Mannavar mudiyum thennavar naadum / Kanniyar karpum annaiyar panbum”
The second letter harmony 'nn' in 'Mannavar', 'Kanniyar', and 'Kanniyam' creates lyrical rhythm across verses.
Moonaik Chollal (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaalgal thalarnthu kaigalum ointhu”
Matching starting sounds in adjacent words such as 'Kaalgal' and 'Kaigalum' reinforces the musicality of the distress expressed.
Did you know?
Trivia
Engal Selvi (1960), directed by D. Yoganand and starring Sowcar Janaki and M. R. Radha, featured a rich soundtrack composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Lyricist Kannadasan used this stage-song format in the film to deliver a sharp socio-philosophical commentary contrasting pure love and righteousness against the corrupting influence of wealth, a recurring theme in his classic mid-20th-century Tamil film poetry.
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