Thennavan Thaai Naattu
From Tenali Raman · 1956
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Tenali Raman1956
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame | Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures! |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame | Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures! |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame | Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures! |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Female | |
| Annangal uravaadum anisolaiyum | The beautiful garden where swans mingle affectionately, |
| Annangal uravaadum anisolaiyum | The beautiful garden where swans mingle affectionately, |
| Aruginil vilaiyaadum ezhil yaavumae | And all the surrounding grace playing close by, |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame | Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures! |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Female | |
| Kadal meedhu asaindhaadum alai nadagam | The rhythmic drama of waves dancing upon the sea, |
| Engal kalaimadhar kaar koondhal tharum yaasagam | Is a humble plea seeking comparison with the dark tresses of our artistic women, |
| Kadal meedhu asaindhaadum alai nadagam | The rhythmic drama of waves dancing upon the sea, |
| Engal kalaimadhar kaar koondhal tharum yaasagam | Is a humble plea seeking comparison with the dark tresses of our artistic women, |
| Kalam sendra manavaalan kadhai sollum maadhu | The devoted woman who recounts the tale of her husband gone to far lands, |
| Kalam sendra manavaalan kadhai sollum maadhu | The devoted woman who recounts the tale of her husband gone to far lands, |
| Indhiya naadandri ver engum yedhu | Where else can such virtue be seen except in the sacred land of India? |
| Indhiya naadandri ver engum yedhu | Where else can such virtue be seen except in the sacred land of India? |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Female | |
| Kannada senthamizh thulu malaiyaalam | Kannada, classical Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam, |
| Haa…aaa….aaa… | Haa...aaa...aaa... |
| Kannada senthamizh thulu malaiyaalam | Kannada, classical Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam, |
| Aandhiram ennum aivagai naadu | And Andhra—making up the five-fold southern realm, |
| Aandhiram ennum aivagai naadu | And Andhra—making up the five-fold southern realm, |
| Maandhargal yaavarum oorinamaagum | Where all people form a single unified heritage, |
| Maandhargal yaavarum oorinamaagum | Where all people form a single unified heritage, |
| Nadai udai pavai ondrena kaanum | Reflecting oneness in their stride, attire, and grace, |
| Nadai udai pavai ondrena kaanum | Reflecting oneness in their stride, attire, and grace, |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
| Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame | Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures! |
| Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae | Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King! |
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
இங்கு சிற்பங்கள் பாடும் சங்கீதமே
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
இங்கு சிற்பங்கள் பாடும் சங்கீதமே
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
இங்கு சிற்பங்கள் பாடும் சங்கீதமே
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே...
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
அன்னங்கள் உறவாடும் அணிசோலையும்
அன்னங்கள் உறவாடும் அணிசோலையும்
அருகினில் விளையாடும் எழில் யாவுமே......
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
இங்கு சிற்பங்கள் பாடும் சங்கீதமே
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
The beautiful garden where swans mingle affectionately,
The beautiful garden where swans mingle affectionately,
And all the surrounding grace playing close by,
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
கடல் மீது அசைந்தாடும் அலை நாடகம்
எங்கள் கலைமாதர் கார் கூந்தல் தரும் யாசகம்
கடல் மீது அசைந்தாடும் அலை நாடகம்
எங்கள் கலைமாதர் கார் கூந்தல் தரும் யாசகம்
களம் சென்ற மணவாளன் கதை சொல்லும் மாது
களம் சென்ற மணவாளன் கதை சொல்லும் மாது
இந்திய நாடன்றி வேறெங்கும் ஏது.....
இந்திய நாடன்றி வேறெங்கும் ஏது...
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
The rhythmic drama of waves dancing upon the sea,
Is a humble plea seeking comparison with the dark tresses of our artistic women,
The rhythmic drama of waves dancing upon the sea,
Is a humble plea seeking comparison with the dark tresses of our artistic women,
The devoted woman who recounts the tale of her husband gone to far lands,
The devoted woman who recounts the tale of her husband gone to far lands,
Where else can such virtue be seen except in the sacred land of India?
Where else can such virtue be seen except in the sacred land of India?
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
கன்னடம் செந்தமிழ் துளு மலையாளம்
ஹா...ஆஅ..ஆஅ
கன்னடம் செந்தமிழ் துளு மலையாளம்
ஆந்திரம் என்னும் ஐவகை நாடு
ஆந்திரம் என்னும் ஐவகை நாடு
மாந்தர்கள் யாவரும் ஓரினமாகும்
மாந்தர்கள் யாவரும் ஓரினமாகும்
நடை உடை பாவை ஒன்றெனக் காணும்.....
நடை உடை பாவை ஒன்றெனக் காணும்.....
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
இங்கு சிற்பங்கள் பாடும் சங்கீதமே
தென்னவன் தாய் நாட்டுச் சிங்காரமே
Kannada, classical Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam,
Haa...aaa...aaa...
Kannada, classical Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam,
And Andhra—making up the five-fold southern realm,
And Andhra—making up the five-fold southern realm,
Where all people form a single unified heritage,
Where all people form a single unified heritage,
Reflecting oneness in their stride, attire, and grace,
Reflecting oneness in their stride, attire, and grace,
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Annangal uravaadum anisolaiyum
The beautiful garden where swans mingle affectionately,
Annangal uravaadum anisolaiyum
The beautiful garden where swans mingle affectionately,
Aruginil vilaiyaadum ezhil yaavumae
And all the surrounding grace playing close by,
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Kadal meedhu asaindhaadum alai nadagam
The rhythmic drama of waves dancing upon the sea,
Engal kalaimadhar kaar koondhal tharum yaasagam
Is a humble plea seeking comparison with the dark tresses of our artistic women,
Kadal meedhu asaindhaadum alai nadagam
The rhythmic drama of waves dancing upon the sea,
Engal kalaimadhar kaar koondhal tharum yaasagam
Is a humble plea seeking comparison with the dark tresses of our artistic women,
Kalam sendra manavaalan kadhai sollum maadhu
The devoted woman who recounts the tale of her husband gone to far lands,
Kalam sendra manavaalan kadhai sollum maadhu
The devoted woman who recounts the tale of her husband gone to far lands,
Indhiya naadandri ver engum yedhu
Where else can such virtue be seen except in the sacred land of India?
Indhiya naadandri ver engum yedhu
Where else can such virtue be seen except in the sacred land of India?
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Kannada senthamizh thulu malaiyaalam
Kannada, classical Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam,
Haa…aaa….aaa…
Haa...aaa...aaa...
Kannada senthamizh thulu malaiyaalam
Kannada, classical Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam,
Aandhiram ennum aivagai naadu
And Andhra—making up the five-fold southern realm,
Aandhiram ennum aivagai naadu
And Andhra—making up the five-fold southern realm,
Maandhargal yaavarum oorinamaagum
Where all people form a single unified heritage,
Maandhargal yaavarum oorinamaagum
Where all people form a single unified heritage,
Nadai udai pavai ondrena kaanum
Reflecting oneness in their stride, attire, and grace,
Nadai udai pavai ondrena kaanum
Reflecting oneness in their stride, attire, and grace,
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame
Here is the divine music sung by the stone sculptures!
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae
Oh, the exquisite beauty of the motherland of the Southern King!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Thennavan thaai nattu singaaramae is a majestic cultural and patriotic song from the 1956 Tamil film Tenali Raman. Sung with classical grace, the song celebrates the artistic splendor, scenic landscapes, and architectural heritage of South India under historical monarchs like King Krishnadevaraya. It depicts temple sculptures that seem to sing with life, picturesque gardens with swans, and ocean waves that pale in comparison to the elegance of local women. Furthermore, lyricist Kannadasan highlights cultural and regional unity by calling out the five prominent linguistic regions of the South—Kannada, Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam, and Andhra. The lyrics express that despite regional variations in language and customs, the people share an underlying oneness and shared identity within India.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Tharkurippettram / Uruvagandhal)
“Inghu sirppangal paadum sangeedhame”
Stone sculptures are poetically described as singing music, attributing human artistic expression to temple architecture.
Hyperbole & Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Engal kalaimadhar kaar koondhal tharum yaasagam”
The rolling ocean waves are metaphorically pictured as begging to borrow beauty from the flowing dark tresses of South Indian women.
Alliteration & Prosodic Enumeration (Monai / Edhugai)
“Kannada senthamizh thulu malaiyaalam”
Harmonious listing of the five southern linguistic regions (Kannada, Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam, Andhra) to create rhythmic flow and emphasize unity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Tenali Raman (1956) starred Sivaji Ganesan in the title role alongside N. T. Rama Rao as Emperor Krishnadevaraya. Composed by the legendary Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo and written by Kannadasan, this song stands out historically for explicitly mentioning the five linguistic entities of South India (Kannada, Tamil, Tulu, Malayalam, Andhra), celebrating the multicultural harmony of the historic Vijayanagara era.
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