Vilakke Nee Konda
From Niraikudam · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Niraikudam1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane | Oh lamp, I am the light you bear |
| Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane | Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see |
| Mugame neeyitta thirai naane | Oh face, I am the veil you placed |
| Mullum naanae malar naanae hoi | I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoi! |
| Male | |
| Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane | Oh lamp, I am the light you bear |
| Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane | Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see |
| Male | |
| Poovum kaayum veru veru | A flower and a fruit are distinct from each other |
| Poovae kaayaagum | Yet the flower itself turns into fruit |
| Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru | Gold and jewelry are distinct from each other |
| Ponnae nagaiyaagum | Yet gold itself becomes the jewelry |
| Male | |
| Poovum kaayum veru veru | A flower and a fruit are distinct from each other |
| Poovae kaayaagum | Yet the flower itself turns into fruit |
| Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru | Gold and jewelry are distinct from each other |
| Ponnae nagaiyaagum | Yet gold itself becomes the jewelry |
| Male | |
| Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam | Will women who despise the flower |
| Kaaiyai rasipparo | Ever relish the fruit? |
| Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam | Will women who despise the flower |
| Kaaiyai rasipparo | Ever relish the fruit? |
| Ponnai othukkum maadhargal ellaam | Will women who reject raw gold |
| Nagaiyai anivaaro | Ever wear the fine ornaments? |
| Male | |
| Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane | Oh lamp, I am the light you bear |
| Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane | Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see |
| Male | |
| Thottil pillai paadal kettu | Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle |
| Annai vara vendum | The mother ought to come |
| Thudikkum nenjin vaarthai kettu | Hearing the words of a yearning heart |
| Thunaiyae varavendum | My companion ought to come |
| Male | |
| Thottil pillai paadal kettu | Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle |
| Annai vara vendum | The mother ought to come |
| Thudikkum nenjin vaarthai kettu | Hearing the words of a yearning heart |
| Thunaiyae varavendum | My companion ought to come |
| Male | |
| Kanavan mugathai kangal | The time for these eyes to behold |
| Kaanum kaalam varavendum | My husband's face must arrive |
| Kanavan mugathai kangal | The time for these eyes to behold |
| Kaanum kaalam varavendum | My husband's face must arrive |
| Kaanum bothu kungumam enakku | When I behold him, the sacred vermilion |
| Kaaval thara vendum | Must grant me protection |
| Kaanum bothu kungumam enakku | When I behold him, the sacred vermilion |
| Kaaval thara vendum | Must grant me protection |
| Male | |
| Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane | Oh lamp, I am the light you bear |
| Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane | Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see |
| Mugame neeyitta thirai naane | Oh face, I am the veil you placed |
| Mullum naanae malar naanae hoi | I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoi! |
விளக்கே நீ கொண்ட ஒளி நானே
விழியே நீ கண்ட நிழல் நானே
முகமே நீயிட்ட திரை நானே
முள்ளும் நானே மலர் நானே ஹோய்
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
Oh face, I am the veil you placed
I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoi!
விளக்கே நீ கொண்ட ஒளி நானே
விழியே நீ கண்ட நிழல் நானே
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
பூவும் காயும் வேறு வேறு
பூவே காயாகும்
பொன்னும் நகையும் வேறு வேறு
பொன்னே நகையாகும்
A flower and a fruit are distinct from each other
Yet the flower itself turns into fruit
Gold and jewelry are distinct from each other
Yet gold itself becomes the jewelry
பூவும் காயும் வேறு வேறு
பூவே காயாகும்
பொன்னும் நகையும் வேறு வேறு
பொன்னே நகையாகும்
A flower and a fruit are distinct from each other
Yet the flower itself turns into fruit
Gold and jewelry are distinct from each other
Yet gold itself becomes the jewelry
பூவை வெறுக்கும் பூவையரெல்லாம்
காயை ரசிப்பாரோ
பூவை வெறுக்கும் பூவையரெல்லாம்
காயை ரசிப்பாரோ
பொன்னை ஒதுக்கும் மாதர்களெல்லாம்
நகையை அணிவாரோ
Will women who despise the flower
Ever relish the fruit?
Will women who despise the flower
Ever relish the fruit?
Will women who reject raw gold
Ever wear the fine ornaments?
விளக்கே நீ கொண்ட ஒளி நானே
விழியே நீ கண்ட நிழல் நானே
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
தொட்டில் பிள்ளை பாடல் கேட்டு
அன்னை வரவேண்டும்
துடிக்கும் நெஞ்சின் வார்த்தை கேட்டு
துணையே வரவேண்டும்
Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle
The mother ought to come
Hearing the words of a yearning heart
My companion ought to come
தொட்டில் பிள்ளை பாடல் கேட்டு
அன்னை வரவேண்டும்
துடிக்கும் நெஞ்சின் வார்த்தை கேட்டு
துணையே வரவேண்டும்
Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle
The mother ought to come
Hearing the words of a yearning heart
My companion ought to come
கணவன் முகத்தை கண்கள்
காணும் காலம் வரவேண்டும்
கணவன் முகத்தை கண்கள்
காணும் காலம் வரவேண்டும்
காணும் போது குங்குமம் எனக்கு
காவல் தரவேண்டும்
காணும் போது குங்குமம் எனக்கு
காவல் தரவேண்டும்
The time for these eyes to behold
My husband's face must arrive
The time for these eyes to behold
My husband's face must arrive
When I behold him, the sacred vermilion
Must grant me protection
When I behold him, the sacred vermilion
Must grant me protection
விளக்கே நீ கொண்ட ஒளி நானே
விழியே நீ கண்ட நிழல் நானே
முகமே நீயிட்ட திரை நானே
முள்ளும் நானே மலர் நானே ஹோய்
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
Oh face, I am the veil you placed
I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoi!
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
Mugame neeyitta thirai naane
Oh face, I am the veil you placed
Mullum naanae malar naanae hoi
I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoi!
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
Poovum kaayum veru veru
A flower and a fruit are distinct from each other
Poovae kaayaagum
Yet the flower itself turns into fruit
Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru
Gold and jewelry are distinct from each other
Ponnae nagaiyaagum
Yet gold itself becomes the jewelry
Poovum kaayum veru veru
A flower and a fruit are distinct from each other
Poovae kaayaagum
Yet the flower itself turns into fruit
Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru
Gold and jewelry are distinct from each other
Ponnae nagaiyaagum
Yet gold itself becomes the jewelry
Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam
Will women who despise the flower
Kaaiyai rasipparo
Ever relish the fruit?
Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam
Will women who despise the flower
Kaaiyai rasipparo
Ever relish the fruit?
Ponnai othukkum maadhargal ellaam
Will women who reject raw gold
Nagaiyai anivaaro
Ever wear the fine ornaments?
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
Thottil pillai paadal kettu
Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle
Annai vara vendum
The mother ought to come
Thudikkum nenjin vaarthai kettu
Hearing the words of a yearning heart
Thunaiyae varavendum
My companion ought to come
Thottil pillai paadal kettu
Hearing the song of the baby in the cradle
Annai vara vendum
The mother ought to come
Thudikkum nenjin vaarthai kettu
Hearing the words of a yearning heart
Thunaiyae varavendum
My companion ought to come
Kanavan mugathai kangal
The time for these eyes to behold
Kaanum kaalam varavendum
My husband's face must arrive
Kanavan mugathai kangal
The time for these eyes to behold
Kaanum kaalam varavendum
My husband's face must arrive
Kaanum bothu kungumam enakku
When I behold him, the sacred vermilion
Kaaval thara vendum
Must grant me protection
Kaanum bothu kungumam enakku
When I behold him, the sacred vermilion
Kaaval thara vendum
Must grant me protection
Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane
Oh lamp, I am the light you bear
Vizhiyae nee kanda nizhal naane
Oh eyes, I am the shadow you see
Mugame neeyitta thirai naane
Oh face, I am the veil you placed
Mullum naanae malar naanae hoi
I am the thorn, and I am the flower, hoi!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from 'Niraikudam' is a profound expression of devotion, unity, and emotional longing. Through Kannadasan's evocative poetry, the protagonist identifies intimately with various elements of nature and daily life, establishing that true bond and essence cannot be separated—just as a lamp cannot be separated from light, or raw gold from the fine jewelry it becomes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vilakke nee kondaa oli naane”
The singer identifies themselves directly with the light of the lamp, the shadow seen by eyes, and both the thorn and the flower.
Polysemy / Wordplay (Sledai)
“Poovai verukkum poovaiyarelllam”
Kannadasan cleverly plays with the word 'Poovai', using it once to mean 'flower' and again in 'Poovaiyar' to mean 'women'.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Poovum kaayum veru veru / Poovae kaayaagum”
Repetition of the initial 'P' sound creates rhythmic musicality.
Anaphora / Parallelism
“Ponnum nagaiyum veru veru / Ponnae nagaiyaagum”
Structured repetition of sentence patterns comparing developmental stages (flower to fruit, gold to ornament).
Did you know?
Trivia
From the 1969 film 'Niraikudam' starring Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, this song was composed by V. Kumar with deeply philosophical lyrics written by Kannadasan and sung with rich emotion by T. M. Soundararajan.
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