[Parasakthi] Nenju porukkuthillaiye…
This song from the movie “Parasakthi”, has been adapted from the poem titled, “Nenju Porukkuthillaiye” by #MahaKavi #Bharathiyaar.
It is about the poet’s frustration over the fatalistic mentality of his countrymen, who live in a constant state of fear about everything. He laments over their willingness to immerse themselves in superstition and nonsensical thinking, yet never make the effort to understand the reasons for their privation.
The translation has been improved and given a new lease of life by Lekha Murali. We thank her profusely for this.
Thanks to Majeed Kassim for the suggestion.
Movie: Parasakthi
Poet: Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer: C. S. Jayaraman
Music: R. Sudarsanam
Song Sequence: (1)-(1)-(2)-(2)-(1)-(3)-(3)-(4)-(4)-(5)-(6)-(6)-(7)
(1)நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே (2)இந்த நிலைகெட்ட மனிதரை நினைந்துவிட்டால்
Nenjju porukkuthillaiye nenjju porukkuthillaiye
Intha nilai ketta manitharai ninaindhu vitaal
(The) heart cannot bear it anymore, (the) heart cannot bear it anymore,
Pondering over fickle minded humans,
(3)அஞ்சி யஞ்சி சாவார் இவர் அஞ்சாத பொருளில்லை அவனியிலே Anjji anjji saavaar ivar anjaatha porul illai avaniyile
They live in constant trepidation,
There is nothing in this world that does not frighten them
(4)வஞ்சிப் பேய்களேன்பார் இந்த மரத்திலென்பார் அந்த குளத்திலென்பார் (5)துஞ்சுது முகட்டி லென்பார் மிக துயர்படுவார் எண்ணி பயப்படுவார் அங்கோ நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே
Vanjanai peygal enbaar intha marathil enbaar antha kulathil enbaar
Thunjuthu mugattil enbaar miga thuyar paduvaar enni bayappaduvaar
Ango nenjju porukkuthillaiye nenjju porukkuthillaiye
‘Deceptive ghosts’, they claim, ‘dwells on this tree, lives in that pond,
‘Sleeps atop the threshold’, as they wallow in misery frightened by these thoughts,
Alas! (The) heart cannot bear it anymore, (the) heart cannot bear it anymore.
(They talk and profess about the existence of (deceptive) ghosts, they say that these ghosts reside in this tree and even in that pond,
They also say that a ghost is in even at the roof of the house, they are always greatly distressed and they are always afraid thinking about them,
Seeing all this, my heart cannot tolerate it anymore, my heart cannot tolerate it anymore,)
(6)கஞ்சி குடிப்பதற் கிலார் அதன் காரணங்கள் இவையென்னும் அறிவுமிலார் பஞ்சமோ பஞ்சம் என்றே நிதம் பரிதவித்தே உயிர் துடிதுடித்துத்து (7)துஞ்சி மடிகின்றாரே இவர் துயர்களைத் தீர்க்கவோர் வழியும் இல்லை அங்கோ நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே
Kanjji kudipatharkillaar athan kaaranangal ivaienum arivum ilaar
Panjamo panjam enre nitham parithavithe uyir thudithudiththu
Thunji madiginrare ivar thuyargalai theerkkaor vazhiyumillai
Ango nenjji porukkuthillaiye nenju porukkuthillaiye
They subsist on measly gruel, yet can never fathom the reasons
Lament over eternal famine in agony and torment,
(As they) lead somnambulistic lives till they meet death, there is no way to wipe away their sorrows,
Alas! (The) heart cannot bear it anymore, (the) heart cannot bear it anymore.
(These people struggle to even get their porridge, and do not have the intellect to grasp the reasons for their sufferings,
They believe that the famine is never ending, and in fear these pitiables are constantly worried,
and finally they die from their suffering, and there no way to help them out from their distress,
Seeing all this, My heart cannot tolerate it anymore, My heart cannot tolerate it anymore,)
Loved this. One of my favorites.
I wondered about what comes next in the movie– someone from the temple asks the singer, “Did you write these lines? Whose words are these?”
Sivaji doesn’t answer with the simple words — these are the words of the poet Bharathiyar.
He just gives some irrelevant response.
It always bothered me that the scriptwriter did not give the man that small recognition on celluloid, did not tip his hat to the greatness of the man’s talent.
Anyway. End of my lament.
Thanks for this lovely translation.
Hi Vijaysree,
Interesting. Our society has not yet grown out to acknowledge others work. You see it in the innumerable “adaptations” being sold off as originals for instance in movie scripts and music. I feel as we mature as a society people will start giving credit where it is due.
End of my rant 🙂
Cheers!