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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Agara Mudhala

From School Master · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
School Master1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Agara mudhala ezhuthellaamJust as 'A' is the first of all letters,
Aadhi bhgavan mudhalaagumThe primordial God is the beginning of the universe.
Chorus :Agara mudhala ezhuthellaamChorus: Just as 'A' is the first of all letters,
Aadhi bhgavan mudhalaagumThe primordial God is the beginning of the universe.
Male
Annai thanthai aasaan deivamMother, father, teacher, and God,
Ennum naangum thalaiyaagumThese four are considered supreme.
Chorus :Annai thanthai aasaan deivamChorus: Mother, father, teacher, and God,
Ennum naangum thalaiyaagumThese four are considered supreme.
Male
Emmadhamaayinum sammathamaagumWhichever religion it may be, it is acceptable,
Ellaa inamum ondraagumAll races and communities are one.
Chorus :Ellaa inamum ondraagumChorus: All races and communities are one.
Male
Yaezhai selvan bedhamillaathuWithout discrimination between the poor and the rich,
Vaazhum vaazhkkai nandraagumA life lived in unity will be righteous.
Chorus :Vaazhum vaazhkkai nandraagumChorus: A life lived in unity will be righteous.
Male
Nallorkellaam unnatha vaazhvuFor all good people, an elevated life
Naayagan arulaal undaagumWill be granted by the grace of the Almighty.
Chorus :Naayagan arulaal undaagumChorus: Will be granted by the grace of the Almighty.
Male
Naalum valarum pillaiyin nenjilIn the heart of a growing child each day,
Naadum mozhiyum kannaagumCountry and language are like two eyes.
Chorus :Naadum mozhiyum kannaagumChorus: Country and language are like two eyes.
Male
Kalviyai thanthavan kadavul aagymThe one who imparts education becomes God,
Kannai thirakkum oliyaagumBecoming the light that opens one's eyes.
Chorus :Kannai thirakkum oliyaagumChorus: Becoming the light that opens one's eyes.
Male
Kaalam muzhuthum nallathu seivathuDoing good throughout one's lifetime
Kanniyam kaakkum vazhiyaagumIs the true way to protect one's dignity.
Chorus :Kanniyam kaakkum vazhiyaagumChorus: Is the true way to protect one's dignity.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This uplifting moral song from the film 'School Master' serves as a prayer and a guide for young students. It opens with the famous initial couplet from Thiruvalluvar's Thirukkural, establishing that God is the origin of all creation just as the letter 'A' is the origin of language. The lyricist Kannadasan outlines fundamental life values: venerating mother, father, teacher, and God as the four supreme guides.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Thirukkural Allusion (Literary Quotation)

Agara mudhala ezhuthellaam / Aadhi bhgavan mudhalaagum

The song opens directly with the first couplet of Thirukkural ('Agara mudhala ezhuthellaam...'), anchoring modern film lyrics in classical Tamil ethics.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Naalum valarum pillaiyin nenjil / Naadum mozhiyum kannaagum

The second consonants of consecutive key words rhyme across lines, such as 'Naalum' and 'Naadum', enhancing rhythmic symmetry.

Uvamaani / Metaphor

Naadum mozhiyum kannaagum

Compares nation ('naadu') and language ('mozhi') to the two eyes ('kann') of a growing child, stressing their vital importance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The opening lines are taken directly from Thirukkural, the foundational ethical text of Tamil literature composed by Thiruvalluvar. Due to its deeply moral and inclusive message, this M. S. Viswanathan composition was widely adopted as a morning prayer anthem in various schools across Tamil Nadu.

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