Agaram Tamizhukku Sigaram
From Iru Thuruvam · 1971
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan, Sarala
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Iru Thuruvam1971
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Agaram tamizhukku sigaram | The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil, |
| Aakkam sevaikku ookkam | Creation is the encouragement for service. |
| Chorus :Agaram tamizhukku sigaram | Chorus: The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil, |
| Aakkam sevaikku ookkam | Creation is the encouragement for service. |
| Male | |
| Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam | Sympathy is the light of compassion, |
| Eegai nallavar vazhakkam | Generosity is the habit of good people. |
| Chorus :Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam | Chorus: Sympathy is the light of compassion, |
| Eegai nallavar vazhakkam | Generosity is the habit of good people. |
| Chorus | |
| Agaram tamizhukku sigaram | The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil, |
| Aakkam sevaikku ookkam | Creation is the encouragement for service. |
| Male | |
| Uyarvai tharuvathu ozhukkam | Morality is what gives elevation, |
| Adhai oorum ulagum mathikkum | Which the town and the world will respect. |
| Chorus :Adhai oorum ulagum mathikkum | Chorus: Which the town and the world will respect. |
| Male | |
| Uyarvai tharuvathu ozhukkam | Morality is what gives elevation, |
| Adhai oorum ulagum mathikkum | Which the town and the world will respect. |
| Male | |
| Thavaruthal manithanin pazhakkam | Making mistakes is a human trait, |
| Adhai unarnthaal mannippu kidaikkum | If realized, forgiveness will be obtained. |
| Female :Thavaruthal manithanin pazhakkam | Female: Making mistakes is a human trait, |
| Adhai unarnthaal mannippu kidaikkum | If realized, forgiveness will be obtained. |
| Chorus | |
| Agaram tamizhukku sigaram | The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil, |
| Aakkam sevaikku ookkam | Creation is the encouragement for service. |
| Male | |
| Naanayam nampikkai uzhaippu | Integrity, trust, and hard work, |
| Nam naalaiya ulagaththil madhippu | Are respected in our world of tomorrow. |
| Female :Nam naalaiya ulagaththil madhippu | Female: Are respected in our world of tomorrow. |
| Male :Naanayam nampikkai uzhaippu | Male: Integrity, trust, and hard work, |
| Nam naalaiya ulagaththil madhippu | Are respected in our world of tomorrow. |
| Male | |
| Naattaiyum veettaiyum mathiththu | Respecting both the country and the home, |
| Naam nadanthaal ulagam namakku | If we walk righteously, the world belongs to us. |
| Female :Naattaiyum veettaiyum mathiththu | Female: Respecting both the country and the home, |
| Naam nadanthaal ulagam namakku | If we walk righteously, the world belongs to us. |
| Chorus | |
| Agaram tamizhukku sigaram | The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil, |
| Aakkam sevaikku ookkam | Creation is the encouragement for service. |
| Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam | Sympathy is the light of compassion, |
| Eegai nallavar vazhakkam | Generosity is the habit of good people. |
| Chorus | |
| Agaram tamizhukku sigaram | The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil, |
| Aakkam sevaikku ookkam | Creation is the encouragement for service. |
அகரம் தமிழுக்கு சிகரம்
ஆக்கம் சேவைக்கு ஊக்கம்
குழு :
அகரம் தமிழுக்கு சிகரம்
ஆக்கம் சேவைக்கு ஊக்கம்
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Chorus: The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Creation is the encouragement for service.
இரக்கம் கருணைக்கு விளக்கம்
ஈகை நல்லவர் வழக்கம்
குழு :
இரக்கம் கருணைக்கு விளக்கம்
ஈகை நல்லவர் வழக்கம்
Sympathy is the light of compassion,
Generosity is the habit of good people.
Chorus: Sympathy is the light of compassion,
Generosity is the habit of good people.
அகரம் தமிழுக்கு சிகரம்
ஆக்கம் சேவைக்கு ஊக்கம்
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Creation is the encouragement for service.
உயர்வை தருவது ஒழுக்கம்
அதை ஊரும் உலகும் மதிக்கும்
குழு :
அதை ஊரும் உலகும் மதிக்கும்
Morality is what gives elevation,
Which the town and the world will respect.
Chorus: Which the town and the world will respect.
உயர்வை தருவது ஒழுக்கம்
அதை ஊரும் உலகும் மதிக்கும்
Morality is what gives elevation,
Which the town and the world will respect.
தவறுதல் மனிதனின் பழக்கம்
அதை உணர்ந்தால் மன்னிப்பு கிடைக்கும்
தவறுதல் மனிதனின் பழக்கம்
அதை உணர்ந்தால் மன்னிப்பு கிடைக்கும்
Making mistakes is a human trait,
If realized, forgiveness will be obtained.
Female: Making mistakes is a human trait,
If realized, forgiveness will be obtained.
அகரம் தமிழுக்கு சிகரம்
ஆக்கம் சேவைக்கு ஊக்கம்
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Creation is the encouragement for service.
நாணயம் நம்பிக்கை உழைப்பு
நம் நாளைய உலகத்தில் மதிப்பு
நம் நாளைய உலகத்தில் மதிப்பு
நாணயம் நம்பிக்கை உழைப்பு
நம் நாளைய உலகத்தில் மதிப்பு
Integrity, trust, and hard work,
Are respected in our world of tomorrow.
Female: Are respected in our world of tomorrow.
Male: Integrity, trust, and hard work,
Are respected in our world of tomorrow.
நாட்டையும் வீட்டையும் மதித்து
நாம் நடந்தால் உலகம் நமக்கு
நாட்டையும் வீட்டையும் மதித்து
நாம் நடந்தால் உலகம் நமக்கு
Respecting both the country and the home,
If we walk righteously, the world belongs to us.
Female: Respecting both the country and the home,
If we walk righteously, the world belongs to us.
அகரம் தமிழுக்கு சிகரம்
ஆக்கம் சேவைக்கு ஊக்கம்
இரக்கம் கருணைக்கு விளக்கம்
ஈகை நல்லவர் வழக்கம்
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Sympathy is the light of compassion,
Generosity is the habit of good people.
அகரம் தமிழுக்கு சிகரம்
ஆக்கம் சேவைக்கு ஊக்கம்
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Agaram tamizhukku sigaram
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Aakkam sevaikku ookkam
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Chorus :Agaram tamizhukku sigaram
Chorus: The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Aakkam sevaikku ookkam
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam
Sympathy is the light of compassion,
Eegai nallavar vazhakkam
Generosity is the habit of good people.
Chorus :Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam
Chorus: Sympathy is the light of compassion,
Eegai nallavar vazhakkam
Generosity is the habit of good people.
Agaram tamizhukku sigaram
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Aakkam sevaikku ookkam
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Uyarvai tharuvathu ozhukkam
Morality is what gives elevation,
Adhai oorum ulagum mathikkum
Which the town and the world will respect.
Chorus :Adhai oorum ulagum mathikkum
Chorus: Which the town and the world will respect.
Uyarvai tharuvathu ozhukkam
Morality is what gives elevation,
Adhai oorum ulagum mathikkum
Which the town and the world will respect.
Thavaruthal manithanin pazhakkam
Making mistakes is a human trait,
Adhai unarnthaal mannippu kidaikkum
If realized, forgiveness will be obtained.
Female :Thavaruthal manithanin pazhakkam
Female: Making mistakes is a human trait,
Adhai unarnthaal mannippu kidaikkum
If realized, forgiveness will be obtained.
Agaram tamizhukku sigaram
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Aakkam sevaikku ookkam
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Naanayam nampikkai uzhaippu
Integrity, trust, and hard work,
Nam naalaiya ulagaththil madhippu
Are respected in our world of tomorrow.
Female :Nam naalaiya ulagaththil madhippu
Female: Are respected in our world of tomorrow.
Male :Naanayam nampikkai uzhaippu
Male: Integrity, trust, and hard work,
Nam naalaiya ulagaththil madhippu
Are respected in our world of tomorrow.
Naattaiyum veettaiyum mathiththu
Respecting both the country and the home,
Naam nadanthaal ulagam namakku
If we walk righteously, the world belongs to us.
Female :Naattaiyum veettaiyum mathiththu
Female: Respecting both the country and the home,
Naam nadanthaal ulagam namakku
If we walk righteously, the world belongs to us.
Agaram tamizhukku sigaram
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Aakkam sevaikku ookkam
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam
Sympathy is the light of compassion,
Eegai nallavar vazhakkam
Generosity is the habit of good people.
Agaram tamizhukku sigaram
The letter 'A' is the pinnacle of Tamil,
Aakkam sevaikku ookkam
Creation is the encouragement for service.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This educational and moral song utilizes the Tamil vowels (Uyir Ezhuthukkal) as a poetic structure to impart core ethical values and life lessons to children. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully weaves foundational concepts like discipline, compassion, charity, integrity, forgiveness, and patriotism into a rhythmic format suitable for learning.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uyir Varukkai (Vowel Rhyme / Alphabetical Alliteration)
“Agaram tamizhukku sigaram / Aakkam sevaikku ookkam”
The lyrics sequentially start line beginnings with Tamil vowels: Agaram (அ), Aakkam (ஆ), Irakkam (இ), Eegai (ஈ), Uyarvai (உ), etc.
Emonai / Second-letter Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Irakkam karunaikku vilakkam / Eegai nallavar vazhakkam”
Rhyming of the second letter across lines (ga-k-ka, ra-k-ka) creating a pleasant musical cadence.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Agaram tamizhukku sigaram / Aakkam sevaikku ookkam”
Matching end sounds across lines like sigaram, ookkam, vilakkam, vazhakkam, ozhukkam, and mathikkum.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is iconic in Tamil culture as an educational rhythm tool featured in the Sivaji Ganesan starrer 'Iru Thuruvam' (1971). Kannadasan created this unique lyric structure inspired by classical Tamil instructional works like Aathichoodi, making moral education accessible through film music.
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