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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anbu Enbathu

From Aasai Alaigal · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Sirkazhi Govindarajan, L. R. Eswari, K. Jamunarani
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Aasai Alaigal1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Alli alli koduththa pothum kuraivillaathathuEven when given generously in abundance, love never diminishes.
Kallarukkum kaavalarkkum elimaiyaanathuIt is equally simple and accessible to both thieves and guards.
Ullam enbathullavarkku unmaiyaanathuIt is genuine for those who truly possess a heart.
Ulagam enbathullavarai uruthiyaanathuIt remains steadfast as long as this world exists.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Anbu enbathae inbamaanathuLove itself is bliss.
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Anbu enbathae inbamaanathuLove itself is bliss.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Female
Madhaththin meedhu vaiththa anbu pakthi aanathuLove placed upon religion becomes devotion.
Manithan meedhu vaiththa anbu paasamaanathuLove placed upon fellow human beings becomes affection.
Madhaththin meedhu vaiththa anbu pakthi aanathuLove placed upon religion becomes devotion.
Manithan meedhu vaiththa anbu paasamaanathuLove placed upon fellow human beings becomes affection.
Female
Idhayam meedhu vaiththa anbu unmaiyaanathuLove placed upon the heart becomes truth.
Idhayam meedhu vaiththa anbu unmaiyaanathuLove placed upon the heart becomes truth.
Yaezhai meedhu vaiththa anbu karunaiyaanathuLove placed upon the poor becomes compassion.
Yaezhai meedhu vaiththa anbu karunaiyaanathuLove placed upon the poor becomes compassion.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Anbu enbathae inbamaanathuLove itself is bliss.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Male
Arivillaatha manithar ullam arullilaathathuThe mind of a person without wisdom lacks grace.
Arullillaatha manithar ullam panivillaathathuThe mind of a person without grace lacks humility.
Arivillaatha manithar ullam arullilaathathuThe mind of a person without wisdom lacks grace.
Arullillaatha manithar ullam panivillaathathuThe mind of a person without grace lacks humility.
Male
Panivillaatha manithar ullam panbillaathathuThe mind of a person without humility lacks good character.
Panivillaatha manithar ullam panbillaathathuThe mind of a person without humility lacks good character.
Panbillaatha manithar ullam anbillaathathuThe mind of a person without good character lacks love.
Panbillaatha manithar ullam anbillaathathuThe mind of a person without good character lacks love.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Anbu enbathae inbamaanathuLove itself is bliss.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Female
Pon padaiththa manithar kodi naaial VaangalaamWealthy people blessed with gold can buy millions of luxury items.
Bhoomi veedu kaadu maedu karaigal vaangalaamThey can buy land, houses, forests, hills, and shores.
Pon padaiththa manithar kodi naaial VaangalaamWealthy people blessed with gold can buy millions of luxury items.
Bhoomi veedu kaadu maedu karaigal vaangalaamThey can buy land, houses, forests, hills, and shores.
Female
Anbu ennum porulaiThe priceless treasure called love,
Entha ulagil vaangalaaamIn which world can it be bought?
Anbu ennum porulaiThe priceless treasure called love,
Entha ulagil vaangalaaamIn which world can it be bought?
Female
Nalla annai thantha pillai vaazhumIn the home where children raised by a virtuous mother live,
Manaiyil vaangalaamIn that home alone it can be found.
Nalla annai thantha pillai vaazhumIn the home where children raised by a virtuous mother live,
Manaiyil vaangalaamIn that home alone it can be found.
Female
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Anbu enbathae inbamaanathu….Love itself is bliss.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathuLove itself is divine.
Anbu enbathae inbamaanathu…..Love itself is bliss.
Chorus
Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathu…..Love itself is divine.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the film Aasai Alaigal (1963), this song presents a profound philosophical reflection on love (Anbu) as the ultimate divine force. The lyrics explain that love is inexhaustible and accessible to all regardless of status. Kannadasan categorizes love based on its focus—becoming devotion when directed at faith, affection toward people, truth in the soul, and mercy toward the needy. The second stanza employs a step-by-step ethical chain, connecting wisdom, grace, humility, character, and love, demonstrating that a heart lacking moral discipline ultimately lacks true love. Finally, the lyricist contrasts material riches with spiritual virtue, emphasizing that while money can purchase land and luxury, true love can only be nurtured within a home blessed by a good mother.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anadiplosis / Chain Rhyme (Thodarnilai)

Arivillaatha manithar ullam arullilaathathu / Arullillaatha manithar ullam panivillaathathu

The ending word of one line becomes the starting theme of the next line, forming a logical cascade (Wisdom -> Grace -> Humility -> Character -> Love).

Refrain (Pallavi Repetition)

Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathu

The thematic chorus 'Anbu enbathae dheivamaanathu' recurs throughout the song to anchor the central philosophical thesis.

Parallelism / Morphological Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Madhaththin meedhu vaiththa anbu pakthi aanathu / Manithan meedhu vaiththa anbu paasamaanathu

Matching suffixes ending in '-aanathu' across lines to build rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aasai Alaigal (1963) featured music composed by A. S. Rajagopal. Kannadasan's lyrical exposition of 'Anbu' in this song remains one of classic Tamil cinema's purest simplified explanations of ethical philosophy.

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