Avasiyam Avasiyam
From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- T. Gajalakshmi
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Pudhu Vazhvu1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam | Necessary, necessary, necessary. |
| Idhu avasiyam idhu avasiyam | This is necessary, this is necessary. |
| Kannillamal padikka mudiyumaa | Can one read without eyes? |
| Kaatchigalai kaana mudiyuma | Can one see the sights? |
| Kaadhillamal ketka mudiyuma | Can one listen without ears? |
| Kaliyugathai rasikka mudiyumaa | Can one enjoy this Kali Yuga age? |
| Female | |
| Kannum pennum onnnaagum | Eyes and women are considered equal, |
| Ena kavigal sonnadhu ennaagum | What happens to what poets said? |
| Kaathu thaan thiravukolaagaum | The ear itself becomes the key, |
| Kalai karpanai yendhidum noolaagum | It becomes the thread carrying artistic imagination. |
| Female | |
| Appadi paarthaalum ippadi paarhalum | Whether viewed like that or viewed like this, |
| Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam | Necessary, necessary, necessary, |
| Idhu avasiyam idhu avasiyam | This is necessary, this is necessary. |
| Female | |
| Kannum kannumae kalandhu vittaal | If eyes meet eyes, |
| Kaariyam sithiyaagatha kaariyam sithiyaagathaa | Won't the objective be accomplished? Won't the objective be accomplished? |
| Kaadhal ragasiyam pesidavae kaadhugal udhavi seiyaadha | To speak secret words of love, won't ears be helpful? |
| Kaadhugal udhavi seiyaadha | Won't ears be helpful? |
| Female | |
| Ooo munnae pogum aatkalai kavanikka | Ooo, to notice the people walking ahead, |
| Kannuthanadi avasiyam kannuthandi avasiyam | Eyes are necessary, girl! Eyes are necessary! |
| Pinnae pesum pechukalai kavanikka kaadhuthaanadi | To pay attention to words spoken behind one's back, ears, |
| Avasiyam kaadhuthaanadi avasiyam appadiyaa | Are necessary, girl! Ears are necessary! Is that so? |
| Female | |
| Kannudaiyavar enbavar kattrror mugathirandu | 'Those with eyes are the educated, on whose face two eyes exist; |
| Punnudaiyoor kallaadhaar endrae | The uneducated have merely two sores on their face' |
| Valluvan sonnadhu poiaagumaa | Can what Valluvar said turn out false? |
| Thiruvalluvan sonnadhu poi aagumaa poi aagumaa | Can what Thiruvalluvar said turn out false, turn out false? |
| Female | |
| Selvathutselvam sevi selvam | 'Wealth of wealths is the wealth of listening; |
| Achchelvam selvathul ellaam thalai | That wealth is supreme among all wealths' |
| Adhae valluvan sonnadhu poi aagumaa | Can what the same Valluvar said turn out false? |
| Thiruvalluvan sonnadhu poi aagumaa poi aagumaa | Can what Thiruvalluvar said turn out false, turn out false? |
| Female | |
| Mugathilae ulla thirandum avasiyam | Both sensory organs on the face are necessary, |
| Aana moonaavadhum kooda avasiyam | But a third one is also necessary! |
| Mugathilae ulla thirandum avasiyam | Both sensory organs on the face are necessary, |
| Moonaavadha pinnae adhu veenaavadha puriyavillaiyae | Is a third one behind, or is it wasted? I don't understand! |
| Female | |
| Kaalam ellam nee arivudan vaazhndhida | For you to live with intellect all your life, |
| Moolai thaanadi avasiyam | It is the brain, girl, that is necessary! |
| Moolao irundhum kozhaigal aanaal | If one turns out to be a coward despite having a brain, |
| Aalirunthu enna avasiyam …appadiyaa… | What is the point of being a person? ...Is that so?... |
அவசியம் அவசியம் அவசியம்
இது அவசியம் இது அவசியம்
கண்ணில்லாமல் படிக்க முடியுமா
காட்சிகளை என்றும் காண முடியுமா
காதில்லாமல் கேட்க முடியுமா
கலையுலகத்தை ரசிக்க முடியுமா
Necessary, necessary, necessary.
This is necessary, this is necessary.
Can one read without eyes?
Can one see the sights?
Can one listen without ears?
Can one enjoy this Kali Yuga age?
கண்ணும் பெண்ணும் ஒண்ணாகும்
என கவிகள் சொன்னது என்னாகும்
காத்துதான் திறவுக்கோலாகும்
கலை கற்பனை ஏந்திடும் நூலாகும்
Eyes and women are considered equal,
What happens to what poets said?
The ear itself becomes the key,
It becomes the thread carrying artistic imagination.
அப்படி பார்த்தாலும் இப்படி பார்த்தாலும்
அவசியம் அவசியம் அவசியம்
இது அவசியம் இது அவசியம்
Whether viewed like that or viewed like this,
Necessary, necessary, necessary,
This is necessary, this is necessary.
கண்ணும் கண்ணுமே கலந்துவிட்டால்
காரியம் சித்தியாகாதா காரியம் சித்தியாகாதா
காதல் ரகசியம் பேசிடவே காதுகள் உதவி செய்யாதா
காதுகள் உதவி செய்யாதா
If eyes meet eyes,
Won't the objective be accomplished? Won't the objective be accomplished?
To speak secret words of love, won't ears be helpful?
Won't ears be helpful?
ஓஓஓ முன்னே போகும் ஆட்களை கவனிக்க
கண்ணுதானடி அவசியம் கண்ணுதானடி அவசியம்
பின்னே பேசும் பேச்சுகளை கவனிக்க காதுதானடி
அவசியம் காதுதானடி அவசியம்...அப்படியா....
Ooo, to notice the people walking ahead,
Eyes are necessary, girl! Eyes are necessary!
To pay attention to words spoken behind one's back, ears,
Are necessary, girl! Ears are necessary! Is that so?
கண்ணுடையவர் என்பவர் கற்றோர் முகத்திரண்டு
புண்ணுடையோர் கல்லாதார் என்றே
வள்ளுவன் சொன்னது பொய்யாகுமா
திருவள்ளுவன் சொன்னது பொய்யாகுமா பொய்யாகுமா
'Those with eyes are the educated, on whose face two eyes exist;
The uneducated have merely two sores on their face'
Can what Valluvar said turn out false?
Can what Thiruvalluvar said turn out false, turn out false?
செல்வத்துட் செல்வம் செவிச்செல்வம்
அச்செல்வம் செல்வத்துள் எல்லாம் தலை
அதே வள்ளுவன் சொன்னது பொய்யாகுமா
திருவள்ளுவன் சொன்னது பொய்யாகுமா பொய்யாகுமா
'Wealth of wealths is the wealth of listening;
That wealth is supreme among all wealths'
Can what the same Valluvar said turn out false?
Can what Thiruvalluvar said turn out false, turn out false?
முகத்திலேயுள்ள திரண்டும் அவசியம்
ஆனா மூணாவதும் கூட அவசியம்
முகத்திலேயுள்ள திரண்டும் அவசியம்
மூனாவதா பின்னே அது வீணாவதா புரியல்லையே
Both sensory organs on the face are necessary,
But a third one is also necessary!
Both sensory organs on the face are necessary,
Is a third one behind, or is it wasted? I don't understand!
காலமெல்லாம் நீ அறிவுடன் வாழ்ந்திட
மூளை தானடி அவசியம்
மூளையிருந்தும் மோழைகளானால்
ஆளிருந்து என்ன அவசியம்..அப்படியா.....
For you to live with intellect all your life,
It is the brain, girl, that is necessary!
If one turns out to be a coward despite having a brain,
What is the point of being a person? ...Is that so?...
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Necessary, necessary, necessary.
Idhu avasiyam idhu avasiyam
This is necessary, this is necessary.
Kannillamal padikka mudiyumaa
Can one read without eyes?
Kaatchigalai kaana mudiyuma
Can one see the sights?
Kaadhillamal ketka mudiyuma
Can one listen without ears?
Kaliyugathai rasikka mudiyumaa
Can one enjoy this Kali Yuga age?
Kannum pennum onnnaagum
Eyes and women are considered equal,
Ena kavigal sonnadhu ennaagum
What happens to what poets said?
Kaathu thaan thiravukolaagaum
The ear itself becomes the key,
Kalai karpanai yendhidum noolaagum
It becomes the thread carrying artistic imagination.
Appadi paarthaalum ippadi paarhalum
Whether viewed like that or viewed like this,
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Necessary, necessary, necessary,
Idhu avasiyam idhu avasiyam
This is necessary, this is necessary.
Kannum kannumae kalandhu vittaal
If eyes meet eyes,
Kaariyam sithiyaagatha kaariyam sithiyaagathaa
Won't the objective be accomplished? Won't the objective be accomplished?
Kaadhal ragasiyam pesidavae kaadhugal udhavi seiyaadha
To speak secret words of love, won't ears be helpful?
Kaadhugal udhavi seiyaadha
Won't ears be helpful?
Ooo munnae pogum aatkalai kavanikka
Ooo, to notice the people walking ahead,
Kannuthanadi avasiyam kannuthandi avasiyam
Eyes are necessary, girl! Eyes are necessary!
Pinnae pesum pechukalai kavanikka kaadhuthaanadi
To pay attention to words spoken behind one's back, ears,
Avasiyam kaadhuthaanadi avasiyam appadiyaa
Are necessary, girl! Ears are necessary! Is that so?
Kannudaiyavar enbavar kattrror mugathirandu
'Those with eyes are the educated, on whose face two eyes exist;
Punnudaiyoor kallaadhaar endrae
The uneducated have merely two sores on their face'
Valluvan sonnadhu poiaagumaa
Can what Valluvar said turn out false?
Thiruvalluvan sonnadhu poi aagumaa poi aagumaa
Can what Thiruvalluvar said turn out false, turn out false?
Selvathutselvam sevi selvam
'Wealth of wealths is the wealth of listening;
Achchelvam selvathul ellaam thalai
That wealth is supreme among all wealths'
Adhae valluvan sonnadhu poi aagumaa
Can what the same Valluvar said turn out false?
Thiruvalluvan sonnadhu poi aagumaa poi aagumaa
Can what Thiruvalluvar said turn out false, turn out false?
Mugathilae ulla thirandum avasiyam
Both sensory organs on the face are necessary,
Aana moonaavadhum kooda avasiyam
But a third one is also necessary!
Mugathilae ulla thirandum avasiyam
Both sensory organs on the face are necessary,
Moonaavadha pinnae adhu veenaavadha puriyavillaiyae
Is a third one behind, or is it wasted? I don't understand!
Kaalam ellam nee arivudan vaazhndhida
For you to live with intellect all your life,
Moolai thaanadi avasiyam
It is the brain, girl, that is necessary!
Moolao irundhum kozhaigal aanaal
If one turns out to be a coward despite having a brain,
Aalirunthu enna avasiyam …appadiyaa…
What is the point of being a person? ...Is that so?...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful philosophical duet from 'Pudhu Vazhvu' (1957) explores the relative importance of human senses and faculties—specifically the eyes (vision), ears (listening), and brain (intellectual courage). Through lighthearted banter, the singer highlights how physical senses are essential for enjoying life, falling in love, and keeping alert, backed up by classical Thirukkural couplets from Thiruvalluvar. Ultimately, the lyrics climax in a moral lesson: while physical senses on the face like eyes and ears are indispensable, the third essential organ—the brain—is paramount. However, possessing intellect alone is useless if one lacks courage and character; a coward with a brain serves no true purpose.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam”
Repetition of 'Avasiyam' (necessary) at the beginning emphasizes urgency and fundamental need.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Kannillamal padikka mudiyumaa”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' (Kannillamal, Kaatchigalai, Kaadhillamal, Kaliyugathai) across consecutive lines.
Literary Allusion (Thirukkural Quotation)
“Kannudaiyavar enbavar kattrror mugathirandu”
Direct citation of Thirukkural 393 ('Kannudaiyavar enbavar kattrror...'), referencing Thiruvalluvar's wisdom on education and sight.
Literary Allusion (Thirukkural Quotation)
“Selvathutselvam sevi selvam”
Direct citation of Thirukkural 411 ('Selvathutselvam sevi selvam...'), praising listening comprehension as the ultimate wealth.
Pun / Wordplay (Sledai)
“Moonaavadha pinnae adhu veenaavadha puriyavillaiyae”
Play on the word 'Veenaavadha' which can mean 'becoming a Veena (lute)' or 'becoming wasted/useless'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist A. Maruthakasi cleverly weaves two famous Thirukkurals (Couplets 393 and 411) into film lyric format, making classical Tamil literature accessible and entertaining in popular cinema culture.
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