Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Elaarukkum Nalla

From Periya Marudhu · 1994

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
Jayachandran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Periya Marudhu1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oho… oo… oo… oo… hoo hooOho… oo… oo… oo… hoo hoo
Mmm mm mm mm mm mmm mmMmm mm mm mm mm mmm mm
Male
Ellaarukkum nalla pillaeA good child to everyone,
Ennudaiya odathilaeIn my little boat,
Vaazhvadhellaam punniyam thaanLiving life itself is a virtue and blessing,
Nee irukkum kaalathilaeDuring the time you are with me.
Male
Ellaarukkum nalla pillaeA good child to everyone,
Ennudaiya odathilaeIn my little boat,
Vaazhvadhellaam punniyam thaanLiving life itself is a virtue and blessing,
Nee irukkum kaalathilaeDuring the time you are with me.
Male
Kaamaala noi kandavangaThose affected by jaundice
Kandadhellaam manjal neramSee everything around them as yellow.
Undhan manam pillai manamYour heart is that of a innocent child,
Oorarinja vellai manamA pure white heart known to the whole village.
Aanaa oru manasuBut there is a certain mind
Adha kallaa mullaa paakkudhuThat looks at it as a stone and a thorn.
Yaeno adhu kozhambiWonder why it gets confused
Indha padagil alaiyaa aadudhuAnd sways like waves in this boat.
Male
Ellaarukkum nalla pillaeA good child to everyone,
Ennudaiya odathilaeIn my little boat,
Vaazhvadhellaam punniyam thaanLiving life itself is a virtue and blessing,
Nee irukkum kaalathilaeDuring the time you are with me.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Periya Marudhu (1994) expresses deep gratitude and affection for a pure-hearted, innocent person. The singer describes how living alongside such a virtuous soul feels like a divine blessing while navigating the metaphorical boat of life together. The lyricist uses the famous Tamil proverb about jaundice—where a sick person sees everything around them as yellow—to illustrate how cynical people mistake genuine purity and goodness for something harsh or flawed like stones and thorns. Despite these worldly misunderstandings, the song celebrates the irreproachable innocence and true goodness of the loved one.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kaamaala noi kandavanga Kandadhellaam manjal neram

Comparing a cynical or suspicious mindset to jaundice (Kaamaala noi), where a person's inner condition causes them to project flaws onto everything around them.

Repetition / Epistrophe (Iyaibu)

Undhan manam pillai manam Oorarinja vellai manam

The word 'manam' (mind/heart) is repeated at the end of consecutive phrases to emphasize the pure nature of the subject's heart.

Contrast / Antithesis

Adha kallaa mullaa paakkudhu

Contrasting the gentle, pure white child-like heart ('pillai manam', 'vellai manam') with harsh, painful objects ('kallaa mullaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Periya Marudhu (1994), starring Vijayakanth and Ranjitha, features a acclaimed soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with deeply reflective folk-style lyrics penned by the veteran poet Pulamaipithan.

Keep listening

More from Periya Marudhu