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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Eliyorkku Suga Vaazhvu

From Kanavu · 1954

Lyricist
A. S. Rajagopal
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music directors
G. Ramanathan, V. Dakshinamurthy
Details
Kanavu1954

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhuWhere is a life of comfort for the humble and poor?
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothuWhen the elite do not care to remove the darkness of sorrow?
Kadaiththera vazhi ingu yaethuWhat is the way to overcome these hardships here?
Yaezhai kadaiththaera vazhi ingu yaedhuWhat path is there for the poor to be uplifted here?
Panjakalai theera velai kidaikkaatha pothuWhen jobs are unavailable to alleviate poverty and distress?
Female
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhuWhere is a life of comfort for the humble and poor?
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothuWhen the elite do not care to remove the darkness of sorrow?
Female
Yaethu vantha pothum vithiyendru ennumAccepting whatever comes as mere fate,
Mathi konda maanthar manam maaridaathuThe mindset of people will not change.
Nithiyodu inba nilai nearnthidaathuA state of true joy alongside prosperity will not manifest.
Female
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhuWhere is a life of comfort for the humble and poor?
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothuWhen the elite do not care to remove the darkness of sorrow?
Female
Thirunaadu thannil thiruvodu yaenthiCarrying a begging bowl in this sacred land,
Theruvodu pogum nilai maaridaathuThe plight of wandering the streets will not change,
Seemaangal ullaam maaraatha pothuAs long as the hearts of wealthy aristocrats remain unchanged.
Female
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhuWhere is a life of comfort for the humble and poor?
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothuWhen the elite do not care to remove the darkness of sorrow?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from the 1954 Tamil film 'Kanavu' addresses social inequality, economic hardship, and the apathy of the upper class toward the impoverished. It questions how the underprivileged can ever achieve a peaceful or comfortable existence when those in power and wealth refuse to uplift them or create employment opportunities to banish poverty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothu

Compares sorrow to a darkness ('Thunba irul') that needs to be removed.

Rhetorical Question

Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhu

Uses repeated questions ('yaedhu') to emphasize the hopelessness and lack of solutions for the poor.

Monai (Alliteration)

Mathi konda maanthar manam maaridaathu

Repetition of the 'm' sound in 'Mathi', 'maanthar', and 'manam' creates melodic rhythm.

Symbolism

Thirunaadu thannil thiruvodu yaenthi

'Thiruvodu' (begging bowl) serves as a stark symbol of extreme poverty and destitution.

Did you know?

Trivia

Rendered by the legendary Carnatic music maestro M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV), this song features music jointly composed by V. Dakshinamoorthi and G. Ramanathan for the 1954 film 'Kanavu', which heavily highlighted socialist themes popular in mid-20th century Tamil cinema.

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