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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
Movie name
Kanavu
Movie release year
1954
Lyrics added on
7 Nov 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhu
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothu
Kadaiththera vazhi ingu yaethu
Yaezhai kadaiththaera vazhi ingu yaedhu
Panjakalai theera velai kidaikkaatha pothu
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhu
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothu
Yaethu vantha pothum vithiyendru ennum
Mathi konda maanthar manam maaridaathu
Nithiyodu inba nilai nearnthidaathu
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhu
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothu
Thirunaadu thannil thiruvodu yaenthi
Theruvodu pogum nilai maaridaathu
Seemaangal ullaam maaraatha pothu
Eliyorkku suga vaazhvu yaedhu
Thunba irul neekka melor ennaatha pothu
Where is a life of comfort for the poor,
when the powerful never think to clear the darkness of sorrow?
What way is there to find relief?
What way is there for the poor to find relief,
when they find no work to ease the weariness of hunger?
Where is a life of comfort for the poor,
when the powerful never think to clear the darkness of sorrow?
Accepting whatever happens as merely fate,
if the mindset of people does not change,
prosperity and happiness will never come.
Where is a life of comfort for the poor,
when the powerful never think to clear the darkness of sorrow?
Holding a begging bowl in this blessed land,
the plight of wandering the streets will never change,
as long as the hearts of the wealthy do not change.
Where is a life of comfort for the poor,
when the powerful never think to clear the darkness of sorrow?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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