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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellai Merudhe Manam

From Karpukkarasi · 1957

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
K. Jamunarani, A. P. Komala, A. G. Rathnamala
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Karpukkarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ellai meeruthae manam thulli odutheMy mind is crossing all limits and leaping in joy
Ahhaa ellai meeruthae manam thulli odutheAaha, my mind is crossing all limits and leaping in joy
Ennaalum kaanaatha inbam pongutheAn unprecedented delight overflows in my heart
Ellaam mannin kolamoIs this all the beauty and design of the earth?
Illai manitha jaalamo…..Or is it the magic performed by humans?
Chorus
Ellai meeruthae manam thulli odutheMy mind is crossing all limits and leaping in joy
Female
Vanthorai vaazhththum maanjolai kaattrumThe mango grove breeze that welcomes all who arrive
Vandaadum maamalar panthaadutheThe great flowers played on by buzzing bees sway like a ball game
Manneeram kondae munnettram kandaeSeeing the progress achieved on this fertile soil
Verodum sevvaazhai theraaduthaeThe deeply rooted red banana tree sways like a chariot
Kandaalumae ullam kondaaduthaeEven just witnessing this, the heart celebrates
Intha kannkaatchi yaedhadi vinnmeethilaeWhere is such a grand spectacle to be found in the heavens above?
Intha kannkaatchi yaedhadi vinnmeethilaeWhere is such a grand spectacle to be found in the heavens above?
Female
Aahhaa ellai meeruthae manam thulli odutheAaha, my mind is crossing all limits and leaping in joy
Female
Annaalil ramanin anbaana seedhaiyaiIn those ancient days, Rama's beloved Sita
Thennilangai ravanan thirudikkittaanWas stolen away by Ravana of Southern Lanka
Chorus :Illai sirai eduththaanChorus: No, he imprisoned her
Female :Annaalil ramanin anbaana seedhaiyaiFemale: In those ancient days, Rama's beloved Sita
Thennilangai ravanan thirudikkittaanWas stolen away by Ravana of Southern Lanka
Female
Adhan munnaala ravanan kannaana thangaiyaiBefore that, Ravana's beloved sister
Ennaamal lakshmanan mookaruththaanWas ruthlessly disfigured at the nose by Lakshmana
Chorus :Illai mudiyaruththaanChorus: No, he chopped off her hair
Female :Adhan munnaala ravanan kannaana thangaiyaiFemale: Before that, Ravana's beloved sister
Ennaamal lakshmanan mookaruththaanWas ruthlessly disfigured at the nose by Lakshmana
Female
Innum pennaalae kettazhinthuFurthermore, ruined and destroyed because of women
Onnaiyonnu vettikkittaSlashing each other down in bloody conflicts
Periya periya kadhaigalellaam ninaivirukkaaDo you remember all those massive legends of old?
Unakku ninaivirukkaaDo you remember them?
Female
Innum pennaalae kettazhinthuFurthermore, ruined and destroyed because of women
Onnaiyonnu vettikkittaSlashing each other down in bloody conflicts
Periya periya kadhaigalellaam ninaivirukkaaDo you remember all those massive legends of old?
Unakku ninaivirukkaaDo you remember them?
Chorus :Idhai perumaiyaaga pesuriyae arivirukkaaChorus: Speaking of this proud history, do you have any sense?
Idhai perumaiyaaga pesuriyae arivirukkaaChorus: Speaking of this proud history, do you have any sense?
Chorus
Aiyyae pothum pothumae unga bhoologamaeAiyyae, enough, enough of your earthly realm!
Aiyyae pothum pothumae unga bhoologamaeAiyyae, enough, enough of your earthly realm!
Pollaatha ullaasam pongi oduthoIs wicked pleasure overflowing here?
Idhan ullae paaradi verum oozhalthaanadiLook inside this, my friend, it is pure corruption
Idhan ullae paaradi verum oozhalthaanadiLook inside this, my friend, it is pure corruption
Female
Adi antharaththil oorvasiyumHey friend, in the celestial heavens, Urvashi
Rambaiyarum mohiniyumRambha and Mohini exist
Aasaikkoru naayagiyum arugirukkaAlong with a mistress beloved for desires nearby
Chorus :ArugirukkaChorus: Right beside them
Female :Adi antharaththil oorvasiyumFemale: Hey friend, in the celestial heavens, Urvashi
Rambaiyarum mohiniyumRambha and Mohini exist
Aasaikkoru naayagiyum arugirukkaAlong with a mistress beloved for desires nearby
Chorus :Mella arugirukkaChorus: Gently beside them
Female
Andru indhiranum thanthiraththaalBack then, Indra through trickery and deception
Ingiruntha azhaginilDriven by yearning for the beauty here on earth
Yaekkaththinaal goudhamanaai uruvedukkaDisguised himself in the form of Sage Gautama
Chorus :Aval udanirukkaChorus: To be with her
Female
Andru indhiranum thanthiraththaalBack then, Indra through trickery and deception
Ingiruntha azhaginilDriven by yearning for the beauty here on earth
Yaekkaththinaal goudhamanaai uruvedukkaDisguised himself in the form of Sage Gautama
Chorus :Aval udanirukkaChorus: To be with her
Female
Angu vanthu muni munpaaga mangaiyaval kallaagaArriving there before the sage, the maiden turned to stone
Vaangi vanthaar indhirarum aayiraththaiAnd Indra received a curse of a thousand...
Chorus :Kangal aayiraththaiChorus: A thousand eyes
Adhai maranthuvittu thaakkuvathaen vanthayidaththaiForgetting all that, why attack the place you came to visit?
Maranthuvittu thaakkuvathaen vanthayidaththaiForgetting all that, why attack the place you came to visit?
Female
Thannaanavam kondu aadaathaediDo not dance around with arrogant conceit, my friend
Female :Verum santhegamae endrum pollaaradiFemale: Mere suspicion is always cruel, my friend
Female :Intha mannaaluvaar miga pollaaradiFemale: Those who rule this earth are very wicked, my friend
Female :Evar vanthaalumae ennai vellaaradiFemale: No matter who comes, they cannot defeat me, my friend
Female
Aahaa ellai meeruthae manam thulli odutheAaha, my mind is crossing all limits and leaping in joy
Ennaalum kaanaatha inbam pongutheAn unprecedented delight overflows in my heart
Ellaam mannin kolamoIs this all the beauty and design of the earth?
Illai manitha jaalamo…..Or is it the magic performed by humans?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song from Karpukkarasi (1957) features a playful yet sharp musical debate (Patti-Manram style) set against scenic appreciation. The lead singers marvel at the natural beauty and human ingenuity of earth, questioning if heaven could ever match such splendor. As the debate escalates, celestial women and earthly women mock each other's mythological flaws, trading witty insults derived from epic tales like the Ramayana and the story of Indra and Ahalya.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mukai / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Vanthorai vaazhththum maanjolai kaattrum / Vandaadum maamalar panthaaduthe

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram uses strong second-letter rhyming (Ethirai) across lines like 'Ellai meeruthae' / 'Ennaalum kaanaatha' and 'Vanthorai vaazhththum' / 'Vandaadum maamalar' to establish a catchy, conversational rhythm.

Alliteration (Monai)

Periya periya kadhaigalellaam ninaivirukkaa

Initial consonant matching in words like 'Periya periya', 'Miga pollaaradi', and 'Maranthuvittu thaakkuvathaen'.

Metaphor / Rhetorical Questioning

Ellaam mannin kolamo / Illai manitha jaalamo…..

The lyrics contrast the illusion of earthly pleasure with heavenly grandeur through playful rhetorical questions like 'Ellaam mannin kolamo / Illai manitha jaalamo'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Karpukkarasi (1957), starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, featured music composed by legendary G. Ramanathan. Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for introducing folk rhythms and sharp social commentary into screen dialogues and musical debates, as demonstrated in this witty lyrical duel between celestial and earthly perspectives.

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