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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellam Nadaga

From Pasamum Nesamum · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Movie name
Pasamum Nesamum
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Parppadhai ariyaen paarkka vaithaaiyae
Paal pol manadhai keduthaval neeyae
Paaduvadhariyaen paada vaithaaiyae
Paadalai paadhiyil nee mudithaaiyae
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam
Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam
Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam
Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam
Theriya nilaiyil thozhiyum raani
Theriya nilaiyil thozhiyum raani
Therindhu vittaal aval raaniyin thozhi
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Unmaiyil oru naal poimaiyil pala naal
Vovvoru naalum ungalin thirunaal
Engalin idhayam siriyadhu thaaye
Idhaiyum yeno udaithu vittaayae
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Uruvam therivadhu pola
Avar ullam therivadhu illai
Ellam nadaga medai
Idhil engum nadigar kottam
Puriya manidhan edhaiyoo sonnaan
Puriya manidhan edhaiyoo sonnaan
Porutharulvaaiyae pogiren thaaye
Porutharulvaaiyae pogiren thaaye
Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae
Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae
Nadanthathai ellam maranthiduvaayae
Maaligai silaiyae vaazhiya neeyae
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
Just as their faces can be seen
Their inner hearts can never be known
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
Just as their faces can be seen
Their inner hearts can never be known
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
I did not know how to look, yet you made me look
You are the one who ruined a heart pure as milk
I did not know how to sing, yet you made me sing
Yet you brought my song to an end halfway through
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
Just as their faces can be seen
Their inner hearts can never be known
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
The home of the rich is a world of amusement
The home of the rich is a world of amusement
The heart of the poor is a world of pain
The heart of the poor is a world of pain
When the truth is unknown, even a maid is seen as a queen
When the truth is unknown, even a maid is seen as a queen
Once the truth is known, she is merely the queen's maid
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
Just as their faces can be seen
Their inner hearts can never be known
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
One day living in truth, but many days in deceit
Yet every day is a celebration for people like you
Our heart is small and frail, dear lady
And yet, you broke even that
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
Just as their faces can be seen
Their inner hearts can never be known
Everything is a drama stage
Filled everywhere with a crowd of actors
A clueless man blabbered without understanding
A clueless man blabbered without understanding
Forgive me, dear lady, I am leaving now
Forgive me, dear lady, I am leaving now
Please forget everything that has happened
Please forget everything that has happened
Please forget everything that has happened
O statue of the palace, may you live long and thrive!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Ellam Nadaga Medai' reflects on the philosophical idea that the world is a theatrical stage where people conceal their true feelings behind external facades. The speaker laments how his innocent and pure heart was broken halfway through life's journey by a beloved who manipulated his emotions and exposed the harsh realities of class disparity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ellam nadaga medai

Compares the world to a theater stage ('nadaga medai') and people to actors ('nadigar kottam') hiding their true hearts.

Simile (Uvamai)

Paal pol manadhai keduthaval neeyae

Compares the pure, innocent human heart to milk ('paal pol manadhai').

Antithesis (Muran)

Vedikkai ulagam selvargal illam / Vedhanai ulagam ezhaigal ullam

Contrasts the fun-filled world of the wealthy with the agony-filled world of the poor ('selvargal illam' vs 'ezhaigal ullam').

Alliteration (Monai)

Parppadhai ariyaen paarkka vaithaaiyae

Repetition of the initial sound 'P' across consecutive words in the line.

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Trivia

Lyricist Kannadasan drew inspiration from Shakespeare's famous monologue 'All the world's a stage' from 'As You Like It' and expertly adapted the concept into a deeply soulful, emotional Tamil song reflecting on deception and existential philosophy.

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