Ellam Thunbamayam
From Amarakavi · 1952
- Lyricist
- Suratha
- Singer
- N. S. Krishnan
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Amarakavi1952
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ellaam thunbamayam anbu evarukkum illai | Everything is full of sorrow, no one possesses love. |
| Adhanaal manidharukkellaam thunbamayam | Therefore, for all human beings, everything is full of sorrow. |
| Nallaa irukka naalu per madhikka | To live comfortably and be respected by society, |
| Pollaa ulaginil porulai pera | To acquire wealth in this wicked world, |
| Thaviyaai thavikkiradhellaam thunbamayam | All the agonizing struggle is full of sorrow. |
| Ellaam thunbamayam | Everything is full of sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Kalyanam seivadhilae kuzhandhai | In getting married, and having children, |
| Kanakkindri peruvadhilae | Bearing children endlessly without count, |
| Kudumba selavaalae kuzhandhai valarppalae | Through household expenses and raising children, |
| Kadankkaran varugayilae… | When the creditor comes knocking... |
| Male | |
| Abaswara paattaalum | Due to off-key songs, |
| Arivillaa pennaalum | Due to an unwise woman, |
| Aathiramulla kanavanaalum | Due to an ill-tempered husband, |
| Nadathai thavariyum nallavar pola nadithu | Misbehaving while acting like virtuous people, |
| Nallakaalam thalaividhi endru dhinam | Every day attributing good times to fate, |
| Sollum sombaeri koottam vaazhum varai | As long as this lazy group continues to live, |
| Ellaam thunbamayam | Everything is full of sorrow. |
எல்லாம் துன்பமயம் அன்பு எவருக்குமில்லை
அதனால் மனிதருக்கெல்லாம் துன்பமயம்
நல்லா இருக்க நாலு பேர் மதிக்க
பொல்லா உலகினில் பொருளைப் பெற
தவியாய்த் தவிக்கிறதெல்லாம் துன்பமயம்
எல்லாம் துன்பமயம்
Everything is full of sorrow, no one possesses love.
Therefore, for all human beings, everything is full of sorrow.
To live comfortably and be respected by society,
To acquire wealth in this wicked world,
All the agonizing struggle is full of sorrow.
Everything is full of sorrow.
கல்யாணம் செய்வதிலே குழந்தை
கணக்கின்றி பெறுவதிலே
குடும்பச் செலவாலே குழந்தை வளர்ப்பாலே
கடன்காரன் வருகையிலே.....
In getting married, and having children,
Bearing children endlessly without count,
Through household expenses and raising children,
When the creditor comes knocking...
அபஸ்வரப் பாட்டாலும்
அறிவில்லாப் பெண்ணாலும்
ஆத்திரமுள்ள கணவனாலும்
நடத்தை தவறியும் நல்லவர் போல நடித்து
நல்லகாலம் தலைவிதி என்று தினம்
சொல்லும் சோம்பேறிக் கூட்டம் வாழும்வரை
எல்லாம் துன்பமயம்
Due to off-key songs,
Due to an unwise woman,
Due to an ill-tempered husband,
Misbehaving while acting like virtuous people,
Every day attributing good times to fate,
As long as this lazy group continues to live,
Everything is full of sorrow.
Ellaam thunbamayam anbu evarukkum illai
Everything is full of sorrow, no one possesses love.
Adhanaal manidharukkellaam thunbamayam
Therefore, for all human beings, everything is full of sorrow.
Nallaa irukka naalu per madhikka
To live comfortably and be respected by society,
Pollaa ulaginil porulai pera
To acquire wealth in this wicked world,
Thaviyaai thavikkiradhellaam thunbamayam
All the agonizing struggle is full of sorrow.
Ellaam thunbamayam
Everything is full of sorrow.
Kalyanam seivadhilae kuzhandhai
In getting married, and having children,
Kanakkindri peruvadhilae
Bearing children endlessly without count,
Kudumba selavaalae kuzhandhai valarppalae
Through household expenses and raising children,
Kadankkaran varugayilae…
When the creditor comes knocking...
Abaswara paattaalum
Due to off-key songs,
Arivillaa pennaalum
Due to an unwise woman,
Aathiramulla kanavanaalum
Due to an ill-tempered husband,
Nadathai thavariyum nallavar pola nadithu
Misbehaving while acting like virtuous people,
Nallakaalam thalaividhi endru dhinam
Every day attributing good times to fate,
Sollum sombaeri koottam vaazhum varai
As long as this lazy group continues to live,
Ellaam thunbamayam
Everything is full of sorrow.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a satirical commentary on human suffering and social hypocrisies, delivered with characteristic wit by N. S. Krishnan. It argues that human life becomes inherently filled with sorrow due to the continuous struggle for material wealth, unmanaged family burdens, social pretenses, and the tendency of lazy people to blame fate rather than take responsibility.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Ethukai (Rhyme)
“Ellaam thunbamayam”
The phrase 'Ellaam thunbamayam' acts as a central thematic refrain repeated at key points in the song to underline the pervasive sorrow.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kalyanam seivadhilae kuzhandhai... Kanakkindri peruvadhilae”
The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' across consecutive lines (Kalyanam, Kuzhandhai, Kanakkindri, Kudumba, Kadankkaran).
Satire and Irony
“Nadathai thavariyum nallavar pola nadithu... Sollum sombaeri koottam vaazhum varai”
Suratha uses sharp social commentary to mock lazy people who blame fate (thalaividhi) while pretending to be noble.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song was penned by the celebrated Tamil poet Suratha (known as 'Uvamai Kavagnar' or Poet of Metaphors) and sung by the legendary comedian N. S. Krishnan (NSK) for the film Amarakavi (1952).
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