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Amarakavi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ellam Thunbamayam

From Amarakavi · 1952

Lyricist
Suratha
Singer
N. S. Krishnan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Amarakavi
Movie release year
1952
Lyrics added on
7 Aug 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ellaam thunbamayam anbu evarukkum illai
Adhanaal manidharukkellaam thunbamayam
Nallaa irukka naalu per madhikka
Pollaa ulaginil porulai pera
Thaviyaai thavikkiradhellaam thunbamayam
Ellaam thunbamayam
Kalyanam seivadhilae kuzhandhai
Kanakkindri peruvadhilae
Kudumba selavaalae kuzhandhai valarppalae
Kadankkaran varugayilae…
Abaswara paattaalum
Arivillaa pennaalum
Aathiramulla kanavanaalum
Nadathai thavariyum nallavar pola nadithu
Nallakaalam thalaividhi endru dhinam
Sollum sombaeri koottam vaazhum varai
Ellaam thunbamayam
Everything is full of sorrow, no one has any love.
And so, life is full of sorrow for all humankind.
To live well and win the respect of others,
To chase after wealth in this cruel world,
All this desperate striving is full of sorrow.
Everything is full of sorrow.
In getting married, and having children...
...endlessly without any count,
From household expenses and raising children,
And when the debt collector comes calling...
From songs sung out of tune,
From a foolish woman,
From a short-tempered husband,
From those who misbehave while pretending to be good,
Constantly waiting for good times and blaming destiny—
As long as such lazy crowds live on,
Everything is full of sorrow.
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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