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Lyrics & meaning

Ellorkkum Vendum Nalla Manathu

From Meendum Vazhven · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
B. Vasantha, Chorus
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Meendum Vazhven
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
2 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………….
Chorus :…………………
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Chorus :Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Female :Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Chorus :Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
……………………….
Polladha manadhukku nimmadhi illai
Poopola manadhukku sanjalam illai
Chorus :Polladha manadhukku nimmadhi illai
Poopola manadhukku sanjalam illai
Kalangam illai oru kabadam illai
Mayakkam illai oru vanjakkam illai
Chorus :Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
………………………..
………………..
Thirudanin kaigalai paambhu kadikkum
Theeyavan paadhaiyai deivam thadukkum
Thaaiyattra pillaikku paal kodukkum
Thanthai yattra pillaikku kaaval irukkum
Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
…………………………
Dharmam seidhaal undhan thalai kaakkum
Sathiya sodhanai malaiyaakkum
Kadamai kanniyam silaiyaakkum
Kaalam ellaam unnai nilaiyaakkum
Kadamai kanniyam silaiyaakkum
Kaalam ellaam unnai nilaiyaakkum
Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Kallamindri pillai konda vellai manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Ellorkkum vendum nalla manadhu
Lalalalalalala lalalalalala….(2)
...
Chorus: ...
Everyone needs a good heart.
Everyone needs a good heart.
Chorus: Everyone needs a good heart.
Everyone needs a good heart.
Female: A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
Chorus: A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
Everyone needs a good heart.
Everyone needs a good heart.
...
A wicked heart knows no peace.
A flower-like gentle heart knows no anxiety.
Chorus: A wicked heart knows no peace.
A flower-like gentle heart knows no anxiety.
There is no blemish, no deceit.
There is no delusion, no treachery.
Chorus: A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
Everyone needs a good heart.
Everyone needs a good heart.
...
...
A snake will bite the hands of a thief.
God will block the path of an evil person.
It will provide milk to a motherless child.
It will stand guard for a fatherless child.
A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
...
Doing righteous deeds will protect your life.
It will make your trials of truth stand tall like a mountain.
It will immortalize duty and dignity like a statue.
It will make your legacy endure throughout time.
It will immortalize duty and dignity like a statue.
It will make your legacy endure throughout time.
A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
A pure heart that a child possesses, free of guile.
Everyone needs a good heart.
Everyone needs a good heart.
Lalalalalalala lalalalalala...
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ellorkkum Vendum Nalla Manadhu is an uplifting philosophical song written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan. The lyrics emphasize the vital importance of maintaining a pure, innocent heart free from evil, deceit, and malice. It teaches that true peace of mind belongs only to those whose hearts are gentle like flowers and pure like children, while wicked actions inevitably lead to anxiety and ruin. Furthermore, the song assures that divine providence safeguards the vulnerable, such as orphaned children, and neutralizes the paths of evil-doers. By steadfastly adhering to duty, dignity, and moral righteousness, one earns an enduring legacy that transcends time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Poopola manadhukku sanjalam illai

Compares a peaceful, pure mind to a soft flower ('poo-pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kadamai kanniyam silaiyaakkum

Metaphorically describes duty and dignity as sculpted statues, symbolising nobility and permanence.

Initial Alliteration (Monaai)

Kadamai kanniyam silaiyaakkum

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words in the line ('Kadamai', 'Kanniyam').

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Polladha manadhukku nimmadhi illai / Poopola manadhukku sanjalam illai

Rhyming of second consonant 'll' in adjacent words ('Polladha' / 'Poopola').

Did you know?

Trivia

Meendum Vazhven (1972) is a Tamil film directed by P. Madhavan, featuring Ravichandran and Jayanthi in lead roles. The film's musical score was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and this song serves as a core moral thematic composition reflecting Kannadasan's timeless humanistic worldview.

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