Ilakanam Maarudho
From Nizhal Nijamagiradhu · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nizhal Nijamagiradhu1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ilakkanam maarudho… | Is the grammar changing... |
| Hoo hoo oo oo | Hoo hoo oo oo |
| Male | |
| Ilakkanam maarudho | Is the grammar changing? |
| Ilakkiyam aanadho | Has it become epic literature? |
| Idhu varai nadithadhu | That which was acted out until now... |
| Adhu enna vaedam | What role was that? |
| Idhu enna paadam | What lesson is this? |
| Idhu varai nadithadhu | That which was acted out until now... |
| Adhu enna vaedam | What role was that? |
| Idhu enna paadam | What lesson is this? |
| Male | |
| Ilakkanam maarudho… | Is the grammar changing... |
| Hoo hoo oo oo | Hoo hoo oo oo |
| Male | |
| Kallaana mullai indrenna vaasam | The stone-like jasmine blossom, why is it fragrant today? |
| Kaatraana raagam yaen indha gaanam | The melody like the wind, why this song? |
| Ven maegam andru kaar maegam indru | A white cloud back then, a dark rain-cloud today |
| Yaar solli thandhaar mazhai kaalam endru | Who taught that the monsoon season has arrived? |
| Manmadhan enbavan kan thirandhaano | Did Cupid open his eyes? |
| Penmai thandhaano | Did he bestow womanhood? |
| Male | |
| Ilakkanam maarudho… | Is the grammar changing... |
| Hoo hoo oo oo | Hoo hoo oo oo |
| Female | |
| En vaazhkkai nadhiyil | In the river of my life |
| Karai ondru kanden | I found a bank to hold me |
| Un nenjil yaeno karai ondru kanden | Why did I see a stain in your heart? |
| En vaazhkkai nadhiyil | In the river of my life |
| Karai ondru kanden | I found a bank to hold me |
| Un nenjil yaeno karai ondru kanden | Why did I see a stain in your heart? |
| Female | |
| Puriyaadhadhaalae thirai pottu vaithen | Not understanding, I put up a curtain |
| Thirai potta podhum anai pottadhillai | Though I put up a curtain, I did not build a dam against love |
| Maraithidum thirai thanai vilakki vaippaayo | Will you draw aside the curtain that conceals? |
| Vilakki vaippaayo | Will you draw it aside? |
| Male | |
| Thallaadum pillai ullamum vellai | A faltering child with a pure white heart |
| Thaalaattu paada aadhaaram illai | There is no support to sing a lullaby |
| Dheivangal ellaam unakkaaga paadum | All the gods will sing for you |
| Paadaamal ponaal edhu dheivamaagum | If they do not sing, what kind of god are they? |
| Marubadi thirakkum unakkoru paadhai | A path will open for you once again |
| Uraippadhu geedhai | This is what the Gita preaches |
| Female | |
| Mani osai enna idi osai enna | What is the sound of the temple bell, what is the sound of thunder? |
| Edhu vandha podhum nee kettadhillai | Whatever came, you did not falter |
| Nizhalaaga vandhu arul seiyum dheivam | The God who comes as a shadow to bestow grace |
| Nijamaaga vandhu enai kaakka kanden | I saw Him come in reality to protect me |
| Nee edhu naan edhu yaen indha sondham | Who are you, who am I, why this bond? |
| Poorva jenma bandham | It is a connection from a previous birth |
| Female | |
| Haa…aaa….aaa….haaa….aaa…. | Haa...aaa...aaa...haaa...aaa... |
| Haaa….aaa….haaa…aaa… | Haaa...aaa...haaa...aaa... |
| Ilakkanam maarudho | Is the grammar changing? |
| Ilakkiyam aanadho | Has it become epic literature? |
| Idhu varai nadithadhu | That which was acted out until now... |
| Adhu enna vaedam | What role was that? |
| Idhu enna paadam… | What lesson is this... |
இலக்கணம் மாறுதோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஓ ஓஓ
Is the grammar changing...
Hoo hoo oo oo
இலக்கணம் மாறுதோ
இலக்கியம் ஆனதோ
இதுவரை நடித்தது
அது என்ன வேடம்
இது என்ன பாடம்
இதுவரை நடித்தது
அது என்ன வேடம்
இது என்ன பாடம்
Is the grammar changing?
Has it become epic literature?
That which was acted out until now...
What role was that?
What lesson is this?
That which was acted out until now...
What role was that?
What lesson is this?
இலக்கணம் மாறுதோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஓ ஓஓ
Is the grammar changing...
Hoo hoo oo oo
கல்லான முல்லை இன்றென்ன வாசம்
காற்றான ராகம் ஏன் இந்த கானம்
வெண்மேகம் அன்று கார்மேகம் இன்று
யார் சொல்லித் தந்தார் மழைக்காலம் என்று
மன்மதன் என்பவன் கண் திறந்தானோ
பெண்மை தந்தானோ
The stone-like jasmine blossom, why is it fragrant today?
The melody like the wind, why this song?
A white cloud back then, a dark rain-cloud today
Who taught that the monsoon season has arrived?
Did Cupid open his eyes?
Did he bestow womanhood?
இலக்கணம் மாறுதோ
ஹோ ஹோ ஓ ஓஓ
Is the grammar changing...
Hoo hoo oo oo
என் வாழ்க்கை நதியில்
கரை ஒன்று கண்டேன்
உன் நெஞ்சில் ஏனோ கறை ஒன்று கண்டேன்
என் வாழ்க்கை நதியில்
கரை ஒன்று கண்டேன்
உன் நெஞ்சில் ஏனோ கறை ஒன்று கண்டேன்
In the river of my life
I found a bank to hold me
Why did I see a stain in your heart?
In the river of my life
I found a bank to hold me
Why did I see a stain in your heart?
புரியாததாலே திரை போட்டு வைத்தேன்
திரை போட்ட போதும் அணை போட்டதில்லை
மறைத்திடும் திரைதனை விலக்கி வைப்பாயோ
விலக்கி வைப்பாயோ
Not understanding, I put up a curtain
Though I put up a curtain, I did not build a dam against love
Will you draw aside the curtain that conceals?
Will you draw it aside?
தள்ளாடும் பிள்ளை உள்ளமும் வெள்ளை
தாலாட்டுப் பாட ஆதாரம் இல்லை
தெய்வங்கள் எல்லாம் உனக்காக பாடும்
பாடாமல் போனால் எது தெய்வமாகும்
மறுபடி திறக்கும் உனக்கொரு பாதை
உரைப்பது கீதை
A faltering child with a pure white heart
There is no support to sing a lullaby
All the gods will sing for you
If they do not sing, what kind of god are they?
A path will open for you once again
This is what the Gita preaches
மணி ஓசை என்ன இடி ஓசை என்ன
எது வந்த போதும் நீ கேட்டதில்லை
நிழலாக வந்து அருள் செய்யும் தெய்வம்
நிஜமாக வந்து எனை காக்கக் கண்டேன்
நீ எது நான் எது ஏனிந்த சொந்தம்
பூர்வ ஜென்ம பந்தம்
What is the sound of the temple bell, what is the sound of thunder?
Whatever came, you did not falter
The God who comes as a shadow to bestow grace
I saw Him come in reality to protect me
Who are you, who am I, why this bond?
It is a connection from a previous birth
ஹா.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஹா......ஆஅ.....
ஹா......ஆஅ......ஹா......ஆஅ.....
இலக்கணம் மாறுதோ
இலக்கியம் ஆனதோ
இதுவரை நடித்தது
அது என்ன வேடம்
இது என்ன பாடம்
Haa...aaa...aaa...haaa...aaa...
Haaa...aaa...haaa...aaa...
Is the grammar changing?
Has it become epic literature?
That which was acted out until now...
What role was that?
What lesson is this...
Ilakkanam maarudho…
Is the grammar changing...
Hoo hoo oo oo
Hoo hoo oo oo
Ilakkanam maarudho
Is the grammar changing?
Ilakkiyam aanadho
Has it become epic literature?
Idhu varai nadithadhu
That which was acted out until now...
Adhu enna vaedam
What role was that?
Idhu enna paadam
What lesson is this?
Idhu varai nadithadhu
That which was acted out until now...
Adhu enna vaedam
What role was that?
Idhu enna paadam
What lesson is this?
Ilakkanam maarudho…
Is the grammar changing...
Hoo hoo oo oo
Hoo hoo oo oo
Kallaana mullai indrenna vaasam
The stone-like jasmine blossom, why is it fragrant today?
Kaatraana raagam yaen indha gaanam
The melody like the wind, why this song?
Ven maegam andru kaar maegam indru
A white cloud back then, a dark rain-cloud today
Yaar solli thandhaar mazhai kaalam endru
Who taught that the monsoon season has arrived?
Manmadhan enbavan kan thirandhaano
Did Cupid open his eyes?
Penmai thandhaano
Did he bestow womanhood?
Ilakkanam maarudho…
Is the grammar changing...
Hoo hoo oo oo
Hoo hoo oo oo
En vaazhkkai nadhiyil
In the river of my life
Karai ondru kanden
I found a bank to hold me
Un nenjil yaeno karai ondru kanden
Why did I see a stain in your heart?
En vaazhkkai nadhiyil
In the river of my life
Karai ondru kanden
I found a bank to hold me
Un nenjil yaeno karai ondru kanden
Why did I see a stain in your heart?
Puriyaadhadhaalae thirai pottu vaithen
Not understanding, I put up a curtain
Thirai potta podhum anai pottadhillai
Though I put up a curtain, I did not build a dam against love
Maraithidum thirai thanai vilakki vaippaayo
Will you draw aside the curtain that conceals?
Vilakki vaippaayo
Will you draw it aside?
Thallaadum pillai ullamum vellai
A faltering child with a pure white heart
Thaalaattu paada aadhaaram illai
There is no support to sing a lullaby
Dheivangal ellaam unakkaaga paadum
All the gods will sing for you
Paadaamal ponaal edhu dheivamaagum
If they do not sing, what kind of god are they?
Marubadi thirakkum unakkoru paadhai
A path will open for you once again
Uraippadhu geedhai
This is what the Gita preaches
Mani osai enna idi osai enna
What is the sound of the temple bell, what is the sound of thunder?
Edhu vandha podhum nee kettadhillai
Whatever came, you did not falter
Nizhalaaga vandhu arul seiyum dheivam
The God who comes as a shadow to bestow grace
Nijamaaga vandhu enai kaakka kanden
I saw Him come in reality to protect me
Nee edhu naan edhu yaen indha sondham
Who are you, who am I, why this bond?
Poorva jenma bandham
It is a connection from a previous birth
Haa…aaa….aaa….haaa….aaa….
Haa...aaa...aaa...haaa...aaa...
Haaa….aaa….haaa…aaa…
Haaa...aaa...haaa...aaa...
Ilakkanam maarudho
Is the grammar changing?
Ilakkiyam aanadho
Has it become epic literature?
Idhu varai nadithadhu
That which was acted out until now...
Adhu enna vaedam
What role was that?
Idhu enna paadam…
What lesson is this...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Ilakkanam Maarudho' expresses a profound emotional transformation between two individuals facing personal turmoils and unexpressed feelings. Through metaphorical questioning, the male and female characters explore how rigid self-imposed rules ('Ilakkanam' / grammar) are giving way to profound, poetic emotions ('Ilakkiyam' / literature). They reflect on past pretenses, personal flaws, hidden desires, and spiritual solace, ultimately finding a soul connection rooted in destiny and past births ('Poorva jenma bandham').
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Ilakkanam maarudho Ilakkiyam aanadho”
Comparing strict personal rules/discipline of life to 'grammar' (Ilakkanam) and blossoming romantic emotion to 'literature' (Ilakkiyam).
Pun / Double Entendre (Sledai)
“En vaazhkkai nadhiyil Karai ondru kanden / Un nenjil yaeno karai ondru kanden”
The word 'Karai' is used cleverly with two meanings: 'riverbank' (support/boundary) in the river of life, and 'stain/flaw' in the context of the heart.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Ven maegam andru kaar maegam indru”
Contrasting 'Ven maegam' (white/barren cloud) representing past emotional drought with 'Kaar maegam' (dark rain cloud) representing current emotional abundance.
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Thallaadum pillai ullamum vellai / Thaalaattu paada aadhaaram illai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'Th' in 'Thallaadum' and 'Thaalaattu'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in K. Balachander's classic film 'Nizhal Nijamagiradhu' (1978), this iconic duet was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Kannadasan, and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam. The song is famed for Kannadasan's brilliant wordplay on the word 'Karai', which carries dual meanings suited to the complex dynamic between the characters played by Kamal Haasan and Sumithra.
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