Illarum Ondre Nallaram
From Maalaiyitta Mangai · 1958
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Maalaiyitta Mangai1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar | Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue, |
| Vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her live. |
| Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not let a woman live her life. |
| Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar | Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue, |
| Vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her live. |
| Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not let a woman live her life. |
| Female | |
| Indha thollaiyillaamal maraivadhenraalum | Even to disappear to escape this torment, |
| Saagavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her die. |
| Avarae saagavum vida maattaar | They themselves will not even let her die. |
| Indha thollaiyillaamal maraivadhenraalum | Even to disappear to escape this torment, |
| Saagavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her die. |
| Avarae saagavum vida maattaar | They themselves will not even let her die. |
| Ammaa.. ammaa .. ammaa.. | Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother... |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal endrum paasam endrum | Speaking of love and affection, |
| Kadhaiyae kooruvaar | They weave endless stories. |
| Nooru vagaiyae pesuvaar | They speak in a hundred different ways. |
| Kaadhal endrum paasam endrum | Speaking of love and affection, |
| Kadhaiyae kooruvaar | They weave endless stories. |
| Nooru vagaiyae pesuvaar | They speak in a hundred different ways. |
| Female | |
| Angae mangaiyar ulagam | There, the world of women |
| Bommaigal aagum | Becomes mere playthings and dolls. |
| Maru naal maaruvaar | The very next day, they change their tune. |
| Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not let a woman live. |
| Avarae saagavum vida maattaar | They themselves will not even let her die. |
| Ammaa.. ammaa .. ammaa.. | Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother... |
| Female | |
| Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar | Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue, |
| Vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her live. |
| Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not let a woman live her life. |
| Female | |
| Kangal moodi kidappadhanaalae | Just because they lie silently with eyes closed, |
| Pengal deivamaa | Are women considered divine goddesses? |
| Veettil kallai pola iruppadhinaalae | Just because they endure like a stone in the house, |
| Pengal deivamaa | Are women considered divine goddesses? |
| Female | |
| Uyir jeevan illaamal vaazhvadhinaalae | Because they live deprived of true vitality, |
| Deivam penn endraar | They called woman a goddess, |
| Indha selvam penn endraar | They called woman a treasure. |
| Maanam enbadhu pengalukkendraal | If honor is required only of women, |
| Aangalukkaenillai | Why is it not expected of men? |
| Oru aasaiyinaalae kalangam pirappadhu | A single desire brings a lasting stain upon her; |
| Maadhargal padum thollai | Such is the plight suffered by women. |
| Indha naattilum needhiyillai | There is no justice in this land, |
| Thamizh yettilum needhiyillai | There is no justice even in Tamil scriptures. |
| Aaaaaaaaaaaaa | Ah... |
| Female | |
| Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar | Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue, |
| Vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her live. |
| Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar | They will not let a woman live her life. |
| Indha thollaiyillaamal maraivadhenraalum | Even to disappear to escape this torment, |
| Saagavum vida maattaar | They will not even let her die. |
| Avarae saagavum vida maattaar | They themselves will not even let her die. |
| Ammaa.. ammaa .. ammaa.. | Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother... |
இல்லறம் ஒன்றே நல்லறம் என்றிவர்
வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
பெண்ணை வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
இல்லறம் ஒன்றே நல்லறம் என்றிவர்
வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
பெண்ணை வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
They will not even let her live.
They will not let a woman live her life.
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
They will not even let her live.
They will not let a woman live her life.
இந்தத் தொல்லையில்லாமல்
மறைவதென்றாலும்
சாகவும் விடமாட்டார்
இந்தத் தொல்லையில்லாமல்
மறைவதென்றாலும்
சாகவும் விடமாட்டார்
அவரே சாகவும் விடமாட்டார்
அம்மா...அம்மா...அம்மா
Even to disappear to escape this torment,
They will not even let her die.
They themselves will not even let her die.
Even to disappear to escape this torment,
They will not even let her die.
They themselves will not even let her die.
Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother...
காதல் என்றும் பாசம் என்றும்
கதையே கூறுவார்
நூறு வகையே பேசுவார்
காதல் என்றும் பாசம் என்றும்
கதையே கூறுவார்
நூறு வகையே பேசுவார்
Speaking of love and affection,
They weave endless stories.
They speak in a hundred different ways.
Speaking of love and affection,
They weave endless stories.
They speak in a hundred different ways.
அங்கே மங்கையர் உலகம்
பொம்மைகள் ஆகும்
மறு நாள் மாறுவார்
பெண்ணை வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
அவரே சாகவும் விடமாட்டார்
அம்மா...அம்மா...அம்மா
There, the world of women
Becomes mere playthings and dolls.
The very next day, they change their tune.
They will not let a woman live.
They themselves will not even let her die.
Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother...
இல்லறம் ஒன்றே நல்லறம் என்றிவர்
வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
பெண்ணை வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
They will not even let her live.
They will not let a woman live her life.
கண்கள் மூடிக்கிடப்பதனாலே
பெண்கள் தெய்வமா
வீட்டில் கல்லைப்போலே இருப்பதினாலே
பெண்கள் தெய்வமா
Just because they lie silently with eyes closed,
Are women considered divine goddesses?
Just because they endure like a stone in the house,
Are women considered divine goddesses?
உயிர் ஜீவன் இல்லாமல் வாழ்வதினாலே
தெய்வம் பெண் என்றார்
இன்பச் செல்வம் பெண் என்றார்
மானம் என்பது பெண்களுக்கென்றால்
ஆண்களுக்கேனில்லை
ஒரு வார்த்தையினாலே களங்கம் பிறப்பது
மாதர்கள் படும் தொல்லை
இந்த நாட்டிலும் நீதியில்லை
தனி ஏட்டிலும் நீதியில்லை
ஆஆஆஆஆஆ
Because they live deprived of true vitality,
They called woman a goddess,
They called woman a treasure.
If honor is required only of women,
Why is it not expected of men?
A single desire brings a lasting stain upon her;
Such is the plight suffered by women.
There is no justice in this land,
There is no justice even in Tamil scriptures.
Ah...
இல்லறம் ஒன்றே நல்லறம் என்றிவர்
வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
பெண்ணை வாழவும் விடமாட்டார்
இந்தத் தொல்லையில்லாமல்
மறைவதென்றாலும்
சாகவும் விடமாட்டார்
அவரே சாகவும் விடமாட்டார்
அம்மா...அம்மா...அம்மா
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
They will not even let her live.
They will not let a woman live her life.
Even to disappear to escape this torment,
They will not even let her die.
They themselves will not even let her die.
Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother...
Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
Vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her live.
Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not let a woman live her life.
Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
Vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her live.
Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not let a woman live her life.
Indha thollaiyillaamal maraivadhenraalum
Even to disappear to escape this torment,
Saagavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her die.
Avarae saagavum vida maattaar
They themselves will not even let her die.
Indha thollaiyillaamal maraivadhenraalum
Even to disappear to escape this torment,
Saagavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her die.
Avarae saagavum vida maattaar
They themselves will not even let her die.
Ammaa.. ammaa .. ammaa..
Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother...
Kaadhal endrum paasam endrum
Speaking of love and affection,
Kadhaiyae kooruvaar
They weave endless stories.
Nooru vagaiyae pesuvaar
They speak in a hundred different ways.
Kaadhal endrum paasam endrum
Speaking of love and affection,
Kadhaiyae kooruvaar
They weave endless stories.
Nooru vagaiyae pesuvaar
They speak in a hundred different ways.
Angae mangaiyar ulagam
There, the world of women
Bommaigal aagum
Becomes mere playthings and dolls.
Maru naal maaruvaar
The very next day, they change their tune.
Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not let a woman live.
Avarae saagavum vida maattaar
They themselves will not even let her die.
Ammaa.. ammaa .. ammaa..
Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother...
Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
Vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her live.
Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not let a woman live her life.
Kangal moodi kidappadhanaalae
Just because they lie silently with eyes closed,
Pengal deivamaa
Are women considered divine goddesses?
Veettil kallai pola iruppadhinaalae
Just because they endure like a stone in the house,
Pengal deivamaa
Are women considered divine goddesses?
Uyir jeevan illaamal vaazhvadhinaalae
Because they live deprived of true vitality,
Deivam penn endraar
They called woman a goddess,
Indha selvam penn endraar
They called woman a treasure.
Maanam enbadhu pengalukkendraal
If honor is required only of women,
Aangalukkaenillai
Why is it not expected of men?
Oru aasaiyinaalae kalangam pirappadhu
A single desire brings a lasting stain upon her;
Maadhargal padum thollai
Such is the plight suffered by women.
Indha naattilum needhiyillai
There is no justice in this land,
Thamizh yettilum needhiyillai
There is no justice even in Tamil scriptures.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaa
Ah...
Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar
Saying domestic life alone is the highest virtue,
Vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her live.
Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar
They will not let a woman live her life.
Indha thollaiyillaamal maraivadhenraalum
Even to disappear to escape this torment,
Saagavum vida maattaar
They will not even let her die.
Avarae saagavum vida maattaar
They themselves will not even let her die.
Ammaa.. ammaa .. ammaa..
Oh Mother... Oh Mother... Oh Mother...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Written by lyricist Kannadasan for the 1958 film 'Maalaiyitta Mangai', this song is a sharp critique of patriarchal double standards and societal hypocrisy toward women. It dismantles the sanctimonious narrative that family life is the ultimate virtue, exposing how society restricts a woman's freedom, leaving her neither room to live with dignity nor freedom to escape her suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monaia / Alliteration
“Illaram ondrae nallaram endrivar”
Matching initial consonant sounds in 'Illaram' and 'Nallaram' creates a rhythmic sonic foundation in the opening theme.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Veettil kallai pola iruppadhinaalae”
Compares a woman's passive, voiceless suffering in the household to an unfeeling stone statue ('kallai pola'), highlighting how society misinterprets her forced silence as divinity.
Rhetorical Question
“Maanam enbadhu pengalukkendraal / Aangalukkaenillai”
Challenges societal morality by asking why chastity and honor are demanded exclusively from women while exempting men.
Epanalepsis / Epistrophe
“Pennai vaazhavum vida maattaar / Avarae saagavum vida maattaar”
The repetitive refrain 'vida maattaar' emphasizes absolute confinement and helplessness, reiterating that society will neither allow her a meaningful life nor an escape through death.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Maalaiyitta Mangai' (1958) was produced by lyricist Kannadasan under his banner Kannadasan Films. The iconic music was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by M. S. Rajeswari. This track is celebrated as one of Tamil cinema's most potent feminist anthems from the golden era.
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