Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Sivagangai Seemai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Imaiyum Vizhiyum

From Sivagangai Seemai · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Dialogues by P. S. Veerappa, P. Suseela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Sivagangai Seemai
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
21 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Megam kuvinthathamma
Megam kuvinthathamma
Minnal vara poguthamma
Modhum idi mulakkam
Munnodi vandhadhamma
Ammaaa ammaa aaa….aaa…aaa..
Imaiyum vizhiyum edhiraanaal
Iyarkkai sirikkatho
Imaiyum vizhiyum edhiraanaal
Iyarkkai sirikkatho
Thaaiyum seiyum pagaiyaanaal
Thaarani nagaikaadho
Thaaiyum seiyum pagaiyaanaal
Thaarani nagaikaadho
Nagaikkattum
Nandraaga nagaikkattum
Neeyum nagauthuvidu
Valu ullavargal vaazhgiraargal
Vaazhvullargal sirikkiraargal
Saavai kandu sirikka pazhagu
Sanjalam maraindhu vidum
Raththa ottathilirunthu
Pasaththai eduthu vidu
Idhayam suthamaagi vidum
Mandaodugalin meedhu nadandhu
Mandalathai aandavar palar
Than thambiyin thalai meedhu
Nadanthu tharaniyai aalzha pogiravan
Un kanavan (Dialogue)
Oru thaai makkal
Poruthum kaalam
Varuvathum sarithaanoo
Oru thaai makkal
Poruthum kaalam
Varuvathum sarithaanoo
Iruthalai kolli erumbaai naanum
Madivadhum murai thaanoo
Madivadhum murai thaanoo
Hmm paithiyakaari
Vara koodathu vandhu vittadhu
Aluthaalum tholuthaalum athil orr
Ezhuthu maaradhu
Vaazha teriyadhavan varandu pona
Thathuvangalin pradhinidhi
Jeyikka katchiyilae sera theriyadhavan
Poraaduvor pakkam serndhu
Buthi illandhavan
Saavadharkku endrae pirandhu vitta
Thurbaakiyam piditha en sagodharan
Avan aathma santhi adaiyattum
Santhi adaiyatthum (Dialogue)
Naattu padagai
Saaikkum puyalaai
Naamum varalaamo
Naattu padagai
Saaikkum puyalaai
Naamum varalaamo
Naalaiya ulagil throgigal ennum
Peyarum peralaamo
Peyarum peralaamo
Hmm peyaril enna irukkirathu
Nooru per koodi
Oorvalam nadathi
Veerathi veeran endru
Vaazhthu paa paadinaal
Throghi thiyaagi aavaan
Kulappam purindhavan
Mulakkam seidhavan aaavan
Kollai adithavan
Vallalaai maaruvaan
Mandhai aadugal makkal
Vaazhnthu kaatugiren enbaan
Varuga varuga vena vaazhthuraikka
Seigiren enbaan
Kall aagivittadhu nenjam
Karaikka mudiyathu yaarum
Devan idhayam kallaanaal
Dheviyar thunai illaiyoo
Aaviyai tharuvaar avar endraal
Adaikalam kedaikaadhoo
Adaikalam kedaikaadhoo
Adaikalam kedaikaadhoo
Thaayae thaayae thaayae
Dark clouds have gathered, oh mother,
Dark clouds have gathered, oh mother,
Lightning is about to strike, oh mother!
The crashing roar of thunder
Has arrived ahead as a warning, oh mother!
Mother, oh mother, ah... ah... ah...
If the eyelid and the eye turn against each other,
Won't nature laugh in mockery?
If the eyelid and the eye turn against each other,
Won't nature laugh in mockery?
If a mother and child become enemies,
Won't the world laugh in ridicule?
If a mother and child become enemies,
Won't the world laugh in ridicule?
Let them laugh!
Let them laugh heartily!
You laugh along too!
The strong are the ones who survive.
The prosperous are the ones who laugh.
Learn to laugh in the face of death,
And all your worries will vanish.
From your bloodstream,
Cut away all affection,
And your heart will become clear.
Walking over a trail of skulls,
Many have ruled kingdoms.
Stepping over his own brother's head,
The one destined to rule this land
Is your husband! (Spoken)
When children of the same mother
Fight against each other—
Is it right for such a time to arrive?
When children of the same mother
Fight against each other—
Is it right for such a time to arrive?
Like an ant trapped on a firebrand burning at both ends,
Is it fair that I perish too?
Is it fair that I perish too?
Hmph, foolish woman!
What shouldn't have happened has already happened.
Even if you weep or plead in prayer,
Not a single letter of fate will change.
A man who didn't know how to survive—a representative
Of dry and hollow principles!
Not knowing how to join the winning side,
He allied with those struggling in defeat—
A man with no sense!
Born only to meet his death,
That ill-fated brother of mine!
May his soul find peace!
Rest in peace! (Spoken)
Like a sudden tempest
That overturns a simple country boat,
Should we become such a storm?
Like a sudden tempest
That overturns a simple country boat,
Should we become such a storm?
In the eyes of tomorrow's world, as traitors—
Should we earn that disgraceful name?
Should we earn that name...?
Hmph, what is in a name?
If a hundred people gather,
Hold a grand procession,
And sing songs of praise
Hailing someone as the greatest hero,
A traitor becomes a martyr!
The one who brought chaos
Becomes hailed as a great leader!
The one who plundered
Turns into a generous patron!
The common people are a herd of sheep.
He will declare, "I will show you how to live!"
And when they chant welcomes and cheers,
He will say, "I will do it!"
This heart has turned into stone;
No one can melt it now! (Spoken)
If the heart of God turns to stone,
Won't the Goddess stand by our side?
If the Lord is the one who gives life,
Won't He grant us refuge?
Won't He grant us refuge?
Won't He grant us refuge?
Oh Mother, oh Mother, oh Mother!
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This dramatic musical-dialogue sequence from Sivagangai Seemai (1959) illustrates a profound moral and political conflict during a period of betrayal and warfare. A grieving woman laments the tragic infighting between kin and the impending ruin of her family and nation, questioning whether brother fighting brother can ever be justified by nature or history. In contrast, a ruthlessly pragmatic male figure responds in spoken dialogue, dismissing moral dilemmas as weak philosophy and asserting that political power is built on cold calculated strategy, ruthless ambition, and manipulating public perception. Written by Kannadasan, the song juxtaposes classical emotional poetry highlighting familial duty with sharp Machiavellian political realism. It powerfully captures the pain of caught-in-the-middle victims who feel like 'ants trapped on a burning stick' while rulers trample over their own bloodlines for power.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile / Idiom (Uvamai)

Iruthalai kolli erumbaai naanum

'Iruthalai kolli erumbaai' uses a famous Tamil idiom comparing the character's helpless predicament to an ant trapped on a stick burning at both ends.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Imaiyum vizhiyum edhiraanaal

'Imaiyum vizhiyum edhiraanaal' metaphors brothers/kin turning on each other as the eye and eyelid turning against one another.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Mandhai aadugal makkal

'Mandhai aadugal makkal' compares the easily manipulated common masses to a gullible herd of sheep.

Second-syllable Rhyme (Edhukai)

Imaiyum vizhiyum edhiraanaal / Thaaiyum seiyum pagaiyaanaal

Rhyming of the second consonant in consecutive lines ('Imaiyum' and 'Thaaiyum', 'Kulappam' and 'Kollai').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Sivagangai Seemai' (1959) was written and produced by legendary poet Kannadasan himself to highlight the historical anti-colonial struggle of the Maruthu Pandiyar brothers of Sivaganga. The film's soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Sivagangai Seemai

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.