Inbamo Thunbamo
From Gumastha · 1953
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- A. M. Raja
- Music director
- C. N. Pandurangan
- Details
- Gumastha1953
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Inbamo thunbamo edhuvumae nillaathae | Neither joy nor sorrow will stay forever; |
| Idhae iyarkkai niyathi… | This is the law of nature... |
| Male | |
| Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu | Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile, |
| Aasaiyo manal veedu | And our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Nam aasaiyo manal veedu | Our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Suga vaazhvuthaan naaduvom | We seek only a life of pleasure, |
| Thuyar soozhnthu naam vaaduvom | Yet we wither when surrounded by sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu | Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile, |
| Aasaiyo manal veedu | And our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Nam aasaiyo manal veedu | Our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Male | |
| Thaarugal adhigam seivom | We commit numerous mistakes, |
| Thalaivithiyena naam kolvom | Yet we blame it all on our fate. |
| Sollum thairiyam izhanthu veenae | Losing the courage to speak out, in vain, |
| Naam samuga adimaigalaavom… | We become mere slaves to society... |
| Male | |
| Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu | Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile, |
| Aasaiyo manal veedu | And our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Nam aasaiyo manal veedu | Our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Male | |
| Thoottridum ulagamae namai pottruthal sagajamae | The world that censures us today will naturally praise us tomorrow; |
| Manam seraathae edhilumae | Do not get emotionally attached to anything. |
| Tholvi kandu athai enni veenil | Seeing failure and pondering over it needlessly, |
| Soga pimbamaagaathae | Do not turn yourself into an image of grief. |
| Naamamae nogaathae kaalam maarum maravaathae | Do not let your mind hurt; time will change, never forget. |
| Male | |
| Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu | Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile, |
| Aasaiyo manal veedu | And our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Nam aasaiyo manal veedu | Our desire is but a castle made of sand. |
| Suga vaazhvuthaan naaduvom | We seek only a life of pleasure, |
| Thuyar soozhnthu naam vaaduvom | Yet we wither when surrounded by sorrow. |
இன்பமோ துன்பமோ எதுவுமே நில்லாதே
இதே இயற்கை நியதி......
Neither joy nor sorrow will stay forever;
This is the law of nature...
நம் ஜீவியக்கூடு களிமண் ஓடு
ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
நம் ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
சுக வாழ்வுதான் நாடுவோம்
துயர் சூழ்ந்து நாம் வாடுவோம்....
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
We seek only a life of pleasure,
Yet we wither when surrounded by sorrow.
நம் ஜீவியக்கூடு களிமண் ஓடு
ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
நம் ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
தவறுகள் அதிகம் செய்வோம்
தலைவிதியென நாம் கொள்வோம்
சொல்லும் தைரியம் இழந்து வீணே
நாம் சமூக அடிமைகளாவோம்......
We commit numerous mistakes,
Yet we blame it all on our fate.
Losing the courage to speak out, in vain,
We become mere slaves to society...
நம் ஜீவியக்கூடு களிமண் ஓடு
ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
நம் ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
தூற்றிடும் உலகமே நமைப் போற்றுதல் சகஜமே
மனம் சோராதே எதிலுமே
தோல்விக் கண்டு அதை எண்ணி வீணில்
சோக பிம்பமாகாதே
நாமமே நோகாதே காலம் மாறும் மறவாதே......
The world that censures us today will naturally praise us tomorrow;
Do not get emotionally attached to anything.
Seeing failure and pondering over it needlessly,
Do not turn yourself into an image of grief.
Do not let your mind hurt; time will change, never forget.
நம் ஜீவியக்கூடு களிமண் ஓடு
ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
நம் ஆசையோ மணல் வீடு
சுக வாழ்வுதான் நாடுவோம்
துயர் சூழ்ந்து நாம் வாடுவோம்....
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
We seek only a life of pleasure,
Yet we wither when surrounded by sorrow.
Inbamo thunbamo edhuvumae nillaathae
Neither joy nor sorrow will stay forever;
Idhae iyarkkai niyathi…
This is the law of nature...
Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
Aasaiyo manal veedu
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Nam aasaiyo manal veedu
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Suga vaazhvuthaan naaduvom
We seek only a life of pleasure,
Thuyar soozhnthu naam vaaduvom
Yet we wither when surrounded by sorrow.
Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
Aasaiyo manal veedu
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Nam aasaiyo manal veedu
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Thaarugal adhigam seivom
We commit numerous mistakes,
Thalaivithiyena naam kolvom
Yet we blame it all on our fate.
Sollum thairiyam izhanthu veenae
Losing the courage to speak out, in vain,
Naam samuga adimaigalaavom…
We become mere slaves to society...
Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
Aasaiyo manal veedu
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Nam aasaiyo manal veedu
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Thoottridum ulagamae namai pottruthal sagajamae
The world that censures us today will naturally praise us tomorrow;
Manam seraathae edhilumae
Do not get emotionally attached to anything.
Tholvi kandu athai enni veenil
Seeing failure and pondering over it needlessly,
Soga pimbamaagaathae
Do not turn yourself into an image of grief.
Naamamae nogaathae kaalam maarum maravaathae
Do not let your mind hurt; time will change, never forget.
Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu
Our body, the nest of life, is just a clay tile,
Aasaiyo manal veedu
And our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Nam aasaiyo manal veedu
Our desire is but a castle made of sand.
Suga vaazhvuthaan naaduvom
We seek only a life of pleasure,
Thuyar soozhnthu naam vaaduvom
Yet we wither when surrounded by sorrow.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from the 1953 Tamil movie Gumastha reflects on the transience of human existence, emotions, and worldly desires. The lyrics remind the listener that neither joy nor sorrow is permanent, as impermanence is the fundamental law of nature. Using vivid allegories such as comparing the human body to a fragile clay pot and human desires to ephemeral sandcastles, lyricist A. Maruthakasi emphasizes the futility of over-attaching oneself to societal validation or grieving over failures. The song also critiques human behavior—how people often make errors only to conveniently blame fate, while becoming silent victims of societal expectations. Ultimately, it delivers an uplifting message of resilience and stoicism: public opinion is fickle, times will inevitably change, and one must overcome failure without sinking into despair. A. M. Raja's soulful rendition adds depth to this contemplative timeless classic.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nam jeeviyakkoodu kaliman odu / Aasaiyo manal veedu”
The human body is compared to a fragile clay tile ('kaliman odu'), and desires are compared to temporary sandcastles ('manal veedu').
Antithesis / Contrast (Ethir-sol)
“Inbamo thunbamo edhuvumae nillaathae”
Contrasting opposites such as 'Inbamo' (pleasure) and 'thunbamo' (sorrow), as well as 'Thoottridum' (scolding/blaming) and 'pottruthal' (praising), are paired together to highlight life's dualities.
Rhyme & Alliteration (Ethirai / Monai)
“Thoottridum ulagamae namai pottruthal sagajamae”
Use of second-letter agreement (Ethirai) and initial letter matching (Monai) in lines like 'Thoottridum' and 'pottruthal', creating rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Gumastha (1953) was a social drama depicting the economic hardship and moral dilemmas faced by lower-middle-class clerks (gumasthas). Lyricist A. Maruthakasi was renowned for weaving deep philosophical home truths into simple, accessible Tamil, a trademark evident throughout this song.
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