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Lyrics & meaning

Inge Iruppathaa

From Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal · 1959

Lyricist
Kavi Rajagopal
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Inge iruppadha ange varuvadhaShould I stay here or come there?
Mangala nayagiyae sollammaTell me, oh auspicious Goddess!
Inge iruppadha ange varuvadhaShould I stay here or come there?
Mangala nayagiyae sollammaTell me, oh auspicious Goddess!
Female
Aatril oru kaalumWith one foot in the river,
Saetril oru kaalumAnd one foot in the mud,
Aatril oru kaalumWith one foot in the river,
Saetril oru kaalum veithaeAnd placing one foot in the mud,
Allal padum nilaiyai paarammaLook at my suffering state, oh Mother!
Allal padum en nilaiyai paarammaLook at my suffering state, oh Mother!
Female
Inge iruppadha ange varuvadhaShould I stay here or come there?
Mangala nayagiyae sollammaTell me, oh auspicious Goddess!
Female
Annaiyae un padham thozhugaiyilaeMother, while I was worshiping your feet,
Veghu avarasaram endrae ennai azhaithaareHe called me urgently saying it was very important,
Anghe badhil sollvadha inghe pani seivadhaShould I answer there or perform service here?
Anghe badhil sollvadha inghe pani seivadhaShould I answer there or perform service here?
Unai aknden badhil thandharulvaai jagan maathaI sought you, grant me an answer, oh Mother of the Universe!
Female
Inge iruppadha ange varuvadhaShould I stay here or come there?
Mangala nayagiyae sollammaTell me, oh auspicious Goddess!
Female
Chidambara aasaaaikkumBetween the desire for Chidambaram,
Vedhaiyar aanaikkumAnd the strict command of the Vedhiyar,
Vithitta vidhar nandhan kadhaiyaachaeMy plight has become like the story of Nandanar,
Chidambara aasaaaikkumBetween the desire for Chidambaram,
Vedhaiyar aanaikkumAnd the strict command of the Vedhiyar,
Vithitta vidhar nandhan kadhaiyaachaeMy plight has become like the story of Nandanar,
Ullum veliyum manam oonjal aadudhaeInside and outside, my mind sways like a swing,
Ullum veliyum manam oonjal aadudhaeInside and outside, my mind sways like a swing,
En udal inge uyir ange unnai naaduthaeMy body is here, but my soul is there seeking you,
En udal inge uyir ange unnai naaduthaeMy body is here, but my soul is there seeking you,
Female
Inge iruppadha ange varuvadhaShould I stay here or come there?
Mangala nayagiyae sollammaTell me, oh auspicious Goddess!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional-style film song expresses a deep personal dilemma and conflict of duty. The protagonist feels torn between two pressing obligations and invokes the Divine Mother (Mangala Nayagi / Jagan Maatha) for guidance, describing her state using the famous Tamil idiom of having 'one foot in the river and one foot in the mud'. She compares her inner turmoil to the famous legendary struggle of the saint Nandanar, who was caught between his spiritual longing for Chidambaram and his devotion/duty to his earthly master. The song masterfully conveys her emotional state where her physical body remains in one place while her soul longs to be elsewhere.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverbial Metaphor / Idiom

Aatril oru kaalum Saetril oru kaalum

The line 'Aatril oru kaalum saetril oru kaalum' is a well-known Tamil idiom illustrating indecision, conflict, or balancing two risky situations simultaneously.

Cultural/Mythological Allusion

Chidambara aasaaaikkum Vedhaiyar aanaikkum Vithitta vidhar nandhan kadhaiyaachae

Refers to the story of Saint Nandanar from Tamil devotional lore (Gopalakrishna Bharathi's Nandanar Charithram), who was torn between his master's (Vedhiyar) orders and his deep urge to visit Lord Nataraja in Chidambaram.

Antithesis / Parallel Contrast

En udal inge uyir ange unnai naaduthae

Contrasts opposites such as 'inghe' (here) vs 'anghe' (there) and 'udal' (body) vs 'uyir' (soul/life) to heighten the physical and spiritual divide.

Simile / Visual Imagery

Ullum veliyum manam oonjal aadudhae

'Oonjal aadudhae' visualizes the restless mind swinging back and forth like a pendulum or cradle due to severe anxiety.

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Trivia

Rendered by the legendary Carnatic vocalist M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV), this song from 'Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal' (1959) features music by R. Sudarsanam. MLV's classical precision brings out the emotion of spiritual and moral dilemma, drawing heavily on Carnatic ragas and classical lyrical references.

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