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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karpa Maanama

From Engal Thanga Raja · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Engal Thanga Raja
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
26 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karppaam maanamaam… ha
Kannagiyaam seethaiyaam…
Karppaam maanamaam
Kannagiyaam seethaiyaam
Kadai theruvil virkkudhadaa
Aiyo paavam
Kaasirundhaal vaangalaam aiyo paavam
Karppaam maanamaam
Kannagiyaam seethaiyaam
Kadai theruvil virkkudhadaa
Aiyo paavam
Kaasirundhaal vaangalaam aiyo paavam
Kambanukku sollungal
Idhai kavidhai ezhudhuvaan
Andha valluvanai kooppidungal
Vaazhthu paaduvaan
Kambanukku sollungal
Idhai kavidhai ezhudhuvaan
Andha valluvanai kooppidungal
Vaazhthu paaduvaan
Aval peyaro arundhadhi
Aimbadhu roobaai
Ival peyaro agaligai irubadhu roobaai
Pathinigal perai vaithu
Parathaiyarai valarthuvidum
Paavigal boomi
Karppai paarungal saami
Karppaam maanamaam
Kannagiyaam seethaiyaam
Kadai theruvil virkkudhadaa
Aiyo paavam
Kaasirundhaal vaangalaam aiyo paavam
Manamarindhu thavaru seivor
Maaligaiyil illaiyo…
Pudhu malargalukku aal anuppum
Mannavargal illaiyo…
Vandu vandhu thaen kudithaal
Malarukku thaan thandanai
Vazhukki vizhum pengalukku
Sattathilum vanjanai
Karppaam maanamaam
Kannagiyaam seethaiyaam
Kadai theruvil virkkudhadaa
Aiyo paavam
Kaasirundhaal vaangalaam aiyo paavam
Gunamirundhum thavaru seivaal
Kuzhandhaikkaaga oruthi
Indha kodumai seiya udanpaduvaal
Kudmbam kaakka oruthi
Padithirundhum velaiyindri
Palli kondaal oruthi
Thirai pada thozhilil aasai vaithu
Bali aanaal oruthi
Thaai mozhiyaam thaai naadaam
Thaaimai enum panbaam…
Ingu sathiyamaam thathuvamaam
Dharmam enum ondraam…
Kanneeril midhakkudhadaa
Karppu enum odam
Kanneeril midhakkudhadaa
Karppu enum odam
Idhu kambanukkum valluvanukkum
Yen kadavulukkum paadam
Karppaam maanamaam
Kannagiyaam seethaiyaam
Kadai theruvil virkkudhadaa
Aiyo paavam
Kaasirundhaal vaangalaam aiyo paavam
Aiyo paavam aiyo paavam…
Chastity and honor, they say... ha!
Kannagi and Sita, they say...
Chastity and honor, they say...
Kannagi and Sita, they say...
It is being sold in the street market, my friend!
What a pity!
If you have money, you can buy it, what a pity!
Chastity and honor, they say...
Kannagi and Sita, they say...
It is being sold in the street market, my friend!
What a pity!
If you have money, you can buy it, what a pity!
Tell the poet Kamban,
he can write a poem about this!
Call upon that poet Valluvar,
he will sing a verse of praise!
Tell the poet Kamban,
he can write a poem about this!
Call upon that poet Valluvar,
he will sing a verse of praise!
That woman's name is Arundhati,
fifty rupees!
This woman's name is Ahalya, twenty rupees!
Naming them after virtuous women,
this land of sinners
raises them to be prostitutes!
Just look at this "chastity", O Lord!
Chastity and honor, they say...
Kannagi and Sita, they say...
It is being sold in the street market, my friend!
What a pity!
If you have money, you can buy it, what a pity!
Aren't there people who knowingly commit sins
living inside grand mansions?
Aren't there kings and powerful men
who send agents to hunt for fresh young flowers?
When a beetle comes and drinks the nectar,
it is the flower that gets punished!
For the women who stumble and fall,
even the law is unfair and unjust!
Chastity and honor, they say...
Kannagi and Sita, they say...
It is being sold in the street market, my friend!
What a pity!
If you have money, you can buy it, what a pity!
Despite having a good heart, she went astray—
one woman, for the sake of her child!
She resigns herself to this cruel fate—
one woman, just to save her family!
Educated, yet with no job to be found,
one woman sells her body in bed!
Yearning for a career in the movies,
one woman became a ruined victim!
They praise the mother tongue and motherland,
and the sacred virtue of motherhood!
Here they preach of truth and philosophy,
and that noble ideal called righteousness!
Yet floating in tears, my friend,
is the fragile boat called chastity!
Yet floating in tears, my friend,
is the fragile boat called chastity!
This is a lesson for Kamban and Valluvar,
why, a lesson even for God Himself!
Chastity and honor, they say...
Kannagi and Sita, they say...
It is being sold in the street market, my friend!
What a pity!
If you have money, you can buy it, what a pity!
What a pity! What a pity!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant social commentary penned by Kannadasan exposes the hypocrisy and economic hardship surrounding prostitution and women's chastity in society. The narrator laments how revered mythological icons of virtue like Kannagi, Sita, Arundhati, and Ahalya are reduced to cheap price tags on street corners due to poverty and exploitation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Satire / Irony (Edhir-porul)

Aval peyaro arundhadhi Aimbadhu roobaai

Comparing sacred, legendary figures of female purity (Kannagi, Sita, Arundhati) to commodified sex work in market streets to highlight society's downfall.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kanneeril midhakkudhadaa Karppu enum odam

Comparing chastity (Karppu) to a fragile boat floating on a river of tears (Kanneeril midhakkudhadaa karppu enum odam).

Analogy (Uvamai)

Vandu vandhu thaen kudithaal Malarukku thaan thandanai

Using the bee taking honey from a flower to symbolize men exploiting women while the woman suffers all the punishment and societal condemnation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Engal Thanga Raja (1973) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Manjula. The song features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, lyrics by Kannadasan, and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song serve as a powerful social critique against the systemic exploitation of impoverished women.

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