Kodi Vitta Siru Mullai
From Mayor Meenakshi · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Mayor Meenakshi1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kodivitta sirumullai malarae | Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine! |
| Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae | Oh statue smiling in a fine temple! |
| Female | |
| Kodivitta sirumullai malarae | Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine! |
| Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae | Oh statue smiling in a fine temple! |
| Ulagai padaiththvan iravan | God created this world, |
| Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan | But in it, there is one who deceives the town. |
| Female | |
| {Kodivitta sirumullai malarae | Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine, |
| Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae | Oh statue smiling in a fine temple, |
| Ulagai padaiththvan iravan | God created this world, |
| Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan} (2) | But in it, there is one who deceives the town (repeated). |
| Female | |
| Kadavul thantha dheepam | The lamp given by God, |
| Adhu selvan kanda laabam | Is a profit gained by the rich man, |
| Yaezhai seitha paavam | Is the sin committed by the poor man, |
| Dhinam yaezhmai varumai kannae | Bringing daily poverty and misery, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Kadavul thantha dheepam | The lamp given by God, |
| Adhu selvan kanda laabam | Is a profit gained by the rich man, |
| Yaezhai seitha paavam | Is the sin committed by the poor man, |
| Dhinam yaezhmai varumai kannae | Bringing daily poverty and misery, my dear! |
| Female | |
| Vanangum kaiyaalae amuthum undaagum | With hands that worship, nectar can be created, |
| Nanjum vanthaalum varalaam | Yet poison too may come. |
| Maangal vanthaalum vengai vanthaalum | Whether deer come or tigers come, |
| Madhiyaalae kandu vidalaam | One can discern them with intellect. |
| Female | |
| Kodivitta sirumullai malarae | Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine! |
| Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae | Oh statue smiling in a fine temple! |
| Ulagai padaiththvan iravan | God created this world, |
| Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan | But in it, there is one who deceives the town. |
| Female | |
| Ullae ulla idhayam | The heart that lies deep within, |
| Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum | Who can truly see it? |
| Ullae theeyum eriyum | A fire burns inside, |
| Adhai pongum punnagai moodum | Which is concealed by an overflowing smile. |
| Female | |
| Ullae ulla idhayam | The heart that lies deep within, |
| Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum | Who can truly see it? |
| Ullae theeyum eriyum | A fire burns inside, |
| Adhai pongum punnagai moodum | Which is concealed by an overflowing smile. |
| Female | |
| Nanmaigal seivorgal | Those who do good deeds, |
| Nandri ullorgal | And those who are grateful, |
| Deivam enpaargal ingae | Will be called divine beings here. |
| Theemai seivorin kaalam vendraalum | Even if the era of evil-doers triumphs for a time, |
| Mudivil povathu engae | Where will they go in the end? |
| Female | |
| Kodivitta sirumullai malarae | Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine! |
| Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae | Oh statue smiling in a fine temple! |
| Ulagai padaiththvan iravan | God created this world, |
| Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan | But in it, there is one who deceives the town. |
கொடிவிட்ட சிறுமுல்லை மலரே
நல்ல கோவிலில் சிரிக்கின்ற சிலையே
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
கொடிவிட்ட சிறுமுல்லை மலரே
நல்ல கோவிலில் சிரிக்கின்ற சிலையே
உலகைப் படைத்தவன் இறைவன்
அதில் ஊரை ஏய்க்கும் ஒருவன்...
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
God created this world,
But in it, there is one who deceives the town.
{கொடிவிட்ட சிறுமுல்லை மலரே
நல்ல கோவிலில் சிரிக்கின்ற சிலையே
உலகைப் படைத்தவன் இறைவன்
அதில் ஊரை ஏய்க்கும் ஒருவன்...} (2)
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine,
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple,
God created this world,
But in it, there is one who deceives the town (repeated).
கடவுள் தந்த தீபம்
அது செல்வன் கண்ட லாபம்
ஏழை செய்த பாவம்
தினம் ஏழ்மை வறுமை கண்ணே
The lamp given by God,
Is a profit gained by the rich man,
Is the sin committed by the poor man,
Bringing daily poverty and misery, my dear!
கடவுள் தந்த தீபம்
அது செல்வன் கண்ட லாபம்
ஏழை செய்த பாவம்
தினம் ஏழ்மை வறுமை கண்ணே
The lamp given by God,
Is a profit gained by the rich man,
Is the sin committed by the poor man,
Bringing daily poverty and misery, my dear!
வணங்கும் கையாலே அமுதும் உண்டாகும்
நஞ்சும் வந்தாலும் வரலாம்
மான்கள் வந்தாலும் வேங்கை வந்தாலும்
மதியாலே கண்டு விடலாம்
With hands that worship, nectar can be created,
Yet poison too may come.
Whether deer come or tigers come,
One can discern them with intellect.
கொடிவிட்ட சிறுமுல்லை மலரே
நல்ல கோவிலில் சிரிக்கின்ற சிலையே
உலகைப் படைத்தவன் இறைவன்
அதில் ஊரை ஏய்க்கும் ஒருவன்...
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
God created this world,
But in it, there is one who deceives the town.
உள்ளே உள்ள இதயம்
அதை யாரால் காண முடியும்
உள்ளே தீயும் எரியும்
அதை பொங்கும் புன்னகை மூடும்
The heart that lies deep within,
Who can truly see it?
A fire burns inside,
Which is concealed by an overflowing smile.
உள்ளே உள்ள இதயம்
அதை யாரால் காண முடியும்
உள்ளே தீயும் எரியும்
அதை பொங்கும் புன்னகை மூடும்
The heart that lies deep within,
Who can truly see it?
A fire burns inside,
Which is concealed by an overflowing smile.
நன்மைகள் செய்வோர்கள்
நன்றி உள்ளோர்கள்
தெய்வம் என்பார்கள் இங்கே
தீமை செய்வோரின் காலம் வென்றாலும்
முடிவில் போவது எங்கே
Those who do good deeds,
And those who are grateful,
Will be called divine beings here.
Even if the era of evil-doers triumphs for a time,
Where will they go in the end?
கொடிவிட்ட சிறுமுல்லை மலரே
நல்ல கோவிலில் சிரிக்கின்ற சிலையே
உலகைப் படைத்தவன் இறைவன்
அதில் ஊரை ஏய்க்கும் ஒருவன்...
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
God created this world,
But in it, there is one who deceives the town.
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
God created this world,
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan
But in it, there is one who deceives the town.
{Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine,
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple,
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
God created this world,
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan} (2)
But in it, there is one who deceives the town (repeated).
Kadavul thantha dheepam
The lamp given by God,
Adhu selvan kanda laabam
Is a profit gained by the rich man,
Yaezhai seitha paavam
Is the sin committed by the poor man,
Dhinam yaezhmai varumai kannae
Bringing daily poverty and misery, my dear!
Kadavul thantha dheepam
The lamp given by God,
Adhu selvan kanda laabam
Is a profit gained by the rich man,
Yaezhai seitha paavam
Is the sin committed by the poor man,
Dhinam yaezhmai varumai kannae
Bringing daily poverty and misery, my dear!
Vanangum kaiyaalae amuthum undaagum
With hands that worship, nectar can be created,
Nanjum vanthaalum varalaam
Yet poison too may come.
Maangal vanthaalum vengai vanthaalum
Whether deer come or tigers come,
Madhiyaalae kandu vidalaam
One can discern them with intellect.
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
God created this world,
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan
But in it, there is one who deceives the town.
Ullae ulla idhayam
The heart that lies deep within,
Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum
Who can truly see it?
Ullae theeyum eriyum
A fire burns inside,
Adhai pongum punnagai moodum
Which is concealed by an overflowing smile.
Ullae ulla idhayam
The heart that lies deep within,
Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum
Who can truly see it?
Ullae theeyum eriyum
A fire burns inside,
Adhai pongum punnagai moodum
Which is concealed by an overflowing smile.
Nanmaigal seivorgal
Those who do good deeds,
Nandri ullorgal
And those who are grateful,
Deivam enpaargal ingae
Will be called divine beings here.
Theemai seivorin kaalam vendraalum
Even if the era of evil-doers triumphs for a time,
Mudivil povathu engae
Where will they go in the end?
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Oh wild jasmine flower that has bloomed on the vine!
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Oh statue smiling in a fine temple!
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
God created this world,
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan
But in it, there is one who deceives the town.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kodivitta sirumullai malarae' from Mayor Meenakshi (1976) is a poignant philosophical song composed by M. S. Viswanathan, penned by Kannadasan, and sung by Vani Jairam. Addressing an innocent child compared to a blossoming jasmine and a sacred temple idol, the singer reflects on the sharp dualities of life—wealth versus poverty, deceit versus innocence, and deep inner grief masked behind smiling faces. Kannadasan's lyrics convey a classic moral vision: although deceitful individuals may thrive temporarily in the world created by God, true divinity lies in virtue, gratitude, and wisdom, with ultimate justice prevailing in the end.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kodivitta sirumullai malarae / Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae”
Compares an innocent loved one or child to a blooming wild jasmine flower and a smiling sacred statue.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Maangal vanthaalum vengai vanthaalum / Vanangum kaiyaalae amuthum undaagum Nanjum vanthaalum varalaam”
Juxtaposes gentle deer (maangal) against fierce tigers (vengai), and divine nectar (amuthum) against poison (nanjum) to highlight life's unpredictable dualities.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Ullae ulla idhayam / Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum”
Matching of the second consonant 'll' between lines.
Imagery
“Ullae theeyum eriyum / Adhai pongum punnagai moodum”
Evokes vivid visual imagery of inner pain hidden behind an outward cheerful facade.
Did you know?
Trivia
Mayor Meenakshi (1976) starred K. R. Vijaya and Jaishankar. The soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics by Kannadasan. Vani Jairam's expressive rendition of this song highlights her mastery over classical nuances and emotional delivery in Tamil cinema during the mid-1970s.
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