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Isaimozhi
Mayor Meenakshi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kodi Vitta Siru Mullai

From Mayor Meenakshi · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Mayor Meenakshi
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
8 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan
{Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan} (2)
Kadavul thantha dheepam
Adhu selvan kanda laabam
Yaezhai seitha paavam
Dhinam yaezhmai varumai kannae
Kadavul thantha dheepam
Adhu selvan kanda laabam
Yaezhai seitha paavam
Dhinam yaezhmai varumai kannae
Vanangum kaiyaalae amuthum undaagum
Nanjum vanthaalum varalaam
Maangal vanthaalum vengai vanthaalum
Madhiyaalae kandu vidalaam
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan
Ullae ulla idhayam
Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum
Ullae theeyum eriyum
Adhai pongum punnagai moodum
Ullae ulla idhayam
Adhai yaaraal kaana mudiyum
Ullae theeyum eriyum
Adhai pongum punnagai moodum
Nanmaigal seivorgal
Nandri ullorgal
Deivam enpaargal ingae
Theemai seivorin kaalam vendraalum
Mudivil povathu engae
Kodivitta sirumullai malarae
Nalla kovilil sirigindra silaiyae
Ulagai padaiththvan iravan
Adhil oorai yaeikkum oruvan
O little jasmine blossom on the vine,
O smiling statue in a sacred temple,
O little jasmine blossom on the vine,
O smiling statue in a sacred temple,
God is the one who created this world,
yet someone in it deceives everyone...
O little jasmine blossom on the vine,
O smiling statue in a sacred temple,
God is the one who created this world,
yet someone in it deceives everyone...
The light that God provided
became profit for the rich,
while for the karma of the poor,
poverty and misery became their daily lot, my dear.
The light that God provided
became profit for the rich,
while for the karma of the poor,
poverty and misery became their daily lot, my dear.
From hands joined in prayer, sweet nectar may come,
or even poison might arrive.
Whether gentle deer come or fierce tigers come,
one can recognize them with wisdom.
O little jasmine blossom on the vine,
O smiling statue in a sacred temple,
God is the one who created this world,
yet someone in it deceives everyone...
The heart that lies within,
who can truly see it?
A fire may burn inside,
hidden behind a bright smile.
The heart that lies within,
who can truly see it?
A fire may burn inside,
hidden behind a bright smile.
Those who do good deeds
and those who have gratitude,
people here will call them gods.
Even if the time of evildoers triumphs for now,
where will they end up in the end?
O little jasmine blossom on the vine,
O smiling statue in a sacred temple,
God is the one who created this world,
yet someone in it deceives everyone...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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.

Keep listening

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