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Onbadhu Roobai Nottu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Maargazhiyil Kulichu Paaru

From Onbadhu Roobai Nottu · 2007

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Srinivas
Music director
Bharathwaj
Movie name
Onbadhu Roobai Nottu
Movie release year
2007
Lyrics added on
25 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haa…aa…aa…haa…aa..aa…
Haa…aa…aa…haa…aa..aa…
Maargazhiyil kulichu paaru
Kuliru pazhagi pogum
Maadhavanaa vaazhndhu paaru
Varumai pazhagi pogum
Uppillaama kudichchu paaru
Kanji pazhagi pogum
Paai ilaama paduththu paaru
Thookkam pazhagi pogum
Varumaiyodu irundhu paaru
Vaazhvu pazhagi pogum
Sandhosaththa veruthu paaru
Saavu pazhagi pogum
Maargazhiyil kulichu paaru
Kuliru pazhagi pogum
Maadhavanaa vaazhndhu paaru
Varumai pazhagi pogum
Ennoda soththellaam
Tholaichuputten
Ippo en perum olagathaiyae
Ezhudhikitten
Thuravikku veedu manai
Yedhum illai
Oru kuruvikku kaasae dhaan
Thaevai illai
Sillena kaathu
Siththoda ooththu
Pasichaa kanji
Paduthaa urakkam
Podhumada podhumadaa
Podhumadaa saami
Naan sonnaakka valamidama
Suththumadaa bhoomi…..
Maargazhiyil kulichu paaru
Kuliru pazhagi pogum
Maadhavanaa vaazhndhu paaru
Varumai pazhagi pogum
Haa…aa…aa…haa…aa..aa…
Haa…aa…aa…haa…aa..aa…
Kaasu panam sandhosam
Tharuvadhilla
Vaira kallukku arisiyodu
Rusiyum illa
Podhumennum manasa pola
Selvam illa
Than pondaatti pola oru
Deivam illa
Vaeppamara nizhalu
Whistle adikkum kuyilu
Maatu mani saththam
Vayasaana muththam
Podhumada podhumadaa
Podhumadaa saami- ada
Enna pola sugamaan aalu
Irundhaa kaami
Maargazhiyil kulichu paaru
Kuliru pazhagi pogum
Maadhavanaa vaazhndhu paaru
Varumai pazhagi pogum
Uppillaama kudichchu paaru
Kanji pazhagi pogum
Paai ilaama paduththu paaru
Thookkam pazhagi pogum
Varumaiyodu irundhu paaru
Vaazhvu pazhagi pogum
Sandhosaththa veruthu paaru
Saavu pazhagi pogum
Maargazhiyil kulichu paaru
Kuliru pazhagi pogum
Maadhavanaa vaazhndhu paaru
Varumai pazhagi pogum
Ha... ah... ah... ha... ah... ah...
Ha... ah... ah... ha... ah... ah...
Try bathing in the cold month of Margazhi,
you will get used to the chill.
Try living like an ascetic,
you will get used to poverty.
Try drinking without any salt,
you will get used to plain porridge.
Try lying down without a mat,
you will get used to sleeping anywhere.
Try living alongside poverty,
you will get used to life.
Try letting go of worldly pleasures,
you will get used to death.
Try bathing in the cold month of Margazhi,
you will get used to the chill.
Try living like an ascetic,
you will get used to poverty.
All of my worldly possessions,
I have lost them all.
Now, in my own name,
I have claimed the whole world!
To a hermit, a house and land
mean nothing at all.
To a little sparrow, money
is never a need.
A gentle, cool breeze,
water flowing from a spring,
porridge when you are hungry,
sleep when you lie down—
this is enough, it is enough,
it is more than enough, dear Lord!
If I tell it which way to spin,
the earth itself will turn!
Try bathing in the cold month of Margazhi,
you will get used to the chill.
Try living like an ascetic,
you will get used to poverty.
Ha... ah... ah... ha... ah... ah...
Ha... ah... ah... ha... ah... ah...
Money and wealth do not
bring true happiness.
A sparkling diamond stone
does not taste as sweet as a grain of rice.
Like a heart that feels 'this is enough,'
there is no greater wealth.
Like one's own loyal wife,
there is no greater god.
The cool shade of a neem tree,
a cuckoo whistling its song,
the chime of cattle bells,
an old couple's tender kiss—
this is enough, it is enough,
it is more than enough, dear Lord!
Show me a man anywhere
who lives more content than me!
Try bathing in the cold month of Margazhi,
you will get used to the chill.
Try living like an ascetic,
you will get used to poverty.
Try drinking without any salt,
you will get used to plain porridge.
Try lying down without a mat,
you will get used to sleeping anywhere.
Try living alongside poverty,
you will get used to life.
Try letting go of worldly pleasures,
you will get used to death.
Try bathing in the cold month of Margazhi,
you will get used to the chill.
Try living like an ascetic,
you will get used to poverty.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful song from the movie 'Onbadhu Roobai Nottu' reflects deep philosophical values about contentments, minimalism, and detachment from material riches. Written by Vairamuthu, the lyricist conveys that habituation makes hardship manageable—whether it is bathing in freezing winter water or living in extreme poverty. Once a person lets go of materialistic greed, simple things in nature like shade, wind, water, and genuine human affection offer absolute joy and peace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora (Repetition of refrains)

Kuliru pazhagi pogum

The repeating phrase 'pazhagi pogum' (will become familiar/accustomed) reinforces the philosophical motif of human adaptability to hardship.

Emonis / Monai (Initial Rhyme in Tamil)

Maargazhiyil kulichu paaru / Maadhavanaa vaazhndhu paaru

Matching initial sounds across lines, such as 'Maargazhiyil' and 'Maadhavanaa', generating lyrical flow.

Metaphor

Podhumennum manasa pola Selvam illa

Comparing a contented mind ('podhumennum manasu') to the greatest form of wealth ('selvam').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Onbadhu Roobai Nottu' (2007) was directed by Thankar Bachan, based on his own novel of the same name. The song features music composed by Bharathwaj and captures the core emotional journey of the protagonist Madhava Padayachi.

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