Makkal Oru
From Kaanchi Thalaivan · 1963
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kaanchi Thalaivan1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Makkaloru thavaru seidhaal… | If the people make a mistake... |
| Maamannan theerppalippaan… | The great king delivers the judgment... |
| Mannavanae thavaru seidhaal… | But if the king himself commits a mistake... |
| Maanilathil yaar poruppaar… | Who in this vast world takes responsibility? |
| Male | |
| Ninaithu vandha seyalondru | The task I intended to do was one thing, |
| Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru | But the story that transpired was another. |
| Needhi dhevan kaaladiyil | At the feet of the Lord of Justice, |
| Veezhndhu vitten naan indru | I have fallen today. |
| Male | |
| Ninaithu vandha seyalondru | The task I intended to do was one thing, |
| Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru | But the story that transpired was another. |
| Needhi dhevan kaaladiyil | At the feet of the Lord of Justice, |
| Veezhndhu vitten naan indru | I have fallen today. |
| Male | |
| Ninaithu vandha seyalondru | The task I intended to do was one thing, |
| Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru | But the story that transpired was another. |
| Male | |
| Iruttinil thavitha iruvarai kaakka | To save two souls struggling in the dark, |
| Yaettrida muyandren oru vilakkai | I tried to light a lamp. |
| Iruttinil thavitha iruvarai kaakka | To save two souls struggling in the dark, |
| Yaettrida muyandren oru vilakkai | I tried to light a lamp. |
| Andha iruttinil naanae moozhgivitten… | Yet I myself sank into that darkness... |
| Iruttinil naanae moozhgivitten | I myself sank into the darkness. |
| Ingu yaaridam solven en vazhakkai | To whom here shall I state my case? |
| Yaaridam solven en vazhakkai | To whom shall I state my case? |
| Male | |
| Ninaithu vandha seyalondru | The task I intended to do was one thing, |
| Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru | But the story that transpired was another. |
| Needhi dhevan kaaladiyil | At the feet of the Lord of Justice, |
| Veezhndhu vitten naan indru | I have fallen today. |
| Male | |
| Ninaithu vandha seyalondru | The task I intended to do was one thing, |
| Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru | But the story that transpired was another. |
| Male | |
| Murai ketta mannanukku | For a king who has strayed from justice, |
| Mudiyedharkku | Why wear a crown? |
| Neri ketta nenjirkku ninaivedharkku | For a heart that has lost its virtue, why retain memory? |
| Karai pattu pona indha karam edharkku | For this hand that has become stained, why keep this hand? |
| Indha karam edharkku… | Why keep this hand...? |
மக்களொரு தவறு செய்தால்
மாமன்னன் தீர்ப்பளிப்பான்
மன்னவனே தவறு செய்தால்
மாநிலத்தில் யார் பொறுப்பார்
If the people make a mistake...
The great king delivers the judgment...
But if the king himself commits a mistake...
Who in this vast world takes responsibility?
நினைத்து வந்த செயலொன்று
நடந்து போன கதையொன்று
நீதி தேவன் காலடியில்
வீழ்ந்து விட்டேன் நானின்று
The task I intended to do was one thing,
But the story that transpired was another.
At the feet of the Lord of Justice,
I have fallen today.
நினைத்து வந்த செயலொன்று
நடந்து போன கதையொன்று
நீதி தேவன் காலடியில்
வீழ்ந்து விட்டேன் நானின்று
The task I intended to do was one thing,
But the story that transpired was another.
At the feet of the Lord of Justice,
I have fallen today.
நினைத்து வந்த செயலொன்று
நடந்து போன கதையொன்று
The task I intended to do was one thing,
But the story that transpired was another.
இருட்டினில் தவித்த இருவரைக் காக்க
ஏற்றிட முயன்றேன் ஒரு விளக்கை
இருட்டினில் தவித்த இருவரைக் காக்க
ஏற்றிட முயன்றேன் ஒரு விளக்கை
அந்த இருட்டினில் நானே மூழ்கிவிட்டேன்
இருட்டினில் நானே மூழ்கிவிட்டேன்
இங்கு யாரிடம் சொல்வேன் என் வழக்கை
யாரிடம் சொல்வேன் என் வழக்கை
To save two souls struggling in the dark,
I tried to light a lamp.
To save two souls struggling in the dark,
I tried to light a lamp.
Yet I myself sank into that darkness...
I myself sank into the darkness.
To whom here shall I state my case?
To whom shall I state my case?
நினைத்து வந்த செயலொன்று
நடந்து போன கதையொன்று
நீதி தேவன் காலடியில்
வீழ்ந்து விட்டேன் நானின்று
The task I intended to do was one thing,
But the story that transpired was another.
At the feet of the Lord of Justice,
I have fallen today.
நினைத்து வந்த செயலொன்று
நடந்து போன கதையொன்று
The task I intended to do was one thing,
But the story that transpired was another.
முறை கெட்ட மன்னனுக்கு
முடி எதற்கு
நெறி கெட்ட நெஞ்சிற்கு நினைவெதற்கு
கரைபட்டுப் போன இந்தக் கரம் எதற்கு
இந்தக் கரம் எதற்கு......
For a king who has strayed from justice,
Why wear a crown?
For a heart that has lost its virtue, why retain memory?
For this hand that has become stained, why keep this hand?
Why keep this hand...?
Makkaloru thavaru seidhaal…
If the people make a mistake...
Maamannan theerppalippaan…
The great king delivers the judgment...
Mannavanae thavaru seidhaal…
But if the king himself commits a mistake...
Maanilathil yaar poruppaar…
Who in this vast world takes responsibility?
Ninaithu vandha seyalondru
The task I intended to do was one thing,
Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru
But the story that transpired was another.
Needhi dhevan kaaladiyil
At the feet of the Lord of Justice,
Veezhndhu vitten naan indru
I have fallen today.
Ninaithu vandha seyalondru
The task I intended to do was one thing,
Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru
But the story that transpired was another.
Needhi dhevan kaaladiyil
At the feet of the Lord of Justice,
Veezhndhu vitten naan indru
I have fallen today.
Ninaithu vandha seyalondru
The task I intended to do was one thing,
Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru
But the story that transpired was another.
Iruttinil thavitha iruvarai kaakka
To save two souls struggling in the dark,
Yaettrida muyandren oru vilakkai
I tried to light a lamp.
Iruttinil thavitha iruvarai kaakka
To save two souls struggling in the dark,
Yaettrida muyandren oru vilakkai
I tried to light a lamp.
Andha iruttinil naanae moozhgivitten…
Yet I myself sank into that darkness...
Iruttinil naanae moozhgivitten
I myself sank into the darkness.
Ingu yaaridam solven en vazhakkai
To whom here shall I state my case?
Yaaridam solven en vazhakkai
To whom shall I state my case?
Ninaithu vandha seyalondru
The task I intended to do was one thing,
Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru
But the story that transpired was another.
Needhi dhevan kaaladiyil
At the feet of the Lord of Justice,
Veezhndhu vitten naan indru
I have fallen today.
Ninaithu vandha seyalondru
The task I intended to do was one thing,
Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru
But the story that transpired was another.
Murai ketta mannanukku
For a king who has strayed from justice,
Mudiyedharkku
Why wear a crown?
Neri ketta nenjirkku ninaivedharkku
For a heart that has lost its virtue, why retain memory?
Karai pattu pona indha karam edharkku
For this hand that has become stained, why keep this hand?
Indha karam edharkku…
Why keep this hand...?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song expresses deep remorse, guilt, and philosophical questioning of righteousness and accountability. The protagonist laments that while a king judges his subjects for their misdeeds, there is no higher earthly authority to hold a king accountable when he errs. He intended to act as a savior and bring light to those suffering in darkness, but his actions backfired, trapping him in despair and tragedy instead. Feeling broken and morally compromised, he questions the value of his ruler's crown, his memories, and even his own physical existence after failing to upholds his duties.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Makkaloru thavaru seidhaal…”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' across consecutive lines (Makkaloru, Maamannan, Mannavanae, Maanilathil), creating a rhythmic and lyrical resonance.
Contrast / Antithesis (Ethirmai)
“Ninaithu vandha seyalondru / Nadandhu pona kadhaiyondru”
Juxtaposition of intention versus reality ('Ninaithu vandha' vs 'Nadandhu pona'), highlighting the tragedy of noble intentions yielding unfortunate outcomes.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Iruttinil thavitha iruvarai kaakka / Yaettrida muyandren oru vilakkai”
Light ('vilakku') and darkness ('iruttu') are used metaphorically to represent moral guidance/help and confusion/tragedy respectively.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kaanchi Thalaivan (1963) is a historical drama starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), S. S. Rajendran, and C. R. Vijayakumari. The music for the film was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by Aalangudi Somu.
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