Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malaiyae Asainthalum Shanthi Ethu

From Mathar Kula Manickam · 1956

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. Rajeswara Rao
Details
Mathar Kula Manickam1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Malaiyae asaindhaalumaeEven if a mountain sways,
Ye manamae nee asaiyaadhaeO mind, do not be shaken!
Nilaiyaadha jeevidhamaeLife is impermanent,
Mana alaiyodu poradumae….aeIt struggles endlessly with waves of thoughts.
Male
Santhi yedhu vaazhvilaeWhere is peace in this life?
Santhi yedhu vaazhvilaeWhere is peace in this life?
Vidhi neendhi sellum logathilaeIn a world through which destiny swims,
Soozhndha irulum vilagaamalaeWithout the surrounding darkness receding,
Jodhiyum kaanadhuEven light cannot be seen.
Soozhndha irulum vilagaamalaeWithout the surrounding darkness receding,
Jodhiyum kaanadhuEven light cannot be seen.
Male
Kanneer panneeraagumTears turn into rosewater,
Kalaimadhiyum irulaagumAnd the artistic moon turns dark.
Kanneer panneeraagumTears turn into rosewater,
Kalaimadhiyum irulaagumAnd the artistic moon turns dark.
Kadavulin sadhurangathilaeIn God's game of chess,
Kadavulin sadhurangathilaeIn God's game of chess,
Naam nadamaadum kaaigaladaWe are merely walking pawns,
Viliyaadum seigaladaaEnacting playful deeds.
Santhi yedhu vaazhvilaeWhere is peace in this life?
Vidhi neendhi sellum logathilaeIn a world through which destiny swims,
Soozhndha irulum vilagaamalaeWithout the surrounding darkness receding,
Jodhiyum kaanadhuEven light cannot be seen.
Male
Amaidhiyillaa kaalathilaeyaeIn times devoid of tranquility,
Amudhamum vishamaagumada..aa…Even sweet nectar turns into poison.
Amaidhiyillaa kaalathilaeyaeIn times devoid of tranquility,
Amudhamum vishamaagumada.Even sweet nectar turns into poison.
Aasaiyodu valarumA parrot raised with affection,
Kili parundhukku irai aagumadaBecomes prey to a hawk,
Manam varundhi kai maarumadaaAnd changes hands with a grieving heart.
Male
Sagada vaazhvidhae sulabhamaenThe wheel of life spins so easily,
SaaswadhamidhudhaanooIs this truly permanent?
Jeghamadhil nee sugamaaiIn this world, comfortably,
Magizhndhiduvaai manamae neeRejoice, O mind!
Male
Kavalaiyum yeno manamaeWhy worry, O mind?
Kaaranam nee dhaanooAre you yourself the cause?
Kavalaiyum yeno manamaeWhy worry, O mind?
Kaaranam nee dhaanooAre you yourself the cause?
Jeghamadhil nee sugamaaiIn this world, comfortably,
Magizhndhiduvaai inimelaeRejoice from now on!
Male
Malaiyae asaindhaalumaeEven if a mountain sways,
Ye manamae nee asaiyaadhaeO mind, do not be shaken!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Malaiyae Asaindhaalumae is a classic philosophical song from the 1956 Tamil film Mathar Kula Manickam, sung by T. M. Soundararajan with music composed by S. Rajeswara Rao and lyrics by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. The song urges the human mind to remain steadfast and unshaken even when faced with catastrophic life changes, using the metaphor of an immovable mountain against adversity. It questions the search for peace in a world dictated by fate and impermanence. Through vivid visual metaphors—such as human beings acting as mere pawns on God's chessboard and sweet nectar turning to poison in times of distress—the lyricist highlights the unpredictable turns of life. Ultimately, the song advises self-reflection, encouraging the listener to transcend worry, realize that mental attachment is often the root cause of suffering, and find calm resilience within.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Rupakam)

Kadavulin sadhurangathilae / Naam nadamaadum kaaigalada

Human beings are metaphorically compared to moving pawns on God's chessboard ('Kadavulin sadhurangathilae / Naam nadamaadum kaaigalada'), illustrating helplessness against fate.

Mona (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Malaiyae asaindhaalumae / Ye manamae nee asaiyaadhae

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ma' in 'Malaiyae' and 'manamae' creates a soothing rhythmic quality.

Contrast / Antithesis

Amudhamum vishamaagumada

Contrasting light and darkness ('Soozhndha irulum' vs 'Jodhiyum') and nectar and poison ('Amudhamum vishamaagumada') to accentuate emotional turmoil.

Personification

Ye manamae nee asaiyaadhae

Addressing the human mind ('Ye manamae') directly as an entity capable of listening, resisting, and overcoming anxiety.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mathar Kula Manickam (1956) was a bilingual film produced simultaneously in Telugu as Charana Daasi, based on Rabindranath Tagore's acclaimed novel Noukadubi. This philosophical track performed by T. M. Soundararajan became famous for its existential depth, showcasing lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass's knack for blending Vedantic philosophy with accessible film lyrics during the golden era of Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Mathar Kula Manickam