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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Malaiye Un Nilaiye

From Vanangamudi – 1957 Film · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Vanangamudi – 1957 Film1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaaHaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa
Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraaiOh mountain, look at your transformed state!
Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraaiOh mountain, look at your transformed state!
Kalaingan kai uliyaalaeBy the chisel in the artist's hand,
Kaaviya silaiyaanaYou became an epic sculpture.
Kalaingan kai uliyaalaeBy the chisel in the artist's hand,
Kaaviya silaiyaanaYou became an epic sculpture.
Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraaiOh mountain, look at your transformed state!
Male
Alai pondra manameedhil amaidhiyum needhaanaeAre you not the peace inside a mind turbulent like ocean waves?
Alai pondra manameedhil amaidhiyum needhaanaeAre you not the peace inside a mind turbulent like ocean waves?
Palanaalum unai seidha palanae adaivenaeI shall reap the fruit of crafting you over many days.
Aalaiyam unakkaaga aandavan enakkaagaThe temple is for you, and God is for me.
Aalaiyam unakkaaga aandavan enakkaagaThe temple is for you, and God is for me.
Aanandham kaanbaen endhan vaazhvilaeI shall behold bliss in my life!
Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraaiOh mountain, look at your transformed state!
Male
Kannilae bavani varum kalaimaniyaeOh precious jewel of art that parades before the eyes,
En kanavum ninaivaaghaAs my dream turns into reality,
Karppanai idhayathil pudhaiyalaanaaiYou became a hidden treasure in the heart of imagination,
En kavalai theeravaeTo resolve and ease my worries!
Male
Thozhilaali uzhaipaalae thondridum silaiyaeOh statue born from the sweat and labor of a worker,
Thozhilaali uzhaipaalae thondridum silaiyaeOh statue born from the sweat and labor of a worker,
Ulagorum unai naadi ullam magizhvaaraePeople of the world will seek you and rejoice in their hearts.
Kalainganum unakkaaga kaaviyam enakkaagaThe artist is for you, and the epic creation is for me.
Kalainganum unakkaaga kaaviyam enakkaagaThe artist is for you, and the epic creation is for me.
Vilai madhiyaa selvam neeyallavooAre you not a priceless treasure?
Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraaiOh mountain, look at your transformed state!
Kalaingan kai uliyaalaeBy the chisel in the artist's hand,
Kaaviya silaiyaanaYou became an epic sculpture.
Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraaiOh mountain, look at your transformed state!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic track from Vanangamudi (1957), composed by G. Ramanathan and sung by Seerkazhi Govindarajan, is a magnificent tribute to the power of human art and labor. The sculptor addresses a mountain rock, urging it to witness how human dedication and a simple chisel transformed raw stone into an exquisite divine sculpture. The song celebrates how artistic effort converts natural landscapes into sacred temples and epic works of art that bring profound inner peace to humankind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Alai pondra manameedhil amaidhiyum needhaanae

Comparing the restless and turbulent human mind to surging sea waves ('Alai pondra manameedhil').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaaviya silaiyaana

Metaphorically addressing the stone statue as an epic poem wrought in stone ('Kaaviya silaiyaana').

Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Kalaingan kai uliyaalae

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words in the line.

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Malaiyae un nilaiyae nee paaraai

Matching second consonant sound 'la' in consecutive lines ('Malaiyae' / 'Kalaingan').

Did you know?

Trivia

Vanangamudi (1957) starred Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role. This song, penned by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and composed by G. Ramanathan, remains one of Tamil cinema's definitive classical tributes to artisans, sculptors, and physical labor.

Keep listening

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