Mama Varalama Thodalama
From Nanayam Illatha Nanayam · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
- Music director
- Vijay Anand
- Details
- Nanayam Illatha Nanayam1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa | Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid? |
| Kaalam kulirkaalam idhu nenachchaa varumaa | The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it? |
| Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa | Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid? |
| Kaalam kulirkaalam idhu nenachchaa varumaa | The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it? |
| Female | |
| Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa | Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid? |
| Female | |
| Ulagam unnuthu mama | The world belongs to you, Uncle. |
| Nee odhungi irunthidalaama | Should you remain withdrawn and aloof? |
| Nee vaazha vazhiya thedu | Find a way to live your life. |
| Naanayam irunthaa naanayam edhukku | If you have money, why do you need integrity? |
| Ellaam naanayam | Everything in this world is money. |
| Female | |
| Needhiyum nermaiyum unakku | Justice and honesty, for you, |
| Pudhu paadhaikku thadaiyaa irukku | Are obstacles on a new path. |
| Nee valainjaa varavu nimirnthaa selavu | If you bend, it is income; if you stand upright, it is expense. |
| Idhuthaan thaththuvam | This is the real philosophy! |
| Female | |
| Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa | Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid? |
| Kaalam kulirkaalam idhu nenachchaa varumaa | The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it? |
| Female | |
| Thegam ila thegam mogam pudhu raagam | The body is young, passion is a new melody. |
| Female | |
| Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa | Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid? |
| Male | |
| Saththiyamthaandi perisu | Is truth greater than everything? |
| En varumai adhukku parisu | My poverty is the reward for that truth! |
| Un kaasu kaalu thoosu | Your money is merely dust beneath my feet. |
| Saththiyamthaandi perisu | Is truth greater than everything? |
| En varumai adhukku parisu | My poverty is the reward for that truth! |
| Un kaasu kaalu thoosu | Your money is merely dust beneath my feet. |
| Male | |
| Annalum arinyarum sonnathuthaandi | Only the teachings of great men and scholars |
| Enakku vedhangal | Are scriptures to me. |
| Male | |
| Pala poigalil kedaikkira laabam | The profit obtained from a web of lies, |
| En veettukku vanthaa paavam | Is a sin if it enters my home. |
| Naan irukkira varaikkum manushanaa iruppaen | As long as I exist, I will live as an upright human being. |
| Adhuthaan latchiyam | That is my ultimate goal. |
மாமா வரலாமா தொடலாமா பயமா
காலம் குளிர்காலம் இது நெனச்சா வருமா
மாமா வரலாமா தொடலாமா பயமா
காலம் குளிர்காலம் இது நெனச்சா வருமா
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it?
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it?
தேகம் இள தேகம் மோகம் புது ராகம்
தேகம் இள தேகம் மோகம் புது ராகம்
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
மாமா வரலாமா தொடலாமா பயமா..
The world belongs to you, Uncle.
Should you remain withdrawn and aloof?
Find a way to live your life.
If you have money, why do you need integrity?
Everything in this world is money.
உலகம் உன்னுது மாமா
நீ ஒதுங்கி இருந்திடலாமா
நீ வாழ வழியத் தேடு
நாணயம் இருந்தா நாணயம் எதுக்கு
எல்லாம் நாணயம்
Justice and honesty, for you,
Are obstacles on a new path.
If you bend, it is income; if you stand upright, it is expense.
This is the real philosophy!
நீதியும் நேர்மையும் உனக்கு
புது பாதைக்கு தடையா இருக்கு
நீ வளைஞ்சா வரவு நிமிர்ந்தா செலவு
இதுதான் தத்துவம்......
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it?
மாமா வரலாமா தொடலாமா பயமா
காலம் குளிர்காலம் இது நெனச்சா வருமா
The body is young, passion is a new melody.
தேகம் இள தேகம் மோகம் புது ராகம்
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
மாமா வரலாமா தொடலாமா பயமா..
Is truth greater than everything?
My poverty is the reward for that truth!
Your money is merely dust beneath my feet.
Is truth greater than everything?
My poverty is the reward for that truth!
Your money is merely dust beneath my feet.
சத்தியம்தான்டி பெரிசு
என் வறுமை அதுக்கு பரிசு
உன் காசு காலு தூசு
சத்தியம்தான்டி பெரிசு
என் வறுமை அதுக்கு பரிசு
உன் காசு காலு தூசு
Only the teachings of great men and scholars
Are scriptures to me.
அண்ணலும் அறிஞரும் சொன்னதுதான்டி
எனக்கு வேதங்கள்
The profit obtained from a web of lies,
Is a sin if it enters my home.
As long as I exist, I will live as an upright human being.
That is my ultimate goal.
பல பொய்களில் கெடைக்கிற லாபம்
என் வீட்டுக்கு வந்தா பாவம்
நான் இருக்கிற வரைக்கும் மனுஷனா இருப்பேன்
அதுதான் இலட்சியம்...
Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
Kaalam kulirkaalam idhu nenachchaa varumaa
The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it?
Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
Kaalam kulirkaalam idhu nenachchaa varumaa
The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it?
Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
Ulagam unnuthu mama
The world belongs to you, Uncle.
Nee odhungi irunthidalaama
Should you remain withdrawn and aloof?
Nee vaazha vazhiya thedu
Find a way to live your life.
Naanayam irunthaa naanayam edhukku
If you have money, why do you need integrity?
Ellaam naanayam
Everything in this world is money.
Needhiyum nermaiyum unakku
Justice and honesty, for you,
Pudhu paadhaikku thadaiyaa irukku
Are obstacles on a new path.
Nee valainjaa varavu nimirnthaa selavu
If you bend, it is income; if you stand upright, it is expense.
Idhuthaan thaththuvam
This is the real philosophy!
Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
Kaalam kulirkaalam idhu nenachchaa varumaa
The season is cold winter; will this time return if you just wish for it?
Thegam ila thegam mogam pudhu raagam
The body is young, passion is a new melody.
Mama varalaama thodalaamaa bayamaa
Uncle, may I come? May I touch? Are you afraid?
Saththiyamthaandi perisu
Is truth greater than everything?
En varumai adhukku parisu
My poverty is the reward for that truth!
Un kaasu kaalu thoosu
Your money is merely dust beneath my feet.
Saththiyamthaandi perisu
Is truth greater than everything?
En varumai adhukku parisu
My poverty is the reward for that truth!
Un kaasu kaalu thoosu
Your money is merely dust beneath my feet.
Annalum arinyarum sonnathuthaandi
Only the teachings of great men and scholars
Enakku vedhangal
Are scriptures to me.
Pala poigalil kedaikkira laabam
The profit obtained from a web of lies,
En veettukku vanthaa paavam
Is a sin if it enters my home.
Naan irukkira varaikkum manushanaa iruppaen
As long as I exist, I will live as an upright human being.
Adhuthaan latchiyam
That is my ultimate goal.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a dramatic philosophical confrontation between worldly pragmatism/temptation and unwavering moral integrity. The female voice attempts to seduce the male protagonist into abandoning his rigid principles, arguing that money rules the world and that flexing one's ethics is necessary to prosper while youth lasts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Siledai / Pun (Double Entendre)
“Naanayam irunthaa naanayam edhukku”
The word 'Naanayam' is brilliantly played upon for its dual meanings in Tamil: 'currency/coin' and 'honesty/integrity'.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Nee valainjaa varavu nimirnthaa selavu”
Contrasting 'valainjaa' (bending/flexing ethics) with 'nimirnthaa' (standing upright/righteous) alongside 'varavu' (income) and 'selavu' (expense) to illustrate corrupt worldly wisdom.
Metaphor
“Un kaasu kaalu thoosu”
Wealth acquired through unethical means is metaphorically reduced to 'kaalu thoosu' (dust beneath the feet) to signify its absolute worthlessness to an honest person.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Annalum arinyarum sonnathuthaandi”
Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches ('Annalum' and 'Enakku' / 'Pala' and 'En'), maintaining rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Vaali uses the central word play on 'Naanayam' (which means both currency and integrity) to echo the movie's title 'Nanayam Illatha Nanayam' (Currency Without Integrity / Integrity-less Coin). Composed by Vijay Anand, the song contrasts lighthearted seductive rhythms with hard-hitting ethical dialogue.
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