- Lyricist
- Udumalai Narayanakavi
- Music director
- Alandur Sivasubramaniyam
- Movie name
- Ashok Kumar
- Movie release year
- 1941
- Lyrics added on
- 26 Feb 2020
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Manamae Nee Eesan Naamathai is a classic philosophical and devotional song from the 1941 film Ashok Kumar, sung by legendary vocalist M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar with lyrics by Udumalai Narayana Kavi. The song is a direct address to one's own mind, exhorting it to chant the name of God (Eesan) continuously to transcend earthly suffering and attain eternal bliss (parasugam). It warns against being ensnared by transient worldly temptations, bodily lust, and karmic bonds, which only lead to anguish. To drive the lesson home, the lyricist uses vivid allegories: warning the mind not to be like a moth that mistakes a burning flame for a sweet fruit and flies into its destruction. It advocates seeking 'sarjana sangam' (company of the righteous) while shunning 'dhushtar prasangam' (discourse with the evil), steering the soul away from delusion towards divine liberation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaikani / Rupakam)
“Kanavenum vaazhvil kalangi vaadaadhae”
Life is equated to a fleeting dream (Kanavenum vaazhvil) to highlight its impermanent nature.
Extended Allegory / Metaphor
“Vilakkil veezhum pazhamendru mayangum / Vittilaagaadhae sanjala mengum”
The human soul attracted to worldly temptation is compared to a moth (vittil) mistaking a burning lamp flame for a ripe fruit.
Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaama moga madha vairigal vasamaai / Karma vinai soozhulaga vaadhanaiyil”
Repetition of the initial letter sounds ('Ka') across lines creating a harmonious rhythmic structure.
Emonaai / Refrain
“Manamae nee eesan naamathai”
The line 'Manamae nee eesan naamathai' acts as a recurring refrain that anchors the philosophical motif of the song.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sung by M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT), the first major superstar of Tamil cinema, this song showcases his high-pitched Carnatic vocal style that mesmerized audiences in the 1940s. Written by Udumalai Narayana Kavi, a poet renowned for introducing rationalist and philosophical thoughts into film music, the song remains one of the iconic early gems of Tamil cinema history.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Ashok Kumar
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.