Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Deiva Kuzhanthaikal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Manamulla Menmalar

From Deiva Kuzhanthaikal · 1973

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Shoba Chandrasekar, K. Swarna, L. R. Anjali
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Deiva Kuzhanthaikal
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
5 Jun 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sangam saranam katchaamiyae
Dharmam saranam katchaamiyae
Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam aadhi
Bhagavaa mudhattrae ulagu
Raghupathi ragava rajaram
Pathitha paavana seethaaram
Eshwara allah thaerae naam
Sabko sanmathi thae bhagavaan
………………
Manamulla menmalar roja
Adhai mathippavar panditha raja
Manamulla manamenna lesa
Antha manathai arulvaai eesa…
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Thayiril uraivathu vennai
Manam thanakkul uraivathu unmai
Uyirgalil vaippathu anbu
Dhinam unmaiyai sathamena nambu
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
………………
……………….
Ellaam madhamum ondrae
Adhan ellaa vazhigalum nandrae
Vallamai enbathu perumai
Adhil vanmurai enbathu sirumai
Vanmurai enbathu sirumai
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Arivukku padippathu paadam
Idhil arasiyal kalappathu paavam
Katchigal purivathu kuzhappam
Ilam kaalaiyin sevaigal vazhakkam
Urakkaththai maranthavan thalaivan
Nalla ozhukkaththil valarnthavan thalaivan
Kadanthathai marappavan thalaivan
Than kadamaiyai ninaippavan thalaivan
Than kadamaiyai ninaippavan thalaivan
Ingu eththanai methaigal kandom
Naam evarthaan avar vazhi nindrom
Sathiya deivaththai kondrom
Naam thanithani vazhigalil sendrom
I take refuge in the Sangha (spiritual community)
I take refuge in Dharma (righteousness)
Just as the letter 'A' begins the alphabet,
The primordial God is the beginning of the world.
Lord Rama, King of the Raghu clan,
Redeemer of the fallen, Sita and Rama,
Ishwar and Allah are both Your names,
Lord, grant wisdom and goodwill to everyone.
...
The rose is a fragrant and tender flower,
And Pandit Raja (Nehru) was the one who cherished it.
Is having a noble heart an easy thing?
Lord, please bless us with such a heart...
How many great minds have we seen here?
Yet which of us has truly followed their path?
Butter settles inside the curd,
And truth resides deep within the mind.
Shower love upon every living being,
And always believe that truth is eternal.
How many great minds have we seen here?
Yet which of us has truly followed their path?
...
...
All religions are one and the same,
And every one of their paths is good.
True capability is a matter of pride,
But resorting to violence is shameful.
Resorting to violence is shameful.
How many great minds have we seen here?
Yet which of us has truly followed their path?
We study our lessons to gain wisdom,
Mixing politics into it is a sin.
Political parties only stir up confusion,
When service should be the way of our youth.
A true leader is one who forgets his sleep,
A true leader is one raised with good character.
A true leader is one who lets go of the past,
A true leader is one who remembers his duty.
A true leader is one who remembers his duty.
How many great minds have we seen here?
Yet which of us has truly followed their path?
We killed the god of truth,
And scattered onto our own separate paths.
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Deiva Kuzhanthaikal' (1973) serves as a poignant social and moral reflection delivered through children. It weaves together famous spiritual chants—Buddhist refuges, Tiruvalluvar's first Thirukkural couplet, and Gandhi's favorite bhajan 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'—to emphasize universal unity, religious harmony, and truth. The lyricist Panchu Arunachalam contrasts the lofty ideals taught by visionary leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru with society's failure to actually live by those ideals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (இலக்கியக் குறிப்பு)

“Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam aadhi”

Directly quotes Thirukkural 1 ('Agara mudhala ezhuththellaam...') and the Gandhian bhajan ('Raghupathi ragava rajaram...').

Epistrophe / Antistrophe (சொற்பின்வருநிலையணி)

“Urakkaththai maranthavan thalaivan”

Repetition of the word 'thalaivan' at the end of successive lines defining true leadership.

Edhugai (எதுகை - Second Letter Rhyming)

“Vallamai enbathu perumai”

Matching of the second consonant sound in successive lines ('Vallamai' and 'Vanmurai').

Metaphor (உவமை)

“Thayiril uraivathu vennai”

Compares truth forming inside the mind to butter churning out of curd.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is notable for featuring vocals by Choba Chandrasekar (mother of Tamil superstar Vijay), alongside K. Swarna and L.R. Anjali. The composition by V. Kumar uniquely incorporates children's chorus elements mixed with timeless spiritual philosophy.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Vazhkkai Ennum Odam1964
PoompuharMortalityContemplative
Thottilil Thodangidum1986
Kanne KaniyamudheMortalitySpirituality
Koyil Enbathu Aalayam1967
AalayamSpiritualityContemplative
Unmai Ondre Pesum1957
Pudhu VazhvuMortalityWork And Duty
Kannu Therinju Nadakkanum1956
Rambaiyin KaadhalMortalityContemplative
Mahaganapathim1985
Sindhu BhairaviSpiritualityDevotion

From the same album

More songs from Deiva Kuzhanthaikal

View album
Yenintha Kobam1973
Deiva KuzhanthaikalTender
Ponnulagam Vanthaalum1973
Deiva KuzhanthaikalWistful
Naan Ennathil Neenthum1973
Deiva KuzhanthaikalPassionate

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.