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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Mannukkulla Thangam Irukku

From Maru Malarchi · 1998

Lyricist
V. C. Vijayshankar
Singer
S. A. Rajkumar
Music director
S. A. Rajkumar
Details
Maru Malarchi1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mannukkulla thangam irukkuThere is gold inside the earth
Oli minnum vairam irukkuThere is a shining diamond
Nenjukulla dheivam irukkuGod resides inside the heart
Adhu onnae selvam namakkuThat alone is our true wealth
Male
Mannaaththaa ellaarukkum saamithaanungaMother Earth is god to everyone
Maanaththa kaakkum intha bhoomithaanungaThis earth protects our honor
Intha vellakkatti manneduththuIf you take this soil sweet like a jaggery block
Thinnaakkooda thiththikkumaeEven if eaten, it will taste sweet
Usurodu saernthathintha mannuthaanunaThis soil is bound to our very life
Male
Mannukkulla thangam irukkuThere is gold inside the earth
Oli minnum vairam irukku…..ooh….There is a shining diamond... ooh...
Male
Yaeru pootti poraadi yaeththam yaeri neer paaichchiPlowing the land, struggling, operating the water-lift, and channeling water
Paadupadum yaezhaikinbam mannallavaaIsn't this land the joy for the hard-working poor?
Mannai nambi nee vaazhuLive with faith in the soil
Mannae namma thaai veeduThe soil is our mother's home
Ulaaththuke soru podum mannallavaaIsn't this soil the one that feeds the whole world?
Male
Mannu melaththaan namma pozhappuOur livelihood rests upon the land
Mannai nampiththaan namma ozhappuOur hard work relies on the land
Intha manna thottu ellorum kondaaduvomLet us touch this soil and celebrate together
Thiruneera pola nenjil poosi pann paaduvomLet us apply it on our chests like holy ash and sing a song
Male
Mannukkulla thangam irukkuThere is gold inside the earth
Oli minnum vairam irukku…..ooh….There is a shining diamond... ooh...
Male
buddhar yeshu valluvaru nabigal gandhi vallalaaruBuddha, Jesus, Valluvar, Prophet, Gandhi, Vallalar
Siththar nooru kandathintha mannallavaaIsn't this the land that saw hundreds of Siddhas?
Jaadhi sandai illaathu samaya poosal kollaathuWithout caste fights, without religious conflicts
Koodi vaazha solluthintha mannallavaaDoesn't this land tell us to live together in harmony?
Male
Mannukkagaththaan sandai paaruLook, fights are fought for the land
Pidi mannukkagavae bharatha poruEven the Mahabharata war was fought for a fistful of land
Mannodu nam jenmam undaaguthuOur birth originates with this soil
Intha mannodu nam vaazhkkai mudivaaguthuOur life ends with this soil
Male
Mannukkulla thangam irukkuThere is gold inside the earth
Oli minnum vairam irukkuThere is a shining diamond
Nenjukulla dheivam irukkuGod resides inside the heart
Adhu onnae selvam namakkuThat alone is our true wealth
Male
Mannaaththaa ellaarukkum saamithaanungaMother Earth is god to everyone
Maanaththa kaakkum intha bhoomithaanungaThis earth protects our honor
Intha vellakkatti manneduththuIf you take this soil sweet like a jaggery block
Thinnaakkooda thiththikkumaeEven if eaten, it will taste sweet
Usurodu saernthathintha mannuthaanunaThis soil is bound to our very life
Male
Mannukkulla thangam irukkuThere is gold inside the earth
Oli minnum vairam irukku…..ooh….There is a shining diamond... ooh...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Mannukkulla Thangam Irukku' from Maru Malarchi celebrates Mother Earth, farming, and human unity. It extols the soil as the source of all true wealth, life, and nourishment, highlighting the tireless effort of farmers who channel water and till the land to feed the world. The lyrics emphasize that human existence begins and ends in the soil, urging humanity to live without caste or religious strife, drawing inspiration from spiritual icons like Buddha, Jesus, Valluvar, Gandhi, and Vallalar.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Mannukkulla thangam irukku

The second consonant 'nn' (ண்) rhymes across consecutive lines 'Mannukkulla' and 'Nenjukulla'.

Monai (Alliteration)

Mannaaththaa ellaarukkum saamithaanunga

Initial sound 'Ma' matches across 'Mannaaththaa' and 'Maanaththa'.

Simile (Upamai)

Thiruneera pola nenjil poosi pann paaduvom

Compares soil to sacred ash ('Thiruneer') applied reverently to the chest.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Intha vellakkatti manneduththu

Compares the sweet, rich earth to a block of jaggery ('vellakkatti').

Did you know?

Trivia

Maru Malarchi (1998) featured Mammootty in a acclaimed lead role as a respected village chieftain. Music for the movie was composed by S. A. Rajkumar, who was renowned in the late 90s for his soulful rural melodies.

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