Mayakkama Kalakkama
From Sumai Thangi · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Sumai Thangi1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Mayakama kalakama | Are you dizzy or disoriented? |
| Manadhilae kuzhapamaa | Is there confusion in your heart? |
| Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa } (2) | Is there fear or trembling in your life? |
| Male | |
| { Vaazhkai | Life... |
| Endral aayiram irukum | means a thousand burdens will exist. |
| Vaasal dhorum | At every doorway, |
| Vedhanai irukum } (2) | sorrow will always reside. |
| Male | |
| Vandha | The troubles that |
| Thunbam yedhu | have arrived, |
| Vendralum | no matter what they overcome, |
| { Vaadi nindral | if you stand wilting in despair, |
| Oduvadhillai } (2) | they will not run away. |
| Male | |
| Yedhaiyum | Whatever comes, |
| Thaangum idhayam | if you have a heart that can bear it, |
| Irundhaal irudhi | until the very end, |
| Varaikum amaidhi irukum | peace will remain with you. |
| Male | |
| { Mayakama kalakama | Are you dizzy or disoriented? |
| Manadhilae kuzhapamaa | Is there confusion in your heart? |
| Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa } (2) | Is there fear or trembling in your life? |
| Male | |
| { Ezhai | A poor... |
| Manadhai maaligaiyakki | heart, transform into a grand palace, |
| Iravum pagalum | night and day, |
| Kaaviyam paadi } (2) | sing epic poetry of hope. |
| Male | |
| Naalai | Tomorrow's... |
| Pozhudhai iraivanukalithu | day, surrender to God, |
| { Nadakum vaazhvil | in the life that unfolds, |
| Amaidhiyai thedu } (2) | seek inner peace. |
| Male | |
| Unakum | Than you, |
| Keezhae ullavar kodi | there are crores of people worse off below, |
| Ninaithu paarthu | reflect upon them, |
| Nimmadhi naadu | and seek contentment. |
| Male | |
| { Mayakama kalakama | Are you dizzy or disoriented? |
| Manadhilae kuzhapamaa | Is there confusion in your heart? |
| Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa } (2) | Is there fear or trembling in your life? |
{ மயக்கமா
கலக்கமா மனதிலே
குழப்பமா வாழ்க்கையில்
நடுக்கமா } (2)
Are you dizzy or disoriented?
Is there confusion in your heart?
Is there fear or trembling in your life?
{ வாழ்க்கை என்றால்
ஆயிரம் இருக்கும் வாசல்
தோறும் வேதனை இருக்கும் } (2)
Life...
means a thousand burdens will exist.
At every doorway,
sorrow will always reside.
வந்த துன்பம்
எதுவென்றாலும்
{ வாடி நின்றால்
ஓடுவதில்லை } (2)
The troubles that
have arrived,
no matter what they overcome,
if you stand wilting in despair,
they will not run away.
எதையும்
தாங்கும் இதயம்
இருந்தால் இறுதி
வரைக்கும் அமைதி
இருக்கும்
Whatever comes,
if you have a heart that can bear it,
until the very end,
peace will remain with you.
{ மயக்கமா
கலக்கமா மனதிலே
குழப்பமா வாழ்க்கையில்
நடுக்கமா } (2)
Are you dizzy or disoriented?
Is there confusion in your heart?
Is there fear or trembling in your life?
{ ஏழை மனதை
மாளிகையாக்கி இரவும்
பகலும் காவியம் பாடி } (2)
A poor...
heart, transform into a grand palace,
night and day,
sing epic poetry of hope.
நாளை பொழுதை
இறைவனுக்களித்து
{ நடக்கும் வாழ்வில்
அமைதியை தேடு } (2)
Tomorrow's...
day, surrender to God,
in the life that unfolds,
seek inner peace.
உனக்கும் கீழே
உள்ளவர் கோடி நினைத்து
பார்த்து நிம்மதி நாடு
Than you,
there are crores of people worse off below,
reflect upon them,
and seek contentment.
{ மயக்கமா
கலக்கமா மனதிலே
குழப்பமா வாழ்க்கையில்
நடுக்கமா } (2)
Are you dizzy or disoriented?
Is there confusion in your heart?
Is there fear or trembling in your life?
{ Mayakama kalakama
Are you dizzy or disoriented?
Manadhilae kuzhapamaa
Is there confusion in your heart?
Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa } (2)
Is there fear or trembling in your life?
{ Vaazhkai
Life...
Endral aayiram irukum
means a thousand burdens will exist.
Vaasal dhorum
At every doorway,
Vedhanai irukum } (2)
sorrow will always reside.
Vandha
The troubles that
Thunbam yedhu
have arrived,
Vendralum
no matter what they overcome,
{ Vaadi nindral
if you stand wilting in despair,
Oduvadhillai } (2)
they will not run away.
Yedhaiyum
Whatever comes,
Thaangum idhayam
if you have a heart that can bear it,
Irundhaal irudhi
until the very end,
Varaikum amaidhi irukum
peace will remain with you.
{ Mayakama kalakama
Are you dizzy or disoriented?
Manadhilae kuzhapamaa
Is there confusion in your heart?
Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa } (2)
Is there fear or trembling in your life?
{ Ezhai
A poor...
Manadhai maaligaiyakki
heart, transform into a grand palace,
Iravum pagalum
night and day,
Kaaviyam paadi } (2)
sing epic poetry of hope.
Naalai
Tomorrow's...
Pozhudhai iraivanukalithu
day, surrender to God,
{ Nadakum vaazhvil
in the life that unfolds,
Amaidhiyai thedu } (2)
seek inner peace.
Unakum
Than you,
Keezhae ullavar kodi
there are crores of people worse off below,
Ninaithu paarthu
reflect upon them,
Nimmadhi naadu
and seek contentment.
{ Mayakama kalakama
Are you dizzy or disoriented?
Manadhilae kuzhapamaa
Is there confusion in your heart?
Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa } (2)
Is there fear or trembling in your life?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Mayakkama Kalakkama' from Sumai Thangi (1962) is an iconic Tamil philosophical song written by Kannadasan, set to music by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and rendered by P. B. Sreenivas. The song acts as a comforting guide for anyone facing existential crisis, grief, or immense life hardship. The lyricist gently reminds us that pain and sorrow are universal across all households. Wallowing in self-pity or fear does not dissolve troubles; instead, cultivating an enduring heart brings lifelong peace. He encourages transforming even a humble or grieving mind into a rich palace of hope, surrendering tomorrow's anxieties to the divine, and finding contentment by realizing that millions face far greater suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question
“Mayakama kalakama / Manadhilae kuzhapamaa / Vaazhkaiyil nadukamaa”
The song opens with a series of rhythmic, probing questions addressing mental distress to immediately connect with the listener's internal struggle.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Mayakama kalakama / Manadhilae kuzhapamaa”
Repetition of the 'M' consonant sound at the start of adjacent words/lines, creating a soothing musical cadence.
Uruvagamb (Metaphor)
“Ezhai / Manadhai maaligaiyakki”
Metaphorically converting a poor, grieving mind into a grand palace ('maaligai'), urging mental strength over material wealth.
Contrast / Perspective Shift
“Unakum / Keezhae ullavar kodi / Ninaithu paarthu / Nimmadhi naadu”
Encourages solace by asking the individual to compare their plight with millions of others in worse conditions.
Did you know?
Trivia
Legend has it that lyricist Kannadasan wrote this iconic song during a personal period of severe financial distress and mental anguish. Composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by P. B. Sreenivas, the song brought immense spiritual comfort to Kannadasan himself and became one of Tamil cinema's greatest evergreen philosophical songs.
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