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Manamulla Marutharam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nellukkulle Arisi Iruppathu

From Manamulla Marutharam · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Jikki
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Manamulla Marutharam
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
18 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Nenjukullae kuraivillaatha
Nambikkai iruppathu
Avasiyam avaisyam avasiyam..
Nenjukullae kuraivillaatha
Nambikkai iruppathu
Avasiyam avaisyam avasiyam..
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Nalla manathai irulaakkum
Thollai kodukkum karumegam
Kallam kabadam santhegam ithai
Thalli vaippathu muraiyaagum
Nalla manathai irulaakkum
Thollai kodukkum karumegam
Kallam kabadam santhegam ithai
Thalli vaippathu muraiyaagum
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Nambikkai ondrae vaazhvin latchiyam
Vambu vilaikkum aathiram alatchiyam
Nambikkai ondrae vaazhvin latchiyam
Vambu vilaikkum aathiram alatchiyam
Sinthithu paarpathu romba avasiyam
Theriyum piragu intha ragasiyam
Sinthithu paarpathu romba avasiyam
Theriyum piragu intha ragasiyam
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Kannai mattum nambaathae
Karuthai neeyum izhakkaathae
Kannai mattum nambaathae
Karuthai neeyum izhakkaathae
Enni paarkum munnaalae
Ethaiyum mudivu pannaathae..
Enni paarkum munnaalae
Ethaiyum mudivu pannaathae..
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
Nenjukullae kuraivillaatha
Nambikkai iruppathu
Avasiyam avaisyam avasiyam..
Nellukullae arisi iruppathu
Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
Within the heart, having boundless
Faith and trust
Is essential, essential, essential!
Within the heart, having boundless
Faith and trust
Is essential, essential, essential!
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
Darkening a good heart
Like troublesome dark clouds,
Are deceit, trickery, and suspicion;
Pushing them away is only right.
Darkening a good heart
Like troublesome dark clouds,
Are deceit, trickery, and suspicion;
Pushing them away is only right.
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
Faith alone is life's true purpose;
Anger and carelessness only bring trouble.
Faith alone is life's true purpose;
Anger and carelessness only bring trouble.
Thinking things through is very essential,
And then you will understand this secret.
Thinking things through is very essential,
And then you will understand this secret.
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
Do not trust your eyes alone,
Do not lose your good judgment.
Do not trust your eyes alone,
Do not lose your good judgment.
Before thinking things through,
Do not jump to any decision.
Before thinking things through,
Do not jump to any decision.
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
Within the heart, having boundless
Faith and trust
Is essential, essential, essential!
For rice to be inside the grain of paddy
Is essential, essential, essential!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Manamulla Marutharam' (1958), written by legendary lyricist A. Maruthakasi and set to music by K. V. Mahadevan, uses a simple everyday agricultural imagery—rice being inherent to paddy—to illustrate that faith is an essential, intrinsic component of the human heart. The lyrics warn against letting deceit, suspicion, and anger cloud one's clear judgment, comparing these negative qualities to dark clouds that obscure the goodness of a mind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Avasiyam avasiyam avasiyam

The word 'Avasiyam' (essential) is repeated three times consecutively to emphasize the absolute necessity of faith and practical wisdom in life.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thollai kodukkum karumegam

Troubles, doubts, and deceit are metaphorically depicted as dark clouds ('karumegam') that darken a good mind.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Nambikkai ondrae vaazhvin latchiyam / Vambu vilaikkum aathiram alatchiyam

End rhymes such as 'latchiyam', 'alatchiyam', 'avasiyam', and 'ragasiyam' create a rhythmic, memorable musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist A. Maruthakasi was renowned for weaving everyday rural metaphors, like grain and farming concepts, into moral guidance songs during the 1950s Golden Era of Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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