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Lyrics & meaning

Saattaiyilla Bambaram

From Maalaiyitta Mangai · 1958

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Trichy Loganathan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Maalaiyitta Mangai1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hoo ooo oo hoo oo oo hoo ooo ooHoo ooo oo hoo oo oo hoo ooo oo (Vocalizing)
Male
Sattaiyilla bambaram polLike a top spun without a string,
Aattuvikkum aandavanaeO Lord who makes us spin and dance!
Male and Chorus :Sattaiyilla bambaram polLike a top spun without a string,
Aattuvikkum aandavanaeO Lord who makes us spin and dance!
Thaaraniyil ezhaigalaiThe poor people upon this world,
Vaazha veippaan eeswaranaeLord Shiva will make them thrive and live.
Thaaraniyil ezhaigalaiThe poor people upon this world,
Vaazha veippaan eeswaranaeLord Shiva will make them thrive and live.
Sattaiyilla bambaram polLike a top spun without a string,
Aattuvikkum aandavanaeO Lord who makes us spin and dance!
Male
Anbu vadivanavaneO Lord who is the embodiment of love,
Aram valartha iraiyavanaeO God who nurtured righteousness,
Anbu vadivanavaneO Lord who is the embodiment of love,
Aram valartha iraiyavanaeO God who nurtured righteousness,
Thunbamenum kadalinilaeIn this deep ocean of sorrow,
Thoni ennum thunaiyavanaeYou are the boat that acts as our companion!
Thunbamenum kadalinilaeIn this deep ocean of sorrow,
Thoni ennum thunaiyavanaeYou are the boat that acts as our companion!
Male
Kandavargal sonnadhillaiThose who have seen God have not spoken,
Sonnavargal kandathillaiThose who have spoken have not seen God.
Kandavargal sonnadhillaiThose who have seen God have not spoken,
Sonnavargal kandathillaiThose who have spoken have not seen God.
Vinduraikka evarum illaiThere is no one to explain this mystery,
Vindhaiyilum vindhaiyadaIt is the greatest wonder of all wonders!
Vinduraikka evarum illaiThere is no one to explain this mystery,
Vindhaiyilum vindhaiyadaIt is the greatest wonder of all wonders!
Male
Savadhilae veeram illaiThere is no bravery in seeking death,
Dharmam illai inbam illaiThere is no righteousness or happiness in it.
Thanjamavan paadhamadaTake refuge at His divine feet,
Sanjalangal theerumadaAnd all your anxieties will come to an end!
Thanjamavan padhamadaTake refuge at His divine feet!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic philosophical song from Maalaiyitta Mangai explores divine power, human helplessness, and spiritual surrender. Kannadasan metaphorically compares human beings to tops spun effortlessly without a string by the Almighty. Despite life's chaos, God is portrayed as the ultimate savior of the underprivileged, the embodiment of love, and the rescue boat across the ocean of life's grief.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Sattaiyilla bambaram pol

Compares human lives controlled by God to tops spinning without strings ('Sattaiyilla bambaram pol').

Metaphor (Uruwagam)

Thunbamenum kadalinilae / Thoni ennum thunaiyavanae

Life's sorrow is metaphorically depicted as an ocean ('Thunbamenum kadal') and God as a rescue boat ('Thoni').

Paradox / Chiasmus (Antimetabole)

Kandavargal sonnadhillai / Sonnavargal kandathillai

A classic philosophical paradoxical phrase contrasting spiritual realization with verbal expression ('Kandavargal sonnadhillai, Sonnavargal kandathillai').

Edukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Thanjamavan paadhamada / Sanjalangal theerumada

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' (ன் / ஞ்) across lines ('Thanjamavan' and 'Sanjalangal').

Did you know?

Trivia

Maalaiyitta Mangai (1958) was lyricist Kannadasan's maiden movie production under his banner Kannadasan Films. Sung powerfully by Trichy Loganathan, this song remains one of Tamil cinema's most celebrated philosophical tracks, famed for simplifying complex spiritual truths into accessible verse.

Keep listening

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