Sabalam Salanam Mayakkam
From Oh Manju · 1976
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Oh Manju1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion |
| Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam | All are hereditary habits |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion |
| Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam | All are hereditary habits |
| Female | |
| {Periya manidhargal siriya ninaipinil | If great people, due to small thoughts |
| Vizhunthu viduvadhendraal | End up falling down |
| Siriya kuzhandhaigal periya ninaippinil | Young children, with noble thoughts |
| Valarnthu varuvadhundu} (2) | Do grow up into greatness |
| Female | |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion |
| Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam | All are hereditary habits |
| Female | |
| Vidhai thaanae chediyaagum | Only a seed will become a plant |
| Verenna aagum | What else can it become |
| Nilam pola neer kooda niram maari pogum | Just like the soil, even water changes color |
| Vidhai thaanae chediyaagum | Only a seed will become a plant |
| Verenna aagum | What else can it become |
| Nilam pola neer kooda niram maari pogum | Just like the soil, even water changes color |
| Raagangal baedhangalaanaal | If raga melodies become discordant |
| Paadalgal aanandhamaagumaa | Will the songs bring joy |
| Raagangal baedhangalaanaal | If raga melodies become discordant |
| Paadalgal aanandhamaagumaa | Will the songs bring joy |
| Female | |
| Aadum thottil aadum podhu | While swinging in a rocking cradle |
| Kuzhandhai nadappadhillai | A child does not walk |
| Annai thandhai nadaiyai paarthu | Watching the gait of mother and father |
| Nadakka marappadhillai | It never forgets how to walk |
| Female | |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | If the mirror is defective |
| Female | |
| Kannadi thavaraanaal | The face appears distorted |
| Mugam maari pogum | If the vision strays, the mind is lost |
| Kann paarvai thaavaraanaal manam pari pogum | If the mirror is defective |
| Kannadi thavaraanaal | The face appears distorted |
| Mugam maari pogum | If the vision strays, the mind is lost |
| Kann paarvai thaavaraanaal manam pari pogum | If the vessel becomes poisonous |
| Paathiram nanjena aanaal | The milk too becomes poison |
| Paalum nanjena aagumae | If the vessel becomes poisonous |
| Paathiram nanjena aanaal | The milk too becomes poison |
| Paalum nanjena aagumae | Thoughts that arise at this age |
| Female | |
| Indha vayadhil ezhundha ennam | Are never forgotten |
| Endrum marappadhillai | Until the time one understands oneself |
| Thannai unarum kaalam varaiyil | Nothing can be understood |
| Edhuvum purivadhillai | Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion |
| Female | |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | All are hereditary habits |
| Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam | If great people, due to small thoughts |
| Female | |
| Periya manidhargal siriya ninaipinil | End up falling down |
| Vizhunthu viduvadhendraal | Young children, with noble thoughts |
| Siriya kuzhandhaigal periya ninaippinil | Do grow up into greatness |
| Valarnthu varuvadhundu | Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion |
| Female | |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | All are hereditary habits |
| Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam | Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion |
| Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam | |
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
எல்லாம் பரம்பரை பழக்கம்
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
எல்லாம் பரம்பரை பழக்கம்
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
All are hereditary habits
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
All are hereditary habits
{பெரிய மனிதர்கள் சிறிய நினைப்பினில்
விழுந்து விடுவதெல்லாம்
சிறிய குழந்தைகள் பெரிய நினைப்பினில்
வளர்ந்து வருவதுண்டு.....} (2)
If great people, due to small thoughts
End up falling down
Young children, with noble thoughts
Do grow up into greatness
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
எல்லாம் பரம்பரை பழக்கம்
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
All are hereditary habits
விதைதானே செடியாகும் வேறென்ன ஆகும்
நிலம் போல நீர் கூட நிறம் மாறி போகும்
விதைதானே செடியாகும் வேறென்ன ஆகும்
நிலம் போல நீர் கூட நிறம் மாறி போகும்
ராகங்கள் பேதங்களானால்
பாடல்கள் ஆனந்தமாகுமா
ராகங்கள் பேதங்களானால்
பாடல்கள் ஆனந்தமாகுமா
Only a seed will become a plant
What else can it become
Just like the soil, even water changes color
Only a seed will become a plant
What else can it become
Just like the soil, even water changes color
If raga melodies become discordant
Will the songs bring joy
If raga melodies become discordant
Will the songs bring joy
ஆடும் தொட்டில் ஆடும் போது
குழந்தை நடப்பதில்லை
அன்னை தந்தை நடையைப் பார்த்து
நடக்க மறப்பதில்லை......
While swinging in a rocking cradle
A child does not walk
Watching the gait of mother and father
It never forgets how to walk
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
If the mirror is defective
கண்ணாடி தவறானால் முகம் மாறி போகும்
கண் பார்வை தவறானால் மனம் மாறி போகும்
கண்ணாடி தவறானால் முகம் மாறி போகும்
கண் பார்வை தவறானால் மனம் மாறி போகும்
பாத்திரம் நஞ்சென ஆனால்
பாலும் நஞ்சென ஆகுமே
பாத்திரம் நஞ்சென ஆனால்
பாலும் நஞ்சென ஆகுமே
The face appears distorted
If the vision strays, the mind is lost
If the mirror is defective
The face appears distorted
If the vision strays, the mind is lost
If the vessel becomes poisonous
The milk too becomes poison
If the vessel becomes poisonous
The milk too becomes poison
Thoughts that arise at this age
இந்த வயதில் எழுந்த எண்ணம்
என்றும் மறப்பதில்லை
தன்னை உணரும் காலம் வரையில்
எதுவும் புரிவதில்லை....
Are never forgotten
Until the time one understands oneself
Nothing can be understood
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
எல்லாம் பரம்பரை பழக்கம்
All are hereditary habits
If great people, due to small thoughts
பெரிய மனிதர்கள் சிறிய நினைப்பினில்
விழுந்து விடுவதெல்லாம்
சிறிய குழந்தைகள் பெரிய நினைப்பினில்
வளர்ந்து வருவதுண்டு.....
End up falling down
Young children, with noble thoughts
Do grow up into greatness
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
எல்லாம் பரம்பரை பழக்கம்
சபலம் சலனம் மயக்கம் குழப்பம்
All are hereditary habits
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam
All are hereditary habits
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam
All are hereditary habits
{Periya manidhargal siriya ninaipinil
If great people, due to small thoughts
Vizhunthu viduvadhendraal
End up falling down
Siriya kuzhandhaigal periya ninaippinil
Young children, with noble thoughts
Valarnthu varuvadhundu} (2)
Do grow up into greatness
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam
All are hereditary habits
Vidhai thaanae chediyaagum
Only a seed will become a plant
Verenna aagum
What else can it become
Nilam pola neer kooda niram maari pogum
Just like the soil, even water changes color
Vidhai thaanae chediyaagum
Only a seed will become a plant
Verenna aagum
What else can it become
Nilam pola neer kooda niram maari pogum
Just like the soil, even water changes color
Raagangal baedhangalaanaal
If raga melodies become discordant
Paadalgal aanandhamaagumaa
Will the songs bring joy
Raagangal baedhangalaanaal
If raga melodies become discordant
Paadalgal aanandhamaagumaa
Will the songs bring joy
Aadum thottil aadum podhu
While swinging in a rocking cradle
Kuzhandhai nadappadhillai
A child does not walk
Annai thandhai nadaiyai paarthu
Watching the gait of mother and father
Nadakka marappadhillai
It never forgets how to walk
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
If the mirror is defective
Kannadi thavaraanaal
The face appears distorted
Mugam maari pogum
If the vision strays, the mind is lost
Kann paarvai thaavaraanaal manam pari pogum
If the mirror is defective
Kannadi thavaraanaal
The face appears distorted
Mugam maari pogum
If the vision strays, the mind is lost
Kann paarvai thaavaraanaal manam pari pogum
If the vessel becomes poisonous
Paathiram nanjena aanaal
The milk too becomes poison
Paalum nanjena aagumae
If the vessel becomes poisonous
Paathiram nanjena aanaal
The milk too becomes poison
Paalum nanjena aagumae
Thoughts that arise at this age
Indha vayadhil ezhundha ennam
Are never forgotten
Endrum marappadhillai
Until the time one understands oneself
Thannai unarum kaalam varaiyil
Nothing can be understood
Edhuvum purivadhillai
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
All are hereditary habits
Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam
If great people, due to small thoughts
Periya manidhargal siriya ninaipinil
End up falling down
Vizhunthu viduvadhendraal
Young children, with noble thoughts
Siriya kuzhandhaigal periya ninaippinil
Do grow up into greatness
Valarnthu varuvadhundu
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
All are hereditary habits
Ellaam parambarai pazhakkam
Temptation, restlessness, delusion, confusion
Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical track from the film 'Oh Manju' (1976), written by Kannadasan, explores human nature, character formation, moral integrity, and the influence of lineage and environment. The song asserts that weaknesses like temptation, mental wavering, delusion, and confusion are often inherited habits or ingrained predispositions. Through organic metaphors—such as seeds determining the plant, water absorbing the color of the soil, and milk becoming poisonous inside a tainted container—Kannadasan emphasizes that foundational character and environment shape an individual's destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Sabalam salanam mayakkam kuzhappam”
Repetition of the 'Sa' sound across adjacent words to create a rhythmic, wavering cadence reflecting mental confusion.
Muran (Antithesis)
“Periya manidhargal siriya ninaipinil / Siriya kuzhandhaigal periya ninaippinil”
Contrasting 'Periya manidhargal' (great people) with 'siriya ninaipinil' (small thoughts), and 'Siriya kuzhandhaigal' (small children) with 'periya ninaippinil' (noble thoughts).
Uvamaani / Metaphorical Analogy
“Paathiram nanjena aanaal paalum nanjena aagumae”
Using a poisoned container corrupting pure milk as an analogy for how a flawed mindset or corrupt environment ruins pure intent and character.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Oh Manju' (1976) was directed by veteran filmmaker C. V. Sridhar and features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV). The lyrics showcase lyricist Kannadasan's signature ability to blend philosophical Vedanta-style commentary with practical life observations on child rearing and human psychology.
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