Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
From Samsaram Adhu Minsaram · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Samsaram Adhu Minsaram1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Anbukolla yaarum illa | There is no one to share affection with. |
| Endha nenjum eeram illa | No heart possesses any compassion. |
| Samsaaram | Family life... |
| Male | |
| Bandham illa paasam illa | There is no bond, there is no love. |
| Sondham inghu sondham illa | Relatives here are not truly relatives. |
| Samsaaram | Family life... |
| Neram vandhu nerungi thottaa | When the time comes and you touch it closely, |
| Shock adikira minsaaram | It is electricity that gives a shock. |
| Male | |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Male | |
| Appan enna aathaa enna | What is a father? What is a mother? |
| Oppukku thaanadi | It is all just for formality, my dear! |
| Paarangkalla pethuputtaa | If one gives birth to a heavy boulder, |
| Paasam yedhadi | Where is the love in that, my dear? |
| Male | |
| Petha pulla thandha panam | The money given by the child you birthed, |
| Uppukku aaghumaa | Is it even worth a pinch of salt? |
| Thaaipaalukku kanakku pottaa | If you calculate a cost for mother's milk, |
| Thaali minjumaa | Will even the sacred mangalsutra remain? |
| Male | |
| Vaayakatti valatha pulla | The child raised by sacrificing one's own meals, |
| Mallukatti nikkudhadi | Now stands up ready to pick a fight! |
| Vaangi thandha kaasukellaam | For all the money spent on raising them, |
| Vatti katta solludhadi | They ask us to pay back with interest! |
| Male | |
| Kodu onnu kizhikka vechi | Making us draw a line of separation, |
| Kummi adikudhu ammaadi… | It dances in celebration, oh my goodness! |
| Male | |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Anbukolla yaarum illa | There is no one to share affection with. |
| Endha nenjum eeram illa | No heart possesses any compassion. |
| Samsaaram | Family life... |
| Male | |
| Bandham illa paasam illa | There is no bond, there is no love. |
| Sondham inghu sondham illa | Relatives here are not truly relatives. |
| Samsaaram | Family life... |
| Neram vandhu nerungi thottaa | When the time comes and you touch it closely, |
| Shock adikira minsaaram | It is electricity that gives a shock. |
| Male | |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
| Samsaaram adhu minsaaram | Family life is like electricity. |
சம்சாரம் அது
மின்சாரம் சம்சாரம்
அது மின்சாரம் அன்புக்
கொள்ள யாரும் இல்ல
எந்த நெஞ்சும் ஈரமில்ல
சம்சாரம்
Family life is like electricity.
Family life is like electricity.
There is no one to share affection with.
No heart possesses any compassion.
Family life...
பந்தமில்லை
பாசமில்லை சொந்தமிங்கு
சொந்தமில்லை சம்சாரம்
நேரம் வந்து நெருங்கித்
தொட்டா ஷாக் அடிக்கிற
மின்சாரம்
There is no bond, there is no love.
Relatives here are not truly relatives.
Family life...
When the time comes and you touch it closely,
It is electricity that gives a shock.
சம்சாரம் அது
மின்சாரம் சம்சாரம்
அது மின்சாரம்
Family life is like electricity.
Family life is like electricity.
அப்பன் என்ன
ஆத்தா என்ன ஒப்புக்குத்
தானடி பாராங்கல்ல பெத்து
புட்டா பாசம் ஏதடி
What is a father? What is a mother?
It is all just for formality, my dear!
If one gives birth to a heavy boulder,
Where is the love in that, my dear?
பெத்தப் புள்ள
தந்த பணம் உப்புக்கு
ஆகுமா தாய்பாலுக்கு
கணக்கு போட்டா தாலி
மிஞ்சுமா
The money given by the child you birthed,
Is it even worth a pinch of salt?
If you calculate a cost for mother's milk,
Will even the sacred mangalsutra remain?
வாயக் கட்டி
வளத்த புள்ள மல்லுக்
கட்டி நிக்குதடி வாங்கித்
தந்த காசுக்கெல்லாம்
வட்டிக் கட்ட சொல்லுதடி
The child raised by sacrificing one's own meals,
Now stands up ready to pick a fight!
For all the money spent on raising them,
They ask us to pay back with interest!
கோடு ஒன்னு
கிழிக்க வச்சி கும்மி
அடிக்குது அம்மாடி
Making us draw a line of separation,
It dances in celebration, oh my goodness!
சம்சாரம் அது
மின்சாரம் சம்சாரம்
அது மின்சாரம் அன்புக்
கொள்ள யாரும் இல்ல
எந்த நெஞ்சும் ஈரமில்ல
சம்சாரம்
Family life is like electricity.
Family life is like electricity.
There is no one to share affection with.
No heart possesses any compassion.
Family life...
பந்தமில்லை
பாசமில்லை சொந்தமிங்கு
சொந்தமில்லை சம்சாரம்
நேரம் வந்து நெருங்கித்
தொட்டா ஷாக் அடிக்கிற
மின்சாரம்
There is no bond, there is no love.
Relatives here are not truly relatives.
Family life...
When the time comes and you touch it closely,
It is electricity that gives a shock.
சம்சாரம் அது
மின்சாரம் சம்சாரம்
அது மின்சாரம்
Family life is like electricity.
Family life is like electricity.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Anbukolla yaarum illa
There is no one to share affection with.
Endha nenjum eeram illa
No heart possesses any compassion.
Samsaaram
Family life...
Bandham illa paasam illa
There is no bond, there is no love.
Sondham inghu sondham illa
Relatives here are not truly relatives.
Samsaaram
Family life...
Neram vandhu nerungi thottaa
When the time comes and you touch it closely,
Shock adikira minsaaram
It is electricity that gives a shock.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Appan enna aathaa enna
What is a father? What is a mother?
Oppukku thaanadi
It is all just for formality, my dear!
Paarangkalla pethuputtaa
If one gives birth to a heavy boulder,
Paasam yedhadi
Where is the love in that, my dear?
Petha pulla thandha panam
The money given by the child you birthed,
Uppukku aaghumaa
Is it even worth a pinch of salt?
Thaaipaalukku kanakku pottaa
If you calculate a cost for mother's milk,
Thaali minjumaa
Will even the sacred mangalsutra remain?
Vaayakatti valatha pulla
The child raised by sacrificing one's own meals,
Mallukatti nikkudhadi
Now stands up ready to pick a fight!
Vaangi thandha kaasukellaam
For all the money spent on raising them,
Vatti katta solludhadi
They ask us to pay back with interest!
Kodu onnu kizhikka vechi
Making us draw a line of separation,
Kummi adikudhu ammaadi…
It dances in celebration, oh my goodness!
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Anbukolla yaarum illa
There is no one to share affection with.
Endha nenjum eeram illa
No heart possesses any compassion.
Samsaaram
Family life...
Bandham illa paasam illa
There is no bond, there is no love.
Sondham inghu sondham illa
Relatives here are not truly relatives.
Samsaaram
Family life...
Neram vandhu nerungi thottaa
When the time comes and you touch it closely,
Shock adikira minsaaram
It is electricity that gives a shock.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Samsaaram adhu minsaaram
Family life is like electricity.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song encapsulates the core theme of the film, drawing a direct metaphor between family life (samsaaram) and electricity (minsaaram). Just as electricity powers a home but can deliver a fatal shock if mismanaged, family life offers comfort yet can spark painful conflicts when selfishness and financial disputes arise. The lyrics poignantly express the heartbreak of parents when their selfless sacrifices are reduced to monetary transactions by their own children.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Samsaaram adhu minsaaram”
Compares family life directly to electricity, highlighting its dual nature of utility and danger.
Rhetorical Question
“Thaaipaalukku kanakku pottaa / Thaali minjumaa”
Uses dramatic questions to underscore the absurdity of quantifying maternal love and familial duties in monetary terms.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Bandham illa paasam illa / Sondham inghu sondham illa”
The second consonant 'n' aligns between 'Bandham' and 'Sondham', creating a rhythmic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
This is the title track from the classic 1986 Tamil family drama film 'Samsaram Adhu Minsaram', directed by Visu. The music was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu and sung by K. J. Yesudas. The film was a blockbuster and won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.
Keep listening
More from Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram
Samsaram Adhu Minsaram