Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kavithai Malar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Sankara Ninnu

From Kavithai Malar · 1982

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kavithai Malar
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
30 May 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaadha rii naa
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa
Sabaash balae
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa
Sangeetham naa praanam nanna soodu
Okka maatta vinuraa………
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa
Naenu neekku manchivaadu…aa..aa..aa
Naenu neekku manchivaadu
Laekka pothae kozhikodu
Naenu neekku manchivaadu
Laekka pothae kozhikodu
Nijamu soodu evarulaedhu
Nijamu soodu evarulaedhu
Sankara jaya sankara sivasankara sankaraaa…
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa
Paruvamae……. puthiya paadal paadu
Ilamaiyin poonthendral raagam
Paruvamae……. puthiya paadal paadu
Ilamaiyin poonthendral raagam
Vaadi en kappa kezhangae
Enga akka petha mukka thuttae
Paadaadha vaaya thoranthu
Vaadi en kappa kezhangae
Enga akka petha mukka thuttae
Paadaadha vaaya thoranthu
Thayavu seiya neramuraa samayamuraa
Tharunamuraa tharisanamu eevuraa……
Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji puzhinji
Appanae murugaa
Irandu kaiyum oonji pochu
Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji puzhinji
Irandu kaiyum oonji pochu
Sarigamapadhanisa sanidhapamagarisa..
Suramum paadi neenum raa …raa…..
Suramum paadi neenum raa …raa…..
Sankara jaya sankara sivasankara sankaraaa…
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa
Sangeetham naa praanam nanna soodu
Okka maatta vinuraa………
Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa
Dha-dha ree naa...
Shankara, I have come to see you!
Bravo! Well done!
Shankara, I have come to see you!
Music is my very life, look at me!
Listen to just this one word...
Shankara, I have come to see you!
I am a good man for you... ah... ah... ah...
I am a good man for you!
If not, off to Kozhikode!
I am a good man for you!
If not, off to Kozhikode!
Look at the truth, there is no one else!
Look at the truth, there is no one else!
Shankara, victorious Shankara, Shiva Shankara, Shankara...
Shankara, I have come to see you!
O youthful age... sing a new song!
A melody like the gentle breeze of youth!
O youthful age... sing a new song!
A melody like the gentle breeze of youth!
Come, my sweet tapioca root!
My sister's cheeky little darling!
Open that mouth that hasn't sung!
Come, my sweet tapioca root!
My sister's cheeky little darling!
Open that mouth that hasn't sung!
This is the time, the right hour to show mercy!
This is the moment, grant me your sacred sight...
From squeezing and squeezing the fruit of wisdom...
O my Lord Muruga!
Both my arms are completely exhausted!
From squeezing and squeezing the fruit of wisdom...
Both my arms are completely exhausted!
Sa-ri-ga-ma-pa-dha-ni-sa, sa-ni-dha-pa-ma-ga-ri-sa...
Sing the notes and come... come along...
Sing the notes and come... come along...
Shankara, victorious Shankara, Shiva Shankara, Shankara...
Shankara, I have come to see you!
Music is my very life, look at me!
Listen to just this one word...
Shankara, I have come to see you!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a iconic comedy parody that parodies classical Carnatic music grandiosity and dramatic Telugu cinema dubbing tropes. The track features a humorous mixture of broken Telugu expressions ('ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa') combined with funny Tamil street-slang and classic Carnatic solfège ('solkattu'). The singer humorously pleads with 'Sankara', claiming music is his absolute life while breaking into completely unrelated folk insults and playful Tamil nonsense rhymes like 'kappa kezhangae' (tapioca root) and tired hands squeezing the 'gyaanapazham' (fruit of wisdom). Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung with immense vocal theatricality by Malaysia Vasudevan, it remains a beloved example of Tamil film music satire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Macaronic Verse / Code-Mixing

Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa

Blending broken Telugu phrases ('Sankara ninnu soodanikku ochenuraa') with colloquial Tamil ('kappa kezhangae', 'Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji') for humorous theatrical effect.

Solkattu / Musical Solfège

Sarigamapadhanisa sanidhapamagarisa..

Incorporation of classical musical notes (Swaras) directly as song lyrics.

Iyaibu (Rhyme) & Assonance

Thayavu seiya neramuraa samayamuraa

Internal and line-ending rhyming using matching rhythmic endings ('neramuraa samayamuraa / Tharunamuraa').

Parody / Satire

Gyaanapazhatha puzhinji puzhinji... Irandu kaiyum oonji pochu

Satirizing serious classical devotional singing (referencing movies like Sankarabharanam) by pairing divine invocations with ridiculous domestic imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is a celebrated comic spoof lyric written by Gangai Amaran that parodies the classical musical style popularised by K. Viswanath's legendary Telugu film 'Sankarabharanam' (1980). Singer Malaysia Vasudevan's exaggerated classical gamakas and comedic delivery made it an unforgettable hit.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Kavithai Malar

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.