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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhega Kodu Athu

From Sorkkam Naragam · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Sorkkam Naragam1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thanneerai neruppu endruThose who mistake water for fire,
Santhegam kondavargaland harbour suspicion in their minds,
Kanneerai kaanaamalwithout shedding tears of anguish,
Oointhathum illaithey never find any rest.
Avargal kanmoodi thalaiyanaiyilClosing their eyes upon a pillow,
Saainthathum illaithey never lean back to sleep peaceful sleep.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness,
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaaduThe house of the one who forgets this becomes a forest where sorrow grows,
Thunbam valarnthidum kaadu\A forest where sorrow grows.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
Male
Paththiniyai nampa vaikkaTo make my wife believe in my fidelity,
Palakaalam paadupattaenI struggled for a very long time.
Saththiyamae puriyavillai avalukkuShe simply could not comprehend the truth,
Adhu kaththiyaachchu uthamaiyin uyirukkuAnd it turned into a knife threatening a virtuous woman's life,
Adhu kaththiyaachchu uthamaiyin uyirukkuIt turned into a knife threatening a virtuous woman's life.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaaduThe house of the one who forgets this becomes a forest where sorrow grows,
Thunbam valarnthidum kaaduA forest where sorrow grows.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
Male
Vaazhkkaiyilae ondrupattaalShe united with me in the journey of life,
Vazhi nedga kooda vanthaalShe walked beside me all along the path,
Vaarthaiyilae kondru vittaal ennaiyaeYet with harsh words of doubt, she killed me,
Than vaayaalae keduththu kondaal thannaiyaeBy her own tongue, she destroyed herself,
Than vaayaalae keduththu kondaal thannaiyaeBy her own tongue, she destroyed herself.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
Male
Unmaiyilae vaazhnthavanaiThe one who lived in absolute truth,
Oru manathaai nindravanaiThe one who stood unwavering with a single mind,
Unmaiyilae vaazhnthavanaiThe one who lived in absolute truth,
Oru manathaai nindravanaiThe one who stood unwavering with a single mind,
Male
Oor sirikka vaiththathadi santhegamSuspicion turned him into a laughingstock for the whole town,
Ini unakku kooda sonthamillai en thegamFrom now on, my body does not belong even to you,
Ini unakku kooda sonthamillai en thegamFrom now on, my body does not belong even to you.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaaduThe house of the one who forgets this becomes a forest where sorrow grows,
Thunbam valarnthidum kaaduA forest where sorrow grows.
Male
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa keduThe line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from 'Sorkkam Naragam' (1977) explores the destructive nature of unfounded suspicion in a marital relationship. Kannadasan's lyrics express the deep agony of a husband who lived with complete honesty, only to be constantly doubted by his wife. He warns that those who entertain doubt mistake soothing water for burning fire and can never find peace or restful sleep.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Paththiniyai nampa vaikka / Saththiyamae puriyavillai avalukku

Matching second letters in consecutive or paired lines, such as 'Santhega' / 'Idhai' or 'Paththiniyai' / 'Saththiyamae'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaadu

Comparing a home filled with doubt to a dense jungle where sorrow grows uncontrolled ('thunbam valarnthidum kaadu').

Contrast / Paradox

Thanneerai neruppu endru Santhegam kondavargal

Juxtaposing fire and water ('Thanneerai neruppu endru') to symbolize how suspicion twists reality and distorts good intentions into perceived harm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Shankar-Ganesh and rendered powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, this song features Kannadasan's classic philosophical couplets highlighting how trust is the foundation of domestic bliss.

Keep listening

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