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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Santhega Kodu Athu

From Sorkkam Naragam · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sorkkam Naragam
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
12 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thanneerai neruppu endru
Santhegam kondavargal
Kanneerai kaanaamal
Oointhathum illai
Avargal kanmoodi thalaiyanaiyil
Saainthathum illai
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaadu
Thunbam valarnthidum kaadu\
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Paththiniyai nampa vaikka
Palakaalam paadupattaen
Saththiyamae puriyavillai avalukku
Adhu kaththiyaachchu uthamaiyin uyirukku
Adhu kaththiyaachchu uthamaiyin uyirukku
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaadu
Thunbam valarnthidum kaadu
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Vaazhkkaiyilae ondrupattaal
Vazhi nedga kooda vanthaal
Vaarthaiyilae kondru vittaal ennaiyae
Than vaayaalae keduththu kondaal thannaiyae
Than vaayaalae keduththu kondaal thannaiyae
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Unmaiyilae vaazhnthavanai
Oru manathaai nindravanai
Unmaiyilae vaazhnthavanai
Oru manathaai nindravanai
Oor sirikka vaiththathadi santhegam
Ini unakku kooda sonthamillai en thegam
Ini unakku kooda sonthamillai en thegam
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Idhai maranthavar veedu thunbam valarnthidum kaadu
Thunbam valarnthidum kaadu
Santhega kodu adhu santhosa kedu
Those who suspect even water is fire,
And live in constant doubt,
Have never found rest
Without shedding tears,
Nor have they ever closed their eyes
To rest upon a pillow.
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness,
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness.
The home of one who forgets this is a forest where sorrow grows,
A forest where sorrow grows...
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness...
To make my faithful wife believe me,
I struggled for a very long time.
She could not understand the truth,
And it became a knife that took her precious life...
And it became a knife that took her precious life...
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness,
The home of one who forgets this is a forest where sorrow grows,
A forest where sorrow grows...
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness...
She became one with me in life,
She walked beside me all along the way,
Yet she killed me with her words,
And destroyed herself with her own tongue.
And destroyed herself with her own tongue.
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness...
A man who lived with honesty,
A man devoted with an undivided heart—
A man who lived with honesty,
A man devoted with an undivided heart—
Suspicion made the whole town laugh at him!
From now on, even to you, this body of mine belongs no more.
From now on, even to you, this body of mine belongs no more.
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness,
The home of one who forgets this is a forest where sorrow grows,
A forest where sorrow grows...
A line of suspicion is the ruin of happiness...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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