Selvam Nilaiyallave Maname
From Sabaash Meena · 1958
- Lyricist
- Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- T. G. Lingappa
- Details
- Sabaash Meena1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Selvam nilaiyallaavae | Wealth is not permanent. |
| Indha selvam nilaiyallavae manamae | Oh mind, this wealth is not permanent. |
| Selvam nilaiyallavae | Wealth is not permanent. |
| Male | |
| Piranthidum bothu panamenbathaedhu | What is money when one is born? |
| Piranthidum bothu panamenbathaedhu | What is money when one is born? |
| Iranthidum bothu kuda varaathu | When one dies, it does not come along. |
| Iranthidum bothu kuda varaathu | When one dies, it does not come along. |
| Male | |
| Perum porul serpadhu veenae | Amassing great wealth is futile. |
| Sumaithaanae | It is merely a burden. |
| Perum porul serpadhu veenae | Amassing great wealth is futile. |
| Sumaithaanae | It is merely a burden. |
| Indha selvam nilayallavae | This wealth is not permanent. |
| Selvam nilaiyallaavae manamae | Oh mind, wealth is not permanent. |
| Selvam nilaiyallavae | Wealth is not permanent. |
| Male | |
| Panam irundhaal yeman payapaduvaanoo | Will the God of Death fear you if you have money? |
| Panam irundhaal yeman payapaduvaanoo | Will the God of Death fear you if you have money? |
| Pangu thanthaalum namai viduvaanoo | Will he spare us even if we give him a share? |
| Pangu thanthaalum namai viduvaanoo | Will he spare us even if we give him a share? |
| Paapangal seiyavae naadum naalai oodum | It tempts one to commit sins and then runs away tomorrow. |
| Paapangal seiyavae naadum naalai oodum | It tempts one to commit sins and then runs away tomorrow. |
| Indha selvam nilaiyallavae | This wealth is not permanent. |
| Chorus | |
| Manamae selvam nilaiyallaavae | Oh mind, wealth is not permanent. |
| Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae | Oh mind, wealth is not permanent. |
| Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae | Oh mind, wealth is not permanent. |
| Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae | Oh mind, wealth is not permanent. |
| Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae | Oh mind, wealth is not permanent. |
| Male | |
| Manamae……….ae…ae….. | Oh mind... ah... ah... |
| Chorus | |
| Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae | Not permanent, wealth is not permanent. |
| Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae | Not permanent, wealth is not permanent. |
| Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae | Not permanent, wealth is not permanent. |
| Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae | Not permanent, wealth is not permanent. |
| Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae | Not permanent, wealth is not permanent. |
| Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae | Not permanent, wealth is not permanent. |
செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
இந்த செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே மனமே
செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
Wealth is not permanent.
Oh mind, this wealth is not permanent.
Wealth is not permanent.
பிறந்திடும்போது பணமென்பதேது
பிறந்திடும்போது பணமென்பதேது
இறந்திடும்போது கூட வராது
இறந்திடும்போது கூட வராது
What is money when one is born?
What is money when one is born?
When one dies, it does not come along.
When one dies, it does not come along.
பெரும் பொருள் சேர்ப்பதும் வீணே
சுமைதானே
பெரும் பொருள் சேர்ப்பதும் வீணே
சுமைதானே
இந்த செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே மனமே
செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
Amassing great wealth is futile.
It is merely a burden.
Amassing great wealth is futile.
It is merely a burden.
This wealth is not permanent.
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Wealth is not permanent.
பணமிருந்தால் எமன் பயப்படுவானோ
பணமிருந்தால் எமன் பயப்படுவானோ
பங்கு தந்தாலும் நமை விடுவானோ
பங்கு தந்தாலும் நமை விடுவானோ
பாவங்கள் செய்யவே நாடும் நாளை ஓடும்
பாவங்கள் செய்யவே நாடும் நாளை ஓடும்
இந்த செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே....
Will the God of Death fear you if you have money?
Will the God of Death fear you if you have money?
Will he spare us even if we give him a share?
Will he spare us even if we give him a share?
It tempts one to commit sins and then runs away tomorrow.
It tempts one to commit sins and then runs away tomorrow.
This wealth is not permanent.
மனமே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
மனமே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
மனமே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
மனமே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
மனமே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
மனமே..........ஏ.......ஏ.......
Oh mind... ah... ah...
நிலையல்லவே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே.......
நிலையல்லவே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே.......
நிலையல்லவே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே.......
நிலையல்லவே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே.......
நிலையல்லவே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே.......
நிலையல்லவே செல்வம் நிலையல்லவே.......
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Selvam nilaiyallaavae
Wealth is not permanent.
Indha selvam nilaiyallavae manamae
Oh mind, this wealth is not permanent.
Selvam nilaiyallavae
Wealth is not permanent.
Piranthidum bothu panamenbathaedhu
What is money when one is born?
Piranthidum bothu panamenbathaedhu
What is money when one is born?
Iranthidum bothu kuda varaathu
When one dies, it does not come along.
Iranthidum bothu kuda varaathu
When one dies, it does not come along.
Perum porul serpadhu veenae
Amassing great wealth is futile.
Sumaithaanae
It is merely a burden.
Perum porul serpadhu veenae
Amassing great wealth is futile.
Sumaithaanae
It is merely a burden.
Indha selvam nilayallavae
This wealth is not permanent.
Selvam nilaiyallaavae manamae
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Selvam nilaiyallavae
Wealth is not permanent.
Panam irundhaal yeman payapaduvaanoo
Will the God of Death fear you if you have money?
Panam irundhaal yeman payapaduvaanoo
Will the God of Death fear you if you have money?
Pangu thanthaalum namai viduvaanoo
Will he spare us even if we give him a share?
Pangu thanthaalum namai viduvaanoo
Will he spare us even if we give him a share?
Paapangal seiyavae naadum naalai oodum
It tempts one to commit sins and then runs away tomorrow.
Paapangal seiyavae naadum naalai oodum
It tempts one to commit sins and then runs away tomorrow.
Indha selvam nilaiyallavae
This wealth is not permanent.
Manamae selvam nilaiyallaavae
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Manamae selvam nilaiyallavae
Oh mind, wealth is not permanent.
Manamae……….ae…ae…..
Oh mind... ah... ah...
Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae
Not permanent, wealth is not permanent.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical track from the film Sabaash Meena (1958) meditates on the transient nature of worldly riches and material wealth. The song serves as a reminder to the mind ('manamae') that money has no existence at birth and offers no companionship after death. Accumulating immense wealth is characterized as an empty, burdensome pursuit that only incites bad deeds before vanishing.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moni (Initial Alliteration)
“Piranthidum bothu panamenbathaedhu”
Repetition of the initial sound 'p' in 'Piranthidum' and 'panamenbathaedhu'.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Piranthidum bothu panamenbathaedhu / Iranthidum bothu kuda varaathu”
Rhyming of the second letter 'ra' across lines in 'Piranthidum' and 'Iranthidum'.
Rhetorical Question
“Panam irundhaal yeman payapaduvaanoo”
A philosophical question asking if Lord Yama (death) fears money, emphasizing that death treats everyone equally regardless of wealth.
Repetition (Adukkuthodar)
“Nilaiyallavae selvam nilaiyallavae”
Continuous repetition of the phrase 'nilaiyallavae' to reinforce the thematic message of impermanence.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sabaash Meena (1958) was directed by B. R. Panthulu and starred Sivaji Ganesan and J. P. Chandrababu. The soundtrack was composed by T. G. Lingappa with lyrics written by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, capturing the classic golden-age Tamil cinema trope of embedding deep philosophical commentary within popular narrative films.
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