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Sange Muzhangu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Silar Kudippathupole

From Sange Muzhangu · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Sange Muzhangu
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
16 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Silar kudippadhu polae nadippar
Silar nadippadhu polae kudipppar
Silar paattil mayanguvaar
Silar bottilil mayanguvaar
Silar kudippadhu polae nadippar
Silar nadippadhu polae kudipppar
Silar paattil mayanguvaar
Silar bottilil mayanguvaar
Madhuvukku yaedhu ragasiyam
Andha mayakkathil ellaam avasaram
Madhuvukku yaedhu ragasiyam
Andha mayakkathil ellaam avasaram
Madhuvil vizhundhavan vaarthaiyai
Maru naal ketppadhu avasiyam
Gaa.. gamaa mapaa padhaa dhani
Nidhaa dhapaa pamaa magaa rigaa…
Avar ivar yenum mozhi
Avan ivan yena varumae
Naanamillai vetkkam illai
Bodhai yerum podhu
Nallavanum theeyavanae
Koppai yendhum podhu
Silar kudippadhu polae nadippar
Silar nadippadhu polae kudipppar
Silar paattil mayanguvaar
Silar bottilil mayanguvaar
Pugazhilum bodhai illaiyo
Pillai mazhalaiyil bodhai illaiyo
Pugazhilum bodhai illaiyo
Pillai mazhalaiyil bodhai illaiyo
Kaadhalil bodhai illaiyo
Nenjin karunaiyil bodhai illaiyo
Gaa.. gamaa mapaa padhaa dhani
Nidhaa dhapaa pamaa magaa rigaa…
Manam madhi
Aram tharum sugam
Madhu tharumo
Nee ninaikkum bodhai varum
Nanmai seidhu paaru
Nimmadhiyai thaedi nindraal
Unmai solli paaru
Silar kudippadhu polae nadippar
Silar nadippadhu polae kudipppar
Silar paattil mayanguvaar
Silar bottilil mayanguvaar
Some pretend as if they are drinking,
Some drink as if they are pretending.
Some lose themselves in a song,
Some lose themselves in a bottle.
Some pretend as if they are drinking,
Some drink as if they are pretending.
Some lose themselves in a song,
Some lose themselves in a bottle.
Alcohol holds no secrets,
In that haze, everything is rushed.
Alcohol holds no secrets,
In that haze, everything is rushed.
The words spoken by a man drowned in drink,
Must be checked again the next day!
Ga... Ga Ma, Ma Pa, Pa Dha, Dha Ni...
Ni Dha, Dha Pa, Pa Ma, Ma Ga, Ri Ga...
Respectful words like "sir" and "gentleman"
Turn into "that guy" and "this fellow".
There is no shyness, no shame,
When drunkenness takes hold.
Even a good person turns bad,
Once they raise a cup to drink.
Some pretend as if they are drinking,
Some drink as if they are pretending.
Some lose themselves in a song,
Some lose themselves in a bottle.
Isn't there a high in fame?
Isn't there a high in a child's sweet chatter?
Isn't there a high in fame?
Isn't there a high in a child's sweet chatter?
Isn't there a high in love?
Isn't there a high in a heart full of compassion?
Ga... Ga Ma, Ma Pa, Pa Dha, Dha Ni...
Ni Dha, Dha Pa, Pa Ma, Ma Ga, Ri Ga...
A clear mind and good sense,
And the joy that living right gives—
Can alcohol ever give you that?
The high you truly seek will come,
Just try doing good deeds!
If you are searching for peace of mind,
Just try speaking the truth!
Some pretend as if they are drinking,
Some drink as if they are pretending.
Some lose themselves in a song,
Some lose themselves in a bottle.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic philosophical song from 'Sange Muzhangu' (1972) contrasts the destructive nature of alcoholic intoxication with the wholesome, elevated states of bliss derived from art, virtue, love, and truth. Kannadasan's lyricism explores human hypocrisies around drinking and the loss of dignity and self-control that comes with alcohol.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Chiasmus / Antimetabole

“Silar kudippadhu polae nadippar / Silar nadippadhu polae kudipppar”

Inversion of repeated words across consecutive lines for emphasis.

Rhetorical Question

“Pugazhilum bodhai illaiyo / Pillai mazhalaiyil bodhai illaiyo”

Posing questions with obvious moral answers to challenge the listener's perspective on true intoxication.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme) & Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Madhuvukku yaedhu ragasiyam / Andha mayakkathil ellaam avasaram”

Traditional Tamil poetic meter techniques showcasing internal structural rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is composed by the legendary duo M. S. Viswanathan and T. K. Ramamoorthy (MSV) and sung by T. M. Soundararajan for the movie starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). Kannadasan famously penned several philosophical songs warning against alcoholism despite his own open admissions about his lifestyle.

Keep listening

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Gangai Yamunai Saraswathi1977
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Thannai Arindhu1954
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Sippiyile Muthu1974
Anbai ThediImpermanenceContemplative
Oorukku Nee Uzhaithaal1960
Raja DesinguSpiritualityMeditative
Dhanam Avasiyam Dhanam1957
Pudhu VazhvuSpiritualityMeditative

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