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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sirandha Ulaginil Yaavum

From Maappillai 1952 Film · 1952

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
P. Leela, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music directors
N. S. Balakrishnan, T. R. Pappa
Details
Maappillai 1952 Film1952

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aa….Ah... ah...
Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamaeIn this grand world, everything is filled with Lord Shiva.
Thedaadha selvamaeOh unsearchable wealth!
Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamaeIn this grand world, everything is filled with Lord Shiva.
Thedaadha selvamaeOh unsearchable wealth!
Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamaeIn this grand world, everything is filled with Lord Shiva.
Parandha ulaginil yaavum pana mayamaeIn this vast world, everything is filled with money.
Palar vanangum deivamaeThe deity worshipped by many.
Female
Panathilae mathi mayangiyaeGetting intoxicated by money,
Nalla gunathaiyae parikoduthu vaazhnthidumSurrendering and losing good character to live,
Nee unadhu nilai izhandhidaYou lose your true status,
Veen manadhu sabalam adainthidaAs your futile mind succumbs to temptation.
Ninaivilum unaikanavilum mamadhaiyilIn memories and in your dreams, trapped in arrogance,
Panamae pazhi vaangidum paaradiSee how money exacts revenge!
Female
Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamaeIn this grand world, everything is filled with Lord Shiva.
Thedaatahe selvamaeOh unsearchable wealth!
Female
Aaduvadhum sivamayam ena paaduvadhumDancing and singing that everything is Shiva's realm,
Pasi vandhathum parandhu pogumWhen hunger strikes, it flies away—
Bhakthiyum mukkthiyumDevotion and liberation,
Pasi vandhathum parandhu pogumaeWhen hunger arrives, they fly away.
Parandha ulaginil yaavum pana mayamaeIn this vast world, everything is filled with money,
Palar vanangum deivamaeThe deity worshipped by many.
Female
Thaai karuvil kuzhandhai valarnthidaFor a child to grow in a mother's womb,
Seikunavu tharuvathu panamaIs it money that provides the child's food?
Tharaithanil maram valarnthida thazhaithidaFor a tree to grow and flourish on earth,
Uram adhu ungal sivamaIs that fertilizer your Shiva?
Vindhu mudhalaa maram mudhalaaIs semen/seed first, or tree first?
Bhakthimudhalaa panam mudhalaaIs devotion first, or money first?
Para bhramamae panamae sivamae magithalamelIs Supreme Brahman money or Shiva upon this earth?
Female
Dhaana dharmam niranthidum vaazhvinilIn a life filled with charity and righteousness,
Kaanum sagala igabara sugam peraTo gain all earthly and heavenly pleasures,
Dhegamidhae sandhegam idhaeThis body itself is uncertain!
Anbae sivamayamae …manakanindhu magizhnthidavaeLove itself is Shiva... so the heart may melt and rejoice.
Arivum thiramaiyum ulaga anubhavamaeKnowledge, skill, and worldly experience—
Adhuvae avasiyamaeThat alone is necessary.
Arivum thiramaiyum ulaga anubhavamaeKnowledge, skill, and worldly experience...
Female
Maaya ulagil mayakkamaIs this intoxication in an illusory world?
Indha maaya ulagil mayakkamaIntoxication in this illusory world?
Madhiyaen izhandhaai idhu polWhy have you lost your intellect like this?
Aadambaram aagumaWill grand pomp endure?
Female
Maaya ulagil mayakkamaIs this intoxication in an illusory world?
Indha maaya ulagil mayakkamaIntoxication in this illusory world?
Female
Maarum ulagam madhikkumaWill the changing world respect this?
Maarum ulagam madhikkumaWill the changing world respect this?
Nilai maarum ulagam madhikkumaaWill this ever-changing world show respect?
Nam maanam kaakka nadai udai veli veshamumTo protect our honor, our walk, attire, and outward facade—
Female
Naalum ulagil nilaikkumaaWill they last daily in this world?
Ennaalum ulagil nilaikkumaaWill they ever last in this world?
Female
Maaya ulagil mayakkamaIntoxication in an illusory world?
……………………………………...
Female
Maarum ulagam madhikkumaWill the changing world respect this?
………………………………………...
Female
………………………….....
Female
Iyarkkai seyarkkai inbamaeNature and artificiality bring pleasure,
Igamel sugamaai inimael vazhnthida venumaeOne must live happily on this earth from now on.
Female
Maarum ulagam madhikkumaWill the changing world respect this?
Nilai maarum ulagam madhikkumaaWill this ever-changing world show respect?
Female
Manaivi manam pol kanavanumA husband living in harmony with his wife's heart—
Dhinam vaazhum marmamandro inbamaeIsn't daily living in harmony the secret bliss?
Manaivi manam pol kanavanumA husband living in harmony with his wife's heart—
Dhinam vaazhum marmamandro inbamaeIsn't daily living in harmony the secret bliss?
Marmamandro inbamaeIsn't it secret bliss?
Female
Varumaiyilum manaiviEven in poverty, a wife...
Varumaiyilum manaivi kanavanudanEven in poverty, a wife living with her husband...
Vaazhum perumaiyandro inbamaeIsn't that pride and joy?
Varumaiyilum manaivi kanavanudanEven in poverty, a wife living with her husband...
Vaazhum perumaiyandro inbamaeIsn't that pride and joy?
Perumaiyandro inbamaeIsn't that true pride and joy?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic musical debate song from Maappillai (1952) pits spiritual devotion (Sivamayam / devotion to Shiva and Nature) against material wealth (Panamayam / supremacy of money). One side argues that everything in the universe is sustained by divine grace, love, and natural order, while the opposing view asserts that money rules practical human existence, fulfilling basic needs like food and social status. As the song unfolds, it explores deeper ethical and philosophical questions, concluding that while money handles superficial worldly affairs, enduring happiness stems from intellect, natural harmony, moral dignity, and loving marital companionship, even in the midst of poverty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Muran)

Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamae / Parandha ulaginil yaavum pana mayamae

Contrasting 'Sivamayam' (spiritual divinity) with 'Panamayam' (material money) to highlight the debate between spirituality and materialism.

Moonaal / Alliteration

Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamae

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Si' across words.

Emona / Rhyme (Edugai)

Sirandha ulaginil yaavum sivamayamae / Parandha ulaginil yaavum pana mayamae

Matching second consonants across lines ('ra' in Sirandha and Parandha).

Did you know?

Trivia

This track serves as a classic philosophical 'Patti Mandram' (debate) set to song in 1950s Tamil cinema. Written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass and composed jointly by N. S. Balakrishnan and T. R. Pappa, the duet highlights the contrasting vocal textures of Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi and P. Leela representing opposing sides of the debate.

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