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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sirikka Therindhaal Podhum

From Madappura · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Madappura1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Thuyar nerungaadhu nammai orupodhumSorrow will never approach us at any time
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Thuyar nerungaadhu nammai orupodhumSorrow will never approach us at any time
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Female
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Thuyar nerungaadhu nammai orupodhumSorrow will never approach us at any time
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Thuyar nerungaadhu nammai orupodhumSorrow will never approach us at any time
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Male
{Vanatthukku azhaguThe beauty of a forest is
Female
PasumaiGreenery
Male
Vaarthaikku azhaguThe beauty of a word is
Female
InimaiSweetness
Male
Kulathukku azhaguThe beauty of a pond is
Female
ThaamaraiLotus
Nam mugatthukku azhagu punnagai} (2)The beauty of our face is a smile
Male
Iravum pagalum unduDay and night exist
Vaazhvil ilamaiyum mudhumaiyum unduIn life, youth and old age exist
Iravum pagalum unduDay and night exist
Vaazhvil ilamaiyum mudhumaiyum unduIn life, youth and old age exist
Female
Uravum pagaiyum unduRelationships and enmity exist
Enum unmaiyiai nenjil konduKeeping this truth in mind
Uravum pagaiyum unduRelationships and enmity exist
Enum unmaiyiai nenjil konduKeeping this truth in mind
Female
Thuyar nerungaadhuSorrow will not approach
Nammai orupodhumUs at any time
Female
{Uravai valarppadhuWhat nurtures relationships is
Male :AnbuMale: Love
Female :Mana niraivai tharuvadhuFemale: What grants mental satisfaction is
Male :PanbuMale: Virtuous conduct
Female :Porumaiyai alippadhuFemale: What grants patience is
Male :SirippuMale: Laughter
Idhai purindhavar adaivadhu kalippu} (2)Those who understand this attain bliss
Female
Manidhan maaruvadhillaiA true human does not change their moral character
Avan maaridil manidhanae illaiIf one changes, one is not human at all
Manidhan maaruvadhillaiA true human does not change their moral character
Avan maaridil manidhanae illaiIf one changes, one is not human at all
Male
Vandhidum avanaal thollaiTrouble arises because of such a person
Nee sindhithu paar en sollaiPonder deeply upon my words
Vandhidum avanaal thollaiTrouble arises because of such a person
Nee sindhithu paar en sollaiPonder deeply upon my words
Male
Sirikka therindhaal podhumIf you know how to smile, that is enough
Female
Thuyar nerungaadhuSorrow will not approach
Nammai orupodhumUs at any time

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Sirikka Therindhaal Podhum' emphasizes the therapeutic and transformative power of a smile, contentment, and righteous living. It presents various analogies from nature—such as greenery adorning a forest, sweetness enriching words, and a lotus beautifying a pond—to assert that a smile is the true ornament of the human face. By holding onto joy and recognizing the natural dualities of life like night and day, youth and age, and friendship and enmity, one can remain unaffected by grief.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Parallelism / Analogy (Uvamai)

Vanatthukku azhagu Pasumai... Nam mugatthukku azhagu punnagai

Compares natural adornments (greenery for forests, lotus for ponds) to human expressions (smile for the face) to highlight natural harmony.

Antithesis (Muran)

Iravum pagalum undu Vaazhvil ilamaiyum mudhumaiyum undu

Uses contrasting dualities (night/day, youth/old age, friendship/enmity) to express the full spectrum of human experience.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Male :Anbu / Male :Panbu

Rhyming word endings ('Anbu', 'Panbu') create a rhythmic, melodic cadence in the dialogue portion of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1962 Tamil movie 'Madappura' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The music for the film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics were penned by A. Maruthakasi.

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