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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Solla Mudiyadha

From Ulagam Sirikirathu · 1959

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
Ghantasala
Music director
V. Dakshinamurthy
Details
Ulagam Sirikirathu1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Soodhaadi maandhargalinThe luxurious life of people who gamble
Suga vaazhvum oru naalil ..aaaaWill one day... ahhh
Paadhaalam pogumenalPlunge into the depths of hell;
Paar arindha unmai androIs this not a truth known to the world?
Male
Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhaiAn unspeakable tale of sorrow,
Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhaiThe tragic story of people who gamble.
Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhaiAn unspeakable tale of sorrow,
Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhaiThe tragic story of people who gamble.
Nalla manidharum vanjagaragiEven good people become deceitful
Kalla vealigal seidha kadhaiAnd commit treacherous acts;
Nalla manidharum vanjagaragiEven good people become deceitful
Kalla vealigal seidha kadhaiAnd commit treacherous acts;
Silar kollai laabathil konda mogathaalDriven by greed for huge profits,
Ulladhum izhandhu uru kulaindha kadhaiThey lose what they have and ruin their lives.
Male
Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhaiAn unspeakable tale of sorrow,
Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhaiThe tragic story of people who gamble.
Male
Andha naalilae panja paandavarIn those ancient days, the five Pandavas
Arasu urimaiyai izhandhadhum..aaaaaLost their royal rights... ahhh
Andha naalilae panja paandavarIn those ancient days, the five Pandavas
Arasu urimaiyai izhandhadhumLost their royal rights,
Azhagu paanjaali ammaiyaarudanAnd along with the beautiful Draupadi,
Anaivarum kaattil alaindhadhumWandered helplessly in the forest.
Male
Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhaiAn unspeakable tale of sorrow,
Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhaiThe tragic story of people who gamble.
Male
Anbu maelidum nalan thamayandhiNala and Damayanti, filled with deep love,
Allal sumandhu varunthiyathum…aaaaEndured intense hardships and suffered... ahhh
Anbu maelidum nalan thamayandhiNala and Damayanti, filled with deep love,
Allal sumandhu varunthiyathumEndured intense hardships and suffered,
Ariya kaadhalai piriya nernthathumForced to separate from their precious love
Aadhaaram izhandhadhum soodhaattathaaleAnd losing all support, all because of gambling.
Male
Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhaiAn unspeakable tale of sorrow,
Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhaiThe tragic story of people who gamble.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Solla Mudiyaadha Thunba Kadhai is a philosophical song from the 1959 Tamil movie Ulagam Sirikirathu, composed by V. Dakshinamurthy and sung by Ghantasala. Written by lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram, the song delivers a stern moral warning against the destructive vice of gambling. It cautions that regardless of how prosperous a gambler's life may seem initially, it ultimately leads to misery and ruin, turning even honorable people corrupt and deceitful. To drive the moral lesson home, the song invokes iconic epics from Indian mythology: the Pandavas who gambled away their kingdom and were exiled to the forest with Draupadi, and King Nala and Queen Damayanti who lost everything and were separated due to the roll of dice. Through these vivid literary allusions, the song highlights the timeless truth that gambling destroys lives, relationships, and moral values.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Soodhaadi maandhargalin / Paadhaalam pogumenal

Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic flow, such as 'Soodhaadi' and 'Paadhaalam'.

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

Ariya kaadhalai piriya nernthathum / Aadhaaram izhandhadhum soodhaattathaale

Repetition of initial vowel sounds across words in a line for euphonic effect.

Mythological Allusion

Andha naalilae panja paandavar / Arasu urimaiyai izhandhadhum

Referencing ancient epics (Mahabharata's Pandavas and Draupadi; Nala-Damayanti from the Naishadha Charita) to validate the cautionary message.

Refrain / Chorus

Solla mudiyaadha thunba kadhai / Soodhaadi manidharin soga kadhai

Repetition of core thematic lines after every verse to reinforce the moral warning.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for weaving social ethics and political consciousness into popular film songs. This track is a rare Tamil collaboration featuring iconic veteran Malayalam composer V. Dakshinamurthy and legendary Telugu/Tamil playback singer Ghantasala.

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