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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sollathan Ninaikkiren 2

From Engal Selvi · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani, Chorus
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Engal Selvi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
26 Nov 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
Adhai sonnaalum ketpavarukku puriyavillai
Sollaththaan ninaikkiraen mudiyavillai
Ullaasa ulagamendru piranthu vittaen
Idhan unmai nilai ariyaamal
Mayangugindraen naan
Kann mayakkam theerththu vaippaai
Iyarkkaiyammaa
Kadhal mudhal dharmam varai kaatta vaaraai
Un magalukkuthavu seivaai iyarkkaiyammaa
Ulanganinthu vanthu vidu varuga thaayae
Varuga thaayae varuga thaayae varuga thaayae
Kadhal kadhal kadhal
Kavalaiyai theerppathu kadhal
Paathi paathiyai aangalum pengalum
Pangu perum sugam kadhal
Aadhi mudhalilae ulagam piranthathum
Aarambamaanathum kadhal
Thagathagavena palapalavena
Jolippathuthaan selvam
Thannai maranthae unnai arugil
Izhuppathuthaan selvam
Pettra magalai thanthaiyai vittu
Pirippathuthaan selvam
Pesum vaayai oomaiyaakki
Madakkuvathe selvam
Kannirunthum kurudanaaga
Maattruvathe selvam
Kalviyillaa moodaraiyum
Vananguvathe selavam
Engae dharmam
Engae dharmam engae dharmam
Mannavar mudiyum thennavar naadum
Valarntha dharmam engae engae
Kanniyar karpum annaiyar panbum
Kaattiya dharmam engae engae
Kaalgal thalarnthu kaigalum ointhu
Kadhurugiraen en thaayae
Kanniyam valarkkum dharmaththin uravai
Kaattiduvaai neeyae
Kanniyam valarkkum dharmaththin uravai
Kaattiduvaai neeyae
I want to speak my mind, but I cannot.
I want to speak my mind, but I cannot.
Even if I say it, the listener cannot understand.
Even if I say it, the listener cannot understand.
I want to speak my mind, but I cannot.
Even if I say it, the listener cannot understand.
I want to speak my mind, but I cannot.
I was born thinking this was a carefree world of joy,
without knowing its harsh reality,
and now I am lost in confusion.
Clear this haze before my eyes,
O Mother Nature!
Come and show me everything from love to righteousness!
Help your daughter, Mother Nature!
Adorning this world, please come, Mother!
Come, Mother! Come, Mother! Come, Mother!
Love, love, love!
Love is what dissolves every sorrow.
It is the joy that men and women
share equally in two halves.
From the very moment the world was created,
what began right alongside it was love!
Glittering and gleaming,
shining bright—that is wealth!
Making you forget yourself and drawing you in,
that is what wealth does!
Tearing a daughter away
from her own father, that is wealth!
Silencing a speaking mouth
and forcing it to submit, that is wealth!
Turning someone with eyes
into a blind person, that is wealth!
Making people bow down
even before uneducated fools, that is wealth!
Where is righteousness?
Where is righteousness? Where is righteousness?
Where is the righteousness that once thrived
under the crowns of kings and across this southern land? Where is it?
Where is the righteousness once reflected
in the virtue of women and the grace of mothers? Where is it?
With trembling legs and weary hands,
I cry out in pain, my Mother!
The true bond of righteousness that upholds human dignity,
show it to me yourself!
The true bond of righteousness that upholds human dignity,
show it to me yourself!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from Engal Selvi (1960) serves as a poignant philosophical reflection on human suffering, worldly illusions, and societal corruptions. The protagonist cries out to Mother Nature, feeling helpless and misunderstood in a world that she initially believed was filled with joy. Through contrast, the lyrics explore the noble essence of love versus the corrupting influence of wealth, which blinds people, silences truth, and subverts moral values. Ultimately, the singer desperately seeks the lost path of righteousness (dharmam) that once sustained society, honor, and human relationships.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sol Pinvarunilai Ani (Anaphora / Epistrophe)

“Jolippathuthaan selvam... Izhuppathuthaan selvam... Pirippathuthaan selvam”

The repetitive ending of lines with the word 'selvam' (wealth) emphasizes the ironic and corrupting power of money in various human situations.

Irattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeia)

“Thagathagavena palapalavena”

The paired rhythmic words 'Thagathagavena' and 'palapalavena' vividly imitate the dazzling, shiny allure of material riches.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Mannavar mudiyum thennavar naadum / Kanniyar karpum annaiyar panbum”

The second letter harmony 'nn' in 'Mannavar', 'Kanniyar', and 'Kanniyam' creates lyrical rhythm across verses.

Moonaik Chollal (Initial Alliteration)

“Kaalgal thalarnthu kaigalum ointhu”

Matching starting sounds in adjacent words such as 'Kaalgal' and 'Kaigalum' reinforces the musicality of the distress expressed.

Did you know?

Trivia

Engal Selvi (1960), directed by D. Yoganand and starring Sowcar Janaki and M. R. Radha, featured a rich soundtrack composed by K. V. Mahadevan. Lyricist Kannadasan used this stage-song format in the film to deliver a sharp socio-philosophical commentary contrasting pure love and righteousness against the corrupting influence of wealth, a recurring theme in his classic mid-20th-century Tamil film poetry.

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