Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Soru Manakkum

From Ambikapathy (Old) · 1957

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
V. N. Sundaram
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Ambikapathy (Old)
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
24 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vetri vendhar
Chorus :Vaazhga
Male :Chola mandala aathipathi
Chorus :Vaazhga
Male :Kanni thamil kaavalan
Chorus :Vaazhga
Male :Maamannar kulothunga cholar
Chorus :Vaazhga
Soru manakkum so naadaa
Soli manakka pughazh manakka ponniyanum
Aaru manakkum punal naadaa
Aatchi manakka arul manakum
Eezhamadhil seevi manakkum kulothunghaa…
Vettri manakka veeram manakka
Puvaniyellaam peru manakka pirandhaai nee
Perarinjar pottri manakka
Vaazhiyavae… vaazhiyavae…
Velga nin kottram manna
Viraikamal aathi maalai
Nalgidum manamae
Intha naanilam veesa annaal
Sollilae vendhan aagi
Soozhthunakku unmai koorum
Mallinukku anjaa koothan
Mana mazigh aagiyaalae aagiyaalae..ae…ae…ae..
Varum pagaivar padai kandu
Maar thatti kalam pughum
Makkalai petror vaazhgha… aaa…aaa
Manam konda thunaivarkku
Vidai thandhu vel thandha
Mara kula pengal vaazhga…
Urangkondu poraadi udhirathil neeraadi
Aram kaatha ullam vaazhga…
Thiramaana pughazh konda
Dhidamaana tholgalum
Seyal veerar marabum vaazhga…
Aa…aaa…aa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…aa…aaa….aaa..
Aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aa…aaa…
The victorious King!
Chorus: Long live!
Lead: Supreme ruler of the Chola realm!
Chorus: Long live!
Lead: Protector of timeless Tamil!
Chorus: Long live!
Lead: Great Emperor Kulothunga Chola!
Chorus: Long live!
O King of the Chola land, rich with the fragrance of food!
Where noble deeds and renown spread sweet, and the river Ponni (Cauvery)...
...flows through this land of sweet waters!
Where your reign and grace spread sweet,
and your glory reaches across Eelam (Sri Lanka), O Kulothunga!
With the sweet scent of victory and valor,
you were born to make your name renowned across the whole world!
As great scholars praise you with sweet reverence,
Long may you live! Long may you live!
May your royal rule triumph, O King!
Wearing the fragrant ancient garland,
whose sweet scent
spreads across this wide earth,
becoming a sovereign master of words,
and speaking the honest truth to you,
the poet Koothan, who fears no fighting duel,
brings pure joy to your heart!
Seeing the approaching army of foes,
thumping their chests and stepping onto the battlefield—
long live the parents who raised such brave sons! Ah... ah...
To the beloved husbands of their hearts,
bidding them farewell and handing them the spear—
long live the brave women of the warrior clan!
Fighting with mighty courage and bathing in blood,
long live the noble hearts that defended righteousness!
With mighty renown,
strong and sturdy shoulders,
long live the lineage of valiant heroes!
Ah... aah... ah... aah...
Aah... aah... aah... aah... ah... aah... aah...
Aah... aah... aah... aah... aah... ah... aah...
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This grand praise song from the 1957 classic movie Ambikapathy celebrates King Kulothunga Chola, his prosperous realm, and the martial heritage of the Tamil country. It praises the Chola kingdom for its rich agriculture, righteousness, patronization of Tamil, and military bravery, highlighting court poet Ottakoothan and the heroic women who proudly sent their husbands to defend the nation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Chorus :Vaazhga

The word 'Vaazhga' (Long live) and 'Manakka' (fragrant/scented) are repeated sequentially across multiple lines to build rhythmic enthusiasm and eulogize the king.

Imagery and Metaphor (Uruvagamaana Sorkkal)

Soru manakkum so naadaa

The lyricist uses olfactory imagery extensively ('Soru manakkum', 'Soli manakka', 'Aaru manakkum') to metaphorically describe prosperity, fame, and righteousness as fragrant scents.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ambikapathy (1957), starring Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi, was a historical romantic drama based on the legendary poet Kamban's son Ambikapathy and his love for King Kulothunga Chola's daughter Amaravathi. The soundtrack features lyrics by Kannadasan set in classical Tamil poetic meters.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Ambikapathy (Old)

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.