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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Sothanai Mel Sothanai

From Thanga Pathakkam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thanga Pathakkam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
31 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
Vedhanai dhaan vaazhkai endraal
Thaangaadhu bhoomi
Vedhanai dhaan vaazhkai endraal
Thaangaadhu bhoomi
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
{Sondham oru kai vilangu
Nee pottadhu
Adhil bandham oru kaal vilangu
Naan pottadhu} (2)
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
{Adhaaram illai amma
Aarudhal solla
Naan avadhaaram illai amma
Thathauvam solla} (2)
Parigaram thedi ini
Evvidam sella
Enakku adhigaramillai amma
Vanagam sella
Oru naalum naan idhu pol
Azhudhavan alla
Andha thiru naalai magan koduthaan
Yaaridam solla
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
Vedhanai dhaan vaazhkai endraal
Thaangaadhu bhoomi
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
Mama kaanji pona
Bhoomi ellaam
Vaththaadha nadhiyai paathu
Aarudhal adaiyum
Andha nadhiyae kaanji poitaa
Thunbapadaravanga ellaam
Avanga kavalaiyai
Deivathukku kitta murai iduvaanga
Anaa antha deivamae kalangi ninnaa
Andha deivathukku yaaraala
Aarudhal solla mudiyum…(Dialogue)
{Thaan aadavillai amma
Sadhai aadudhu
Adhu thandhai endrum
Pillai endrum vilaiyadhudhu} (2)
Poovaaga vaithirundhen
Manam enbadhu
Adhil poo naagam
Pugundhu kondu uravendradhu
Adi thaangum ullamidhu
Idi thaanguma
Idi pola pillai vandhaal
Madi thaangumaa
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
Vedhanai dhaan vaazhkai endraal
Thaangaadhu bhoomi
Sodhanai mel sodhanai
Podhumada saami
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
If life is meant to be only pain,
even the earth cannot bear it.
If life is meant to be only pain,
even the earth cannot bear it.
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
Kinship is a handcuff
that you locked on me,
and emotional attachment is a shackle
that I put on myself.
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
I have no basis, my dear,
to offer any comfort.
I am no divine incarnation, my dear,
to preach philosophy.
Seeking a remedy now,
where can I go?
I have no right, my dear,
to enter the heavens.
Never before in my life
have I wept like this.
My son has given me this day of tears;
to whom can I pour out my sorrow?
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
If life is meant to be only pain,
even the earth cannot bear it.
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
Mama, when the parched
earth looks at
a river that never runs dry,
it finds comfort.
If that river itself dries up...
Everyone who suffers
brings their grief
and cries before God.
But if that very God stands broken in tears,
who in the world
can comfort that God? (Dialogue)
It is not my will that falters, my dear,
it is my flesh and blood that stirs;
it plays its painful game
between father and son.
I kept it gentle like a flower,
this thing called the heart;
yet a venomous serpent
crept in and claimed to be kin.
This heart can bear ordinary blows,
but can it survive a thunderbolt?
When your own child strikes like lightning,
can a parent's lap bear the shock?
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
If life is meant to be only pain,
even the earth cannot bear it.
Trial upon trial,
I have had enough, oh Lord!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the intense agony of a strict, righteous father—a high-ranking police officer—who finds himself shattered by the rogue behavior and betrayal of his own son. The protagonist vents his sorrow to God and his wife, questioning why duty and blood bonds have trapped him in such inescapable suffering. The metaphor of handcuffs and shackles reflects his inability to break free from familial love despite his unyielding moral values. The spoken dialogue and deeply emotional lyrics emphasize that while a person can withstand physical hardship or public trials, emotional betrayal from one's own offspring hits like a divine thunderbolt. The song portrays the despair of an upright hero who is revered as a savior by others, yet finds himself completely helpless and broken in his personal life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming / Monorhyme)

“Sodhanai mel sodhanai / Vedhanai dhaan vaazhkai endraal”

Matching second consonant 'da' across lines like Sodhanai / Vedhanai.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Sondham oru kai vilangu / Adhil bandham oru kaal vilangu”

Comparing family kinship and emotional attachment to physical handcuffs and foot shackles.

Contrast & Metaphor (Uruvagaimai / Urudhiani)

“Poovaaga vaithirundhen / Adhil poo naagam pugundhu kondu uravendradhu”

Comparing a pure heart to a flower and the corrupting son/relationship to a poisonous cobra entering that flower.

Wordplay / Synecdoche (Iratura Mozhidhal)

“Thaan aadavillai amma / Sadhai aadudhu”

'Sadhai' (flesh/blood) represents biological instinct and emotional weakness overriding rational control.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thanga Pathakkam' (1974) is a iconic Tamil drama starring Sivaji Ganesan as Inspector S. P. Choudhury. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan and vocals by T. M. Soundararajan. The tragic emotional weight of this song became a benchmark for parental grief in Tamil cinema.

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From the same album

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