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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thanakku Thanakku Endru

From Magizhampoo · 1969

Lyricist
Mayavanathan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
D. B. Ramachandran
Movie name
Magizhampoo
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
17 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hahahaha
Thanakku thanakku endru odhukaadhae
Seidha dharmam thalai kaakkum marakkadhae
Thanakku minji thaan thaanam engindra
Thathuvam poi adhai madhikkadhae
Hahahaha
Irukku irukkuthendru kodukkadhae panam
Illaadha kalathil thavikkadhae
Thanakku minjithaan thaanam engindra
Thathuvam mei adhai marakkadhae
Thanakku thanakku endru odhukaadhae
Seidha dharmam thalai kaakkum marakkadhae
Thannalam illaa manidharin nenjil
Kadavul irukkindraan
Thannalam illaa manidharin nenjil
Kadavul irukkindraan
Nalla dharmam seibavanin kaigalin vazhiyae
Karnan sirikkindraan
Koduthavan ellaam sarithirathodu
Sarithiram aagindraan
Koduthavan ellaam sarithirathodu
Sarithiram aagindraan
Aduthavan ellaam therupuzhu polae
Karipugai aagindraan
Irukku irukkuthendru kodukkadhae panam
Illaadha kalathil thavikkadhae
Kanja kazhudhaiyum kaasu irundhaal
Karnan aagi viduvaan
Kanja kazhudhaiyum kaasu irundhaal
Karnan aagi viduvaan
Indha kazhisaadai ulagil panamudaiyorkku
Kadavulum bayapaduvaan
Endha kaalamum irukkira varai thaan
Oorukku ubayogam
Endha kaalamum irukkira varai thaan
Oorukku ubayogam
Adhai izhandhuvittaloo karnan endraalum
Kidapadhu avamanam
Thanakku thanakku endru odhukaadhae
Seidha dharmam thalai kaakkum marakkadhae
Aduthavan madhikka kodupathu ellaam
Kodiyinil seraadhu
Aduthavan madhikka kodupathu ellaam
Kodiyinil seraadhu
Alandhu kodukkiravan irukkira varaikkum
Dharmam valaradhu
Irupadhaiyellam kodukkira manidharkku
Nilaikkira pugazh irukkum
Irupadhaiyellam kodukkira manidharkku
Nilaikkira pugazh irukkum
Adhai thadukkira paavikku kaiyodu kaalum
Virathathum peyar marakkum
Aattril pottaalum alandhu podendru
Pazhamozhi irukkiradhu
Aattril pottaalum alandhu podendru
Pazhamozhi irukkiradhu
Alavukku meeri kodupathu ellaam
Vishamaai pogirathu
Vidhaikku illamal vilaindhadhai ellaam
Virpathu udhavaadhu
Vidhaikku illamal vilaindhadhai ellaam
Virpathu udhavaadhu
Vishayam therindhavarin vaarthaigal mattum
Eppavum thavaraadhu
Thanakku thanakku endru odhukkadhae
Irukku irukkthendru kodukkadhae
Panam illadha kaalathil thavikkadhae………….
Hahaha!
Do not hoard things just for yourself;
Never forget that charity protects your life.
The saying that charity begins only after your own needs are met
Is a false philosophy—do not heed it!
Hahaha!
Do not give away money just because you have plenty,
Lest you struggle when you have none left!
The saying that charity begins only after your own needs are met
Is true wisdom—do not forget it...
Do not hoard things just for yourself;
Never forget that charity protects your life.
In the hearts of selfless souls,
God resides.
In the hearts of selfless souls,
God resides.
Through the hands of the truly generous,
Karna (the legendary giver) smiles.
Everyone who gave freely
Becomes a part of history itself.
Everyone who gave freely
Becomes a part of history itself.
While the selfish, like worms in the street,
Turn into black smoke and vanish...
Do not give away money just because you have plenty,
Lest you struggle when you have none left!
Even a stingy fool, if he has money,
Is praised as a Karna!
Even a stingy fool, if he has money,
Is praised as a Karna!
In this corrupt world, before the rich,
Even God seems to fear.
At any time, only as long as you have wealth
Are you of any use to this town.
At any time, only as long as you have wealth
Are you of any use to this town.
Once you lose it, even if you are Karna himself,
All you will receive is disgrace.
Do not hoard things just for yourself;
Never forget that charity protects your life.
Giving just to earn the praise of others
Does not count as true charity.
Giving just to earn the praise of others
Does not count as true charity.
As long as people give with calculated measure,
True righteousness will never flourish.
For the person who gives away all they have,
Enduring fame will remain.
For the person who gives away all they have,
Enduring fame will remain.
For the sinner who halts charity, once their hands and legs
Stiffen in death, their name is forgotten!
"Even when throwing into the river, measure what you throw,"
So goes the old proverb.
"Even when throwing into the river, measure what you throw,"
So goes the old proverb.
Giving far beyond your means
Only turns into poison.
Selling the entire harvest without saving seeds to sow
Will never do any good.
Selling the entire harvest without saving seeds to sow
Will never do any good.
Only the words of those who truly understand
Will never prove wrong...
Do not hoard things just for yourself!
Do not give away just because you have it...
Do not suffer when you have no money left...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical duet from Magizhampoo (1969) features a classic debate on charity, wealth management, and social morality between two opposing viewpoints, rendered vividly by T. M. Soundarajan and Seerkazhi Govindarajan. One perspective argues for uninhibited selflessness, asserting that charity protects the giver, bestows immortal fame like that of King Karna, and that God resides in the hearts of those who give without calculation. The opposing perspective advocates for prudent giving, arguing that charity should only be done after securing one's own basic needs, citing traditional proverbs that warn against excessive generosity which can lead to personal ruin and social humiliation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thanakku thanakku endru odhukaadhae

Repetition of the second consonant 'na' in 'Thanakku' and 'Seidha' / 'Thathuvam' across adjacent lines.

Monaï (Alliteration)

Kanja kazhudhaiyum kaasu irundhaal / Karnan aagi viduvaan

Matching initial consonants like 'Kanja' and 'Karnan' in the same line.

Simile (Upamai)

Aduthavan ellaam therupuzhu polae / Karipugai aagindraan

Comparing selfish, uncharitable individuals to street worms ('therupuzhu') and black smoke ('karipugai').

Allusion

Nalla dharmam seibavanin kaigalin vazhiyae / Karnan sirikkindraan

Reference to Karna from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, universally regarded in Tamil culture as the epitome of grand philanthropy.

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Trivia

This track is a quintessential Tamil musical debate song ('Patti Mandram' style duet) featuring the legendary singing duo T. M. Soundarajan and Seerkazhi Govindarajan. Such musical debates were a popular trope in mid-20th-century Tamil cinema, allowing lyricists to weave ancient proverbs, ethical texts (like Tirukkural), and pragmatic worldly advice into captivating screen drama.

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