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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ubakaram Seibavarukke

From Manthiri Kumari · 1950

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Manthiri Kumari1950

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ubakaram seivatharkaeFor doing a good deed,
Abakaram seiya ennumThinking of doing harm in return,
Mulu mosakkaran thaanaeHe is a complete fraud indeed,
Mudivilae..ae…naasamaanavan..aa..aa..aa…In the end, he will be utterly destroyed.
Male
Annamitta veetilaeIn the house that served them food,
Kannakol saathavaeTo break in and rob,
Ennam konda paavigalSinners who hold such evil thoughts,
Mannaai poga nerumaeAre destined to turn into dust.
Male
Annamitta veetilaeIn the house that served them food,
Kannakol saathavaeTo break in and rob,
Ennam konda paavigalSinners who hold such evil thoughts,
Mannaai poga nerumaeAre destined to turn into dust.
Male
Vesham kandu mayangiyae..aeEntranced by mere appearances,
Veenaaga aasai konduNursing futile desires,
Mosamum pona pinnaalAfter being betrayed,
Manavedhanai adaivadhalaeSuffering from deep mental pain,
Laabm ennaWhat is the gain?
Male
Paalai ootri paambai naamEven if we feed milk to a snake,
Valarthaalum nammaiyaeAnd nurture it,
Kadikkathaanae varum adhaiIt will surely come to bite us,
Adithu kolla nerumaeForcing us to strike and kill it.
Male
Paalai ootri paambai naamEven if we feed milk to a snake,
Valarthaalum nammaiyaeAnd nurture it,
Kadikkathaanae varum adhaiIt will surely come to bite us,
Adithu kolla nerumaeForcing us to strike and kill it.
Male
Annamitta veetilaeIn the house that served them food,
Kannakol saathavaeTo break in and rob,
Ennam konda paavigalSinners who hold such evil thoughts,
Mannaai poga nerumaeAre destined to turn into dust.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song serves as a stern moral warning against treachery, ingratitude, and deceitful human nature. It conveys that individuals who return harm for kindness or attempt to betray those who offered them hospitality and food (metaphorically robbing the house that fed them) will inevitably face ruin and turn to dust through karma.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Ethukai

Ubakaram seivatharkae / Abakaram seiya ennum

Contrasting 'Ubakaram' (helping) with 'Abakaram' (harming) in the opening lines while sharing second-letter rhyming (Ethukai).

Metaphor (Roopakam)

Paalai ootri paambai naam valarthaalum nammaiyae kadikkathaanae varum

Comparing a treacherous person to a venomous snake that will bite the very person who feeds it milk.

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

Annamitta veetilae / Kannakol saathavae

Matching second consonants in 'Annamitta' and 'Kannakol' for rhythmic harmony.

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Trivia

This song from the landmark film Manthiri Kumari (1950) was one of the earliest breakthrough playback tracks for iconic singer T. M. Soundararajan, composed by G. Ramanathan with screenplays written by M. Karunanidhi.

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