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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagam Ariyatha Puthumai

From Harichandra – 1968 Film · 1968

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Harichandra – 1968 Film1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ulagam ariyaadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to the world
Indha ulagam ariyadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to this world
En udal porul aaviyaiMy body, wealth, and soul
Kadunnukkae virppadhuSelling to pay off debt
Ulagam ariyaadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to the world
En udal porul aaviyaiMy body, wealth, and soul
Kadunnukkae virppadhuSelling to pay off debt
Ulagam ariyaadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to the world
Indha ulagam ariyadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to this world
Male
Alai kadal maevumFloating upon the wavy sea
Thurumbadhai polaeLike a tiny piece of straw
Yaanai vaayin karumbadhai polaeLike sugarcane inside an elephant's mouth
Male
Alai kadal maevumFloating upon the wavy sea
Thurumbadhai polaeLike a tiny piece of straw
Yaanai vaayin karumbadhai polaeLike sugarcane inside an elephant's mouth
Nilaiyum izhandhenaeI lost my position and state
Vinaiyum adhanaalaeAnd fate/karma caused all this
Ulagam ariyaadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to the world
Indha ulagam ariyadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to this world
Male
Kelumaiyaa vilai kelum aiyaaListen sir, ask for the price, sir
Vaazha pirandhoor nilai paarum aiyaaLook at the plight of those born to live, sir
Kelumaiyaa vilai kelum aiyaaListen sir, ask for the price, sir
Vaazha pirandhoor nilai paarum aiyaaLook at the plight of those born to live, sir
Male
Than maanam ennalumSelf-respect always
San maanam endraeAs the grandest virtue and reward
Pen maanam kakkavae piranthaval androWas she not born to protect a woman's honor?
Male
Than maanam ennalumSelf-respect always
San maanam endraeAs the grandest virtue and reward
Pen maanam kakkavae piranthaval androWas she not born to protect a woman's honor?
Arasanum aandiyum vidhiyin munnalaeBefore destiny, both a king and a beggar
Amaidhiyai izhappaar oozh vinaiyinaalaeWill lose their peace of mind due to past karma
Arasanum aandiyum vidhiyin munnalaeBefore destiny, both a king and a beggar
Amaidhiyai izhappaar oozh vinaiyinaalaeWill lose their peace of mind due to past karma
Andha anubavam vaazhvil nernthathinaalaeBecause such an experience happened in life
Ulagam ariyaadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to the world
Indha ulagam ariyadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to this world
Male
En udal porul aaviyaiMy body, wealth, and soul
Kadunnukkae virppadhuSelling to pay off debt
Ulagam ariyaadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to the world
Indha ulagam ariyadha pudhumaiA novelty unknown to this world
Male
Kelumaiyaa… vilai kelum aiyaaListen sir... ask for the price, sir
Vilai kelum aiyaaAsk for the price, sir

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song depicts the immense grief and irony in the life of Queen Chandramathi from the legendary story of King Harichandra. Stripped of royalty and wealth, she is forced into a public market to sell herself, her body, and soul into servitude to pay off an immense debt to Sage Vishwamitra. She laments her helpless condition, comparing her life to a piece of straw tossed around by ocean waves or sugarcane crushed in an elephant's mouth. The lyrics emphasize that fate makes no distinction between a king and a beggar, reducing even royalty to extreme suffering, while affirming that a woman's true nobility lies in safeguarding her dignity through all adversity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thurumbadhai polae / Yaanai vaayin karumbadhai polae

Compares her helpless and crushed state to a piece of straw tossed in ocean waves and sugarcane in an elephant's mouth using the word 'polae'.

Antithesis / Contrast

Arasanum aandiyum vidhiyin munnalae

Contrasts the two extremes of human social hierarchy (King and Beggar) to show the leveling power of fate.

Rhyme / Assonance (Iyaibu & Rhyme)

Than maanam ennalum / San maanam endrae / Pen maanam kakkavae piranthaval andro

Repetition of ending rhyming words 'Than maanam', 'San maanam', and 'Pen maanam' to emphasize honor.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song belongs to the 1968 Tamil mythological film 'Harichandra' starring Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya. The scene portrays the tragic climax of Harichandra's ordeal where Queen Chandramathi is auctioned off in public to uphold truth and pay Vishwamitra's ritual fee.

Keep listening

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