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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unmaiikke Pirappeduthaen

From Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi · 1977

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Poornima
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Unmaiikkae pirappeduthaenI was born for the truth
Unmaikkae vaazhndhirundhaenI lived only for the truth
Unmai solli arasizhandhaenSpeaking the truth, I lost my kingdom
Unmaiyinaal theruvil vandhaen…Because of the truth, I ended up on the streets...
Ae… ae… ae… ae… ae… theruvil vandhaenAe... ae... ae... ae... ae... I ended up on the streets
Male
Sathiya sodhanai ethanai aayinumNo matter how many trials of truth arise
Sagippavan thaanae sathiyavaanOnly he who endures them is truly a man of truth
Sathiya sodhanai ethanai aayinumNo matter how many trials of truth arise
Sagippavan thaanae sathiyavaanOnly he who endures them is truly a man of truth
Patta kadangalai eppadiyaavadhuThe debts incurred, somehow
Koduppavan thaanae punniyavaanOnly he who repays them is virtuous
Kondadhai ellaam koduthu vittaenI gave away everything I possessed
Ini koduppadharkkor salli kaiyil illaiNow I do not have a single coin left in my hand to pay
Illai endraal avan viduvaanaaWill he let me go if I say I have nothing?
Kadan pattavan kanneer veliyaamoDoes the debtor's tear matter to him?
Male
Karunai ullorae periyavaraeO merciful noble people
Naan kattiya manaiviyai virka vandhaenI have come to sell my wedded wife
Sathiya sodhanai ethanai aayinumNo matter how many trials of truth arise
Sagippavan thaanae sathiyavaanOnly he who endures them is truly a man of truth
Male
AiyaaSir
Naan thottu thaali kattiyaWhom I wed by tying the sacred thread
En manaiviyaagappatta sandhiramadhiyaiMy wife named Chandramathi
En thunbathin nimitham thangal munOn account of my hardship, before you
Vilai koori virkiraen aiyaa (Dialogue)I quote a price and sell her, sir (Dialogue)
Chorus
Ennappaa vindhai idhuWhat a wonder this is, my man
Ada ennappaa vindhai idhuOh, what a strange wonder this is
Manaiviyaiyae virkkindraayaeYou are selling your own wife!
Paavamena panam koduthu naan vaanguvadhaalIf I pity you and buy her by paying money
Nanmai enna nanmai enna…What benefit is there, what benefit...
Male
Kaalai ezhundhirundhuWaking up early in the morning
Maadu manai sutham seivaalShe will clean the house and shelter the cattle
Vaasalil neer thelitthu maakkolam pottiduvaalShe will sprinkle water at the entrance and draw rice-flour kolam
Thanneer eduthu vaippaal thottam thiruthi vaippaalShe will fetch water and tend to the garden
Aru suvaiyum samaithu vaippaalShe will cook meals with all six tastes
Annai ena kaaval nirppaalShe will stand guard like a mother
Nalla vaelaikkaararukku enna enna panigalendruWhat duties belong to a good servant
Saathirangal sonna padi naal muzhudhum pani purivaalAs prescribed by the scriptures, she will serve all day long
Chorus
Idhanullae vaendiya pon irukkiradhuHere inside is the required gold
Eduthu kolvaaiTake it
Ippozhudhae adimai thanai ennudan anuppi vaippaaiSend the slave with me right now
Male
En anbukkuriya manaiviyaeMy beloved wife
En arumai kuzhandhaiyaeMy dear child
Ungalai ellaam naanAll of you, I
Vittu piriya vaendiya tharunam vandhu vittadhuThe time has come for me to part from you
Male
Sendru vaa en uthamiyae sendru vaaFarewell my virtuous woman, farewell
Sendru vaa en uthamiyae sendru vaaFarewell my virtuous woman, farewell
Valvinaiyaal mun jenma seivinaiyaalDue to cruel fate and past life karma
Valvinaiyaal mun jenma seivinaiyaalDue to cruel fate and past life karma
Unnai ingu vitraenae sendru vaaI have sold you here, farewell
Male
Maindhaa naan petra kula vilakkaeOh son, the lamp of my lineage born to me
Maar meedhum madi meedhumUpon my chest and lap
Seerodum sirappodumWith prosperity and grandeur
Vaazhndhadhellaam ninaikkaamalWithout dwelling on how we once lived
Manam kalangi pogaamalWithout getting disheartened in mind
Annai arugirundhu aval panikku udhaviduvaaiStay near your mother and help in her work
Sendru vaa… sendru vaa… sendru vaa…Farewell... farewell... farewell...
Female
Kalangaadhae mannaaDo not weep, my King
Kai piditha naayagaraeMy Lord who took my hand
Kalangaadhae mannaaDo not weep, my King
Kai piditha naayagaraeMy Lord who took my hand
Kanavan vaarthaiyinaiThe word of her husband
Kaappaval thaan pennarasi poi vaaraenShe who protects it is the queen of women; I shall take my leave
Ungal pugazh anaithum kaathiruppaenI will protect all your honor and fame
Vidai kodungal mannaa vidhiyinai yaar velvaaroBid me farewell, my King; who can conquer destiny?
Vidai kodungal mannaa vidhiyinai yaar velvaaroBid me farewell, my King; who can conquer destiny?
Vidhiyinai yaar velvaaro vidhiyinai yaar velvaaroWho can conquer destiny? Who can conquer destiny?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song depicts the classic Indian mythological ordeal of King Harishchandra, renowned for his unyielding adherence to truth. Having lost his kingdom and burdened by heavy debt to fulfill his promise to Sage Vishwamitra, Harishchandra is forced to sell his wife Chandramathi and his young son Lokidas into slavery to repay his debts. The song captures Harishchandra's agonized justification of his actions as tests of truth, the buyer's evaluation of Chandramathi's dutiful nature, and the heartbreaking farewell between the king, his wife, and child. Chandramathi accepts her fate dutifully, comforting her husband by emphasizing that no one can overcome destiny, while remaining resolute in protecting his honor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Unmaiikkae pirappeduthaen / Unmaikkae vaazhndhirundhaen

Repetition of initial letters in consecutive lines ('Unmaiikkae', 'Unmaikkae', 'Unmai solli', 'Unmaiyinaal') to emphasize the theme of truth.

Pathos (Karuna Rasa)

Naan kattiya manaiviyai virka vandhaen

Emotional tone created through tragic dialogue depicting extreme suffering, sacrifice, and separation.

Anaphora / Repetition

Sendru vaa… sendru vaa… sendru vaa…

Repetition of the phrase 'Sendru vaa' (Farewell) to heighten the sorrow of parting.

Did you know?

Trivia

This dramatic track from the movie 'Thunai Iruppal Meenakshi' (1977) recreates the famous play act of 'Harischandra Puranam', which has been a staple in South Indian theatrical and cinematic storytelling for generations as an archetype of ultimate truthfulness and virtue.

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