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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vanjaga Seigai Nanjinum

From Pudhu Vazhvu · 1957

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
M. K. Thiyagaraja Bagavathar
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Pudhu Vazhvu1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Nenjamae nee kel …O my heart, listen...
Kel…konjamum aagadhuListen... it is not acceptable at all.
Male
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Nenjamae nee kel…O my heart, listen...
Kel.. konjamum aagadhuListen... it is not acceptable at all.
Male
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Nenjamae nee kel konjamum aagadhuO my heart, listen, it is not acceptable at all.
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Nenjamae nee kel konjamum aagadhuO my heart, listen, it is not acceptable at all.
Male
Panja boodhamae sanjarithidumIn this universe where the five elements wander,
Pirapanjam adhilae anjum aadhalaalaeBecause even the universe fears such deceit,
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Nenjamae nee kel konjamum aagadhuO my heart, listen, it is not acceptable at all.
Male
Ennayae perithendru enni yemaandhenThinking highly of myself, I was foolishly deceived,
Igaloga vaazhkai sugathin kootraalaeLed astray by the transient pleasures of worldly life.
Annaiyum pidhavum munnaeri deivamaaiMother and father are the primary visible deities,
Annaiyum pidhavum munnaeri deivamaaiMother and father are the primary visible deities,
Avvai sonna sollai naanae andhoo marandhenaeAlas, I forgot the moral words spoken by poetess Avvaiyar,
Avvai sonna sollai naanae andhoo marandhenaeAlas, I forgot the moral words spoken by poetess Avvaiyar,
Male
Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhuDeceitful action is worse than poison,
Nenjamae nee kel konjamum aagadhuO my heart, listen, it is not acceptable at all.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In this reflective song from Pudhu Vazhvu, the protagonist addresses his own heart with moral anguish, proclaiming that deceit and betrayal are far more lethal than literal poison. He asserts that even the vast universe, composed of the five sacred elements, recoils in fear from treacherous deeds. The speaker expresses deep remorse for letting ego and material pleasures blind him, leading him to ignore the timeless wisdom of ancient Tamil moral literature. He laments forgetting the famous maxim taught by poetess Avvaiyar—that one's mother and father are the foremost living gods on Earth. The song serves as a soulful cautionary message about humility, moral integrity, and filial duty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Comparative Imagery)

Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhu

Compares deceitful conduct ('vanjaga seigai') to poison ('nanjinum kodidhu'), highlighting treachery as deadlier than physical venom.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vanjaga seigai nanjinum kodidhu

The second consonant sound 'nja' rhymes between 'Vanjaga' and 'nanjinum'.

Personification (Apostrophe)

Nenjamae nee kel…

The speaker addresses his own mind/heart ('Nenjamae') directly as a living listener.

Allusion (Literary Reference)

Annaiyum pidhavum munnaeri deivamaai

Refers directly to Avvaiyar's famous moral line 'Annaiyum Pidhavum Munnari Deivam' from Kondrai Venthan.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pudhu Vazhvu (1957) was one of the final films featuring the legendary Carnatic music maestro M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar (MKT). The song's lyrics were composed by Papanasam Sivan, who expertly incorporated the iconic ethical line 'Annaiyum pidhavum munnari deivam' from Avvaiyar's classical Tamil work 'Kondrai Venthan'.

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