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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vellipanathukkum

From Sabaash Mapillai · 1961

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Sabaash Mapillai
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
6 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Velli panathukkum
Nalla gunathukkum vegu dhooram
Velli panathukkum
Nalla gunathukkum vegu dhooram
Idhu ullapadi indha ulagam
Unarthum oru paadam
Velli panathukkum
Nalla gunathukkum vegu dhooram
Pillai enum bandha paasathai
Thalli pirindhodum
Than ullatthai irumbu pettagamaakki
Thaazh podum
Illaadhavar evaraana podhilum
Elli nagaiyaadum
Illaadhavar evaraana podhilum
Elli nagaiyaadum
Inai illaadha annai anbukku kooda
Sollaal thadai podum
Velli panathukkum
Nalla gunathukkum vegu dhooram
Vellathinaal varum palla maedu pol
Selvam varum pogum
Idhai ellalavaenum ennaadha kanjarkku
Thunbam varavaagum
Kallamillaadha anbu selvamae
Endrum nilaiyaagum
Kallamillaadha anbu selvamae
Endrum nilaiyaagum
Kashatam theerum kavalaigal maarum
Inbam uruvaagum
Velli panathukkum
Nalla gunathukkum vegu dhooram
Idhu ullapadi indha ulagam
Unarthum oru paadam
Velli panathukkum
Nalla gunathukkum vegu dhooram
Between silver money
and a good character, there is a great distance.
Between silver money
and a good character, there is a great distance.
This is truly the lesson
that this world teaches us.
Between silver money
and a good character, there is a great distance.
The loving bond with one's child,
it casts aside and flees from.
Turning the heart into an iron safe,
it locks it up tight.
No matter who the poor may be,
it mocks and laughs at them.
No matter who the poor may be,
it mocks and laughs at them.
Even against a mother's matchless love,
it raises walls with harsh words.
Between silver money
and a good character, there is a great distance.
Like the rises and dips left by floods,
wealth comes and goes.
For misers who do not think of this even a little,
sorrow will be the only gain.
The wealth of innocent love alone
lasts forever.
The wealth of innocent love alone
lasts forever.
Hardships will end, worries will pass,
and happiness will be born.
Between silver money
and a good character, there is a great distance.
This is truly the lesson
that this world teaches us.
Between silver money
and a good character, there is a great distance.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song contrasts the corrupting nature of material wealth ('silver money') with the enduring virtue of good character. It critiques how greed hardens a person's heart like a locked iron box, driving them to disregard family bonds, mock the needy, and disrespect even maternal love. The song highlights the transient nature of wealth, comparing it to floodwaters that dynamically create high and low lands. It warns that misers who hoard money only end up accumulating sorrow, whereas genuine, pure love is the only true wealth that brings permanent joy and relieves human suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Than ullatthai irumbu pettagamaakki”

Compares a hardened, greedy heart directly to a locked iron box ('irumbu pettagamaakki').

Simile (Upamai)

“Vellathinaal varum palla maedu pol”

Compares the unstable nature of incoming and outgoing wealth to high and low grounds reshaped by floodwaters ('palla maedu pol').

Contrast (Ethirsol / Antithesis)

“Selvam varum pogum / Kallamillaadha anbu selvamae endrum nilaiyaagum”

Contrasts temporary material wealth ('Selvam varum pogum') with permanent emotional wealth ('Kallamillaadha anbu selvamae endrum nilaiyaagum').

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

“Velli panathukkum / Nalla gunathukkum”

Matching second consonants across lines ('Velli' and 'Nalla' - 'll' sound pattern in classical Tamil prosody).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1961 Tamil film 'Sabaash Mapillai', starring M. G. Ramachandran and Malini. The score for this film was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with vocals provided by the legendary playback singer Seerkazhi Govindarajan. Lyricist A. Maruthakasi was widely acclaimed for writing deeply moral and philosophical songs tailored for MGR's screen persona.

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