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Lyrics & meaning

Yokkiyan Enbavan Ulagathile

From Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal · 1959

Lyricist
Udumalai Narayanakavi
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Vakkalae pirar vaazhvai keduthae vaazhvaaroWill people live by ruining others' lives through their words?
Hoo oooHoo ooo
Manathaalae kedukka vazhi paarthae iruppaarooWill they constantly scheme in their minds to destroy others?
Hooo ooHoo oo
Yakkaiyin balathaalae adithu pizhaipparooWill they survive by physically harming and exploiting others?
Allamaal nalloorai ariyaen paraparamaeApart from this, I know no truly righteous person, O Supreme Divine!
Male
Yogiyan enbavan ulagathilaeA truly virtuous man in this world...
Oruthanum kedaiyathuThere is not even a single person!
Parama yogiyan enbavan ulagathilaeA supreme virtuous man in this world...
Oruthanum kedaiyathuThere is not even a single person!
Aiyaa oruthanum kedaiyathuOh sir, not even one exists!
Yedhoo undunnu sonnaIf anyone claims there is one,
Avanukku moonum irukkadhuHe too possesses all three desires!
Mani penn aasai ponn aasaiDesire for money, desire for women, desire for gold—
Indha moonum irukkadhuHe possesses all these three desires!
Male
Aasaiyinaale porandhu valarnthathuBorn and raised out of desire,
Ariya maanidar porappuIs this rare human birth.
Adhu sadharanam aanadhumOnce life becomes ordinary,
Avasiyamaandhum kaasu panam kai iruppuHaving cash and money on hand becomes a necessity.
Andha kasu panam thannaiThat cash and money,
Kanniyamaagavae kai therndhuUntil it is earned through honorable skills,
Varumvarai sirappuIt is dignified.
Idhai kavanithu paaruObserve this carefully:
Uruttukkum poratukkumThrough deception and struggle,
Thiruttukullae than nadakuthu polappuLivelihood operates entirely within dishonesty!
Male
Yogiyan enbavan ulagathilaeA truly virtuous man in this world...
Oruthanum kedaiyathuThere is not even a single person!
Aiyaa oruthanum kedaiyathuOh sir, not even one exists!
Yedhoo undunnu sonnaIf anyone claims there is one,
Avanukku moonum irukkadhuHe too possesses all three desires!
Mani penn aasai ponn aasaiDesire for money, desire for women, desire for gold—
Indha moonum irukkadhuHe possesses all these three desires!
Male
Illadha kodumaiWhat terrible injustice!
Yemattra therindhavanThe one who knows how to deceive,
Iruttil poduraan …Hides money away in the dark...
LatchakanakkilaeIn hundreds of thousands,
Kaimathi kaimaathiPassing money from hand to hand,
Instalment aaguraan panam……He turns money into instalments...
Kallan endra peraal kaanadha podhuWhen no one is watching, under the name of a petty thief,
Katharithuedukraan ponnuHe snatches gold away by cutting it off!
Perum kallan endra peraal kaanadha podhuWhen no one is watching, under the name of a master thief,
Katharithuedukraan ponnuHe snatches gold away by cutting it off!
Kazhuthil katharithuedukraan ponnuHe snatches gold directly off the neck!
Nagai kadaiyinil vechukittuKeeping it in a jewelry shop,
Kallaala urasikittuRubbing it against the touchstone,
Karaikkira chetty avan kannuThe merchant's eyes deceive and melt it away!
Male
Idhil yogiyan enbavan ulagathilaeIn all this, a truly virtuous man in this world...
Oruthanum kedaiyathuThere is not even a single person!
Aiyaa oruthanum kedaiyathuOh sir, not even one exists!
Yedhoo undunnu sonnaIf anyone claims there is one,
Avanukku moonum irukkadhuHe too possesses all three desires!
Mani penn aasai ponn aasaiDesire for money, desire for women, desire for gold—
Indha moonum irukkadhuHe possesses all these three desires!
Male
Theerkka tharisi pala noor aandileOnce in several hundred years, a prophet
Deivam pola vandhu porakalamMay be born like a deity.
Haa..aaa…haa..aaHaa..aaa…haa..aa
Theerkka tharisi pala noor aandileOnce in several hundred years, a prophet
Deivam pola vandhu porakalamMay be born like a deity.
Pesum buthar gandhiyai polaeLike Buddha or Gandhi who spoke truth,
Sethum sagathu irukkalamThey remain immortal even after death!
Baaki yulla aatkalai ellamAll the rest of the people,
Pagutharivodu paarkalaamWe must view with rationalism!
Parppaan vallavan theetiyabadiAccording to how the clever schemer draws the line,
Oru payal undaa sollu ketkalamTell me, is there a single pure fellow? Let us hear!
Oru payal undaa sollu ketkalamTell me, is there a single pure fellow? Let us hear!
Male
Yogiyan enbavan ulagathilaeA truly virtuous man in this world...
Oruthanum kedaiyathuThere is not even a single person!
Aiyaa oruthanum kedaiyathuOh sir, not even one exists!
Yedhoo undunnu sonnaIf anyone claims there is one,
Avanukku moonum irukkadhuHe too possesses all three desires!
Mani penn aasai ponn aasaiDesire for money, desire for women, desire for gold—
Indha moonum irukkadhuHe possesses all these three desires!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This satirical social commentary song from 'Mamiyar Mechiya Marumagal' (1959) critiques human greed, moral hypocrisy, and the illusion of absolute saintliness. Written by the renowned rationalist poet Udumalai Narayanakavi, the song asserts that no ordinary person in the modern world is completely untainted by the three primal worldly desires ('Moovasai'): money/property, women, and gold. The lyricist exposes how society operates through trickery, financial exploitation, theft, and shady business practices disguised as respectable trades. While acknowledging that once in a few centuries, monumental figures like Buddha or Mahatma Gandhi are born and live on eternally through their ideals, the song urges people to apply rationalism ('Pagutharivu') when evaluating ordinary human beings. It emphasizes that beneath the surface, everyone is driven by self-interest and financial survival, making absolute saints an impossibility among common mortals.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Avanukku moonum irukkadhu / Indha moonum irukkadhu

The repetitive ending word 'irukkadhu' creates a rhythmic cadence emphasizing the universality of human desires.

Muran (Oxymoron / Paradox)

Sethum sagathu irukkalam

'Sethum' (even after dying) paired with 'sagathu irukkalam' (remaining immortal/alive) creates a poetic paradox describing eternal legacy.

Alliteration (Consonance)

Mani penn aasai ponn aasai

Repetition of nasal sounds ('m', 'n', 'nn') reinforces the traditional Tamil concept of the three primary worldly temptations ('Moovasai').

Satire / Irony (Angatham)

Nagai kadaiyinil vechukittu / Kallaala urasikittu / Karaikkira chetty avan kannu

Irony and satire are used to expose how respectable shopkeepers trick customers and exploit their gold using touchstones.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Udumalai Narayanakavi, a pioneering lyricist in Tamil cinema known for infusing Periyar E. V. Ramasamy's Dravidian rationalist and anti-caste philosophy into popular film music. The song makes specific references to Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi to contrast legendary moral icons with ordinary fallible humans who are driven by 'Moovasai' (the three worldly desires).

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