Below are the original Kannada lyrics (written in the Kannada script) followed by a transliteration for non-Kannada readers.
In the vast ocean of Carnatic music and Kannada devotional songs, few pieces strike a chord of raw existential longing quite like "Ee Jeeva Yakamma." This hauntingly beautiful composition, often rendered in classical concerts and temple settings, is not merely a song; it is a philosophical outburst—a soul’s cry to the divine mother.
: The refrain "Ee jeeva yakamma" is a direct cry against the apparent meaninglessness of existence. The lyricist questions: if joy is temporary and pain is permanent, why are we born?
Janmavāda mēle sāvu sāvāda mēle janma Ī janma sāvina jālake sikki nānēnam'ma Janmavāda mēle sāvu sāvāda mēle janma Ī janma sāvina jālake sikki nānēnam'ma
, the song remains a hallmark of emotional storytelling in Sandalwood. Song Overview O Nanna Nalle S.P. Balasubrahmanyam Lyrics & Music: V. Ravichandran Featuring: V. Ravichandran and Isha Koppikar Critical Review Lyrical Depth and Theme
Puṭṭida magu aḷuvudu adara kaiyalli ēnam'ma Sāyuva munna aḷuvudu edeyoḷagēnam'ma Badukembudu naḍuvina sere nōvu nirantara Idakintā doḍḍa śāpavu iralu sādhyam'ma Ī jeeva yākamma...