Aarengum
From Manasukketha Maharasa · 1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aarengum thaan uranga……….. | As the river everywhere falls asleep... |
| Aarukadal meen uranga | As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep, |
| Srirengam thaan uranga……… | As sacred Srirangam falls asleep... |
| Thiruvaana ka uranga | As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep, |
| Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae rasa……. | There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king... |
| Ingae naathiyathu kidakkuthu un rosa | Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned. |
| Male | |
| Aarengum thaan uranga……….. | As the river everywhere falls asleep... |
| Aarukadal meen uranga | As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep, |
| Srirengam thaan uranga……… | As sacred Srirangam falls asleep... |
| Thiruvaana ka uranga | As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep, |
| Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae maanae….. | There is no way for me to sleep, my dear... |
| Iraivan naadagathil oomaiyadi naanae | I am just a mute character in this drama staged by God. |
| Female | |
| {Saada ezhuthi vachcha | Whatever was simply drawn and written |
| Saanthu suvaththilellam | On the lime-plastered walls, |
| Aadi mazhai adichu | The heavy rains of the Aadi month struck |
| Athanaiyum karainchuruchu} (2) | And washed every bit of it away. |
| Female | |
| {Thaangalaiyae thaangalaiyae…….. | It cannot bear it, it cannot bear this pain... |
| Aasa vacha indha manam} (2) | This heart that harbored so much love. |
| Vaazha vechu pakkalaiyae | They didn't let us live together happily, |
| Serndhu iruntha ooru sanam | The very townspeople who were once close to us. |
| Female | |
| Aarengum thaan uranga……….. | As the river everywhere falls asleep... |
| Aarukadal meen uranga | As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep, |
| Srirengam thaan uranga……… | As sacred Srirangam falls asleep... |
| Thiruvaana ka uranga | As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep, |
| Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae rasa……. | There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king... |
| Ingae naathiyathu kidakkuthu un rosa | Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned. |
| Female | |
| Maman adichaanae | If your maternal uncle beat you, |
| Malliyapoo sendaala | Was it with a bouquet of jasmine flowers? |
| Aththa adichaalo allipoo sendaala | If your aunt beat you, was it with a bouquet of lily flowers? |
| Yaar adichaa…….solli azhu | Tell me who struck you and cry out... |
| Neer adicha….. neer velagum laali | Like water parting when struck, the pain will part, lullaby. |
| Male | |
| {Kaathu mella thottaalumae | Even if a gentle breeze touches it, |
| Karuthae thaan pogumunnu | Fearing that it might darken or wither, |
| Pothi vacha rosa poova poduvena veiyilila} (2) | Would I leave in the scorching sun the rose flower I kept protected? |
| Male | |
| {Sembukkulla adangidumaa……… | Can it be contained inside a small vessel... |
| Ganga nadhi neeru} (2) | The vast flowing water of the Ganges river? |
| Chanthiranum kalangumunu…… | Even the moon would be clouded with grief... |
| Sonnathu thaan nammooru | So said the people of our village. |
| Male | |
| Aarengum thaan uranga……….. | As the river everywhere falls asleep... |
| Aarukadal meen uranga | As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep, |
| Srirengam thaan uranga……… | As sacred Srirangam falls asleep... |
| Thiruvaana ka uranga | As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep, |
| Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae maanae……. | There is no way for me to sleep, my dear... |
| Iraivan naadagathil oomaiyadi naanae | I am just a mute character in this drama staged by God. |
| Female | |
| Aarengum thaan uranga……….. | As the river everywhere falls asleep... |
| Aarukadal meen uranga | As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep, |
| Srirengam thaan uranga……… | As sacred Srirangam falls asleep... |
| Thiruvaana ka uranga | As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep, |
| Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae rasa……. | There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king... |
| Ingae naathiyathu kidakkuthu un rosa | Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned. |
ஆறெங்கும் தானுறங்க ஆறுகடல் மீனுறங்க
ஸ்ரீரங்கம் தான் உறங்க திருவானைக்கா உறங்க
நான் உறங்க வழியில்லையே ராசா இங்கே
நாதியற்று கிடக்குது உன் ரோசா..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king...
Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned.
ஆறெங்கும் தானுறங்க ஆறுகடல் மீனுறங்க
ஸ்ரீரங்கம் தான் உறங்க திருவானைக்கா உறங்க
நான் உறங்க வழியில்லையே மானே
இறைவன் நாடகத்தில் ஊமையடி நானே..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
There is no way for me to sleep, my dear...
I am just a mute character in this drama staged by God.
{சாட எழுதி வைச்ச
சாந்து சுவத்தில் எல்லாம்
ஆடி மழையடிச்சு
அத்தனையும் கரைஞ்சிருச்சு} (2)
Whatever was simply drawn and written
On the lime-plastered walls,
The heavy rains of the Aadi month struck
And washed every bit of it away.
{தாங்கலையே தாங்கலையே
ஆசை வைச்ச இந்த மனம்} (2)
வாழ வைச்சு பாக்கலயே
சேர்ந்திருந்த ஊரு சனம்....
It cannot bear it, it cannot bear this pain...
This heart that harbored so much love.
They didn't let us live together happily,
The very townspeople who were once close to us.
ஆறெங்கும் தானுறங்க ஆறுகடல் மீனுறங்க
ஸ்ரீரங்கம் தான் உறங்க திருவானைக்கா உறங்க
நான் உறங்க வழியில்லையே ராசா இங்கே
நாதியற்று கிடக்குது உன் ரோசா..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king...
Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned.
மாமன் அடிச்சானோ மல்லியைப் பூச்செண்டால
அத்தை அடிச்சாளோ அல்லிப்பூ செண்டால
யார் அடிச்சா சொல்லி அழு
நீர் அடிச்சா நீர் விலகும்.......
If your maternal uncle beat you,
Was it with a bouquet of jasmine flowers?
If your aunt beat you, was it with a bouquet of lily flowers?
Tell me who struck you and cry out...
Like water parting when struck, the pain will part, lullaby.
{காத்து மெல்ல தொட்டாலுமே
கறுத்தேதான் போகுமுன்னு
போத்தி வைச்ச ரோசாப் பூவை
போடுவேனா வெய்யிலில} (2)
Even if a gentle breeze touches it,
Fearing that it might darken or wither,
Would I leave in the scorching sun the rose flower I kept protected?
{சங்குக்குள்ள அடங்கிடுமா
கங்கை நதி நீரு} (2)
சந்திரனும் களங்கமுன்னு
சொன்னது தான் நம்மூரு....
Can it be contained inside a small vessel...
The vast flowing water of the Ganges river?
Even the moon would be clouded with grief...
So said the people of our village.
ஆறெங்கும் தானுறங்க ஆறுகடல் மீனுறங்க
ஸ்ரீரங்கம் தான் உறங்க திருவானைக்கா உறங்க
நான் உறங்க வழியில்லையே மானே
இறைவன் நாடகத்தில் ஊமையடி நானே..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
There is no way for me to sleep, my dear...
I am just a mute character in this drama staged by God.
ஆறெங்கும் தானுறங்க ஆறுகடல் மீனுறங்க
ஸ்ரீரங்கம் தான் உறங்க திருவானைக்கா உறங்க
நான் உறங்க வழியில்லையே ராசா இங்கே
நாதியற்று கிடக்குது உன் ரோசா..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king...
Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned.
Aarengum thaan uranga………..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
Aarukadal meen uranga
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
Srirengam thaan uranga………
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
Thiruvaana ka uranga
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae rasa…….
There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king...
Ingae naathiyathu kidakkuthu un rosa
Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned.
Aarengum thaan uranga………..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
Aarukadal meen uranga
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
Srirengam thaan uranga………
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
Thiruvaana ka uranga
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae maanae…..
There is no way for me to sleep, my dear...
Iraivan naadagathil oomaiyadi naanae
I am just a mute character in this drama staged by God.
{Saada ezhuthi vachcha
Whatever was simply drawn and written
Saanthu suvaththilellam
On the lime-plastered walls,
Aadi mazhai adichu
The heavy rains of the Aadi month struck
Athanaiyum karainchuruchu} (2)
And washed every bit of it away.
{Thaangalaiyae thaangalaiyae……..
It cannot bear it, it cannot bear this pain...
Aasa vacha indha manam} (2)
This heart that harbored so much love.
Vaazha vechu pakkalaiyae
They didn't let us live together happily,
Serndhu iruntha ooru sanam
The very townspeople who were once close to us.
Aarengum thaan uranga………..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
Aarukadal meen uranga
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
Srirengam thaan uranga………
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
Thiruvaana ka uranga
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae rasa…….
There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king...
Ingae naathiyathu kidakkuthu un rosa
Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned.
Maman adichaanae
If your maternal uncle beat you,
Malliyapoo sendaala
Was it with a bouquet of jasmine flowers?
Aththa adichaalo allipoo sendaala
If your aunt beat you, was it with a bouquet of lily flowers?
Yaar adichaa…….solli azhu
Tell me who struck you and cry out...
Neer adicha….. neer velagum laali
Like water parting when struck, the pain will part, lullaby.
{Kaathu mella thottaalumae
Even if a gentle breeze touches it,
Karuthae thaan pogumunnu
Fearing that it might darken or wither,
Pothi vacha rosa poova poduvena veiyilila} (2)
Would I leave in the scorching sun the rose flower I kept protected?
{Sembukkulla adangidumaa………
Can it be contained inside a small vessel...
Ganga nadhi neeru} (2)
The vast flowing water of the Ganges river?
Chanthiranum kalangumunu……
Even the moon would be clouded with grief...
Sonnathu thaan nammooru
So said the people of our village.
Aarengum thaan uranga………..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
Aarukadal meen uranga
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
Srirengam thaan uranga………
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
Thiruvaana ka uranga
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae maanae…….
There is no way for me to sleep, my dear...
Iraivan naadagathil oomaiyadi naanae
I am just a mute character in this drama staged by God.
Aarengum thaan uranga………..
As the river everywhere falls asleep...
Aarukadal meen uranga
As the fish in the rivers and oceans fall asleep,
Srirengam thaan uranga………
As sacred Srirangam falls asleep...
Thiruvaana ka uranga
As Thiruvanaikaval falls asleep,
Naanuranga vazhi illaiyae rasa…….
There is no way for me to sleep, my beloved king...
Ingae naathiyathu kidakkuthu un rosa
Here, your rose lies unattended and abandoned.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional folk ballad/lament portrays deep heartbreak, vulnerability, and sorrow over separated love. The protagonist reflects on how the entire world—rivers, aquatic life, and holy temple towns like Srirangam and Thiruvanaikaval—rests peacefully, while she is left sleepless and agonizingly alone. She views her plight as being a helpless, mute actor in a divine play, watching her life's dreams get washed away like chalk drawings on a wall during heavy monsoon rains.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Epiphora)
“Aarengum thaan uranga... Aarukadal meen uranga... Srirengam thaan uranga”
Repeated ending word 'uranga' across consecutive lines creates a soothing yet mournful lullaby rhythm.
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvhagam)
“Iraivan naadagathil oomaiyadi naanae”
Compares human helplessness against destiny to an actor playing a mute role in a play staged by God.
Hyperbole & Folk Lullaby Imagery
“Maman adichaanae Malliyapoo sendaala / Aththa adichaalo allipoo sendaala”
Uses classic Tamil folk lullaby imagery where punishment is tenderly imagined as being struck with delicate flowers rather than sticks.
Rhetorical Question / Analogy
“Sembukkulla adangidumaa Ganga nadhi neeru”
Compares immense love and deep sorrow to the vast Ganges, questioning if such boundless emotion can be contained in a tiny vessel.
Did you know?
Trivia
This movie 'Manasukketha Maharasa' (1989) marked the official debut of legendary music director Deva in Tamil cinema. The song utilizes classic rural Tamil lullaby (Lullaby/Thaalaattu) tropes blended with poignant sorrow (Oppari) folk elements.
Keep listening
More from Manasukketha Maharasa
Manasukketha Maharasa
Manasukketha Maharasa
Manasukketha Maharasa
Manasukketha Maharasa