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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Adadadaa Oru Uyir

From Meenakshi · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Meenakshi1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?
Thulli vantha chellapillai amammammaThe cherished child who came bouncing along, oh dear
Thulli vantha chellapillai amammammaThe cherished child who came bouncing along, oh dear
Vithi kollai kondu povathennaWhy is fate plundering and taking it away?
Sollammaa……sollammaa…..Tell me, oh Goddess... tell me...
Male
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?
Male
Aararivu kondorkkumEven among those possessing six senses
Un polae anbaethuWhere can one find love comparable to yours?
Aadharichchu kaappaththum seeraana panbaethuSupporting and protecting others is indeed a noble trait
Male
Pulliyitta un maeniHas your spotted body
Kolliyidum naalaachchoReached the day to be consumed by fire?
Velli mani thaerottam ninnaachchoHas the silver bell chariot procession come to a halt?
Vetti vecha katti thangam mannachchoHas the carved block of pure gold turned to dust?
Male
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?
Thulli vantha chellapillai amammammaThe cherished child who came bouncing along, oh dear
Vithi kollai kondu povathennaWhy is fate plundering and taking it away?
Sollammaa……sollammaa…..Tell me, oh Goddess... tell me...
Male
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?
Male
Kaalamennum deivamthaanWill not the deity known as Time
Kaappaatra maattaathoCome forward to save this life?
Kannirendum moodaamaeWithout closing both its eyes,
Nallaatchi kaattaathoWill it not display good governance?
Male
Aadi vellam paayaathoWill not the floods of Aadi month flow again?
Anthi malli pookkaathoWill not the evening jasmine bloom?
Paadi vantha themmaangu ketkaathoWill not the joyous folk song be heard again?
Patta maram pacha maram aagaatho….Will not a withered tree turn into a green, living tree?
Male
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?
Thulli vantha chellapillai amammammaThe cherished child who came bouncing along, oh dear
Vithi kollai kondu povathennaWhy is fate plundering and taking it away?
Sollammaa……sollammaa…..Tell me, oh Goddess... tell me...
Male
Adadaa oru uyir thudikkuthuAlas, a life is throbbing in agony
Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamoWhose sin against whom caused this misfortune?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional song expresses intense grief and anguish over a helpless, beloved creature fighting for survival. The singer laments that even human beings with six senses lack the pure, selfless affection displayed by this innocent soul, and questions why cruel destiny is snatching away such an innocent life. The lyricist expresses deep existential anguish over who committed what sin to deserve such divine punishment. In the second half, the tone turns into a desperate prayer to Time and Fate for a miracle. Using vivid imagery of seasonal floods, blooming evening jasmines, and dead trees turning green again, the song yearns for divine intervention and the restoration of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

Idhu yaarukku yaar seitha paavamo

Questions are asked repeatedly to emphasize helplessness and challenge cruel fate.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Kaalamennum deivamthaan

Comparing Time itself to a divine deity capable of saving life.

Metaphor (Urvagam)

Patta maram pacha maram aagaatho….

The phrase 'patta maram' (withered tree) represents the dying soul, while 'pacha maram' (green tree) symbolizes life and revival.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Aadi vellam paayaatho / Anthi malli pookkaatho

Matching of the second consonant sounds across lines (e.g., Aadi, Anthi, Paadi, Patta).

Did you know?

Trivia

This heart-wrenching song from the movie Meenakshi (1980) features expressive vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. Vaali's lyrics famously depict love transcending human intellect, comparing animal innocence to human six-sense morality.

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