Aiya
From Dharma Seelan · 1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| …………………… | ... |
| Female | |
| Aiyaa idhai meiyaai | Sir, as a truth, |
| Nambathaguma | Can this be believed? |
| Idhai poiyaai andha deivam | Will God turn this tragedy... |
| Aaki tharuma | ...into an untrue lie? |
| Vizhi imaikum neram nadakka | In the blink of an eye, as events unfold, |
| Vazhi thunaiyum ennai kadakka | My life companion passes beyond me. |
| Female | |
| Ada | Ah! |
| Aiyaa idhai meiyaai | Sir, as a truth, |
| Nambathaguma | Can this be believed? |
| Idhai poiyaai andha deivam | Will God turn this tragedy... |
| Aaki tharuma | ...into an untrue lie? |
| Female | |
| Maalai soodiya naal muthal | From the day we exchanged wedding garlands, |
| Thalaivaa naan unthan kaal nizhal | Oh my leader, like the shadow of your feet, |
| Polae naanum nadanthenae | I walked alongside you. |
| Thookam neengidum velayil | At the moment sleep leaves my eyes, |
| Dhinamum thaan adhi kaalayil | Every single day in the early morning, |
| Naan un mugathil vizhithenae | I woke up gazing upon your face. |
| Female | |
| Nee illaiyae nizhal illaiyae | Without you, there is no shadow left; |
| Nee mattum vaanagam povadhaa | Will you depart alone to the heavens? |
| Naam vazhnthadhum nalam kandadhum | The life we lived and the joy we knew, |
| Neer konda kolangal aavadha | Are they to fade like patterns drawn on water? |
| Female | |
| Unnai pola dharma seelan thaan | When a righteous person like you... |
| Pirinthaal ullam thaangaadhu | ...departs, the heart cannot endure the pain. |
| Kanneerai kaalam maatraadhaa | Will time not turn these tears away? |
| Female | |
| Aiyaa idhai meiyaai | Sir, as a truth, |
| Nambathaguma | Can this be believed? |
| Idhai poiyaai andha deivam | Will God turn this tragedy... |
| Aaki tharuma | ...into an untrue lie? |
| Vizhi imaikum neram nadakka | In the blink of an eye, as events unfold, |
| Vazhi thunaiyum ennai kadakka | My life companion passes beyond me. |
| Female | |
| Ada | Ah! |
| Aiyaa idhai meiyaai | Sir, as a truth, |
| Nambathaguma | Can this be believed? |
| Idhai poiyaai andha deivam | Will God turn this tragedy... |
| Aaki tharuma | ...into an untrue lie? |
ஐயா இதை மெய்யாய்
நம்பத் தகுமா
இதை பொய்யாய் அந்த
தெய்வம் ஆக்கித் தருமா
விழி இமைக்கும் நேரம் நடக்க
வழித் துணையும் என்னை கடக்க
...
அட...ஐயா இதை மெய்யாய்
நம்பத் தகுமா
இதை பொய்யாய் அந்த
தெய்வம் ஆக்கித் தருமா
Sir, as a truth,
Can this be believed?
Will God turn this tragedy...
...into an untrue lie?
In the blink of an eye, as events unfold,
My life companion passes beyond me.
ஓ....ஓஒ....ஓஒ....ஓஓ....
Ah!
Sir, as a truth,
Can this be believed?
Will God turn this tragedy...
...into an untrue lie?
மாலை சூடிய நாள் முதல்
தலைவா நான் உந்தன் கால் நிழல்
போலே நாளும் நடந்தேனே
தூக்கம் நீங்கிடும் வேளையில்
தினமும்தான் அதிகாலையில்
நான் உன் முகத்தில் விழித்தேனே
From the day we exchanged wedding garlands,
Oh my leader, like the shadow of your feet,
I walked alongside you.
At the moment sleep leaves my eyes,
Every single day in the early morning,
I woke up gazing upon your face.
நீ இல்லையேல் நிழல் இல்லையே
நீ மட்டும் வானகம் போவதா
நாம் வாழ்ந்ததும் நலம் கண்டதும்
நீர்க் கொண்ட கோலங்கள் ஆவதா
Without you, there is no shadow left;
Will you depart alone to the heavens?
The life we lived and the joy we knew,
Are they to fade like patterns drawn on water?
உனைப்போல் தர்மசீலன் தான்
பிரிந்தால் உள்ளம் தாங்காது
கண்ணீரைக் காலம் மாற்றாதா
When a righteous person like you...
...departs, the heart cannot endure the pain.
Will time not turn these tears away?
ஐயா இதை மெய்யாய்
நம்பத் தகுமா
இதை பொய்யாய் அந்த
தெய்வம் ஆக்கித் தருமா
விழி இமைக்கும் நேரம் நடக்க
வழித்துணையும் என்னை கடக்க
Sir, as a truth,
Can this be believed?
Will God turn this tragedy...
...into an untrue lie?
In the blink of an eye, as events unfold,
My life companion passes beyond me.
அட...ஐயா இதை மெய்யாய்
நம்பத் தகுமா
இதை பொய்யாய் அந்த
தெய்வம் ஆக்கித் தருமா
Ah!
Sir, as a truth,
Can this be believed?
Will God turn this tragedy...
...into an untrue lie?
……………………
...
Aiyaa idhai meiyaai
Sir, as a truth,
Nambathaguma
Can this be believed?
Idhai poiyaai andha deivam
Will God turn this tragedy...
Aaki tharuma
...into an untrue lie?
Vizhi imaikum neram nadakka
In the blink of an eye, as events unfold,
Vazhi thunaiyum ennai kadakka
My life companion passes beyond me.
Ada
Ah!
Aiyaa idhai meiyaai
Sir, as a truth,
Nambathaguma
Can this be believed?
Idhai poiyaai andha deivam
Will God turn this tragedy...
Aaki tharuma
...into an untrue lie?
Maalai soodiya naal muthal
From the day we exchanged wedding garlands,
Thalaivaa naan unthan kaal nizhal
Oh my leader, like the shadow of your feet,
Polae naanum nadanthenae
I walked alongside you.
Thookam neengidum velayil
At the moment sleep leaves my eyes,
Dhinamum thaan adhi kaalayil
Every single day in the early morning,
Naan un mugathil vizhithenae
I woke up gazing upon your face.
Nee illaiyae nizhal illaiyae
Without you, there is no shadow left;
Nee mattum vaanagam povadhaa
Will you depart alone to the heavens?
Naam vazhnthadhum nalam kandadhum
The life we lived and the joy we knew,
Neer konda kolangal aavadha
Are they to fade like patterns drawn on water?
Unnai pola dharma seelan thaan
When a righteous person like you...
Pirinthaal ullam thaangaadhu
...departs, the heart cannot endure the pain.
Kanneerai kaalam maatraadhaa
Will time not turn these tears away?
Aiyaa idhai meiyaai
Sir, as a truth,
Nambathaguma
Can this be believed?
Idhai poiyaai andha deivam
Will God turn this tragedy...
Aaki tharuma
...into an untrue lie?
Vizhi imaikum neram nadakka
In the blink of an eye, as events unfold,
Vazhi thunaiyum ennai kadakka
My life companion passes beyond me.
Ada
Ah!
Aiyaa idhai meiyaai
Sir, as a truth,
Nambathaguma
Can this be believed?
Idhai poiyaai andha deivam
Will God turn this tragedy...
Aaki tharuma
...into an untrue lie?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This mournful song expresses deep grief and disbelief over the loss or impending loss of a loved husband and leader. The speaker questions divine justice, asking if God can turn this horrific reality into a bad dream. She recalls their devotion since marriage—how she walked like his shadow and woke up to his face every morning. She questions the transience of life, asking if all their shared happiness was merely like a pattern drawn on water that disappears instantly. Expressing that the heart cannot endure the loss of such a righteous soul ('Dharma Seelan'), she desperately longs for time to heal her severe anguish.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Neer konda kolangal aavadha”
Comparing life's fleeting joys and experiences to 'Neer konda kolangal' (rangoli/patterns drawn on water) to highlight impermanence.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Thalaivaa naan unthan kaal nizhal”
Comparing the devoted wife to 'kaal nizhal' (the shadow of his feet), illustrating unwavering companionship.
Assonance/Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Maalai soodiya naal muthal”
Matching second consonants in Tamil poetic structure ('Maalai' / 'Thalaivaa' / 'Polae').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Dharma Seelan' (1993) is an Indian Tamil-language action drama film starring Prabhu and Kushboo, directed by Chellapandian with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja and lyrics penned by Vaali.
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