Alaalaa
From Sandakozhi 2 · 2018
- Lyricist
- Madhan Karky
- Singer
- Kailash Kher
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Sandakozhi 22018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naalamithai kaathidava | To protect this welfare and goodness, |
| Aalam athai nee kudithai | You consumed that deadly poison. |
| Neelamena nenjam ingae | The heart here has turned blue, |
| Aalaalaa… | Oh Aalaalaa (Lord Shiva)... |
| Male | |
| Yaagam ena en inaiyo | Is my partner like a sacred fire ritual? |
| Thyagam ena en inaiyo | Is my partner like the ultimate sacrifice? |
| Agam athai udaithinayo | Did you break open the inner soul? |
| Aalaalaa… | Oh Aalaalaa... |
| Male | |
| Umai aval imaigal | Her eyelids, Goddess Uma's eyes, |
| Nanaiya kandai | You saw them getting drenched with tears. |
| Athavunaalaa | Is it because of that, |
| Imaiyathai unakkul | That you bore the heavy Himalayas |
| Sumathi kondai | Within yourself? |
| Yen aalaalaa… | Why, oh Aalaalaa... |
| Male | |
| Naalamithai kaathidava | To protect this welfare and goodness, |
| Aalam athai nee kudithai | You consumed that deadly poison. |
| Neelamena nenjam ingae | The heart here has turned blue, |
| Aalaalaa… | Oh Aalaalaa... |
| Male | |
| Yaagam ena eninaiyo | Is my partner like a sacred fire ritual? |
| Thyagam ena eninaiyo | Is my partner like the ultimate sacrifice? |
| Agam athai udaithinayo | Did you break open the inner soul? |
| Aalaalaa… | Oh Aalaalaa... |
| Male | |
| Vinnum mannum punnagayil | In a smile encompassing heaven and earth, |
| Ulagae punnagayil | In a smile encompassing the whole world, |
| Unmai attra punnagayil | In a smile that lacks truth, |
| Aalaalaa… | Oh Aalaalaa... |
| Male | |
| Otrai vizhi paasa vizhi | One eye is an eye of affection, |
| Maru vizhi kaadhal vizhi | The other eye is an eye of love. |
| Vizhum thuli entha thuli | Which drop of tear is falling now? |
| Aalaalaa… | Oh Aalaalaa... |
| Male | |
| Intha moottam panimoottam | This mist, this dense fog, |
| Ithan ullae tholainthayo | Did you get lost inside it? |
| Intha vedam kodum vedam | This disguise, a cruel disguise, |
| Ithu yeno aninthayo | Why did you put this on? |
| Male | |
| Kuraiyaa kuraiyaa | Without lessening, without lessening, |
| Ithuvae vazhiya | Is this the only way, |
| Irulae ozhiya | For the darkness to fade away? |
| Yeh aalaalaa aalaalaa | Oh Aalaalaa, Aalaalaa... |
| Sol…ithu nizhaiya | Tell me... is this state permanent? |
நாளமிதை காத்திடவா
ஆழம் அதை நீ குடித்தாய்
நீளமென நெஞ்சம் இங்கே
ஆலாலா…
To protect this welfare and goodness,
You consumed that deadly poison.
The heart here has turned blue,
Oh Aalaalaa (Lord Shiva)...
யாகம் என என் இணையோ
தியாகம் என என் இணையோ
அகம் அதை உடைத்தினையோ
ஆலாலா…
Is my partner like a sacred fire ritual?
Is my partner like the ultimate sacrifice?
Did you break open the inner soul?
Oh Aalaalaa...
உமை அவள் இமைகள்
நனைய கண்டாய்
அதுவுன்னாலா
இமையத்தை உனக்குள்
சுமத்தி கொண்டாய்
என் ஆலாலா…
Her eyelids, Goddess Uma's eyes,
You saw them getting drenched with tears.
Is it because of that,
That you bore the heavy Himalayas
Within yourself?
Why, oh Aalaalaa...
நாளமிதை காத்திடவா
ஆழம் அதை நீ குடித்தாய்
நீளமென நெஞ்சம் இங்கே
ஆலாலா…
To protect this welfare and goodness,
You consumed that deadly poison.
The heart here has turned blue,
Oh Aalaalaa...
யாகம் என என் இணையோ
தியாகம் என என் இணையோ
அகம் அதை உடைத்தினையோ
ஆலாலா…
Is my partner like a sacred fire ritual?
Is my partner like the ultimate sacrifice?
Did you break open the inner soul?
Oh Aalaalaa...
விண்ணும் மண்ணும் புன்னகையில்
உலகே புன்னகையில்
உண்மை அற்ற புன்னகையில்
ஆலாலா…
In a smile encompassing heaven and earth,
In a smile encompassing the whole world,
In a smile that lacks truth,
Oh Aalaalaa...
ஒற்றை விழி பாச விழி
மறு விழி காதல் விழி
விழும் துளி எந்த துளி
ஆலாலா…
One eye is an eye of affection,
The other eye is an eye of love.
Which drop of tear is falling now?
Oh Aalaalaa...
இந்த மூட்டம் பனிமூட்டம்
இதன் உள்ளே தொலைந்தாயோ
இந்த வேடம் கொடும் வேடம்
இது ஏனோ அணிந்தாயோ
This mist, this dense fog,
Did you get lost inside it?
This disguise, a cruel disguise,
Why did you put this on?
குறையா குறையா
இதுவே வழியா
இருளே ஒளியா
ஏஹ் ஆலாலா ஆலாலா
சொல்…இது நிலையா
Without lessening, without lessening,
Is this the only way,
For the darkness to fade away?
Oh Aalaalaa, Aalaalaa...
Tell me... is this state permanent?
Naalamithai kaathidava
To protect this welfare and goodness,
Aalam athai nee kudithai
You consumed that deadly poison.
Neelamena nenjam ingae
The heart here has turned blue,
Aalaalaa…
Oh Aalaalaa (Lord Shiva)...
Yaagam ena en inaiyo
Is my partner like a sacred fire ritual?
Thyagam ena en inaiyo
Is my partner like the ultimate sacrifice?
Agam athai udaithinayo
Did you break open the inner soul?
Aalaalaa…
Oh Aalaalaa...
Umai aval imaigal
Her eyelids, Goddess Uma's eyes,
Nanaiya kandai
You saw them getting drenched with tears.
Athavunaalaa
Is it because of that,
Imaiyathai unakkul
That you bore the heavy Himalayas
Sumathi kondai
Within yourself?
Yen aalaalaa…
Why, oh Aalaalaa...
Naalamithai kaathidava
To protect this welfare and goodness,
Aalam athai nee kudithai
You consumed that deadly poison.
Neelamena nenjam ingae
The heart here has turned blue,
Aalaalaa…
Oh Aalaalaa...
Yaagam ena eninaiyo
Is my partner like a sacred fire ritual?
Thyagam ena eninaiyo
Is my partner like the ultimate sacrifice?
Agam athai udaithinayo
Did you break open the inner soul?
Aalaalaa…
Oh Aalaalaa...
Vinnum mannum punnagayil
In a smile encompassing heaven and earth,
Ulagae punnagayil
In a smile encompassing the whole world,
Unmai attra punnagayil
In a smile that lacks truth,
Aalaalaa…
Oh Aalaalaa...
Otrai vizhi paasa vizhi
One eye is an eye of affection,
Maru vizhi kaadhal vizhi
The other eye is an eye of love.
Vizhum thuli entha thuli
Which drop of tear is falling now?
Aalaalaa…
Oh Aalaalaa...
Intha moottam panimoottam
This mist, this dense fog,
Ithan ullae tholainthayo
Did you get lost inside it?
Intha vedam kodum vedam
This disguise, a cruel disguise,
Ithu yeno aninthayo
Why did you put this on?
Kuraiyaa kuraiyaa
Without lessening, without lessening,
Ithuvae vazhiya
Is this the only way,
Irulae ozhiya
For the darkness to fade away?
Yeh aalaalaa aalaalaa
Oh Aalaalaa, Aalaalaa...
Sol…ithu nizhaiya
Tell me... is this state permanent?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Alaala' uses rich mythological imagery to parallel the sacrifice of a protector with Lord Shiva drinking the deadly Halahala (Aalaalam) poison to save the universe. The narrator witnesses the deep pain, hidden suffering, and silent tears of a loved one who takes on immense burdens and puts on a harsh facade to shield others from harm.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)
“Aalam athai nee kudithai”
Refers to Lord Shiva (Aalaala Sundaran) swallowing poison (Aalam) to protect the world, representing noble sacrifice.
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Imaiyathai unakkul Sumathi kondai”
Compares the emotional burden and suffering within the individual to carrying the vast Himalayan mountain range.
Contrast / Juxtaposition
“Unmai attra punnagayil”
Contrasts genuine emotion with a mask of deceit and suffering ('unmai attra punnagai' - false smile).
Anaphora / Repetition
“Aalaalaa…”
Repeats the divine invocation 'Aalaalaa' across verses to emphasize grief, reverence, and pleading.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Alaala' from Sandakozhi 2 (2018) was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja with lyrics penned by Madhan Karky and sung by Rahul Nambiar. The term 'Aalaalam' refers to Halahala, the mythological divine poison, symbolizing the protagonist's willingness to absorb pain for the safety of his village and loved ones.
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